Question #1 (CCR)

     For the first question of the CCR we are asked, how does your product use or challenge conventions and how does it represent social groups or issues? For this specific question t here are many different things that can assumed for a film. This would also be the case for my opening, due its representation of thriller and identity.

    Because our film's genre is thriller I researched a lot on conventions within the genre. A lot of it is based suspense and intense atmospheres. Some films that represent this are in the John Wick series and Inception (2010), that have a bases surrounding thrill. One of the sub-genres within thriller is revenge thriller, which illustrates a protagonist experiencing and solving a problem that is personal to them. 

    Immediately when being introduced into Pushover we are given thrill, which is a use of one of the films conventions. As Asher gets harassed and demeaned by Austin, it fuels Asher just enough to kill Austin. This scene alone showcases the suspense within this genre it also captures the dark atmosphere that lingers. Within this scene, a sense of revenge is captured through Asher that the audience is yet to understand. It perfectly demonstrates the genre through a short period of time, that is efficient through the fact that a lot of these thriller films have a way to hook the audience instantly. Hence, the reason why we decided to not really challenge the genre's conventions since it's already a blueprint that works well in itself. By being able to appropriately follow these "rules" it helps tell viewers what the film is meant to be about in just the opening alone. It's a great way to develop meaning too, between characters and their traits.

    These conventions that the thriller genre has, is a perfect way to introduce social groups and issues. Both Asher and Austin can be characterized immediately just through the limited time they have in the opening. Asher faces a truth that is demonstrated by his appearance and work. He appears to follow the stereotypical architecture of a person that only focuses on school. Then once, the suspenseful scene where Asher runs to kill Austin, it causes there to show the mental struggle he faces at home due to his home life. Now, for Austin his clothes show the constant variable where baggy clothes and tough character represent a person that faces issues at home. Both of these characters are very similar in a way as both struggle at home, with relations, but their appearance tells another story. Through Austin's death the conventional use of revenge identifies issues that Asher has and also his emotions.

    The use of conventions, while repetitive at times, is a form of setting a base and establishing what is to come. This gave me and the group a grounding as to what the film's opening was to show. Personally, I think that films that are thriller based, need to have it established immediately to apply a more tone driven piece.