Question 1-In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

My thriller film is called ‘The Woods’. To briefly explain the plot, a boy and a girl walk down a dim forest path to a building however inside their conversation is interrupted by a knock on the glass. As I go out to check, I am brutally murdered by a mystery killer shortly before the girl I was walking with is killed by the same mystery person. My group members include myself, Alex Flanagan, Lucy Mumford with Michael John James and Jodie Henderson contributing to filming. My role is lead part in the cast and I am also listed as editor and producer. I feel our group worked very well together and we managed to meet deadlines despite setbacks such as a tight filming schedule.

My thriller film uses many different conventions. For example a non-digetic sound was used over my whole piece to put a dramatic edge to our thriller. I have taken this inspiration from the film ‘Jaws’. There was a great deal of tension is built up just by the sound added in the editing stage. I wanted to make that a key feature in our most key moments. Another technique I used is low key lighting. This is used to keep the audience guessing and create a sense of enigma amongst the audience. Films such as cloverfield use low key light to ensure the audience do not see the full picture. Another convention of a typical thriller is a mysterious killer which uses enigma again. I feel the less the audience know about the killer, the more unpredictable it becomes which can enhance their viewing experience. Thriller films such as ‘Psycho’ and ‘Christine’ make the audience unsure on whom the killer actually is.

I feel these points help define my film as a conventional thriller. Other points can include iconography in which we use a sharp object. Weapons of sharp objects are conventional as they inflict pain which can provoke a reaction amongst the audience. Films like ‘Scream’ or ‘Saw’ are famous for iconography. Looking at a film such as 'Halloween', you could say our generic conventions are similar as there is a death in the opening scene, it is done using iconography and there is enigma surrounding the killer. However what we were looking at here is the cinematography and editing. For example a point of view shot is used in the scene which is how we conduct the killing. This is so audience can be put in the killers shoes. In terms of editing, when it comes to the actual murder, a quick cut is used which leaves the audience in shock after a surprise which was being lead by suspense which is the 3 s’ our group always have in the back of our heads.


My thriller film involved many conventions such as shock, suspense, location, camera angles and iconography. Our thriller used shock as the audience felt surprised to the fact that one of the main characters died. This adds to their experience as this will stick in their head and make them think. A successful thriller keeps the audience thinking.

Suspense is vital as it keeps the audience on the edge of their seats. This is when the non-diagetic sound builds up to the point where I die. Suspense is important to any thriller as it needs to be adrenaline filled otherwise it can become easily boring. Location is also important as it needs to be realistic but also haunting. I decided to use a forest. This allows me to use a quiet dim place as well as a place people deem scary or unsafe at night. People often relate unknowingness to woods and forests and I added an unknown in the shape of a person. This allows the audience to really relate and put themselves in that situation.

Camera angles are important as it allows the audience to read the film from certain prospective. If a high angled shot is used, it allows the audience to see that the characters are being looked down on. This connotes the fact that the characters are vulnerable and are subject to some sort of danger which they are unaware of. This can also prepare the audience for a future shock giving them a foreboding feeling. Iconography is important as the use of props enhances the audiences experience and understanding of the thriller. Props such as knifes and scissors or especially good as the audience can relate with using such items for themselves. This can sometimes 'grab' the audience further.

Images: High angle, Location and iconography

Text in white Noah Lown 3103