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

We started off by researching different elements of horror films like German expressionism for example, we found out that this was a way of using different images or sets to symbolise certain things and create a deeper mood in the audience. We found this very useful because we had certain images, lighting and set to symbolise the main characters mind and insanity, for example the bright white light as he opens the door at the end is a way of symbolising him trying to start a new life. We also researched different horror film openings and got many ideas from them,
they all included some of the main conventions of the horror genre like the low-key back lighting in Creep and Cloverfield, which adds mystery and suspense to the film. The opening sequences of horror films always makes the audience ask a question, like again in Creep the audience knows that the women is running away terrified from something but they what to know what and why. We conformed to this convention in our sequence because the audience is aware that there is some connection between the man getting ready like an ordinary person and the images of him in a straight jacket and the other disturbing images but they then want to know why.

In terms of the conventions in film making we generally adhered to them, however we this wasn't always the case as some of the shots weren't framed centrally and sometimes not in a stationary position, for example the shot of the character walking through the snow was purposely shot with a handheld camera to create a sense of unease and involvement in the viewer for a brief time in the film.

Bascially, our research and further understanding of the conventions has helped us to conform and also challenge them in a diverse and productive way.