Evaluation Question 1

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

Charlie Davey

In this question, I will discuss how my editing decisions interact with the conventions and also any other decisions I took part in when planning  the opening sequence. 

The Conventions

The titles follow the standard conventions of the orders of titles, particularly from what I researched about 'Forrest Gump' . The order is the same as I feel it makes the movie seem more professional and therefore more pleasing for audiences. The font and size of the text keeps the mood of the piece serious and real so the audience understand that this drama film has it's serious side. The more subtle text also makes the film seem more realistic making it achieve more verisimilitude and therefore following the realistic convention of drama films.

However our main title reveals the films more joyous, possible comical side of the film as it breaks convention (featuring last), and is much brighter/bolder than other titles. This is not only suitable for the film as it makes the title stand out, it also portrays the positive side of the film, which keeps it being a drama film as it portrays a variety of powerful emotions which follows the 'emotionally moving' convention I researched.

I choose to challenge conventions in my opening three titles that depicted the distributor, production company and producer as they were larger and more prominent than the rest. The ideal connotation is that it reflects on the size of the difficult he is about to face, as the footage behind the text reveals his isolation. The larger size is also more in the viewers face, and this helps emphasize the intensity in the beginning of this drama film, which again goes against convention. More on next slide

TITLES

USES

DEVELOPS
CHALLENGES

The Conventions

Pacing & Transitions

I decided to develop the pacing conventions of a drama film in the opening sequence. Most dramas (ie Juno/Forrest Gump) begin slowly and allow audiences to really get to know the protagonist, however being a thriller sub-genre I decided to experiment by making the opening slightly more intense that a usual opening and a lot more mysterious as 'JJ' quickly becomes an enigmatic character that the audience will gradually break down and work out throughout the film. In the flashback after the title sequence viewers learn a few aspects about JJ that help define his overall character. This little flashback is also vital in keeping the film a drama film as it allows our target audience to be involved with 'Preferred Reading' as the audience finds JJ a relatable character that they can easily bond to throughout the film.

My use of fades also develop conventions as they are designed to slightly reduce pace to keep hold of the drama film, but their primordial effect is to portray JJ's disorientation and confusion, which can hopefully also be felt in the audience. This two-in-one effect is hopefully effective at bringing across my desired effect and also keeping the film close enough to the drama conventions that it can still be classified as one.

The final title which also acts as a transition helped me alter the pace very quickly and help make the small flashback after the title (which would be going about 20 seconds after the time constraints)  much more fitting of a drama film.

USES

DEVELOPS
CHALLENGES

The Conventions

Mise-en-scene

We chose to film in a forest to emphasize JJ's isolation and follow conventions of a thriller being quite menacing and initmiadating.

We chose to make JJ wear stereotypical clothes so he is more relatable for the audience, which enhances the 'Preferred Reading' effect, following the conventions of a drama.