Ransom (Final Draft)

How did you attract/address your audience?

I addressed my target audience by strictly abiding by the codes and conventions of the thriller genre, for example by adding action and quick edits etc. This established the genre, and attracted the target audience. From the audience research I conducted and analysed I chose to stick to the results I received . This will attract the majority of the target audience based on the trends of their answers. Another way I attracted the target audience is by creating characters and casting actors that would match the age of the audience. In this way they would be able to relate to the characters and narrative that I have developed. I added tense music to build up suspense throughout the scene. Keeping the mood tense, making the viewer anxious from the start.
My audience feedback for my thriller has been overwhelmingly positive with viewers praising the originality of the thriller and the editing especially. Many people liked the use of the split screen and changing the thriller from the standard colour to black and white. However, people felt that there was too little dialogue and characterization. Leading them to feel detached from the characters. My response to this would be that characterization would happen later in the film. Some viewers also pointed out that background ambient sound could improve the opening scene. I agree with this point as only using background music makes the thriller seem very constructed and not real.

Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the full product?

What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?

Canon EOS 700D Camera

As I am resubmitting my AS coursework I have a developed knowledge of the technologies needed for this project.
For my research and planning stage I used a limited number of technologies. The main technology I used was the internet which proved invaluable to me, as it enabled me to research the thriller genre and analysis other opening scenes from YouTube. However, for some planning such as storyboards and initial ideas I used the standard pen and paper.
I used the Canon EOS 700D to film my thriller, this is my own personal camera and I have history of using this sort of cameras to film making the filming experience go swimmingly. From this project I learnt how to set the white balance. The white balance is vital to make sure the camera is using the correct colour scheme. From my previous experience I have knowledge of using the many of the operations on the camera such as; zoom, focus, brightness etc. In addition to using my camera, I also used a tripod to steady the camera when in stationary positions and when needin
g to move when filming or terrain that was ill equipped for the tripod I used a shoulder mount.

Premiere Pro

My previous experiences of using Premiere Pro were simply cutting clips and placing them in sequence and adding some titles, in the journey of making this opening scene I developed my skill of technologies dramatically. For the first time I used a split-screen which in my opinion raises the level of my thriller. I also learnt how to use fades, in my opinion fades make my thriller look more professional.
I used other digital media in my evaluation stage of my coursework. Some of the technologies I used were Prezi and Slideshare, this enabled me to present my evaluations in a engrossing way for the reader.

What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?

What kind of media institution might distribute your from Hall98

Who would be the audience for your media product?

The thriller genre is one of the most popular in film, due to the fact that the many films can have thriller elements the sheer number of sub-genres means they intertwine with almost every other film. All genders and mostly adults watch thrillers, due to adult themes in them. 

Quentin Tarantino,"The King of Dialogue"

In my opinion, my thriller would hopefully be appeal to both genders above the age of 15. The film would later introduce characters that would be appeal, if I were to make the opening scene into a feature length film the co-protagonist would be a rookie female police detective trying to find the victim, who has to deal with institutional sexism and doubts that she is in some way involved in the kidnapping. This hopefully would appeal to the female audience who would find a character they can relate to. For the male audience the other co-protagonist, the victim or the two antagonists would appeal to them. The film in my opinion would be rated 15, as they even the opening scene has explicit language and violence; these would also be rife in the film as they are key conventions of thrillers. Action and to a lesser extent violence will appeal to the male audience who often enjoy them. The fact that the film is British: British cast and set in Britain means that internationally it may have less interest as other countries might not understand accents or slang, however it will have more national interest. Another point is that people from older generations may dislike the film due to them finding the explicit language offensive. On the other hand, in my opinion those who are fans of crime thrillers and also of Quentin Tarantino will especially enjoy this thriller. As I would like my thriller to have the same slick dialogue that Tarantino is known for and the same use of excessive violence and swearing. 

How does your media product represent particular social groups?

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

An example of violence

Thrillers have many conventions of what makes them part of the genre, these include but are not limited to; suspense must be created, plot twists, dark/low key lighting, dramatic music to build up the tension, quick edits during a tense scene and violence.
One convention used in my thriller is dramatic background music. The music is used throughout the scene to create tension and heighten any existing tension form the video. The music matches the build-up of the thriller with the music climaxes at the same time as the victim gets kidnapped. This is used to make the scene even more suspenseful for the viewer.
Another convention used in my thriller is violence. Violence is only seen at the climax of my thriller, where the victim gets kidnapped. The victim is bagged, punched repeatedly before finally being bundled into a boot of a car. This not only creates tension for the viewer as they have just witnessed a crime and but will provide satisfaction for the viewers who enjoy violence and action.

An example of a production company

One other convention used in my thriller is quick edits during a tense scene. In the last segment of my thriller the criminals kidnap the victim, quick edits are used. I used this convention to portray both suspense and action, as one shot of the kidnapping would make the scene incredibly boring.
Plot twists could be argued that they appear in my thriller. After the victim has run away from his initial encounter with the kidnappers, he takes a break from running after believing his has escaped from his pursuers. To his and the viewers shock the kidnappers had cut him off and kidnap him.

An example of a title

Opening scenes have many conventions of what makes them part of the genre, these include but are not limited to; titles of cast and crew, introduction of characters, establishment of the genre, action.
The scene opens with slides of the production company and distributing company, followed by the title of the thriller. This shows that the narrative of the scene is clear to be an opening scene rather than a trailer, due to the main title appearing at the start of the clip rather than at the end. The thriller also has titles of the cast and crew, and finishes with the director which is a common theme of opening scenes. Characters are partly introduced, as the three characters seen in the opening scene will be the main stars of the thriller. However, the characters are not named making their introduction to the viewer hard to say. As previously stated the genre of thriller is established due to use of common thriller conventions. In addition, action is also used to engross the viewer to carry on watching the film. My opening scene has this as the victim is bagged, punched repeatedly before finally being bundled into a boot of a car this should portray satisfaction to the viewer.

Second Draft: Audience Feedback

Positives:

• Good editing during the kidnapping
• Split screen
• Original idea
• Decent first draft
• Black and whit
• Made some improvements

Negatives:

• Possibly change titles to white instead of black
• Keep titles on one clip
• Loud wind
• Add ambient sound
• Possibly make the establishing shot shorter

Ransom (Second Draft)

First Draft: Audience Feedback

Positives:

• Good editing during the kidnapping
• Split screen
• Original idea
• Decent first draft
• Black and white

Negatives:

• Titles are sometimes not visible
• Keep titles on one clip
• Loud wind
• Music climaxes before the visual climax

Ransom (First Draft)