CCR

Over the course of this project, I developed a short psychological thriller titled Residual, along with a social media page and a film festival postcard as supporting promotional products. Throughout the process, I focused on creating an engaging project that explores themes of guilt, accountability, and psychological tension. By researching genre conventions, real media texts, and marketing strategies, I was able to shape my film and its promotion.

Research was one of the most important parts of developing my project. Through my genre research, I decided to focus on psychological thrillers, because it was the genre I connected with the most and the one where I had the strongest ideas. I looked at sources such as YouTube videos I referenced in my blog and the article from Jericho Writers, which explained that psychological thrillers focus more on internal conflict, tension, and the human mind rather than action. This directly influenced my film, as I chose to make it slower paced and focused on the main character’s guilt and mental state rather than physical danger.

                                

I also analyzed real media texts to understand how these ideas are actually used. For example, I looked at short films like the ones I included here, where I focused on how editing, sound, and camera angles created tension. I noticed the use of close-ups, silence, and slow pacing, which I then applied to my own film. In addition, I analyzed 13 Reasons Why and Baby Reindeer, even though they are not strictly thrillers. What I took from those was how they represent emotions and internal struggles, especially through character focus and sound design. I applied this idea by using sound to create anticipation, such as the ticking clock and layered background noise. I especially liked the jump scare scene where Emily pops up in the mirror:

 In terms of promotional research, I knew I wanted to do an Instagram account because it best fit the idea. I looked at film Instagram pages such as @thepullfilm, @meowshortfilm, and @still.life.short.film. From these, I learned how important it is to maintain a consistent aesthetic and post different types of content, such as teasers, behind-the-scenes, and character introductions. 

                                  meowshortfilm Instagram:                 Residual Instagram:

At the same time, my research helped me understand conventions and how I could both follow and challenge them. I followed typical psychological thriller conventions such as low lighting, close-ups, and sound tension, but I also chose to challenge the idea that everything must be clearly explained. Instead, I left parts of my film unclear, allowing the audience to interpret whether the events are psychological or supernatural. 

Another important aspect of my project is how the elements of my production work together to create a sense of branding. From the beginning, I wanted everything to feel connected, like the Instagram matches the postcard and the film. I created a consistent visual style based on dark tones, shadows, and nighttime settings, which reflect the psychological thriller genre. This is seen in my film through scenes on empty roads and in dim lighting, and it is also reflected in my social media posts, where I used similar colors and compositions.

Instagram:                                                          Film:

Postcard:

The clock became a key symbol in my project and an important part of my branding. It appears in the film, is referenced in my posts, and connects to my tagline, "You have until it stops." This repetition helps create a recognizable identity. 

My products also engage the audience in different ways, one of the main techniques I used is mystery. I don’t explain everything immediately, which makes the audience curious and encourages them to think about what is happening. Elements like the clock, the phone call, and the strange events are introduced without full explanation, which keeps the audience engaged. In my Instagram, it also helps with engagement. Posts like teasers and captions such as "what would you do if you saw this" are designed to make people curious and interact with the content. This reflects real marketing strategies, where audiences are engaged before they even watch the final product.

 

Another way my project engages the audience is through emotional connection. Even though the main character did something wrong, the audience can still understand his guilt and fear. This creates a more complex experience, where the audience is not just watching but also thinking about the character’s situation. I chose to use melancholy soft music when Ethan calls his partner to reveal what he did, it shows how he still has emotions just the pressure got to him.

And finally, one of the most important aspects of my project is how it represents social groups and issues. While Residual is presented as a psychological thriller, it is actually centered around the issue of guilt and the avoidance of responsibility. The narrative follows a man who committed a hit-and-run and was never caught, allowing him to continue living a normal life. This reflects a real issue in society, where individuals sometimes avoid consequences for their actions, either because they are not caught or because they choose not to take accountability. Instead of portraying the main character as an obvious villain, I chose to present him as a normal person. This was intentional as it challenges the common stereotype in media that people who commit crimes are easily identifiable or clearly “bad.” By making him appear ordinary, I wanted the audience to understand that harmful actions can come from anyone, which makes the story more realistic.

Additionally, my film represents individuals who experience internal struggles such as guilt, anxiety, and psychological pressure. Although the main character is not punished externally, he begins to experience mental consequences through paranoia, hallucinations, and a growing sense of fear. This reflects how unresolved guilt or trauma can affect a person’s mental state over time. The supernatural elements in the film can be interpreted as his mind playing tricks based off his guilt rather than literal events. This allows the film to represent people who carry emotional burdens that are not visible to others.