Q1. In what ways does my media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products

As thrillers go there are a number of typical conventions that make them instantly recognisable, as being a film of that genre, these conventions can be seen through the use of all four film mediums: Mise-en-scene, Editing, Cinematography and Soundtrack.

Mise-en-scene-
In the genre of thriller the lighting can be seen as being low key, this creates tension within the peice, and makes the audience feel uneasy, as they feel someone could be lurking in the dark. This is typically used in horror thrillers, and other subgenres for this reason, as it helps create the adrenaline fueled experience belonging to any successful thriller production.
The use of location and setting in darker thrillers is also essential in creating this edgie, unpredictable atmosphere. Our production is no acception as we have filmed in a dark isolated car-part, leaving our protagonist alone in the centre of the chaotic situation surrounding her.

Cinematography-
During opening sequences for thriller films, the cinematography is used to create mystery, making the audience ask questions about the situation. The use of extreme closeups in these opening sequences give the audience subtle clues that will become more sugnificant later in the production. We have again incorperated this into our opening sequence, through the use of extreme closeups on our main character, giving the audience clues about what previously happened, they are also used to give the audience insight into the characters feelings. The use of an establishing shot in thriller films is also essential as it establishes the situation around the main character. In our opening sequence we used an extreme longshot in order to show the main character looking isolated and insugnificant in this setting.

Editing-
Editing pace and use of certain effects are essential in creating that thriller persona that we all know. The use of fast paced editing shows a situation is somewhat chaotic, as the camera needs to constantly cut to record different things happening in the same location. However during opening sequences the cuts are usually allot slower, as a number of establishing shots are shown creating context for the audience. We have chosen to use slower shots in our opening sequence, as the pace eludes to the actual events, Grace awakens looking disorientated and confused, and we feel we couldn't create this feeling with a faced paced series of shots. We have also chosen to incorperate a subtle but proffessional looking effect, this is present in our point of view shot. We used an effect called gaeshan blur to show Grace awakening and being confused and disorientated.

Soundtrack-
The soundtrack in thriller films is essential in creating the right atmosphere for the audience, it is the main factor creating tension within a peice. In darker thrillers it is typical of the soundtrack to be slow and constantly increasing in intensity, linking to the pace of the editing. During our opening sequence we have incorperated a slow soundtrack, constantly building in intensity as our protagonist becomes aware of the gravity of the situation surrounding her. We have also incorperated a heartbeat layered over the actual music, making it more textured and intense. It is typical of some darker thrillers to not have any backround sound in their opening sequences, and we have chosen to replicate this, as we feel the music alone creates enough tension, and the lack of background noise gives the peice a ghost like feeling.

Here are some of the films that inspired us to create our piece, among some of our own shots for comparison