In what way dose your media products, use, develop, or challenge forms and

convention of real media products?

CONVENTIONS ASSOCIATED WITH DRAMA
Spoken thought
Lighting
Slow motion
Freeze frame
Conflict
Elements of abuse
Portrays a characters journey and developments
Exhibits real life characters, situations, settings and stories.
Intense social interaction
Dramatic sounds and exaggerated performance
A real life message that is conveyed along with the film
The target audience for our product is predominantly 15-30 year old and both
genders, there may be some people of a similar age this may appeal to but its
targeted at this group. It will be aimed at people of a multiple class, as any type
of teenager can have these types of experiences and they are most likely be able
to relate to the characters. We will be sending out questionnaires to see what
type of response our idea gets and how likely it is be a success amongst our
chosen target audience.
This short film will conform to many of the codes and conventions of the drama
genre. Women will be portrayed as vulnerable and emotional throughout, as she
seems to be struggling with life events and letting it get her to the stage where
she starts to lose her sanity. We will have monologues in the short film to show
how she is feeling and highlights her emotion. The simplicity of the storyline
makes it easy to unravel the emotions of Natalie during the film. The
monologues also help in conveying her emotions as it is almost as if we are
hearing her throughout processes out loud.
Narrative
Todorovs narrative theory, and create a foundation for many storylines.
Throughout our short film we never get the sense that there is a state of
equilibrium. So although there are some aspects of it, it doesnt completely
follow the narrative structure of Todorovs. From our film there is the
disequilibrium, attempts to restore equilibrium and also many additional
disruptions to the equilibrium. Disruptions would consist of her conflict with her
parent, her getting kicked out of school. Her attempts to restore equilibrium, or
at least feel better, although it may seem unusual comes through the smoking
and the drinking, in an attempt to forget her situation.
Vladimir propp narrative theory, this narrative theory doesnt really relate to our
film. As there is not a heroic character setting out on a mission to restore
equilibrium. However there are aspects of this theory that can relate to our film,
as there are people in the film who can be deemed as villainous characters. E.G
the parents and teacher. People may be led to believe that Natalie is a victim of
ill treatment from her parents and that the teacher was too ruthless in kicking
Natalie out of school.

The binary opposition theory's is basically sets of opposites which reflect the
difference between good and bad. These are values. Some of the examples of
which opposites prominently appear in many narratives are: Good/bad
Male/female. There are many binary opposites that our evident in our film. Good
and bad are evident in just Natalie alone. We get glimpses of her good side, a
young innocent girl however we do see her inner demons take over and a bad
side to Natalie is revealed. We see one side to the male/female binary opposites.
We are exposed to females vulnerabilities during our short film and the struggles
young girls face in the current society.
Roland Barthes believed that all people that observed any type of media text
would receive it and then would interpret it in many different ways. His theory
was that a text could either be open or have multiple meanings or could be just
closed and have one sole meaning. Barthes created narrative codes, such as
the enigma code whereby the resolving of the text comes from the audience. The
narrative was categorised in to five different ways. These ways were: Enigma
code Symbols and signs Cultural reference Simple description/reproduction. We
do conform to the typical liner narrative we see the progression through the day
in chronological order it is a short film so it start off with what the issue is a, and
builds up throughout the day and come the end reaches a climax.
Representation
Stuart Hall argues that the process of representation itself constitutes the very
world it aims to represent, and explores how the shared language of a culture, its
signs and images, provides a conceptual roadmap that gives meaning to the
world rather than simply reflecting it. Hall's concern throughout is the centrality
of culture to the shaping of our collective perceptions, and how the dynamics of
media representation reproduce forms of symbolic power.
The genre of our short film falls as a drama. Dramas often exhibit real life
situations with realistic characters, settings, and stories. They portray journeys of
character development, intense social interaction, and ongoing dilemmas
focusing on the emotions of the characters. The heart of drama is the conflict;
these conflicts can include inner/outer realistic struggles depicting hardships,
difficulty, and pain. Usually the audience can relate to the characters as they can
either relate the crisis the protagonists faces or empathies with the emotional
hardship the character endures. (Preferred reading Halls Theory) Dramas are
structured with climaxes and anticlimaxes to keep the audience emotionally
attached and the tension ongoing. Hey usually end in a form of realisation at the
end/happily ending though this is not always the case
Our character is likely to instigate a divide in opinions and reactions as some
may sympathise with her while others may find her-self-pity repulsive and
problematic. Natalies faults run a little deeper as the audience will see she has
scars of self-harm by her wrists and along her arm, this context is highly
sensitive and can be scrutinized if portrayed in a way that speaks ignorance
towards the matter. Though Natalies self-harm plays a relatively climatic role in
her story, it is something we felt needed to be portrayed to give empathises on
the brokenness of our character. Unfortunately, some people may be able to
relate to this brokenness others may find it uncomfortable and alienating.

