Challenging and developing conventions
In what ways does your media product use, develop challenge forms and conventions of real media products.
We wanted to do something different from the main conventions of a Film Noir genre. We took to google to research different films and see what they had to offer and how we could change them to suit or style.
Location And Setting
We recognised that the Opening Title Sequence of a live-action movie has to grip the attention of the audience and make them want to watch on.
It was known that our genre was aiming towards the more mystery, gritty detective side of Film Noir so we wanted a grungy alleyway to film or a dark office. To research we walked around Norwich looking for "run-down" looking street or alleyway to film our last scene. After looking in 3 different locations we felt like the Magdelen Street alleyway was the perfect location as there were bin bags around and it had a feeling of dirty and confined.
We challenged the conventions of a typical Film Noir movie by using a modern setting instead of trying to find a traditonal looking scene. As we do live in a modern era, it was going to be difficult to make a 40s-50s setting look realistic. We decided that we'd use Aidan's Mum's Office as we could control the lighting and it had a modern feeling but old enough to feel realistic.
The Protagonist
The main protagonist in a Film Noir film is normally a detective, an anti-hero who doesn't always follow the law in trying to solve their cases.
We took that idea, keeping some aspects and getting rid of others. The protagonist normally has a weakness which is a key part to making the audience to relate to them and empathise with them. This we kept, so it is heavily hinted in our OTS that he is an acoholic. By having a weakness it shows that they are not perfect and can be defeated which is how they are related to everyday society.
Also the removal of presence of a Femme Fatale from our OTS takes away the lust and sexual excitement element.
Femme Fatale
Even though most films in this genre do include a Femme Fatale we felt like we wouldnt include one at all. The only interpretation of a femme fatale that is apparent is the victim of the crime the detective is trying to solve.