Thriller Brainstorm

 These are all the things I will need to consider when planning and producing our thriller film:

• Music

- tense quiet music or loud music

- builds up tension and creates drama

- no music in titles - silence might help create this effect
- violins, pianos are the typical thriller convention in music titles
- happy music to contrast atomsphere?

• Titles

- murder scene with flashing cameras, after 3/4 camera flashes screen goes white- introduce text

- animation in titles- something different and original

- formal font?
- women in chair, camera slowly goes up to her, cuts to face, zooms in eye- flashback

• Story lines and ideas

- murder mystery crime- clever plot
- flashback idea

• Characters

- heroic police detective- stereotypical

- male protagonist
- female antagonist

• Mise-en-scene

- high key and low key lighting used in different places- contrast
- props- gun, knife- typical thriller weapons

• Location

- canal scene

- woods (used a lot in thriller films- cliched)

- building

- one room- compacted space, dark

- house

Continuity Editing Task

After finishing planning our work, we then started to produce our film. We would have to redo shots and shoot everything from the best possible angle to make sure we had a selection of shots to choose from when it comes to editing. By redoing some scenes it meant we progressed each time in filming. Danni (coursework partner) and Lauren and Ashley were the people acting the film. Nicole and I were the people that filmed the task, however all three of us contributed ideas when filming. I enjoyed doing this task as it enabled me to learn about filming with a camera whilst holding it myself- it was tricky task however I feel enough practice will help me master filming. I have also learnt more about camera positions and the 180 degree rule. Not breaking the 180 degree rule was hard, as we always had to think about where we would shoot it from. This task has made me realise how difficult filming is going to be when we produce our thriller movie.

First Cut

Final piece

Changes we made
By reshooting and editing our film it made us alter our first video. For example we changed the beggining shot as well feel that it didn't match with the style. What's more our group haven't mastered the zooming technique yet, which descreased the quality of the footage. This is evident in another shot where Danni is standing the stairs. (0:14) This zooming is particulary bad which is why we redid this to make the effect better quality. After the beggining shot we also had to change the second cut (0:06) This is because we feel it didn't match up to our standards. We also had to reshot the part where Danni runs down the stairs (0:34)as it was shot badly, due to the camera being hand held. After the door scene we also had to change everything due to bad positions of the characters, one of the actors laughing and bad cuts.

Evaluation

Looking back at our work has made me reflect positively and negatively at my progress. For example, our editing could have been more accurate when it came to finishing off our final film. This is particularly shown when we cut out the audio at the beginning of the clip as it breaks the continuity. This makes the film disconnect and not flow, however this  has given us something to learn and evaluate on. Our group now realizes the importance when it comes to creating our thriller film and making sure we produce everything perfectly.

By producing our continuity task it has helped me progress my learning as now we have something to improve on. Overall I feel we worked well on producing this through content, filming and editing. One thing that I would add next time would be some music. This could have helped shape our characters by making the bully seem more powerful and scary.

Evaluation to another group's work
Here is the link to the other groups work in which I will be evaluating: I like the variety of shots used in this piece as it makes the video flow, therefore telling the story correctly. I also enjoyed the choice of music as it matches the style which fits into the clip's content. However, some shots used for the evil character contradict his role which presents him to be weak. This would be something I would do differently. For example, at 0:04 the long shot makes the character seem small which goes against his dangerous personality. Nevertheless, I enjoyed watching this clip and I would award it 9/10.

Research into title sequences

Black Swan (Psychological Thriller) Title Sequences

Shallow Grave (Crime Thriller) Title Sequences

Evaluation

By watching some thriller openings it has helped inspire me to invent our title openings. What's more it has made me think that when we are designing our own, we need to have a meaning behind the text. This will allow us to create interesting openings to help shape our film. This part of the research has pushed me forward into the process and has helped me understand what we will need to be achieving in the planning and making process.

Conventions of crime and psychological thrillers

Crime films are developed around the sinister actions of criminals or gangsters, particularly bankrobbers who work outside the law, stealing and violently murdering their way through life. In the 1940s, a new type of crime thriller was created which became more dark and cynical. Criminal and gangster films are similar to film noir or detective-mystery films. Crime films include:

• Suspense to create tension between characters- keeps audience entertained
• Murders/robbery's/shoot outs/double cross/crime related scenarios
• Can include the rise and fall of a criminal  which is often based on real people
• Location is usually in a large city to provide the viewer with an insight into a secret world
• Main characters have an ambitious for desire for success or recognition
• Rivalry between binary opposite characters is strong
• Dark night clubs lurid neon signs, fast cars, piles of cash, sleazy bars,
• Exotic locales for crimes often add an element of adventure and wealth.

