Textual Analysis- Taken

Narratives

Enigmas are created within the film as the audience wonder what sort of occupation Bryan had that made him leave his family that even his own family didn’t know what he did we find out later on in the film that he used to be a spy that worked for the government which mean that he had to put his job before his family. Other enigmas raised that wasn’t answered later in the film was opening of the gates at the concert and who the man was that wanted to kill the singer. Also as peter was walking away from the house he called someone and gave them information about Kim and her friend, this created enigmas as to who peter was calling and what type of person he is. From the time of the kidnapping and when brain finds out information about the men the enigmas are solved and we able to find out that the people peter called are pimps that have come to use the girls for prostitution and that peter was the ‘spotter’. More difficult enigmas created were such as what kind of man jean Claude was as he claimed to be a friend of Bryan but there was no sign of loyalty or true friendship as the film proceeded we found out that he knew all about the kidnapping that has been happening to many travellers and that he didn’t care as long as he got money out of it even if it means his own friends child being abducted.

Suspense is created in individual scenes for example at the concert when the singer is trying to get away we see a mysterious figure holding a knife the audience automatically thinks someone is going to get hurt, but then we see a glimpse of the skills which Bryan states he has later on in the film. Suspense is also created when the police in France knock Bryan out and hang him to a poll it makes the audience wonder if Bryan is going to die and what would happen to his daughter, but once again the audience is proven wrong with Bryan beating up the men around him killing them and continuing to get his daughter. As he gets on the boat again he is noticed by the antagonist who alerts the rest of his people we feel that as he didn’t notice they will capture him and kill him, but he some how is able to kill them one by one without them finding him first.

Information is revealed to the audience through the characters experience as his on the phone to his daughter everything she is describing to him us as the audience our able to see it visually, with finding out clue of to where his daughter might be we also find out at the same time as him as he unravels them. For example Bryan finding Kim’s jacket in a camp place with a girl, he takes the girl and finds out how and who gave her the jacket. we as an audience was unable to see this before it happened.

Introduction

Hi, my name is Rebecca Ogunmola,this is my personal media studies blog. This Blog allows you to see my personal work which will include my evaluation and analysis's of thrillers for my AS Media Studies Coursework. I will be taking the role of director in our groups upcoming opening sequence to a thriller called 'Unsuspected'.

Analysis of CSI MIAMI- Triller

Characters – From this episode we can see that the main characters (the protagonist)are willing to do anything to help people even if it means putting their own lives in danger. we can see also from the the main antagonist would also do anything to achieve his goal and would wipe-out anyone that's in his way even if it means killings his own gang members.

The protagonist 'everyman' qualities established thought scientific knowledge and through experience as they have been working for many years.

Narratives – Enigmas created in the thriller are when a gang member has been killed, we find out later in the film that he is killed by a gang member for selling drugs which is a gang rule not to. Another enigma created is a mark on the dead woman's cheek as they continue their investigation we find out the mark on her face is from a grenade and that the woman was scared to death by it.More enigma's are created in the thriller when we don't find out what happens to the pregnant woman's baby and who the father of the bay might be. When we see Crow flying in the sky it raises enigmas as we wonder what is going to happen next and why they are flying by.when looking at a cover of a package the audience is put in suspense to whose name it might be,and why Celia ( the pregnant woman)was at the Livingstone's on her day off as the narrative progresses we find out that immigration ask her to listen in on phone calls at the Livingstone's which put her in great danger.

Suspense is created in individual scenes in the beginning at the funeral when the casket opens, who paid for the funeral as the son was in prison so could afford it. non-diegetic music is used to create suspense as when they go to the Livingstone's house a slow heart beat sound builds up the suspense.

Information is revealed to the audience through the characters experience for example in the beginning we see the action taking place, then the protagonist help us find out why it happened and what they are going to do to stop it. with the use of props and evidence found we see at the same time as the characters what had been taken place.

Theme – In this thriller the hero must uncover a series of enigmas to establish the truth. There are many obstacles that try and stop him from reviling the truth but he is able to overcome them.

Evaluation

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

Ways in which our thriller provides generic conventions are through the use of components such as mise-en-scene and cinematography elements. The antagonist of our product is identified to the audience in order for them to understand the concept of the thriller and his role in the film as well as being able to form their own opinion of him. As we only had a two minute time frame, one of the most important tasks was to establish the roles of the main characters. We accomplished the representation of the antagonist, the mystery man (David) by the use shots as he is viewed through an over the shoulder shot capturing the back of him as Jessica the victim runs away. These shots instantly reveal that he is the stereotypical male antagonist being the one to chase after a defenceless young girl.