The setting of our location was used to match the convention of a drama for
example in many dramas. The uses and gratification research we carried out
before making the film, helped us decide the location because we wanted to
establish relationships between the audience and the character in order to do
this we had to give her a real sense of normality.
Gaining a sense of security through knowledge - Behind the True Image is a short
film intended to diffuse ignorance towards depression and self -harm amongst
teens as well as raise awareness. Viewers may feel a greater understanding and
empathy for the conditions after watching, gaining new insight and knowledge
depression and self-harm are taboo illnesses within our society, often avoided
and left undiscussed, there is a great stigma attached to these illnesses as well
as misconstrued ideas that Behind the True Image aims to set straight through
its honest portrayal. People watching that are in a similar position to our
character may feel less alone and more inclined to speak out and ask for help.
Most of our audience will be watching our short film simply out of interest, due to
the subdued discussion of these kinds of situations in society, their curiosity will
most likely be satisfied on viewing how our main character is self -destructive,
but little satisfaction is offered in terms of a resolution.
The main character in our short film is an extreme one. The majority may not be
able to relate to her in her entirely but her individualism will entice an audience
and evoke a connection with the audience. The topics addressed in our film are
debatable and are of the type which viewers would likely begin discussion of.
When others agree with a viewer on a specific issue posed in a film, the viewer is
more likely to gain a sense of belonging and in turn, respect for the media work.
Viewers will most likely end up feeling empathetic towards Natalie, as the
problems in her life are what drive her to self- destruct.
This location was chosen as a remote location for our
main character to almost hide in. The depressing
atmosphere mirrors the main character Natalies
emotions at this point and also the fact that its quite
remote also highlights how she is feeling isolated.
This location is for when Natalie is
waiting for the bus in defeat after previously missing one. She
then gets her phone out whilst at the bus stop and vents her
frustration at how the day is going already.
Natalie eventually reaching her destination after all that
frustration in the morning. She arrives flustered and frustrated and is eventually
pinned up against the wall by a fellow student, in this location we also hear a
monologue from her and the day continues to NOT go her way the changeable
location reflected the frantic nature of Natalie day and it shows her being literally
and metaphorically all over the place the typical location meant that we
succeeded in our aims to create a verisimilitude.
The use of the voice over throughout the film was used to amplify our character
depression and to give the audience a understand on what is going on , and what
will happen in her life also this had allowed use to make progression of the
narrative as it had emphasied everything that was going bad for example when
Natalies is arguing with her parents, demonstrating her anger and setting the

tone for the film also we hear plats smashing which again further reinforce her
anger , moreover the way she say why bother demonstrating how her negative
emotions are getting the better of her . These are feeling experienced by
everybody so they can relate to it which a main objective of a drama is. By doing
this it give the fact that everyone can relate to her problem and will give the
audience satisfaction. During the school scene the voice over begins where she
vents her frustration at school. The constants conveying of emotions is
stereotypically how we expect a dram to be. Diegetic dialogue, we hear Natalie
responding to the teacher in an anti-social manor, highlighting her anger, a
convention in a drama would be someone venting anger verbally. Moreover we
used the voice over were Natalie saying her parents hate her adds to the
sympathy towards her the use of question during the voice over show her
depression is reaching the pinnacle.
In our title it was just a classic text which was representative of us trying to
evoke a normal film based on reality. Furthermore from
every film we had researched prior to our production
they had credits to make it look professional so we include
them. There were no special effects used with the title as
you would possibly see in an action so this is what
associated with drama is so again we succeed in
matching the conventions.

