Media q1

Media q1

• 1.
  Question 1- Inwhat ways does your product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media product
• 2.
  Frame 1 –Title of the film • One of the frames that I have chosen to speak about is the frame contain the title. The title is placed on a plain black screen in the centre of the shot. The reason for this is that I wanted to create a sense of mystery, so when the audience is watching they will be hooked and want to carry on watching. Also due to the fact that the sense of mystery is a big factor within the film itself. Example of films that also have the sense of mystery are Shutter Island, Inception and Se7en. The title itself helps to carry on the fact of mystery sound the film. It fades in to the screen and then will fade out after. With the title being ‘Element Unknown’ It show the hint that it will also have some kind of Sci-Fi element and being futurist, due to the whatever the element is it is unknown to mankind at the time of the film. Due to all the factors this lead to me feel that showing the title is a futurist font on a blank screen to give a hint but keep the main elements a mystery.
• 3.
  Frame 2 –The setting/location • Another frame that I have chosen to speak about is the frame that first introduces the setting. The main part of the opening is set in a forest. The shot is an establishing shot that helps to guide the audience into knowing that the opening will have a sense of nature within in again linking to the Sci-Fi genre. Due to the fact that this is the first shot that is shown with in the opening highlights the fact that forest will have a major part within the film. Due to the shot not containing a clear person it creates the enigma of who is the person and why are they there. It also helps to make the audience to feel alone due to there not being a clear person in the shot. The setting is a typical thriller setting due to the fact that it perfect for a fast paced chase scene and helps to bring the idea that the main protagonist is isolated. Also it due to nature of the scene we were unable to film it in a public place leading us to bringing the film back to a nature theme.
• 4.
  Frame 3 –Costumes and Props • The costume design of the main antagonist with the opening is a very similar one to Arnold Schwarzenegger’s character in the film ‘The Terminator’. Both charterers wear a black leather jacket, black sunglasses along with other dark clothing. This helps to bring a sense of mystery and unknown towards who the character is therefore help to create another enigma within the opening. Arnold’s character was the main inspiration towards our openings antagonist.
• 5.
  Frame 4 –Camera work and editing • To make our opening a successful one, one the main area we needed to be a big success was the editing and the camera work of the opening. During my groups opening we have a very wide variety of different camera shots to show how the main antagonist is always coming for the main protagonist not matter what angle or from where they are. It also helps to bring a sense of fast paced to the film which as group we felt that we needed due it fitting with the narrative of the opening. The pace of the editing helps to show that there is a chase going on which helps the audience to feel that are part of and will help them to be on the edge of their seats whilst getting involved and caught up in the chase. When the opening changes scene the pace of the editing is slowed down due to the action not being as high as the previous scene. However due to it be of a slow pace helps to highlight the importance of the scene for the rest of the film.
• 6.
  Frame 5 –Credit font and style • The titles that we have included in our opening are of a similar style to ‘The Terminator ‘. The style of the font is of a very futurist looking style. I felt that if having the futurist style similar to the film ‘The Terminator’ fitted perfected with the film due to the fact that it helps to create that feeling that the film has the elements of the future within it. I found it really easy to pick the titles font due to the fact then when I saw it with my group we all decided that it was the best font that would be able to fit with the film to help push the idea that the film had a Sci-Fi feel towards it.
• 7.
  Frame 6 –Story and how the opening sets it up. • When deciding what we was going to film for our opening my group and I always wanted to have an element of action right at the being. We wanted this so we would get the audience at the edge of their seat and have their attention right from the get go of the film. We decided that we would have a section that would have been in the middle of the film at the beginning so it would create many enigmas for the audience. The next scene is the start of the film which tells the story that the main protagonist is sent on an assignment by another man who has nothing revealed about him create a sense of mystery around him. Due to the setting of this scene being with a meeting room shows that the two characters have some kind work related relationship. However the end of the opening where the 2nd man speaks on the phone is a very vital part of the storyline. This is because it helps to create more enigmas for the audience to ask due to the conversation being cut out of the sound. The story of the opening is shown in a non-linear style due the scenes not following each other. This style is similar to the style of Pulp Fiction. The main reason why we decided to film like this was to try and leave many different enigmas within the opening to encourage the audience to want to carry on watching the film.
• 8.
  Frame 7 –Genre and how the opening suggests it. • I believe that the opening shows the audience that the main genre of the film is a thriller. The non-dietetic soundtrack helps to gives an unnerving atmosphere to get the audience engaged and wrapped up within the film. Due to the titles being of a Sci-Fi nature helps to lead the audience to knowing that the thriller will be a Sci-Fi based one. I feel that our opening is not very similar to another thriller that I have seen due to the fact that we have filmed it in a non-linear style. • Below are the main conventions of a Sci-Fi thriller. I have also added a screen grab to back up that the film has backed up the point: • Story of imagery and future predictions. In our opening we have a futurist figure that cannot die. • Setting is one of reality. This is both through the forest and the meeting room. • Supernatural elements. Again this is shown by the futurist figure. • Clear protagonist and antagonist. The protagonist is the character that gets killed and the antagonist is the futurist figure. • Future technology. This is shown by the ‘white outs’ that are through the opening that happen whenever the futurist figure appears. • An element of suspense is created. This is created throughout the whole chase scene within the opening.
• 9.
  Frame 8 –How characters are introduced. • The introduction of the main protagonist is one that the group felt should be one that has a very big layer of confusion around it around due to making the audience wanting to carry on watching. Due to it being a long shot that first introduces the character it helps to make the character feel isolated from the audience so the audience in return will feel isolated as well. Also due to movement that the character is running makes the audience hearts start to race as well due to the intensity of the speed that he is running. This also works hand in hand with the non-dietetic soundtrack.
• 10.
  Frame 9 –Special effects. • Due to our thriller opening containing many Sci-Fi elements we knew that we have to included some kind of special effects within the opening so it would follow the idea of some kind of development in the future. The main special effects we had where the ‘white outs’ that we created. The main reason that we included this where to show the audience that the futurist figure has appeared and would bring some kind of panic/fear to the audience. It would also give the warning that the protagonist was in some kind of danger whenever these ‘white outs’ appeared. Also when we have the P.O.V shot from the futurist figure it is with a very distinctive red tint. This helps to further the idea that the man is from the future and some kind of future technology with him.