Psychological thriller films is a subgenre of thriller fiction that relies on character fears, guilt, beliefs, eerie sound effects, relevant music and emotional instability to build tension and further the plot. The titles are usually formatted in a white text agasint a black background

• The central theme of 'identity' which can be mistaken identity, stolen identity, dual identity, doppelgangers, confused identity and amnesia
• The theme of 'perception and reality' gives the sense of seeing the narrative from the perspective of multiple characters
• The theme of 'memory' can often involve the torture of an individual with a traumatic memory or specific last memory
• 'Technical devices' such as flashbacks and repetition in editing are common. 
•  Imagery is used such as a close up of eyes
• Creates effects to entertain the audience

BBFC Target Audience Research

This research based task is focused on the differences between a '15' and '18' rating movie which has come from the British Board of Film Classification website (click)

 15

• No one younger tham 15 can watch a 15 film in a cinema, nor can they buy or rent any 15 rated video work.
• The work as a whole must not endorse discriminatory language or behaviour.
• Drug taking may be shown but the film as a whole must not promote or encourage drug misuse. The misuse of easily accessible and highly dangerous substances (aerosols or solvents etc.) is unlikely to be acceptable.
• Strong threat and menace are permitted unless sadistic or sexualised.
• Dangerous behaviour (hanging, suicide and self-harming etc.) should not dwell on detail which could be copied.
• Easily accessible weapons should not be glamorized.
• There may be frequent use of strong language, the very strongest language may be justified if used in an acceptable context. Aggressive or repeated use of the strongest language is unlikely to be acceptable.
• Nudity may be allowed in a sexual context but without strong detail. There are no constraints on nudity in a non-sexual or educational context.
• Sexual activity may be portrayed without strong detail. There may be strong verbal references to sexual behaviour, but the strongest references are unlikely to be acceptable unless justified by context. Works whose primary purpose is sexual arousal or stimulation are unlikely to be acceptable.
• No theme is prohibited, provided the treatment is appropriate for 15 year olds.
• Violence may be strong but should not dwell on the infliction of pain or injury. The strongest gory images are unlikely to be acceptable. Strong sadistic or sexualised violence is also unlikely to be acceptable. There may be detailed verbal references to sexual violence but any portrayal of sexual violence must be discreet and have a strong contextual justification.

18

• No one younger than 18 may watch a 18 in a cinema, nor can they buy or rent any 18 rated video work.
• Most adults are able to choose what they want to watch but there are some constraints.
• The material must not be in breach of the criminal law, or must not be created through the commission of a criminal offence.
• Material or treatment must not appear to the BBFC to risk harm to individuals or, through their behaviour, to society – for example, any detailed portrayal of violent or dangerous acts, or of illegal drug use, which may cause harm to public health or morals. This may include portrayals of sexual or sexualised violence which might, for example, eroticise or endorse sexual assault.
• Must not include explicit images of sexual activity which cannot be justified by context. Such images may be appropriate in ‘R18’ works, and in ‘sex works’.

This research into rated films is going to help my group understand and decide whether we should base our film around a 15 or 18 rating film. By creating a 15 we could say we would be limiting ourselves due to the restrictions. This is because we want to make violent thriller, thus making our film an 18. With our research we have completed so far, we are considering a 'Crime Thriller' however this is not final as thoughts can change throughout the research stage. However, if we were to go ahead with this, it would most likely to be a 15. We need to possibly find out our basic storyline of our thriller first, and then decide whether to make a 15 or 18 rated film.

Thriller 5: Analysis of Donnie Darko (Science Fiction thriller)

Director: Richard Kelly (2001)
Camera - distance, angle, movement and editing- speed style

The film opens of an establishing shot of a view with trees and mountains which fades into shot. The scenery around the film denotes that this film is situated in the middle of nowhere or perhaps that it's a peaceful film. The camera then turns and tracks to a boy lying on a road. At this moment in time the audience may think that they have hurt themselves as they are not moving. The camera also establishes that this person is the main character due to the fact it positions them in the center of the screen. This long shot of him lying on the floor can mean many things; that he is hurt or that he is a casual teenager that had a rough night. The camera then tracks to see him struggling to get up which then cuts to a mid shot of his face which reveals his facial expression and this denotes that he is tired. A point of view shot is then used to establish the film as he is located in a road high up in a mountainous area. After this, he then blocks the camera which could denote that he is an important role. In deeper meaning it could connote him being in the way of himself- he is stopping himself from becoming a respectful person (lying on the road in the morning isn't ideal) Furthermore the mid-shot then shows him turning his head looking out in the distance. He then walks out of the shot and this is when the titles come on screen.

