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

Our film challenges spy convention due to the bodyguard (assists villain) and Joel Beckford (hero) wearing more casual clothing compared to other people featured in spy films wearing suits challenging conventions of a spy film as these type of characters’ wear suits. However, the villain wore a suit representing the convention of a spy film of authority figures. In addition, height contrast shows that the villain himself in mentally superior and the bodyguard physically superior. This is a convention as villains would leave the bodyguard to do the dirty work for them. We also had to film in a local car park which probably wasn’t done in spy films and if so all cars and by standers not in the way. But, we managed to stop any one interfering in our film by retaking shots when someone was walking past and if of course we couldn’t move people’s cars out the way as we didn’t have permission too. A chase scene is a part of the convention as it is used in several films as the hero escapes the villain in our opening scene. Also, using quick jump cuts shows intensity of the scene. This causes the audience to be thrilled and be engaged from the start which tends to happen in spy films as well as a sense of mystery to why he is kept hostage.

We used several techniques to make the film realistic and match typical spy films. Editing was quick cuts in high speed scenes to portray the panic and chaos going on.  Camera angles showing me as superior to everybody else as well as speaking parts controlling the scene. Camera shots had continuity to make the scene easier to film as well as look to a professional standard. The camera shots varied positions to set the scene and surroundings too for the audience. Our mise-en-scene was the lighting being natural and quite dull to portray the mood and intensity of the situation and circumstances Joel Beckford was in. I also decided on the backing track with it reflecting how tense the scene is. Non-diegetic sound is key as it can change a scene completely.

I looked at several scenes where there was a hostage start such as Kingsman: The secret Service which showed mystery and intensity through the scene. Also, we used a chase scene which is a massive convention and James Bond displays this perfectly. In pretty much every one of their films using it at the start whether it be on foot, bike, car, train etc.  Due to the success of both films I decided we should merge them to together and use them in our opening scene.