Question one: in what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?
In our thriller 'COUNTERPLAY', we used two different, contrasting locations. Firstly, the chess scene was filmed in my conservatory, and the chase scene was filmed outside down an alleyway. Our chosen locations were a significant part of our opening as they were two strikingly different locations, using a variation of a controlled setting with a more chaotic setting to create a juxtaposition between the two. This conforms to the genre and sub-genre of a typical crime thriller as there is often various different types of locations.
One existing media text that personally influenced me on deciding the calmer location was the American TV series 'Suits'. One way in which this media product has influenced my decision on location is the way in which the rooms are set out with the table and the diegetic lighting. It also influenced me as it is a controlled location which reinforces the character's higher class.
We also used costume to highlight the contrast between our two pairs of characters. For example, the character in the first picture, played by Rakib Hussain is wearing a suit, in comparison to the antagonist in the second picture, played by Lewis Hunt, who is wearing casual wear with his hood up. This difference in costume is typical of the genre as it creates a binary opposition between different classes and leads the audience to have different opinions on each character at the start of the film just because of what they are wearing.
The characters in the thriller opening are also typical of the genre as it includes character types such as a protagonist, antagonists and an innocent, vulnerable victim, all of which are clearly defined. The young victim girl, played by Grace Peacock, is an example of this as when we first meet her she is leaving a party and his happy, which creates more sympathy for her nearer the end of the clip where she is clearly fearing for her life.
We also used props to conform to the genre and characters of our thriller. For example, the use of the Ribena, imitating red wine, and the cigarettes conform to the use of stimulants such as alcohol and cigarettes that are commonly used in crime thrillers, as it highlights how characters may be higher class due to being able to afford such luxuries. The prop of the phone and the water, imitating cheap vodka, used for the teenage girl also modernises the convention used in a thriller as it signifies her age and youthful nature.
We also used lighting to create contrast between the two scenes. For example the low-key lighting in the chase scene created a more menacing and frightening tension to the scene. Where as the strong chiaroscuro lighting used in the chess scene created a more calm yet tense atmosphere, with the harsh shadows also used to add mystery to the characters.
Jazz saxophone music used in the chess scene:
We also used costume to highlight the contrast between our two pairs of characters. For example, the character in the first picture, played by Rakib Hussain is wearing a suit, in comparison to the antagonist in the second picture, played by Lewis Hunt, who is wearing casual wear with his hood up. This difference in costume is typical of the genre as it creates a binary opposition between different classes and leads the audience to have different opinions on each character at the start of the film just because of what they are wearing.
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| Smart costume |
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| Informal costume |
The characters in the thriller opening are also typical of the genre as it includes character types such as a protagonist, antagonists and an innocent, vulnerable victim, all of which are clearly defined. The young victim girl, played by Grace Peacock, is an example of this as when we first meet her she is leaving a party and his happy, which creates more sympathy for her nearer the end of the clip where she is clearly fearing for her life.
We also used props to conform to the genre and characters of our thriller. For example, the use of the Ribena, imitating red wine, and the cigarettes conform to the use of stimulants such as alcohol and cigarettes that are commonly used in crime thrillers, as it highlights how characters may be higher class due to being able to afford such luxuries. The prop of the phone and the water, imitating cheap vodka, used for the teenage girl also modernises the convention used in a thriller as it signifies her age and youthful nature.
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| Phone |
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| Wine |
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| Cigarette |
We also used lighting to create contrast between the two scenes. For example the low-key lighting in the chase scene created a more menacing and frightening tension to the scene. Where as the strong chiaroscuro lighting used in the chess scene created a more calm yet tense atmosphere, with the harsh shadows also used to add mystery to the characters.
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| Low-key lighting used in the chase scene and chiarscuro in the chess scene |
We used sound to create a more atmospheric chess scene which added to the idea of the scene being in a more controlled setting. For example, the diegetic sound of the saxophone jazz music played (link below) adds a calm yet tense tone to the scene. In comparison to this, the non-diegetic music used in the chase scene adds an alert and chilling tone and increases the panic within the scene.
Jazz saxophone music used in the chess scene:
One way in which we used camerawork effectively is through the use of closeups and extreme closeups. For example the close up of the chessboard gives a sense of a claustrophobic atmosphere to my work. This type of shot also adds more depth to my shots, and meaning to the game which my characters are playing. With the camera focused onto the chessboard it adds a sense of importance, making this a running theme throughout the clip. 
This close up is effective in a similar way as the character's face fills up the short, giving a significance to his line, ''checkmate''. This again creates a feeling that there is more to this game of chess than there first is seen. This line and close up also comes at the climax of the music as the piece of jazz music becomes louder and stronger, which adds to the significance.
Well done - I'm impressed - this shows what you can achieve when you focus and work hard. Well done for using media terms such as 'binary oppositions'. There are however some places where you could have used more media terminology e.g. instead of 'lack of lighting' use 'low key lighting'. You could also include more info on camera work - you write about CUs, but not the other shots you've employed.
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