Preliminary Task

Within our preliminary task we have used the techniques of match on action, shot reverse shot and 180 degree rule. The use of match on action where Balinder walks through the door one side and come through it the other side shows how the action will look from both perspectives. This makes the filming more fluid and natural and will allow the audience to feel like they have all the information they need because they've seen the scene from all possible angles. Another camera angle that we have used is 180 degree rule. This is used where Balinder approaches Aimee and starts they conversation. This gives an overview of the scene and allows the audience to understand what is happening. The final camera angle that we have used is shot reverse shot. This was used in order to show the conversation between Aimee and Balinder. The use of this shot makes the conversation flow better and seem for natural. Furthermore, within shot reverse shot, unlike 180 degree rule, there is a mid-shot which is used. This allows the audience to view better the actor's facial expressions and how they are feeling at that point in the conversation. Within our preliminary task we have also used titles sty the beginning just to outline to the audience what the video is and who created it. Furthermore, we have added credits at the end to make it look more professional and to show who the characters were within the clip. We have also used a transition from where Balinder walks through the door to when she starts to talk to Aimee. This makes the clip look seamless and makes it flow a lot better and more naturally just as it would in a normal everyday conversation.

Conventions of Thriller Openings

Within a thriller opening there are many different conventions that make a thriller opening the best that it can be. One of these things is the storyline. To have a good thriller opening the storyline need to be intriguing and captivating. For example, a storyline that grabs the attention of an audience would include things such as suspense, excitement and action.

One film that does this is Gone Girl. In the opening scene, Nick Dunne (Ben Affleck) is seen stroking his wife, Amy Dunne's hair (Rosamund Pike). She then looks up at Nick with a blank expression on her face and just stares at him. This can be seen as rather creepy due to Nick seen to be loving and Amy being portrayed as acting quite cold towards him because of it. If Amy was seen to have a smile on her face when she looked up, it would be seen as sweet and loving. Furthermore, the storyline of the first scene matches the final scene of the film. This then foreshadows that the end of the film will be just as sinister as the begin.

Another convention of  a thriller opening is titles. This then gives information about the film to the audience at the opening. This is an important convention because it means that the font and transition of how the font appears and disappears can create an effect as to the mood that is created within the film. For example, if a font is bold and bright then it would give more of a happier mood and feel about the film (Juno). However, in a thriller film, the font will need to be darker and sleeker in order to create a more tense feel and introduction to the film (Sin City & American Horror Story).

Camera angles are also a very important convention of a thriller opening. For example, in the opening to a clockwork orange, it shows the characters sitting in the distance. The camera then being to zoom in and focus on the four focussed characters eliminating more and more of their  surrounding until the audience can only see the face of the main character Alex (Malcolm McDowell). The focus on the characters face whilst showing a sadistic and sly look on his face allows the audience to realise that the oncoming film will be rather sadistic and sly like Alex's face is implying.

The final convention is music. Within a thriller opening the music could be of rather low volume gradually building up to a loud intense music. The type of music that would be used could either be very high pitched to give a make the audience think about almost a frightening/screeching idea or very low pitched and low volume which would become very loud and bold when the main title is shown. Both of these ideas of music show suspense and will be more likely to keep the audience intrigued.

Why I chose A-Level Media

There are many reasons behind why I decided to take Media Studies as an A-Level. One of these reasons are my passion for English. Media Studies includes a wide variety of different English skills within the course. One of these being analytical skills. I love being able to pick apart different types of texts and different types of media, allowing me to find out different reasons behind the media and reasons for why the publisher decided that that would be the best type of media to use. 

Another reason for why I chose A-Level Media is because I find the world of Media Studies very interesting. Being able to watch, listen and read different forms of media is something that I find informative and captivating. The idea of being able to create my own forms of media is very exciting to me. Also, I love the fact that I will be able to use the skills I have learnt inside the lesson, outside of the lesson. For example, when I am listening to my music, watching television, watching films or reading magazine. 

An addition reason as to why I decided to take Media Studies as an A-Level is because I believe it will be a great subject to aid my university application. Due to wanting to study Primary Education and English at Reading University, I believe that my skills will be able to project into my university course when I am studying english. Furthermore, I would like to be able to gain my PGCE degree and go on to teach in secondary schools. With my english degree in hand, I will be qualified to teach English. I believe that with my Media A-Level that I hope to gain at the end of this year, I will be able to teach Media Studies also to GCSE and A-Level student. Therefore, Media Studies as an A-Level is opening my opportunities that I have later on in life.