Evaluation (1) - Deploying, Adapting and Subverting Form and Conventions of Media Products of this Genre:
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| The Ring |
In creating our product, we were influenced by many films of the supernatural thriller genre. Firstly, after watching The Ring we sought to create our film in a manner which was characteristic of the genre, by choosing an ordinary setting which is, however, disrupted by unusual and unexpected events.
In the narrative of our film, this was constructed using Legenda, the central protagonist, coming home from work and preparing herself for bed.
The audience views this narrative disruption, or, as narrative theorist Todorov would define it, disequilibrium, when Legenda's mirror reflection remains static dispite her moving away from it.
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| Mirrors |
This visual technique was informed by our study of relevant thriller films such as Mirrors, leading us to the conclusion that this is a key convention of the thriller genre. The Ring also offered us a template for a realistic situtation in which disruption occurs; in its particular case, this is when the two central protagonists, teenagers Samara and Katie, are sitting in the room watching television. This is at first sight a normal, everyday activity; however, accompanied by the the disruption of the disturbing events which ensue, the film makers can evoke fear and torror in the audience.
Therefore we chose our opening sequence which is based on a normal teenage girl's life, to convey a sense of realisim and place our audience in her position. The Ring also influenced us to make the reflection actually come out of the mirror, similar to the way the girl comes out of the television.
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| The Grudge |
Our decision to use a point of view shot (POV), when the reflection came out of the mirror and travelled up stairs, was influenced by the many films in the supernatural thriller genre which use the shot repeatedly, not least The Ring but also The Grudge. This shot roots the audience right in the action and makes the viewpoint from the perpective of antagonist, in this it allows them to see through the eyes of the 'reflection'. However, instead of creating sympathy for this character, we wanted the audience to be wary and alarmed, so we decided to slow down the pace of the shot, which added to the unreal, supernatural feel of the sequence.
