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

Short Film - Synchronicity
Question 1 requires me to think about whether my short film uses, develops or challenges forms and conventions of real media products. The brief states that we need to get 16 screen grabs of our film and write a short explanation, answering the questions above.


Shot 1

This medium close up of Isabel skipping towards the back door uses forms and conventions as it sets the scene as you instantly get the message that this film involves a sweet and innocent little girl clutching her teddy. 












Shot 2

The second shot in this short film also uses forms and conventions of real media products as the panning long shot 


















Shot 3

The third shot uses forms and conventions of real media products. I felt that the lawyers office and surrounding scenery as well as there smart dress code, both wearing suits and the fact that a laptop, filing cabinet and a lamp are centre pieces and draw the eye, suggesting to the audience that this is a office. It is a good establishing shot as it also makes you aware that they are organised, and hard working.

Shot 4

This screen shot uses forms and conventions of real media products as it establishes that Isabel is interrupting her dad and his raised hand would suggest that he is telling her off, or asking her to leave.

Shot 5

The fifth screen grab uses real media conventions as it is a close up of the train and this suggests that this will be part of the film and that she may interact with it. Moreover the teddy bear is still in her grasp and I could be said that it looks sad. The expression on her face shows sadness and this coincides with the previous shot of her dad shouting at raising his hand.

Shot 6

Shot 6 uses and develops real media products as the close up of the clock shows transition through time which helps to give the audience the feeling that time is going past and that Isabel is just wasting away.

Shot 7

The seventh shot challenges real media products as it shows Isabel still in the same setting playing with her teddy which is unrealistic of a girl of that age as they would not be able to stay in one place for long periods of time whilst doing nothing.










Shot 8

The eighth screen shot uses forms and conventions of real media products as it creates a tense feeling as you can see that Isabel is holding back from opening the door. 

Shot 9

Shot nine is similar to shot four and I believe it uses form and conventions of real media products as it is an establishing shot of Isabel interrupting her parents at work. The shot shows Simon, the father slamming down the phone whilst what look like Lisa, the mother reading some vital documents.

Shot 10

The tenth shot uses real media forms and conventions as the camera angle would suggest that the dominant power is coming from the parents. The camera height is that of the Isabel the victim in this story, which shows how her parents are looking down at her and makes them feel superior. This would be a common characteristic of a short film.

Shot 11

I believe that shot eleven challenges media forms and conventions as the camera angle is very low, showing female dominance as Lisa, the mother is standing up. This challenges film conventions as short films always show male patriarchy.

Shot 12

Shot twelve challenges media conventions as the low angle shot continues the feeling of victimisation and makes the audience feel that something bad is about to happen when this was just meant to be an establishing shot that would allow you to psychologically create the train set with her.

Shot 13

In this shot the audience can establish where she is and what is going which is why I would say that this uses real media forms and conventions which the audience can react with.

Shot 14

The fourteenth shot uses and develops real media forms and conventions as the long angle of the camera with the blue effects of the lighting creates an intense action shot and having the teddy get thrown towards the camera as opposed to away from it gives the audience intense visuals and when combined with the sound, it helps to create a truly breath taking shot.

Shot 15

Shot fifteen uses and develops real media forms and conventions as the low angle allows the audience to feel that they are there and that they are really seeing the train get ripped from the table. This helps to make the audience feel more at one with the film.

Shot 16

The last shot challenges real media forms and conventions as it is an establishing shot, but the audience does not get any idea of where Isabel actually is. This has not proved to be a problem as it adds to the effects of Isabel running away and hiding, thus punishing her parents.

                        Postcard

The front of my postcard uses many of the real media forms and conventions. I chose this image based on my research of short film postcard conventions which showed me many of them use the man character as the image, which entices the reader in and also provides advertisement for the featured character, Isabel Earey. Moreover the title follows post card conventions as every post card would include the title of the film on the front. I have decided to have mine on a black background which makes in more distinctive, especially as it 
could easily be lost with all of the colors that are on the page. Overall I feel that my post card has followed the conventions of other short film post cards. The one thing that would challenge this is the fact that I have not included the production company name which some short film post cards have included. I have chosen to leave the front of my post card as bare as possible, just having the image which makes the audience more interested and enfasises the fact that they should look at the back where other information about the production will be.


Short Film Review

My short film review page uses forms and conventions of real media products such as the Empire media magazine. The layout follows all the conventions as I have stated in my research and planning in previous posts. The large picture entices the audience in and captures there imagination as well as providing them with a setting and location of the short film Synchronicity. The writing which is in specific columns also follows the conventions of Empire and when mixed with the images on the front of the cover really add a realistic effect to the whole review. The side reviews, down the left hand side of the page give it a professional look and also advertises real time movies that are set to be released soon. Moreover the smaller image at the bottom right hand corner gives the audience another image to think about and provides them with another element and part to the film. The witty, descriptive writing that I have used follows the forms and conventions of empire very well and allows the reader to relate to the reviewer and the film. All of these elements when put together help to create a truly gripping short film review and it really adds to capturing the imagination of the reader.