QUESTION 1: IN WHAT WAY DOES MY MEDIA PRODUCT USE/DEVELOP OR CHALLENGE FORMS AND CONVENTIONS

By Claire Misselbrook

Real Thriller/media conventions

A convention is the way in which something is usually done, typically. Therefore media conventions within Thrillers include things such as various shots being used, a suspenseful soundtrack, cinematography, costume, intriguing characters, McGuffins, enigma codes, redherrings and so on. In this power-point I will be analysing my own media product in comparison to real medias picking out the similarities and differences.

Conventions in my thriller coursework

Within my Thriller coursework conventions of Thriller are used. There is the use of enigma codes, McGuffins and cliffhangers. As well as the use of stereotypical character and costumes.

MacGuffin MacGuffins are devices used to set up the plot, this could be money or a

parcel, however most of the time the MacGuffin is not necessarily relevant to the rest of the movie. Within my Thriller coursework the MacGufifn we used was the handing over of a parcel. You do not see the parcel for the rest of the movie or find out what the parcel is. It allows us too establish the 2 characters and understand that they are in some form of partnership. We can also establish that they are up to no good. Without this meeting and exchange we would not be able to establish the characters or imply that they are up to no good. This convention is similar to the film Pulp Fiction. We witness a case but remain unaware as to what could be in the case.

Enigma codes Within my coursework we also used enigma codes. Enigma codes

are aspects that make you question what is going on or what is the purpose of that being there? We showed shots of the tattoo on multiple occasions. First during the hand shake, second on the Tariqs desk and third on the hand of the mysterious hit man. The use of the tattoo strengthens the plot as we become aware that they are being investigated and that they are attached to some form of cult or group. This is similar to the use of tattoos within the thriller/horror ‘Hostel’. Below is a screen shot from our coursework and a shot from Hostel where the tattoo is being done.

Redherring Redherrings are similar to cliffhangers. They keep the viewer intrigued and aim to

make the audience continue watching. We decided to use a cliffhanger at the end of our opening as to keep the audience interested. We see Tariq at work in his office when suddenly a mysterious person appears. We don no see their face nor their body just their hands with the tattoo. This continues the idea that the men at the beginning are up to no good and a part of an intelligent group. We see a struggle between Tariq and the intruder, we do not see the end result. Does Tariq die? Does he simply pass out and wake up in captivity? Is he forced to work for this powerful group? What does he know? I feel the cliffhanger works best here because we needed to end the opening scene in a way that the audience would be willing to continue watching. This is similar to all sorts of Thriller media. However to have a cliffhanger at the beginning is not as common as towards the end. Therefore to some extent it could be seen that we have challenged the conventions. Within the Italian job there is a cliffhanger at the end where the audience remain unaware as to whether or not the men will reach the gold bars without plunging to their deaths.

Characters and costume: Tariq

Our opening also has the typical Thriller characters. We have Tariq-the educated detective. He is typically dressed in a shirt and tie, we also see him emerge from a car and come through a gate which clearly needs some form of special access, highlighting Tariq’s authority. We also see an office door with a sigh reading ‘detective J Oscar’. Here we are establishing his character. Tairq is stereotypically then represented as ‘the good guy’. The protagonist, typical of a Thriller movie. (For example Liam Nesson in Taken)

Characters and costume: Andrew

Andrew is also a very stereotypical character. Andrew is the person who we see walking to meet someone. Andrews character is an antagonist who is involved in some form of terrorist threat. He is a very typical character. He is dressed all in black with a hooded jacket. This implies that he is trying not to be seen. He is also wearing gloves and holding a glass bottle of alcohol in broad daylight suggesting that he is not as well educated as Tariq and may not share the same morals and norms to everyone else. The way in which he speaks is also very typical. His tone is very common and his words simple. He is an antagonist, he is not the lead antagonist, more like a scapegoat, the one who is done as he is told. This is typical as the one in charge in most Thrillers never deals with illegitimate work first hand. Andrew, I feel is very typical.

Characters and costume: Mohibur

Mohibur is our third character. He plays a similar role to Andrew. He is the man used to pass on the important, top secret macGufifn. He is also dressed in dark colours portraying that he too does not want to draw attention to himself, his hood is also up. We also see that he has a matching tattoo to Andrew highlighting that they work for the same organisation. He also fits the negative stereotype that ethnic minorities are terrorists. This was not done purposely as all of our actors are from different ethnic backgrounds. I feel that the way Mohibur talks to Andrew, with a tone of authority and the fact that Andrew apologises to Mohibur shows that Mohiburs character has a little more importance than Andrews and that in fact Mohibur may be higher up within the organisation.

Settings We do not have many location settings within our opening but the ones

that we do follow Thriller conventions. The setting where Andrew and Mohibur meet is very run down and quiet secluded. There are no people around. This is a typical Thriller setting. The office and the entrance to the office building are typical of Thrillers, meeting places tend to be secluded or in a very highly populated area to avoid suspicion We chose a secluded setting as the macGuffin needs to be seen as highly important and should be shielded from the public eye. Within investigations that do occur in Thrillers there are usually scenes of the office with pictures up on the wall with maps and documents. We tried to create this feel for Tariqs office. We took photos of Andrew and Mohibur from a distance in a way that would make it look like they were taken from a far. We also had images of the tattoo’s on the desk. The entrance is gated indicating high importance and confidentiality. We feel this adds to the idea that Tariq is a very important detective.