Sound- effects, music

At the beginning of the film, low violins played in the background which created an uncertain mood to the film. This started playing as soon as the main character came into shot. This reinforced him to be important but also quite a sad and lonely persona. Furthermore, as soon as the character gets up a piano plays softly which denotes a melancholy tone to the film. Moreover the quoir used in the background after this, also adds more of an unknown feeling to the movie.

Mise-en-scene

The setting used in the shot suggests the film to be set in the middle of nowhere reinforcing the unknown tone to the film. Furthermore, the lighting used in the beginning (high key lighting) suggests a new start as it was filmed in the morning. Moreover the new beginning to the film makes it seem like something is coming or that things will change. The persona in the shot wears pajamas making him come across as a lazy and laid back character. His messy hair also reinforces this making him become a rugged teenager. The location however contradicts him being a lazy persona- the beautiful scenery makes him look like he might respect nature.

Titles- font, colour, position

The quick titles used in the beginning of the film was formatted in white text against a black background which was also centered in the middle of the screen. This is a typical convention of a thriller movie. Moreover the Arabic style font used for important words such as a production company, makes Donnie Darko seem significant as the title of the movie (his name) was also used in this font.

Camera work

Throughout my lessons in Media so far we've been learning all about camera shots, angles and movement. This will help us understanding of what type of camera work we are going to use in our film and it will also show what effect it give off. By watching the opening of different type of thriller films I have analysed the camera work and explained why the director has done this. For instance, there's: extreme longs shot, long shot, mid shot, midium close up, close up and extreme close up. We have also learnt about angles: low, high, eye level, worms view and birds view. There is also movement we have looked at such as: panning, tracking, zooming and titling. Other types of camera work we've studied is breaking the 4th wall. This is when the actor/actress looks at the camera- acknowledges the audience.

Conclusion to learning
By looking at the types of camera work our group will be able to make decisions on shots, movement and angles when we our filming our movie. By learning the effects they give off (such as by using a low angle on someone to make them look powerful) will also help us understand camera.

Initial Research

We have investigated the final questions that we are going to be asked at the end of our coursework to evaluate our film. The most significant question that came across in the evaluation is relevant to the work and research we are doing now:

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

By exploring this question it means we can do our research and take in to consideration what we should be doing when producing our thriller film. This will make sure we include certain aspects in our film to allow us to answer the question later. It also means we need to look at other openings to thrillers to keep a sense of familiarity. However we also want to create something new, original, and possible with a twist to the story. To do this we would need to explore the thriller genre in depth and everything that is included in a classic thriller opening.

Audience Research

Before we film a discussion of thriller films for our research we tried a practice survey. We asked out audience four questions to help us understand what type of questions we should ask. The questions were:

1. What do you expect in a 15/18 film? 
2. What is your favourite type of thriller film- horror, crime, psychological, drama, romance etc? 
3. What do you like your film to be set? 
4. Do you get bored of watching the same thing? 
5. Do you prefer black and white films or colour? 
6. What type of music do you like in thriller films? 
7. Do you like films to have a slow introduction, quick introduction or a film that unravels throughout?

Our audience research with this survey has helped in many ways. Firstly through the questions- when producing our real discussion, we are going to ask more open questions as we feel these questions were limiting our feedback. Secondly, this has also helped us in what type of film we are going to make. Most people answered the second question (favourite thriller film) as psychological. This means that viewers today enjoy these types of films and this influences us to produce one. On the third question answers came back with: realistic locations and places in the middle of nowhere. These answers contradict each other as half of our audience wants ordinary locations whereas the other want something different. With the fourth question, nearly all people wanted something new and exciting for  a thriller film. This makes us want to produce something original and unique. Furthermore with the fifth question, most people today prefer colour films. Even though we did ask a modern audience this could be something to avoid. Question six gave us interesting feedback as most people liked tense and happy (juxtapose to thriller films) music in thriller films. This gives our group a challenge when it comes to editing our film as we will have to think about placement and sound. Finally with question seven, nearly all people answered with a film that unravels. This shows that audiences' today enjoy crime/physiological thrillers that have gripping stories. This gives our group something to work on as we are going to have to come up with a creative idea.

Sub Genres

Action thriller – This sub-genre features a race against time which includes violence, explosions, guns and a main hero. Examples of action thrillers are The Terminator and James Bond. Action thrillers may have elements of mystery and crime.

Conspiracy thriller – This sub-genre includes a hero or heroine confronts a large, powerful group of enemies who only he/she recognizes.

