Our media product uses and challenges some conventions of real films. It uses props, settings and locations to influence character interpretation and atmosphere, shooting on location in Jordan to resemble Iraq for realism. However, it also challenges conventions through its use of lighting - interrogating in a bright, open rooftop rather than a dark enclosed space. The plot manipulates time through flashbacks, a standard technique, but creates tension through an unsettling soundtrack against the opening scenes. Overall it draws on real film conventions while adapting and challenging others for creative purposes.

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

2. Props, Sets and Locations can influence our interpretation of character as as
contribute to the atmosphere of the film.
PROPS, SETS & LOCATIONS
Hurt Locker (2008)- Shot in Jordan just a few miles from the Iraq border.
FILM CONVENTIONS

3. Park
- Typical secluded environment (kidnapping occurs) – walking alone. No one to get help
from. This conforms with the stereotype because most kidnappings happen in a
secluded area.
- Ducks = peaceful serene – calm before the storm. Helps generate the anticipation. This
shot was used to show even though she is about to get kidnapped the setting around her
is showing its not as bad as it seems.
Classroom and Study Room
- Typical student environment. Establishes the character’s social status as a student. Place
of learning – connotes achievement and ambition to succeed in life. However, while in
these rooms she challenges the convention because she is using these rooms to socialize
or not concentrate on her work.
Rooftop
- Unusual place for interrogation in an action film. Empty, unused location (dirt on the
floor). Usually find dark room, small spaces, but this is open space, and light. However,
the element of danger is still conveyed because of the starkness and the height.
SETTING
FILM FORM CONVENTIONS

4. CHARACTERISATION
FILM CONVENTIONS
(Move to character) Her disinterested attitudes
suggests she is above the limited educational
environment – she is intelligent (above normal
teaching) and aspires further.
We have two characters in our production (The
Kidnappers). I would say they would be the
characters classified as the unsympathetic
characters. This is because, they are kidnapping
Emily to use the formula she has created for
their own good. The stereotypes used are for all
characters. Emily is a stereotypical young girl that
is vulnerable to being kidnapped. The
Kidnappers are all wearing black and seem
sinister. Finally, the Teacher and Zoe are
secondary characters in the film because they are
not involved. They all conform to their
stereotypes.
A narrative might use:
• Sympathetic characters-
With whom the audience
strongly identifies with. They
may share qualities and values.
• Unsympathetic Characters-
Audience dislikes. May
increase sympathy to main
character.
• Stereotypes- Can reinforce
existing ways of thinking
about certain groups- appeal
to the prejudices of the
audience. However sometimes
stereotypes are deliberately
broken.

5. In our production, we decided to incorporate two
antagonists who would be kidnappers – their costume
became integral to their representation, as we wanted the
audience to identify them as sinister with malevolent
intent. For this reason, we chose costume designs which
conformed to the stereotype, as it would convey the
characterisation with immediacy. For instance, both
characters are wearing ski masks and black clothing –
items which signify they are keeping their identity safe, as
they intend to engage in criminal activity.
COSTUMING
FILM CONVENTIONS
The protagonist of the scene, Emily, is intended to look professional. Ultimately she is the victim of the
kidnappers, and so her clothing was intended to reinforce the stereotype of her film role. She plays the
role of a teenage student scientist, somebody who typical fits the mold of a kidnapping targeted because
of her knowledge, position and vulnerability. For example, this is found in the film “The Call” where the
victim, Casey Welson (played by Abigail Breslin) is a middle class student kidnapped in a mall. Therefore,
we selected items of costume which convey the sense of her social status – we used a long coat and
generally she wore business styled attire to create an impression that she is a student who is career
orientated. Her clothing helps establish the notion that she is not associated with acts of violence or
crime, and when contrasted against the clothing of the kidnappers, it clearly established her susceptibility.

6. A narrative might to use:
•A linear Plot
(Events would occur in the same order
they would occur in real life)
•Manipulation of time
(E.g.. Flashbacks- X- MEN Wolverine)
•Suspense
•(It is hinted something dramatic is going to
happen)
PLOT
FILM CONVENTIONS
In The Formula we have tried to use three plot
lines. We have used the manipulation of time
many times by using flashbacks. Using this kind
of editing in our two minute opening would be
seen as going against media theory but over time
films in media have used this technique and it has
been used to create an atmosphere so that the
audience is not quite sure what is going on. In a
way this would challenge film convention but
progressively the film industries have used this
technique and made it normal to use. Therefore, I
think it is not challenging the this film
convention.

7. Lighting used in our production challenges the
standard of Action/Thriller films. For our
interrogation scene we used a rooftop instead
of a confined dark room; the rooftop was
large in surface area and instead of doing it late
at night we did it during the day where it was
light outside. We though it would be a good
place to do an interrogation scene because the
rooftop was not a scenic beautiful, it was dirty
and stark. We thought the lighting would be
good to challenge in this sort of way because it
seemed frightening enough to a scene like that
even it being light outside.
LIGHTING
FILM CONVENTIONS

8. In our opening we have used a
soundtrack to create a tense
atmosphere. We have done this to
follow the Action/Thriller genre
norm. These films usually create a
tense atmosphere with the
soundtrack used, so we have tried
to use the same style to create this
atmosphere. The type of
soundtrack used is quiet but, it
does not just blend in with the
opening because we are using it to
make the audience feel tense.
SOUND
FILM CONVENTIONS