Critical evaluation question 1

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

A) At a technical level, whom well did you observe the conventions of continuity and the language of film and editing?

Throughout my film, I used various types of shots, such as:

            -Establishing shots

            -Medium close ups

            - Wide shots

            -Eye-line match

As well as this I using different media techniques:

-Match on action

                                          

     

 -180 degree line

-Shot reverse shot

      

I started the film using elliptical editing to show that my main character in a normal light. After I started to use continuous/ slow editing with small clips edited throughout. This is because as my character is slowly being driven crazy her mind is slowing down. I then edited my characters ‘Apology’ in with the back story (her descent into madness). I did this to make the audience wonder what is happening to my character making them empathies with her.

B) In terms of the content, how does your film reflect or challenge the conventions of the genre you are working in does it fulfils the nature of the film genre or will it subvert expectations deliberately?

Themes of psychological thrillers can be scene throughout my film; the main theme that is shown is ‘Identity’. I show my character as having lost her identity because of her mental illnesses as well as showing; this is also a theme in the film ‘Bourne Identity’ when the main character is tracking down who he really is. In that film the character is physical tracking down his identity whereas in my film, my main character is trying to find their identity metaphorically after not realising that she has lost it in the first place. I show this by having clips of an apology video cut throughout my film.

C) Are there any elements of deliberate pastiche or parody, where you ‘play’ with the genre’s codes and history? Are there any intertextual moments where you hint at a reference to another film?

I didn't use any elements of pastiche or parody in my film, as it didn't fit with the seriousness of the storyline. Although if I had, I would have parodied the scene from paranormal activity 1, where the main female protagonist is being dragged out of bed by the demon. Although I would give the scene my own twist (this would be that my character would be having an hallucination or is walking in there sleep).

D) What kinds of audience pleasure are you trying to provide, and how confident are you that you have achieve this?

According to Richard dyers theory of entertainment my filming Is entertaining because it gives an incite into someone with a mental illness mind, making it informative. It also personal identity to be entertaining as people with similar mental illness/people who work (live) with someone with a mental illness can relate to this film and can gain an insight into themselves or the people they live/work with.  We also use social empathy to make the audience gain an insight into the circumstances of others.

The audience pleases I am trying to provide are as followed:

                        -Intensity-By having such a serious storyline I have tried to make the audience have extremes of emotion, specifically, low lows.  

                        -Transparency- I want my audience to empathise with my character. They may because they are suffering with mental illness or know someone close to them who is suffering with mental illness.

E) Make comparisons to a real media text you have studied.

Seven is similar to my film as it plays with the Psychological part of fear. This meaning that someone could actually go out and kill people in the form of the 7 deadly sins, just like how in our film, it is possible for someone with the mental disorder/history of a mental disorder could start to see their possessions disappearing slowly over time. our film plays with the realistic kind of fear that is not typical horror/thrillers, as it is not scary in that sense but plays on the fear of not being all there and that parts of you are being forgotten by family (as will be shown in my film) and by friends and being 'abandoned' to deal with a mental is order by yourself. As well as this the Uses and Gratification's theory applies to my film.

• Diversion - escape from everyday problems and routine.- This does apply to my film but not the traditional way. i aimed for my audience to escape from there everyday lives and escape there problems but instead to concentrate on my characters problems as well as giving them an emotional boots (making them think that 'At least my problems aren't as bad as her's).
• Personal Relationships - using the media for emotional and other interaction, eg) substituting soap operas for family life- this may, in some aspects apply to my film. my audience use my film for emotional interaction (making them sympathies with my protagonist  this lets them feel an emotional connection with Alex and lets them have a connection with someone even if it is with a fictional character.
• Personal Identity - finding yourself reflected in texts, learning behaviour and values from texts- this applies to some of my audience but not all. my audience may suffer with mental illness(depression, anxiety ECT) meaning they can empathise with my character more than others without a mental illness as they know what Alex is going through. 
• Surveillance - Information which could be useful for living eg) weather reports, financial news, holiday bargains- Surveillance does apply as it brings awareness to mental illness.