Crime thriller - This particular genre is a hybrid type of both crime films and thrillers that offers a suspense and tension. Central topics of these films include murders, robberies, chases, shootouts, and double-crosses.

Disaster thriller - In which the main conflict is due to some sort of natural or artificial disaster, such as floods, earthquakes, hurricanes, volcanoes, etc., or nuclear disasters as an artificial disaster. 

Detective-Mystery- This sub-genre is considered a sub-genre of crime, suspense or thriller films that focus on an unsolved crime. This can be a murder or a disappearance which includes a central character – typically the hero- a detective. In this genre the detective meets adventures and challenges to solve the mystery.

Drama thriller – This sub-genre consists of the elements of a thriller and drama which is usually slower paced. It involves character development along with plot twists.

Film-noir- Some may argue that Film Noir is not a genre as it is more of a style that has evolved since the 1940’s. Noirs are usually black and white films with moods of melancholy, alienation, isolation, disillusionment, disenchantment, pessimism, ambiguity, moral corruption, evil, guilt and paranoia

Romance- This sub-genre includes features of romantic dramas, romantic comedies, and sexual films. These may be love stories that focus around passion, emotion, and the affectionate involvement of the main characters. This makes the film connect with the audience. Romance films make the love story the main plot focus which usually involves a male and female character.

Suspense Thriller- Thrillers have many sub-genres like action-thrillers, crime thrillers, western-thrillers, film-noir thrillers, etc. The thriller genre can be recognized with the horror genre as they both produce an intense exciting atmosphere. The high level of anticipation and suspense makes the audience anxious and nervous. Alfred Hitchcock has made many suspense thriller films that have captivated audiences. Spy films may be considered a type of thriller/suspense film also.

Research into different types of genre

Today I have looked at all the different types of genre including sub-genre and hybrids. This will make out group understand what type of thriller we can produce when it comes to making our film.

Action- I learnt that this type of genre tends to have high energy throughout the film that includes things like: stunts, fights, explosions and a destructive crisis. Sub genre’s in this category is a spy movie or a disaster film. I then looked at adventure. This genre is similar to action as it also has exciting plots.

Adventure- Adventure films also tend to have exotic locations (eg- Pirates of the Caribbean set in the Caribbean), action and treasure hunts. Even though this sounds like an interesting genre to base our short film on, it comes across as a difficult genre to shot.  After this I looked at comedy; however our group has decided that this is a bad idea as comedy is a hard genre to focus on.

Crime- I then went on to look at crime. I feel this is a good genre to work around on as it includes themes or murder and robbery that are developed around sinister actions. Detective mystery can be sub genre into crime as both include similar conventions.

Drama-I then focused on drama which uses serious plots and life situations that can shock our audience. The genre drama portrays realistic characters, settings including intense character development. The sub genres in this category are melodramas, epics and romantics.

Horror- I then looked at the genre horror. This genre is designed to frighten, captivate and entertain an audience that summon our hidden fears. Horrors include a shocking finale with monsters and deranged humans. This genre can be compared to the science-fiction genre as the corruption could relate to technology such as aliens. The sub-genres of horror are: slasher, teen terror, serial killers, satanic, Dracula and Frankenstein.

Overall I studied the main genres in which our group want to develop on. We’re not interested in making neither a science-fiction nor a fantasy film so we decided to base our research on genres that appeal to us.

The Auteur System 
Throughout my research into genres I also looked at the auteur system. This is when films are made based on the expression of one person, which is usually the director. This makes the film become their style which is shown through the personality, look, and feel of the film. For example: Alfred Hitchcock is well known for his suspense thrillers. Here is a link to his famous movie Psycho

What is a thriller?

A genuine thriller is a film that provides thrills and keeps the audience on the edge of their seats as the plot builds towards climax. Tension usually arises when the character/s are placed in a difficult situation, a mystery or trap from which escaping seems impossible. Life is threatened usually because the principal character is unsuspectingly or unknowingly involved in a dangerous or potentially deadly situation. The themes of thrillers frequently include terrorism, political conspiracy, pursuit, or romantic triangles leading to murder.

Conventions- setting, characters and story

Thrillers are usually set in a creepy atmosphere in with sudden violence, crime and murder. Thrillers mostly take place in ordinary suburbs/cities, however, sometimes they may take place completely or partly in exotic settings such as foreign cities, deserts, Polar Regions, or the high seas. The heroes in most thrillers are frequently ordinary citizens who are not used to danger. However, more common in crime thrillers, they may also police officers or detectives. While such heroes have traditionally been men, women lead characters have become increasingly common.

