Thriller Evaluation

What did we set out to do?

We originally set out to create an opening sequence to a film that stylistically is much like a film noir. We wanted to do this because we all agreed that we thought the Mise-en-scene and style of these films were brilliant, this is why we wanted our film to include the themes and styles of a film noir. A particular film noir aspect we wanted to focus on was Mise-en-scene.

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

We used several genre conventions in our thriller opening as an audience feedback form showed giving us a 9 out of 10 for shooting material that is appropriate to the opening of a thriller. Most of these relate to conventions of the film noir period. Our narrative shows the film is mainly a male dominated cast, apart from one woman who is portrayed as a femme fatale which is a thriller convention. Our narrative contains many twists and plot turns, as well as revenge and a disturbing past. We did not challenge these conventions; we used them to help us make a film noir. For our Mise-en-scene we used shots that were low-angled, we used shadows, slated blinds and chiaroscuro lighting. All of these were to help make our film look like it was from the noir period, for example trying to create the idea of a crime happening, and corruption.
Our film challenges modern conventions of a thriller, as we were trying to make a film noir. We do not show guns, blood, or killing, (for example in the modern thriller Layer Cake (2004) there is plenty of violence/action and killing) we are just showing the consequences of these actions. We focused on the characters being portrayed as unappealing and repulsive. In the film our characters one by one die because they have a need for power and are greedy. It does not give the audience a chance to communicate and relate to the male, lead characters.

How does your media product represent particular social groups?

Unlike a film such as The Godfather (1972) our film does not show crime in an attractive way. Our male characters are shown to be greedy, morally wrong, and power-wanting. The woman in our film is shown as a typical film noir woman, she is a femme-fatal who is unreliable and not to be trusted. Our narrative shows that a protagonist dies before the audience has time to relate to them. Or before Susie Callaghan has a chance either. This is supposed to created a feeling of distance from the characters, and give them an idea of how corrupt our characters are. We have purposely shown this kind of life as bad, and disgusting.

What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?

Our thriller opening would be distributed as both an art house and a mainstream product. Our mainstream audience would be attracted to our film as it has many twists and mystery within the film and lots of thriller signifiers to recognise. It also has the action and violence within the film for mainstream audiences to appreciate. The niche audience would also appreciate this film as it has film noir aspects and the film’s stylistic side.


Who would be the target audience for your media product and how would you attract/address your audience?

Our audience is likely to be a mixture of a niche audience and a mainstream audience. A mainstream audience would be attracted to this film for things such as the twists and turns in the narrative of the film and/or any action within the film.
Our niche audience would be film fanatics who understand film noirs and thrillers. This audience would be able to appreciate the more complex aspects of our film. And understand the film noir conventions.
If we were to advertise our film, it would be in film magazines and in small cinemas/art houses; this would attract our target audience.
The certificate for our film would most likely be an 18, because of its complexity, death, and generally thrillers are targeted at young adults. As our film is a film noir, it may be targeted at slightly older because it is not as modern as some.

What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?

Regarding technologies we learnt how to use the video cameras well, how to use the tripod with the camera and how to put the footage onto our computer and how to capture the moving image. We learnt what we could do with our cameras, such as panning and zooming effectively. When we came to editing we learnt to use the software ‘Adobe Premiere Elements 1.0’. This was the most complex feature we learnt how to use as none of us had ever used the programme. But in our peer assesments we scored 9 for the question: Using sound with images and editing sound effectively, we scored a 9 for the question Using varied shot transitions and other effects appropriately and we scored a 9 for Editing so there is a readable narrative. We reacted well to these marks, as we felt they were good enough to leave our film without having to edit anymore. I now feel like I am confident in using this software.

Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the full product?

When I think back to the making of our preliminary task, I feel I have learnt many things.
First of all, I have learned how to use the camera effectively on the tripod, and how to pan, zoom, tilt, track the camera etc. as when I first started making the preliminary task I was not very confident in doing this.
I have learned how particular shots can create different connotations. For example, in our film, the low angle shots of the building connote the big stature and height of the building into making you think it is significant and important. I have learned that planning is vital! If we had done minimal planning for our thriller we would have found it very difficult and probably would not have finished in time. As we did not do very much planning for our preliminary task and I felt it could have been a lot better if we did plan more. Organising what you are doing is very important in order to make it exactly how you want it. Managing your time has been a skill I have learned to use. As if we had not put together a shooting schedule, or met up regularly to edit, we would not have finished in the time given to us.

I have learned that audience research can play a big part in the making of the film. As you have to take into consideration what your audience wants, and thinks. Also if you know your target audience you know what sort of things would be appreciated in your film and what would not. Audience research is important as it gives you an idea of what style of thrillers are popular, and what signifiers are recognised, what people think of the thriller genre etc.
I have learned through looking at other thriller films what makes a successful thriller, what type of Mise-en-scene should be included and recognising all the different sub-genres of the thriller genre itself. This had also given us an idea of what kind of transitions, lighting, and characters are successful in a thriller.
I feel I have learned how to edit a film successfully, for example knowing how to slow the shots down, and use transitions successfully. Within our preliminary task we did not really work on any of these things.
During the making of our thriller, I have learned to work as a team. We all had to work together on ideas, (for example – the title of our film), directing what we wanted to happen in the shot, editing and all agreeing on the right transitions, props, storyline, characters, costumes, lighting etc. This was not a difficult thing to do within our group, but we did have to work democratically on some ideas.