Media coursework

1. IN WHAT WAYS DOES YOUR MEDIA
PRODUCT USE, DEVELOP OR CHALLENGE
FORMS AND CONVENTIONS OF REAL
MEDIA PRODUCTS?
- anti-rom-com

2. ◦ What methods are used to make your film similar to other films of
the same genre?
◦ The opening scene mainly uses conventions of the anti-rom-com genre. After
conducting research into previous films of this genre I was able to see that there
are many typical conventions of the genre. For example, couples that have one
member, usually the boy who is extremely romantic and old fashioned in their
thinking with the girl being very emotionless and generally the one to break up
the relationship or the arguments which are held and then the anger turns into
love. In my film I use both these conventions through Jack being emotional and
longing for Chloe, while Chloe is uninterested and very emotion less. My initial
idea of having Chloe to wear a relatively seductive work outfit (with the slit in the
skirt) would match with the assumption from the audience that Chloe is a
modern day femme fatale.

3. ◦ However, I have made the main character Jack less of a working class as the
boy would typically be shown as in other anti-rom-com’s due to his attire in the
opening scene. I think this makes my film more modern and up to date with
clothing fashions i.e. tastes and fashions as well as fitting with the area it is shot
in. This contrasts with films such as the notebook which has similar conventions
of the type of character of the film but the location it is shot in and the time
period alters the type of clothing and separation of working and upper class.

4. ◦ What should I be comparing my film to?

5. - Our films share the same sub genre of anti-rom-com.
- It shares the conventions of the boy being emotional
and the girl being emotionless.
- It is modern day i.e. clothing, technology

6. - follows the convention that the boy longs for the girl.
- It is targeted at a similar age group.
- It is up to date with tastes and fashions (Audi R8 and
Iphone)
- Characters are similar ages.
- There is a flashback to explain the story in more detail.

7. ◦ Using conventions:
◦ Age of lovers.
◦ Target audience (16-30).
◦ Clothing of the man and woman.
◦ A variety of camera shots used e.g. close up of the phone messages.
◦ Voice over in the clip.
◦ Credits used to introduce characters.
◦ A limited number of actors shown in the opening minutes; slow reveal to establish the main
characters general behaviour. Shows only the two main characters rather than friends and
family.
◦ Locations used: streets, coffee shops, restaurants, houses etc.
◦ Props: phones, dinner objects, presents etc.

8. Uses clothing for Chloe that would be
similar to what is expected for a modern
day femme fatale. It is a plain work outfit
but is slightly more seductive with the split
and the ruffle of the shirt.

9. Uses similar props to what would be expected
in an anti-rom-com and similar messages as a
girl playing emotionless games.

10. ◦ Challenging conventions:
◦ I chose to develop the existing conventions of anti-rom-com’s but create a unique twist
on my film to separate it from other previously. These include:
◦ The reveal of Chloe only when Jack is revealed.
◦ The confusing story line at the start with many unanswered questions about who is
Chloe and who is the man in the background.
◦ The clothing of Jack.

11. The slow reveal of Chloe as the main
character, whereby the audience sees parts
of Chloe until Josh is revealed; the other
main character.

12. Josh’s clothing is more modern day with his
jacket, jeans and plain white t-shirt. It is up to
date with trends at the moment and so
contrasts with the typical convention of the
man of the film being working class.