Evaluation Q1: In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

Our film is called 'Algorithm 404' and is a cyber-security action-thriller about a teenage hacker, who hacks information that a conspiracy organisation don't want to be leaked. He takes the file on his USB stick to give to a fellow hacker, but is followed on the way and chased underneath a bridge, where his mate is being held at gun point and he is knocked down on the floor by a member of the organisation. The opening uses and challenges conventions of media products.

It used the form of an opening sequence by introducing the narrative of the hacker, who plays the main character, showing who worked on the film, i.e. the distributor and production company of Film 4 and Studio Canal. It also introduced the genre by the fast shots we did with the theme of cyber-security as well as building up enigma with the audience asking who is the character going to meet and why the organisation want the file he possesses.

Todorov's narrative structure was used, for we focused on the disturbance to the equilibrium of our narrative, i.e. the hacker being chased by the organisation and followed when he wanted to simply give over his file. A resolution to this disruption is shown by the fact the hacker seems to be running away from the organisation member, but unlike Todorov's theory we didn't have a new equilibrium reached in which the narrative could end peacefully, for at the end of this chase we saw the protagonist beaten down and realising he has had no control over the situation as the audience might have thought he did.

The Ending of Algorithm 404

There was more a focus on using Levi Strauss' binary opposites theory due to the fact that there was a clear distinction between the good of the young teenage hacker character, who is attacked by the evil organisation members in the opening. We also used the Enigma code to add more suspense for our audience, as there were many questions that needed answering, e.g. what is contained in the file that has been hacked, what is the nature of this conspiracy organisation and why did his friend want to receive the file?

As well as different narrative theories that would suit our genre, we also conformed to the styles of titles expected from the cyber-security genre, taking inspiration from titles used for 'The Matrix' and the new TV series 'Mr. Robot'.

Titles from Algorithm 404

Titles from Mr. Robot

As well as these animated titles used to connote the genre, we also had shots that included technology like laptops, phones and a USB stick in order to make sure the conventions of a cyber, security genre were followed.

Technology shots in Algorithm 404

Technology shot in Mr. Robot

We did also follow the typical conventions of the action-thriller genre, showing violence, including a chase scene, having fast-paced music and some characters were holding guns. These conventions can be seen in films, such as 'Se7en', 'The Dark Knight', and 'Stormbreaker'.

Below is the film opening for the action-thriller film 'Se7en', which also manages to build up suspense throughout, introducing a gripping narrative with fast paced shots and fast paced music, showing the titles and building mystery through withholding information for the plot.

Essentially we did conform to many styles and conventions of our genre for the opening sequence, helping us create an opening similar to real media with an original story arc idea that aimed to keep high tension and action for our audience.