The clothes worn by Natalie (played by Chloe lashley) is one that would typically
be worn by a school girl. She is a student in sixth form so it isnt a proper
uniform. The colour is quite basic and dark which could possibly reflect her
feelings inside, one of hurt lack of hope. Other than that it is to show she is a
normal school girl and one that shouldnt be victimized and made to feel the way
she does. The reason being for this was to add sense of normality and
demonstrating that she is a normal school girl The clothes that were worn by
Mrs. Smith (played by Paula Sumray ) were those that a
teacher would usually wear. The fact that she has the
freedom to choose exactly what she wants to wear, the
fluorescent clothing, suggests that there could be a power
gap between her and Natalie. This is one of the main
reasons for Natalie being helpless. It is though however a
relatively normal outfit, which again points out Natalies
normal life, and due to her having a normal life and still
being made to be a victim makes the audience feel
sympathetic. By using the uses and gratifications theory we were able to
understand the basic needs of all audiences, one of these needs were personal
relationships and using the media for integration. So we tried to integrate this
into our film through the costume, this would in term add pleasure for audience
The use of the cigarette in her hand shows a rebellious stance, moreover when
Natalie struggles to light the cigarette which increase her frustration also it
highlights the mental distress she is suffering and the consequences of them.
The alcohol bottle is a convention of a drama as it reflects to reality and alcohol
abuse. This is an issue facing people her age and reinforces the element of
depression. Finally when she looks at her family picture the audiences see it from
a distance which connotes her feeling for them. The mise en scene throughout
also carried connation all the time the light was usually natural light and it was

dull, which reflected the lack of hope she has , furthermore the character
positioning conveyed the message that she is struggling
for status in society as she was placed below the camera a
lot of the time. For example through the use of angle that
had contrasted the status between Natalie and the teacher
also the low angle highlight her standing in society once
again the connotation of her drinking the alcohol is teen
truing to alcohol in depression
The soundtrack helped in amplifying Natalies depression
through the film. The piano score music used in the
background is fast paced reflecting the hectic emotion
that our main character Natalie is experiencing;
furthermore the music accompanied the cinematography,
when she was angry the music was more intense. Sirens
in the back ground are there to represent her rebellious
mature and displays the fact that she is going off the rails. School bell ringing,
showing she is late and reinforcing her lack of organisations due to other issues
the change of soundtrack is slow and mirrors her depression and accompanies
what is on screen well. During the alleyway scene the score increases intensity
which reflects the spark in her temperament which causes her flipping out. This
is a convention of drama in the score music. The soundtrack changes to demons
a song that is reflective of her experience, and reflects a lot of other people
situations. Overall soundtracks were massive part of our production as we were
able to conveying emotion and help meet the cods and convention. The use of
the natural sound in this drama was to give our film a sense of realism which is a
convention in drama, and help us to give it a higher entertainment value and
makes it more relatable for example smashing plates which portray a sense
intense emotion which was something see it dramas., birds tweeting the
background which adds a sense of normality to the film, car horn in the
background represents Natalie sense of urgency. The natural sound and sound
track were affective in our film as it conveyed this intense emotion and amplified
the seriousness.
The use of cinematography throughout was typical of a drama. we see the use of
extreme close up and close up throughout as we can convey the emotion and
message of the character we had understood the emotion through the facial
expression , and there was a look of anguish on her throughout which make the
audience feel sympathy, some aspects of the cinematography that could be seen
to be challenging the drama genre could be the fact that some of the shots hit
the scene in quick succession , which is something usually typical of an action
which opposes drama completely . firstly the establishing shot was used to set
the scene show how it is a normal person living a normal life which is something
that is expected amongst our genre, the close up shot of Natalie slamming the
door and we see her facial expression connecting to her being extremely
frustrated to reinforce her frustration the use of the diegetic dialogue screaming
fuck you. Extreme close up demonstrates the anguish she is experiencing at her
current lifes state, P.O.V shot of the message going on her phone ,saying I want
today over already. This connotes to Natalie having a defeats attitude and how
once again her negative emotions are beating her. This was followed by an over
the shoulder shot we see that she takes the cigarettes out of her bag. Facial
expression such as the looms down and depressed seems that she is being a
victim and there is no one to help. During the end the low angle which

reinforcing that she is struggling for status in society and the mid shot looking
defeated, and a solitary figure.
Overall we followed the codes and c convention closely which helped us succeed
in creating a drama promoting reality the combination of cinematography and,
mise en scene all conveyed emotion and had their own connotation which will
help the audience understand what your production was about and they are able
to re late to it.