Question 1 Evaluation Task

In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

To answer this question I will be comparing a real film to my thriller opening sequence. 
I will be comparing "The Public Eye", a film about a photographer who specializes in crime. Both my media product and this film share a similar theme, since my crime thriller has this man taking pictures (audience may assume he is a photographer or a photojournalist or a spy) and "The Public Eye"with the photojournalist who takes pictures in the crime scenes. 

CAMERA WORK 

• Both my Thriller and "The Public Eye" have shots of the photographer as he takes pictures of the scene. 
• These two similar close ups are used in both the media products to give detailed information of what the photographers are doing.  
• On my media product it goes with the conventions of a thriller because the shot is played later on in the opening sequence, and is the first revealance of the photographer's face. All the time before this shot the audience would be wondering what this camera guy looks like. 

 MISE EN SCENE 

• In terms of location, my opening sequence is shot in a secluded rural car park whereas "The Public Eye"is mostly shot in urban areas where crimes have been committed in the city. 
• Both my location and the other film's location go with the conventions of a thriller, because both the dark city where crimes take place and somehwere hidden away from urban areas are locations which are part of conventions of a thriller. 
• One way in which my thriller opening sequence and "The Public Eye"differ is in the lighting. This contrast in my media product challenges the conventions of a thriller because thrillers are usually dark as opposed to my opning sequence where the view is clear and bright. 
• In the first comparison it is also clear to see that both photographers have a similar facial expression, suggesting seriousness and professionalism to their work. 
• One prop that both films are similar are cameras. it is debatable that cameras are not seen as conventional props of thrillers. Or, jsut not as much as things like guns. So it is possible to say that both films challenge those conventions. Also, both media products share the car props, however, cars are generally seen as conventional props of action films and not thrillers, again challenging thriller conventions. 

Sound

• Sound wise, both songs created and built tension throughout the scene, however, my thriller kept a more muffled, "boomy", low frequency non diegetic soundtrack. And If you listen to the soundtrack at the beginning of the trailer for "The Public Eye" it starts of with a much higher frequency content soundtrack, however, being different still creates tension and still goes with thriller conventions. But in the trailer, after a few seconds the music changes to something completely different, challenging the conventions of a thriller. 

Actors

• Obviously we aren't going to get any famous actors for our AS thriller coursework, however the choice of actors is what matters. And despite the fact that both photgraphers look different they resemble in various ways. Both of them have that mysterious/professional look on their face that goes with the conventions of the genre. Both actors are suitable for their roles.