Use of Conventions

The film Masks challenges the convention of linear editing by having its main protagonist die in the first scene. We intended for the scene after the title screen to take place earlier than the opening. By using nonlinear editing it allowed for use to play with the audience by hiding or giving information that the audience would like to know. Why we decided to have Dan die in the opening scene was to show the tactics and power of the terrorists in a way that the audience couldn't explain.

A convention that we decided to use within our movie was continuity. Because our film plays with time in a nonlinear fashion, we made sure that every shot within the opening had continuity. Originally the terrorists were supposed to have this mystical appeal to them, but after realizing the confusing nature of the opening we made sure that there was only five terrorists throughout the scene and five at the ending. By using this convention it allows for audience members that are paying attention to understand how the story unfolds before Dan's inevitable death.

Masks is really only representing terrorists, not in a good way, but it shows that terror organizations are powerful and able to get what they need. Terrorism is an issue of the modern world and is wide spread after events like 9/11 and Oklahoma City Bombing. Within psychological horror aspect of the film is looking at portraying a figure that could be real while also bridging into the unrealistic nature of action movies.