Monday, 17 December 2012

Evaluation 1 17/12/12




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

My short film, film poster and film review page, do use and challenge the forms and conventions of real media products that inspired me to follow the same similar concept. Since our genre of our film belongs to a school thriller film, researching films such as Bang Bang Your Dead (2002) seemed as a suitable concept that I have followed since it belong to a school massacre type of a film. By technically analysing the feature of the film, I have realised that the film was considered to be a, low budget film; I have followed that specific conventions since my film production didn’t consist of investing any money for hiring actors, costumes, location and camera with equipment. Furthermore I have managed to follow the same structure and elements of independent films such as:


  • Producing an exciting & original idea for example managing to produce a basic story where a group of young teenagers are caught drinking and two of them end up in a classroom after they collapse. In comparison I have managed to follow the same conventions of developing a simple plot from Bang Bang your dead (2002). There plot was about a young teenager who constantly gets bullied at school.
  • A Strong script, in which I have managed to present a scenario case that can happen in any particular situation such as drinking constantly, can lead to a death situation. In comparison to Bang Bang your dead (2002) they have managed to present a situation where a victim seeks for revenge as by being bullied constantly, which further leads to victim of being a killer.
  • Good acting in which I have managed to hire drama students that are sensible and mature. It was very compulsory to hire well performed actors instead of anyone who can’t even act because there will be less errors of any mistakes of dialogue or acting.
  • Length of film, where I have managed to produce a 5 minute film.
  • Strong beginning
  • Avoid repetition & punchline twist for example for my short film there wasn’t any repetition accept for a scene where the drinking scene was shown at the classroom however this was used for the big twist where the scene presents them being shot. So therefore I have used only one repetitive scene but it was only specifically used for the punchline twist of the story.

Bang Bang your dead (2002) Trailer




Combining the forms of conventions from a low budget film alongside with an independent film allowed me to receive a creative end result.

For my film poster I have managed to research several independent films and analysed how they advertise their final product. Short films such as ‘Ink’ and ‘Primer’ included devices such as evident quotes, cast, film production and most importantly the creativity of their graphical image that presents something that the audience will recognise the genre of their film. However I then went against the forms and conventions of these independent film posters by using the same similar concept of a well-known film poster ‘Detention’ (2011). As my film were consumed to be a school massacre type of a film ,this film were considered to be a very useful resource to develop my own film poster. This is because the layout of the film poster seemed very professional and very creative in a more school horror type of a look and also the way they manage to include every devices that every film poster includes such as cast, production and distributor companies, date release and most importantly how they manage to structure the layout of the poster in a creative format. Since the film were considered to be very well-known, i have realised how they had to spend money on developing these posters. This explains how I have managed to went against the forms and conventions where I have managed to produce my own film poster without investing any money.
























I believe that the similarities of the posters from my film compared to ‘Detention’ (2011) is, we both use an image that represents either a motivation of a character or a symbol which audiences will acknowledge the film for example, the prefect badge is a symbol which presents the motivation of the prefect to seek power and dominance. Also for ‘Detention’ (2011) the bloody drawn skeleton is a symbol of the evil character when they hunt their victims. I have used the similar red and white colour font as ‘Detention’ (2011).However the red is presented more as a bloody look of the poster which clarifies the film to be represented as a horror film. In comparison with my film poster, I have used a brighter red and white font of the poster. With the prefect badge it is coated with light red but abit splashed around the surface of the item to present it more as a thriller look rather than a bloody look where as ‘Detention’ (2011) uses a more red splashy look around the whole background. Overall I have managed to use the same forms and conventions by using an image which symbolises the main motivation of a character within the poster. However I went against the forms and conventions from ‘Detention’ (2011) by presenting it more as thriller look rather than a more bloody horror look.



Before developing my film review page, I have managed to research many independent film magazine articles that includes a section where they review films. Film Magazines such as Filmmaker and Gorilla films were the two that I have analysed. 








Both magazines specialises of reviewing independent films that belong in a category of horror/thriller type films. Out of the two, Filmmaker was considered to be an inspire for myself to actually try and develop the same concept of reviewing my own film in a similar format. As I have analysed a review page of a film named Suspect, I have managed to  received a general idea of how they structure their layout in a creative format of positioning their screenshots of the films, evident quotes and expressive words for example ‘gripping’, shocking’ and ‘tense thriller’. These words indicates a more spooky and horrified feeling, which then presents how its more believable that this film can be referred to a recommendable horror/thriller film to be watched. By analysing these words saved me a general idea of how I must use expressive words within my review page. Therefore I have included words such as “Thrilling” ,”shocking” and “executed” to provide a horror/thriller presentation to the audience , especially by presenting these words with red bold text. I also analysed how they use technical devices such as the film star ratings, most importantly, how their style of English language and grammar is executed perfectly which is very easy to understand their personal opinion. I have managed to use the same style form of English which doesn’t consider to be too formal but very simple to understand. I also manage to become very bias of being very positive of reviewing the film, similar to Filmmaker which I believe allows the film to be more acknowledge and rewarded for their creativity. Most importantly, structuring the same layout of the review page for example producing it in a horizontal format where it allows me to easily include the print screen shot of the scenes. Overall By viewing how filmmaker accomplishes of including their expressive words that empathises their strong impression of the film, I have managed to further expand the typography of the review page such as becoming more bias of being positive, also highlighting every expressive words in red.


In conclusion by understanding how I have managed to follow the forms and conventions to real media products I have realised that There are no hard and fast rules as to what makes a good short film,; as with features, different audiences love different films and an award-winner in one viewer's eyes will be a dull cliché in another’s. Obviously there is an element of creativity that must be used for producing short films, film posters and also film review page which can at least boost p a films reputation. 

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