Evaluation Question 1

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

Here is a step by step run through of our film, and how we have challenged or used forms of conventions in our film.

1. The most obvious change in convention of our film is that it starts not at the beginning, but near the end. This leaves the audience immediately in a position where they want to know why this situation is happening, and how it will be resolved. Most films simply follow a linear structure of beginning to end. Furthermore, the opening wide shot offers no detail into the action that is happening, simply showing lights and noise. This is not the traditional introduction to a film, as there is no background exposition to what is happening, which makes it feel more intense for an audience.
2. The ending of our film ends with a wide angle pan of Jack walking to school. It also reveals another character, Tony. This is unconventional, as we are essentially putting in a spoiler of the narrative at the beginning of the film. In the first shot, we hear "Tony we know who you are." This adds in a way to the comedic aspect of the film, as it adds dramatic irony; the audience knows the villain before the characters do.
3. Our first mid-shot of our character is unconventional. Firstly, it shows our protagonist is a teenager, rare, especially considering the amount of violence he is put through. Secondly, there is a pause in the action, with Jack giving a voice over to the audience. This breaks the intensity of the film, and defines it as a dark comedy.
4. This mid shot of Jack shows him in his prime, smartly dressed and confident. This would be a sharp comparison to the bloodied mess the audience had been introduced to, and would give the audience a sense of sympathy they might not have had before.
5. We decided to integrate our credits into the scene itself. Most films simply have the credits appear, however we thought it would be more fitting to the genre, and more entertaining, if they were to appear in response to a characters actions. It also gave us the opportunity to create some interesting shots, such as this close up coming out of the fridge.
6. This shot of Jack epitomises what we wanted him to be. Very few films show how a fallen character before we see him in his prime, however that is exactly what we've done, to emphasise his vulnerability. The fact he is half naked adds comedy, but also adds a real sense of how innocent and confident Jack is, adding audience sympathy.
7. This low angle shot shows Jack with his family, and is also comedic. It is an unusual way of introducing the character of Jack's sister, but we thought it showed her character, and their relationship in an amusing way.
8. The setting is to show the audience the ordinary life he leads, which will make his plunge into the world of criminals all the more shocking.

9. Rather than pause  the action, we displayed the title of the film over the final shot. This keeps the audience engaged into the realism of the narrative, which counteracts the far-fetched idea of the narrative itself.