Evaluation

Media film evaluation.

Our media product uses, develops, challenges forms and conventions of a real thriller film in a variety of different ways.

In terms of camera movements are film conforms to the conventions of a thriller as we have utilized tracking, panning shots at the beginning of our film. This is commonly done in thrillers particularly to track a group of people. We have conformed to this ideology of tracking and panning multiple subjects within a scene. This technique has also been used efficiently in one of our inspiration films, The Dark Knight. We also conform in terms of camera angles as he use low angle shots to express power dynamics and to also create disorientation for the audience as looking down upon the detectives gives a sense that they are not as powerful as they seem thus portraying a sense of vulnerability. For mise en scene our film conforms to conventions as we use lighting to reflect equilibrium and disequilibrium rather than to portray it clearly to the audience through our characters. This is done to display a thriller narrative as this makes our film unpredictable. This is similarly done in in most films such as Se7en where lighting is used in different atmospheres to express the genre and to portray suspense and perhaps disorientation.

For editing we have used jump cuts to create a fast pace to our film this is commonly done in thrillers to portray a variety of glimpses to the audience used to fill the audience in on the numerous events within the narrative. For sound we have used non diegetic music as this was a key feature in all films studied this creates a sound bridge to provide smooth transitions between scenes. This is also done to provide key insight into characters and there notions and this also expresses an ideology of suspense and tension conforming to the conventions of a thriller.

For actors position we subvert the conventions of a thriller as in films studied such as se7en, characters mainly feature in the centre of the frame whereas some of our camera shots feature the subjects slightly to the side portraying the surroundings to the audience to give a sense of realism as the surrounding are also in focus for the audience to gain a clear perspective of narrative.

Our film appeals to the target audience of teenagers between fifteen and eighteen year olds, this is due to our market research as the target audience for psychological thrillers are 15-18 year olds. We have adapted a suspense filled narrative to appeal to the social group of teenagers as are audience research suggests that teenagers regularly see thrillers as they tend to move towards thrill to experience escapism with their friends, as young people enjoy socialising with their friends however limitations on entertainment directs teenagers towards cinema, this is utilized by institutions as teenagers have disposable income as parents fund their children’s entertainment.  We have subverted conventions by using two black anti-heroes being the detectives and a white man as the villain, using binary composition to subvert conventions allowing the audience to ask questions. This could also create disorientation thus conforming to the conventions of a thriller. We also represent males as dominant and powerful as we express our male characters as bold, brave and witty. We also subvert props character theory as we do not feature a damsel in distress, wise man or blockers. This subverts conventions however conforms to the suspense aspect of the film as our narrative has been made unpredictable as we haven’t used props character theory. Our media product also represents young men as are younger detective is portrayed as rash, this represents the youth as “hot headed” and perhaps “cool”. Our elder detective and villain are middle aged and are portrayed as much calmer and wise, thus representing this social group in positive manor.

A media institution in an often profit based company that distribute and advertise media products. In terms of a production company, New line cinema or Warner Bros entertainment and Syncopy Inc. might produce our film as our market research and film analysis shows that these production companies have produced similar products to our as we have taken inspiration from The Dark Knight and Se7en. For distribution Warner Bros entertainment would be the ideal production company due to their success in distributing their products to cinema making their products global successes creating a successful box office. For marketing we would use posters, word of mouth and newspapers as these would be cheaper forms of advertising. This would also be deemed as efficient as readership numbers could lead to further advertisement from posters as multiple numbers of people will be perceptible to our forms of advertising. Major media institutions such as News Corporation being the second largest in terms of revenue would also be an ideal distribution company In terms of generating a successful box office due to their success with many films they have distributed. This would generate high popularity and publicity for our film and further more to attract a variety of different target audiences.

Our main target audience for our film would be 15-18 year old male and female teenagers, as they tend to enjoy thriller films and our also perceptible to disposable income from their parents. Also teenagers are easily targeted by use of the hypodermic syringe theory therefore enjoy watching thriller films as they are seen as “cool” and therefore they must stay up to date with what is “cool” and therefore must see it. Further more teenagers have many social groups and friends therefore a sense of readership for a film can be made as if our film appeals to one teenager, they will want o watch it thus invited other teenagers thus leading to more revenue for the film. Our product appeals further to men as we use power dynamics featuring men as dominant thus expressing men in our narrative.

We attracted and addressed our audience through our research and planning of thrillers studying the dark knight and se7en also David Fincher’s fight club studying the different types of target audiences for thrillers. After analysing the factors of modern cinema and the genre of our product we came to the conclusion that 15-18 year olds would be our target audience as they go for the thrill of cinema to experience thrill rather than to relax as adults would prefer. Our research showed that teenagers enjoy the trill, tension and suspense to experience entertainment. To do this we created a narrative inspired by one of our research films, Se7en as we have featured a suspense filled narrative leaving our audience on the edge of their seat wanting to find out more as we have used a similar style to Seven by using two detectives and a cunning villain. However we have used two black males as our heroes thus flipping general conventions enabling our product to seem less predictable and add more suspense thus conforming to the conventions of a thriller is this aspect.

In terms of the construction of our product and the technologies used in the process of constructing our product I have learnt that extensive research and planning with a team of dedicated individuals is required to succeed as teamwork is key to succeed with every member carrying out their roles for the team thus allowing the construction of the media product to be successful. I have also learnt the use of many cameras, equipment and the use of a variety of camera angles and shots. Through filming our film I have learnt the use of tools to create smooth filming to express different meanings and to portray narrative to our audience. Further more I have learnt the key of editing used to engage the audience with professionalism and further more to portray cinematography and mise en scene to the audience allowing them to perceive the narrative, as you want it.

In conclusion looking back I have learned it not only takes effort, it also takes time and skill to create a film as you must work in a team to create an expressive narrative for your target audience conforming to the conventions of your genre to also play on your audiences needs to be successful. Looking back many research and planning was needed before filming to ensure we had constructed a suitable narrative for our target audience. Further more redrafts were needed as working in a team meant putting our minds together to construct a successful media product.in terms of filming I have learnt that many retakes are needed and filming must take place with the highest level of accuracy to avoid continuity errors to avoid the undermining of the connection you make with your product to your audience.