Evaluation Q1-In what ways does your media product use, develop, or challenge forms and

conventions?

Josh Tucker

Thriller ConventionAs research we created a mind map of various screenshots from different thriller films. We analysed the 7 conventional features in the average thriller film:• Setting• Protagonist• Antagonist• Themes• Visual Style• Iconography

We studied two thriller films (Prisoners and Shutter Island)and analysed the 7 conventions within those two films.

SettingThis shot shows where our thriller film takes place. The library is usually labelled as a quiet and peaceful place, but we added a dramatic twist by having an antagonist and protagonist within the library. The librarian (as shown below) is an innocent citizen in a comfortable surrounding. We challenged the standard conventions from thriller films, this is because of the unusual scenery for the story to take place. I took this screenshot from ‘Shutter Island’, the building would be described as intimidating. A library would not be seen as an intimidating place, this is why we have challenged this convention.

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Protagonist/VictimOur victim is working alone in the library. A typical protagonist would not be seen in a library this connotes that we challenged the conventions that would normally appear in a standard Thriller film. In the thriller film we created the girl to be the only victim in our film, this means that the attention is solely focused towards he her and the antagonist. The protagonist is yet to be fully revealed fully as she is missing at the end of our thriller. Usually in a thriller film the protagonist either goes missing or is faced with difficult circumstances throughout the film. We used this convention as Kiera goes missing. The middle shot is from ‘Prisoners’ the victims go missing which shows a resemblance to our film.

AntagonistOur antagonist In our film ‘Index’ the villain is presented as a typical antagonist because of the dark clothing, hidden face, heavy footsteps and the slow paced walking. What also makes our film use thriller conventions is the mysterious whereabouts of our character. The bottom picture shows the villain with a section of his emotion, and a hand drawing towards the camera, this gives a sense that the protagonist is in control and feels confident and satisfied that the end is near for the victim.

ThemesOur main theme is based around a prisoner who has escaped from a prison and targeting this young and vulnerable girl in the library. We used this convention which are often presented in general thriller films. The message ‘Escaped’ is bold and eye catching, this adds further tension and panic to the film because the viewer is aware of the situation but our victim is unaware.The middle picture is a flashback of the earlier moment in the film, quick editing and in black and white. Many flashbacks are shown in black and white as shown in the bottom picture which was taken from ‘Shutter Island’. The use of a black and white image shows sign of importance and suspense because of the change from the usual colour pictures. Characters who have just escaped from prison may have pictures shown in black and white.

IconographyIn various thriller films crucial icons are expressed throughout, they are often reverted back to because of their importance. An old clock could be seen as being iconic because it signals the passing of time in our chase between the two characters. Although we did not include a weapon as a prop, the door handle represented fear and horror for our victim as we slowly zoomed closer to the handle. The picture below is taken from the thriller film ‘Prisoners’ and portrays danger and panic.

Visual StyleIn our thriller we wanted to show expressions of hidden identity so we blurred an image of the antagonist. The shot is a POV shot from the victim as he surrounds her and finally the viewers get a chance to see the antagonist in full view. We used a blur to highlight the victim’s disillusion, disorientation and sudden panic at the time.The bottom picture expresses the antagonist casually strolling around the library. We tried to relate with the viewers by using the same body language all the way through the film. We used this convention from standard thrillers because a dark figure and blur effects are regularly used to connote fear

EnigmaDuring ’Index’ our victim is pictured here trapped at the top floor of the library with the antagonist close by. The enigma that runs at this point of the film is whether she is murdered or kidnapped. After we see the final scene in the library, we then switch to a picture of the missing poster (as shown). We left the film on a cliff-hanger so the viewers will be still unaware if the girl is dead or actually still alive. In many thrillers this example of an enigma is expressed because it creates an enticing storyline and attracts the viewers attention.