Thrillers are fast-paced that often present the world and society as dark, corrupt and dangerous. Characters in thrillers include criminals, stalkers, assassins, innocent victims (often on the run), menaced women, characters with dark pasts, psychotic individuals, terrorists, cops and escaped cons, private eyes, people involved in twisted relationships, world-weary men and women, psycho-fiends, and more. The themes of thrillers frequently include terrorism, political conspiracy, pursuit, or romantic triangles leading to murder.

Thriller and mystery

Thrillers often overlap with mystery stories but are distinguished by the structure of their plots. In a thriller, the hero must stop the plans of an enemy rather than uncover a crime that has already happened. While a murder mystery would be spoiled by a premature disclosure of the murderer's identity, in a thriller the identity of a murderer is typically known all along. Thrillers also occur on a much grander scale: the crimes that must be prevented are serial or mass murder, terrorism, assassination, or the overthrow of governments. Jeopardy and violent confrontations are standard plot elements in the genre. While a mystery climaxes when the mystery is solved, a thriller climaxes when the hero finally defeating the villain, saving his own life and often the lives of others. In thrillers influenced by film noir and tragedy, the compromised hero is often killed in the process. However, there are thriller films that have the characteristics of a mystery, such as the climax of a mystery being solved and the defeating of the villain seem to be common.

Alfred Hitchcock

The master of the thriller or suspense genre, Hitchcock manipulated his audience's fears and desires, taking viewers into a state of association with the representation of reality facing the character. Hitchcock's films often place an innocent victim into a strange, life-threatening or terrorizing situation, in a case of mistaken identity, identification or wrongful accusation.

Conclusion to The Terminator Clip

The first two minutes of the film show evil and serious themes through all humans dying. This may be a good idea when it comes to making our film- we could start with the ending to grip the audience. Furthermore, the use of lighting in this film indicates lots of meanings through dark and light. This will be something to think about when our group starts the film making process. What's more the music adds a tense atomsphere which fits into the conventions of thriller films- should our group have typical dramatic music? Or shall we break the conventions and include something different?

Thriller 4: Analysis of The Terminator 2- Judgement Day (Action thriller)

Director: James Cameron (1991)
Camera- distance, angle, movement and editing- speed style

The film opened with an establishing long shot of a busy motor way. This connotes ordinary civilised life which then cuts to a children’s playground. The long shot of the girl on the swings denotes that she is happy as she is laughing and playing. Both of these camera angles have been used in an eye line angle which gives the audience an idea of what it would be like if they were actually there. The lighting suddenly gets brighter causing everything to disappear and this is when the camera cuts to the dead car scene where again is show in an eye line angle. The camera then peds up around the broken dark atmosphere to reveal everything to audience- that there is no living life on earth. This connotes that something evil has happened which forces a negative view on the film. After this, the scene fades to a playground which has been burnt and broken and this denotes that there is no happiness in the world anymore. This is because it contrasts with the earlier scene of the girl playing. The camera then pans around the scene to show everything is dead as there are thousands of skulls lying around. This conveys death and makes the film much darker and sinful. A metal foot then crashes on one of the skulls which may cause the audience to jump as the loud crack sounds unexpected. The camera then tilts up to a low angle to show a machine. This is shot in a low angle to make the machine seem more powerful. The machine also comes across as destructive due to the guns and explosions. 

Sound- effects, music

At the beginning of the film dark music is playing in the background. Chellos play slowly in a dramatic minor tone to add a tense atmosphere to the movie. However when it shows all life form is dead there is no music and sound (expect for the wind) and this signifies that when all mankind dies there is no more music and life. Furthermore, the scene where the girl in playground gets brighter adds a dramatic mood to the film as the instruments crescendo and increase their sound. This denotes that something bad has happened which is then reinforced by the next scene. 

Mise-en-scene

When the film shows people living, they are dressed in casual outfits and this denotes regular life. However the scary music makes the film seem evil. This is reinforced with the lighting- a bright light has been used when people are living to denote that they might be dying (‘go to the bright light’) - and a dark light has been used when the machines take over and earth is dead. The bright may also be a nuclear explosion and this adds to the tense atmosphere as the setting – a big city – can be destroyed. The tall buildings denote power however the metal from the machine connotes strength and this over comes the humans.

Titles- font, colour, position

The titles in this film are very short. They start off with a typical black background and white text. This is positioned in the middle of the screen to convey seriousness. This is reinforced with the font as it’s formatted in capital letters and a sans serif font. This makes the film masculine and serious. The titling then continues on the motorway scene against the cars.