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

o How have you represented and explored your chosen genre? - When planning and researching for our chosen crime genre our group looked at various crime films and our opening sequence is about a drug deal and interrogation. As a group, we created questionnaires to discover what people would prefer as a genre and what they would want to be included in it. We wanted to make our product appeal to an audience and allow it to be seen as a crime genre, hopefully including what was needed to make it a success. We looked at many different crime film directors between us to vary our take on crime films and help us in discovering what would be the best way to take on the crime genre and what we could do to create it to be the best it could. We have a brief conversation between three characters in an interrogation room about drugs and then lead into a set of short-takes that include various images of drugs, money and somebody punching a screen. With these shots, it is clear to see that our film will include the topic of drugs, money and possible violence. This therefore reinforces the idea of the crime genre. I watched a variety of crime films in order to gain a better understanding of how the crime genre is represented within the film industry and what could be included in our product to put across the point that our chosen genre was crime. With the use of three characters in our opening sequence, each of them show their diverse personalities from one another and with the use of the shady characters like the partially quiet and dubious character of PC Rodger and perhaps the suspected nervous James Philips, mixed with the persona of the stern tough PC Parker, these characters traits could be those of the usual crime films seen.

My screenshot from my director research on Noel Clarke and his movie 4.3.2.1

Some shots that have been included within our opening sequence flashback

Outline what conventions you have used in your opening sequence (genre and product conventions) Within our product we have a discussion and interrogation scene about the dealings/connection of drugs along with short takes of film to show a flashback of clips involving violence, drugs and other aspects of a crime film. These types of features could be stereotypically seen within a crime film and could be perceived as what would interest the audience into wanting to watch on. Outline what conventions you have challenged in your opening sequence (genre and product conventions) - Within our opening sequence to a film, we have not involved the use of swearing in any of our scenes along with any element of murder. These ideas could be thought to appear in a film including crime and as our certification for our production is a 15+ could be thought to have included. Although as stated we have a certification of a 15+ for our product, the use of swearing and profanities may not be disregarded as it could occur throughout the future of the film. This along with the idea of the thought of murder.

You need to use examples from real media products and compare them to yours especially to what you have referred to in your research - The film 4.3.2.1, directed by Noel Clarke, involves the use of flashbacks and many other elements of a typical crime film. This was able to help me in the work our group produced as I could then relate this information to our product and as we have the used of a flashback, can understand that a successful film like 4.3.2.1 was able to carry out the use of the flashback in a way that hooks the audience into wanting to know more about the film. This is what I was also aiming for with our groups product. I believe that by the use of the flashback, we could grab the attention of the audience and leave them wanting to know more about the film. I have learnt through some media products, like various films, that intensity within a film and little points that leave you wanting to know more are always a success in a film.

Screen shot of my task analysis of the 4.3.2.1 film directed by Noel Clarke.

How have you applied narrative theory and representation in your response connect these to the conventions - Within our opening sequence we have used the narrative theory of Enigma. We have used suspense and scenes to leave and make the audience question what is going to happen. Its able to make the audience want to know more about the storyline and characters. This is supported by the use of versimilitude. Versimilitude being the appearance and idea that the product is true or based around reality. We have the use of verisimilitude within our product as the reality of it is that there are issues of drugs in reality along with violence which has been seen that it could possibly be included within our film. So by these being included within our production, it emphasises the realism of our film and the audience could possibly be intrigued even more. However, as previously stated, we have not included any use of swearing or murder within our opening sequence. So this therefore challenged the idea of verisimilitude within our product.

Connect the conventions to your target audience and their expectations - The fact that the film is a crime genre and aged for over fifteens, allows the audience to expect the use of either realistic criminals or the use of implausible characters of evil villains that are clearly unreal. However with the opening scene being of a serious, humourless interrogation, this then allows the audience to acknowledge straight away that the product is that of genuineness and aimed to be as close to reality as possible. With the use of the flashback, this allows the audience to realise the predictability of what occurs in a crime film, will be included.