In order to develop my response to this question I will have to delve into all areas consisting of what actually occurs within the real media industry. In this case I shall talk about film, meaning I will have to include discussions over Genre, industry, distribution and production. All of these occur when creating a product similar to mine. I will furthermore discuss how mine challenges these forms and conventions.
My own media product fell under the category of psychological thriller. In terms of genre my media product uses existing conventions throughout the whole clip. For example, the use of the constant questioning of what is occurring to the chief protagonist. It gives the audience a sense of unknown, which can be the main aim of a psychological thriller, a great example of a real media product which follows these conventions would be the trailer ’Shutter Island’ which was very influential to me when I was completing my media trailer. As I was able to obtain ideas, in order to follow the norms and values used within the film industry. I kept to the traditional use of Camera angles for example close-ups, pan, mid shot and long shot throughout the whole of my clip and used it to my advantage. For example my scene of violence which arises near the conclusion of my trailer, used angles to both emphasise the violence but also reveal very little. As I used a Close-up shot of the characters forehead attempting to use the scissors to cut of his own tongue and as the camera moves it reveals his hand and the scissors closing, simple but effective. I also for the beginning part of my trailer used sound to add effect, as I used a non-diegetic soundtrack to increase the tension within the audience. Furthermore to add effect I also used diegetic sound to give a mixed effect. Transitions played a lead role in my completed media product, as movie trailers use transitions to their advantage, because the trailer is not there to reveal the whole movie just an insight, and the transitions allow the directors to highlight a change in time or even story. From this fact I decided to continue with the forms and conventions. Additionally I conformed through what occurs at the start and end of my trailer, i.e. title sequence, production credits, production logos, release date etc. For instance I reveal the production company’s title sequence, as the trailer starts and I conclude with a title sequence, production credits and release date, with a simplistic font, and style. These can be seen in all trailers, regardless of genre which shows a clear adaption to real media products.
However there were many sections where I attempted to challenge the norms and convention of usual movie trailers. As I am aware a movie trailer is produced once a movie is completed, in order to advertise the film. Mine was a reversed process as I created a trailer first from what essentially was a ‘fake’ movie. My movie trailer as a whole challenged many conventions. For example the non-diegetic sound I used in the second part of my movie trailer was a country and western song, unlike the tension building composition at the start. This song contrasted both the violent behaviour which was occurring in the trailer and the genre I was portraying. The lighting was completely controversial to what is usual produced within that genre of a media video. A great example of this is through the use of my low angle shot of the chief protagonist attacking an unseen character. As the lighting is very bright, with the sky in the background, it gives of God like imagery. More so he is presented in white, representing purity, here a clear contrast is highlighted between lighting and imagery to what the character is preforming. I chose to do this so the audience will become confused as there is no apparent conclusion to who is in the correct situation the teacher or the main character, resulting in the audience watching the movie in order to find out. I also challenged conventions through the conclusion of my media video, as usually a trailer consists of small sections of a movie revealing very little, however I concluded with a long scene of violence, argument to this may be that it gives too much away within the trailer. On the contrary I feel it does the complete opposite, I feel it gives an insight into what the movie is about and also a questioning within the audience member, to why is he doing this? Subsequently leading a potential audience member in to watching the movie out of curiosity.
In terms of principal photography I attempted to keep to the norms used in the media industry, for example having a planned schedule so all my actors would have knowledge of different roles, times, location etc. I additionally used a friend to be my acting cinematographer. I also produced a script for the movie trailer. However I was unable to fill all roles, as I am aware if this was to occur in the media industry producers would be present to get money but as this was low budget, they were not needed. I do however felt I got an understanding and was able to fill certain positions. Besides the fact the movie was low budget it was hard for me to achieve angles, for example in the real industry tracks may be used of which the camera would be mounted, making movement extremely easy. So in order to achieve me chasing the car I mounted the camera in the back of a car and started chasing. Furthermore the cameras used were lo-fi technology meaning the trailer was not up to the usual highly technological standards. As production companies would be able to use CGI programs, where as I was limited in the editing process, to programs such as I-movie and garage band, meaning room to edit became tight. The actors used by myself were also non-professional, compared to the real industry which would use paid actors, min were friends and family having an effect on my end project in terms of realism.
In terms of my two ancillary tasks I also chose to conform to the conventions used in real media products. Looking at my movie poster, I completely conformed to what occurs within the real movie industry. The reason being is a poster’s key aim is to advertise the movie. So I showed the main protagonists within the movie, highlighted the science through the sums, emphasised the lettering and tag line, presented the production credits with logos, age restriction. Furthermore to match this modern society I placed a QR code at the bottom of my poster which when scanned would lead to my media A2 blog. Additionally this was equivalent when completing my magazine front cover, as again I showed the chief protagonist, bold title (which I chose based upon the hybrid camera used in avatar, highlight modern society), Sub-titles In order to help retail the magazine, also what else may be included within the magazine i.e., models, celebrities, reviews, all the typical conventions of a real media product. The only differentiation would be the business side of what to do next. For example once a magazine/poster is completed, they would be advertised at shops, cinemas, on the internet etc. But due to this being small budget and not a ‘real’ movie, I could not get a feel for this side of the industry.
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