Q1. In what ways does your media product use,

develop or challenge forms and conventions of

real media products?

Nikitha Manthena

Use of conventions

Most thrillers are seen to have guns and shooting to give the viewers a thrill whilst watching it. You see the dead body and hear another gunshot, the audience is supposed thinks someone else has been killed, it therefore uses generic conventions.

Development of conventions

When you watch our opening you wouldn’t suspect it to be a thriller, therefore our film builds a story for there to be a gory scene to make it a thriller. As the entire opening revolves around the shooting scene, hence shows development.

Challenges of conventions

No one actually dies, in reality there is no blood, because it was all just a dream. This challenges the convention as none of that happened which plays around with audience to make them think its real, until they find out it was a dream and nothing happened.

The Usual Suspects My thriller opening

Darker setting

Conversation between the shooter and protagonist.

Lighter setting

No conversation between the shooter and protagonist.

Builds suspense of shooter

Heartbeat and flat line as background soundtrack

Musical background soundtrack

All characters wearing formal clothing

Shooter wearing formal clothing only, victim wearing informal clothing.

Gun shot

Hidden identity

Non diegetic sound

Low angle shot

Shooter wears dark clothing

We compared our thriller to another thriller called “The Usual Suspects”, and found the similarities and differences.

Thriller Conventions

Most thrillers have guns to thrill the audience. Which is the main prop in spy thrillers.

Dead bodies are key. They create the fear and worry and is often used in spy thrillers.

Thrillers usually use twists and turns such as dreams to make the film more interesting.

Opening Sequence conventions

Saroop is knocking on Alessia’s door asking to come in which shows power as he needs permission.

Everyone is up on their feet congratulating her. Which shows power because she will be their boss someday.

The lady is the bad guy, therefore this convention is subverted as it is normally a man.