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

Our media product is a thriller opening. Thriller is the chosen genre for the opening of our film. Thriller is about anticipation and suspense. The aims of Thriller films are keeping the audience alert and on the edge of their seats. The protagonist (e.g. main character or victim) in these films is set against a problem – an escape, a mission or a mystery. No matter what the sub genre (e.g. psychological, crime and action) is, a Thriller film falls into, it will emphasize the danger that the protagonist faces. The tension with the main problem is built on throughout the film which leads to an exceedingly stressful climax.

The use of font and titles in the film show what type of film it is e.g. ‘Orphan’ has a peculiar childish text like chalk writing which shows that a young child is disturbed and unusual.

The location of our film was in school, mainly in an exam room which shows the normal suburban life of young people that other young people can relate to. We, as a group, come to a decision to shoot the film in school so that it will unravel extraordinary events. There are three victims in our film. They all buy drugs like ecstasy from dealer who waits outside of school. They, later, take it to school and use it there. A shot of the drugs being packed shows that is significant to the film.