Evaluation Question 1

In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

Location/ Establishing shotMy film Opening Existing Film

This shot is the first shot within both my film but also the hustle clip I have taken the shot from. This type of shot is conventional for all film openings as it helps to set the scene and location of the film to help show the audience what type of location and setting the film is set and therefore the genre of film that this film is. Hustle has used an establishing shot that shows a city, this has connotations and stereotypes of wealth and a busy life, along with stereotypes of upper class people and business men in suits this therefore also shows what type of characters may be in the film. Although I have not taken this shot in a city I still feel I this shot is still conventional. To further improve this shot I could have taken this shot so that it includes more high rising buildings that are conventional for large busy cities.

Introduction of main characterMy Film Opening Existing Film

The main character of the film is usually the first character that the audience gets introduced to. Within both openings that are shown we are introduced to the main character this may be seen as conventional as along with the establishing shot it may help to set the storyline. Within my film opening I feel that I have not given an indication of the storyline however I have introduced the main character so that we can get an idea of the type of character he is. By doing this it helps to establish what the characters lifestyle is like and therefore may give an indication of what the film is going to be like. this may also be a convention as it may incise the audience to watch on.

Costume My Film Opening Existing Film

Not only do costumes help to identify one character from another but it also helps the audience relate to stereotypes that may be associated with the costume for example businessmen and suits. The conventional costume that can be seen within the action crime genre is that of a smart well dressed business man like costume. I feel that this is something that can be seen in both films shown. A further use of costume that is also conventional for film could also include helping to separate the characters from one another and to also show whether they are good or bad. Within my film I have done this through the colour ties that the characters. For example the main character is wearing a red tie this may be seen as a positive colour and therefore shows that he is good whereas the mark within the opening is seen wearing a black tie this is a more dark colour and therefore shows that he is bad.

PropsMy Film Opening Existing Film

The Main use for props is to help identify something or somewhere for example a group of tables and coffee mugs helps to indentify the location as being at a cafe. On the other hand props can also help to identify different types of characters for example a man with a brief case stereotypically would be seen as a business man. The type of props we have used do both of these things. The coffee mug and tip tray on the table helps to identify the location of the scene as being at a cafe but we have also used a phone and car keys to help show that the mark within this shot is busy. Using props is conventional for all films as it is part of the mis en sene of the film.

My Film Opening Existing Film

It is conventional for all films to use titles at the beginning of the film to help show who was involved in the creation of the film. These titles may conventionally include the director, producer, writers and the main actors that feature in the film. I feel that my film is conventional as I have not only added these titles but I have also added the conventional jobs that the people do. Different films display these titles and text in different ways to match the genre of the film. The way I have chosen to display this is through placing the text over the film this is to avoid splitting the film up and therefore making the film make sense. An example where this method can be seen could be in the opening to Italian job 1969 On the other hand the existing film that I have chosen, use title screens to place text this helps to make the text look important and to also stand out. Both of these methods can be seen as conventional and are both used in film openings.

Film TitleMy Film Opening Existing Film

Titles of the film can be seen as the most important part of a film opening as it informs the reader about the name of the film. Title are conventionally placed on titles screens this is to make the text stand out and look important, this is something that both film openings shown have included. The type of font that I have used within my titles can also be seen as conventional to the genre in which I have chosen. The type of font that I have used is bold and may carry connotations of graffiti which helps to link the film to the genre of action crime. I have also chosen to use a black background and white text because I feel that this is a bold clean look which helps to relate to the type of film.

TransitionsMy Film Opening Existing Film

Different types of films may use different transitions however a conventional transition for the genre that I have chosen is the push slide this transition could either push the shot/ film out of view so that it revels a black screen or it could push a second shot into view. Both of these methods are conventional for the genre that I have chosen. A further convention to the genre could also include a variation to the direction that the transition moves. I have ensure that throughout my opening I have used different directions so that it feels more edgy and therefore matches the feel of the film.

Camera effectsMy Film Opening Existing Film

Splitting the screen during post production helps to show different multiple things that are happening at the same time but also different perspectives while the action is taking place. this type of effect is not conventional for film openings or films within the genre to use however some films do use this to help set the scene and to also give the audience an advantage to seeing what is going on.

EffectsMy Film Opening Existing Film

Visual effects are added during post production stage and help to focused the audiences attention to a specific thing on the screen. The effect used here is slow motion, this helps to add an effect to the shot as it makes it seem more dramatic as well as focusing the audience attention on the action that is going on. This type of effect is conventional to films within the action crime genre although this effect may not be used across all films.