The use of conventions display an action thriller sub-genre, with the use of mise en scene elements, for example, the choice of location being a long street leading to a house, suggest the film might feature a chase between the antagonist and victim. This suggests that it’s an action thriller. In our group, our intention was to build suspense by creating enigmas as to who the antagonist might be and what happens to the woman that is meant to help Jessica and final what happens to the victim. We first decided to have Melinda and David entering the house together so that Jessica realises Melinda isn't who she thinks she is, but later we decided to have a more of a dramatic effect which we will have Jessica seeming abandoned. This will have more of an affects on the audience it builds up a lot of questions in there mind which makes them want to watch more.

The use of Todorov theory helped us plan the outline of our film, as it helped us understand what conventions and aspects made a thriller what it is. With the used of this theory we were able to produce our sequence efficiently.

1. The fictional environment begins with a state of equilibrium (everything is as it should be), this was used as Melinda helped Jessica into her house and offered to cater to her.

2. It then suffers some disruption (disequilibrium), as Melinda takes to long to get back Jessica goes into the kitchen to look for her and finds the opposite of what she accepted.

3. New equilibrium is produced at the end of the narrative, this happens as Jessica runs out of the house but then is disjointed again as she is grabbed.

The first image is of the character Melinda; I chose this image as it shows how her being introduced into the scene, from this image the audience can see what characteristics she possesses. As she is cleaning the window she is conveyed as tidy, well kept. From the view of her being seen as such a person we expect her to be a nice friendly person, which later on in the scene we see her help out Jessica. She therefore takes on the role as the protagonist which in a thriller is vital to have.

The Second shot I have chosen is of Jessica running down the street. With the use of this screen grab we are able to establish the location of the scene taking place and realises that it supports the typical convention of a thriller as it is a realistic situation in a realistic location. This makes it easier for the audience as they are able to relate to the film because of how realistic it is.

The third screen shot I have chosen is of a cordless phone, which was one of the main props used.We took the batteries out of the phone which we did to plant in the audiences mind a mystery of to who might have taken the batteries out and why they are missing.

The fourth screen grab is of our title "Unsuspected". This at the end of our opening sequence, as it shows that the scenes that happened before that are just a preview of what is about to happened. The use of the colours black and red are used to represent the intensity in the thriller. The Screen grab of the title contrasts with our thriller genre as because it creates as the title itself creates enigmas as to what it is that is so unsuspected and also the front and colours that are used.

An establishing shot is used in the fifth screen shot as Jessica is knocking on Melinda’s door. A range of shots are used at the door scene between Melinda and Jessica which shows the audience both sides to the conversation. The use of this shot doesn't particularly show typical conventions of a thriller but it helps to convey what is happening in the scene.

In the sixth image a point of view shot is established as Jessica notices the doors being open. The use of this shot raises enigmas, the use of this convention builds suspense to how the doors managed to be open as before she left the room the doors were closed.

An over the shoulder shot is used in the last screen grab showing the victim running away from the antagonist. The use of this shot helps me as the director to convey a typical thriller convention of a chase between the antagonist and victim.

2) How does your media product represent particular social groups?

Our media product represents particular social groups such as a younger generation as our characters is from the age of 16-23 so are product will be able to relate to them more. Being of male and female gender, preferably British. Our production is mainly aimed at people in the social group of B-E, our production will appeal to people in these social groups as the characters in our also in film are from the same social economic groups so they will be able to relate to them. From our opening sequence we can see that the middle class will do anything to get money even to kidnap a child and hold for ransom. It represents the middle class as eager and roofless, as Melinda and David’s plan could ruin their lives if it doesn’t go to plan. It also represents an upper class girl as being venerable and naïve, as she immediately puts her trust in Melinda which leads her into more danger.



Similarities between Melinda and Jezzie from ‘along came a spider’

Melinda like Jezzie from ‘Along came a spider’ plays the role of an innocent, sincerer person helping out a young victim. In ‘Unsuspected’ Jessica puts her trust in Melinda as she goes to her for help. The same sort of thing also happens in ‘Along came a spider’ as Megan puts her trust in Jezzie. Both characters in the beginning appear to be opposite to what they really are with we find out later on in the film. Both characters are devious and conniving. They are both after money and will go to any extend to get what they want

Differences between Melinda and Jezzie

Jezzie is a Secret Service agent that was meant to look after Megan, well as Melinda was just a Good Samaritan who took in Jessica. Towards the end of ‘Along came a spider’ we realises Jezzie isn’t what we think she is and with ‘Unsuspected’ from the moment the rest of the film continues we see Melinda’s true colours. Jezzie is the main kidnapped in this film whereas Melinda is only an accomplice. Jezzie works side by side with the protagonist whereas it is clear to the protagonist in ‘unsuspected that Melinda in is on the kidnapping as well. Melinda is a black British female whereas Jezzie is Caucasian American female. Jezzie kills her partner in crime whereas Melinda and David face their consequences together. Melinda is around her early twenties and Jezzie looks in her late twenties early thirties. Jezzie wants Megan dead whereas Melinda only wanted to use Jessica for money and then return her back.

Evaluation Question 3