Task D - Research into other students' work

I analysed a previous students work in order to see how effective certain techniques can be. This thriller was called "Torn", and received an A grade from the examination board. The clip begins with the camera panning from right to left outside a house in the morning, and immediately the credits begin to appear on the screen in a white, bold font. This is a common theme with films and allow the audience to gain an understanding as to the surroundings of where the film is being set. The credits last for an appropriate length of time, and are written in a bold font that looks realistic for film credits and is clear to understand by the viewer. The main character appears from the front door, and then picks up the newspaper and heads toward the back garden shown from a variety of well-filmed shots. I feel this is another effective method of establishing a relationship with the character and the audience. The footage is well edited and flows smoothly from shot to shot throughout the narrative, and between some of the shots black and white images of dolls occassionally are super-imposed over the top to create a tense effect. This could be a method of teasing the audience by foreshadowing what might happen next. Non-diegetic music is present throughout the whole clip to add to the creepy, tense mood of the narrative, and as the character enters, the music intensifies and adds more beats and pitches to heighten the suspense. All the elements featured throughout the clip are well shot, of a high quality and work well with each other to complete an overall professional  standard. The constructive feedback I would give would only be that the character's dialogue could have been made clearer as the male character's voice is not always clear and does not match the overall mood of the scene.

Task C - Detailed Textual Analysis Of Titling Techniques

http://www.artofthetitle.com/title/the-duke-of-burgundy/

To be able to match the conventions of a thriller movie, I need to include titles of the name of the film, the main actors, the directors, the editors etc. The video in the link above I feel is an effective way of presenting the key details that need to be shown as titles during the opening to my thriller. Therefore when it comes to the editing stage during the opening 2 minutes of my thriller, I will aim to match this style.

Task B & C - Thriller Research - "se7en"

Se7en Summary

‘Se7en’ is an intense, scary and dramatic thriller in which an old school detective, Detective Somerset (Morgan Freeman) cannot rest and move on into retirement until he has finished his work and solved the dreadful crimes of a serial killer, John Doe (Kevin Spacey). His partner, David Mills (Brad Pitt), who was in line to replace Somerset could be described as his exact opposite. Young and enthusiastic, he is best described as a more ‘hands on’ officer. He has recently moved to the area with his wife and is still coming to terms with his environment and his role as a detective. The serial killer they pursue is in the process of recreating the acts of the 7 deadly sins, namely greed, gluttony, lust, envy, sloth, wrath and pride. With a series of dramatic twists and turns and with lives at risk it puts any viewer on the edge of their seat.

David Mills(left) and Detective Somerset (right)

Why is 'se7en' classed as a Thriller?

'Se7en' would be classed as a thriller as the plot follows all the rules of a classic thriller. Often thrillers can be categorised into one specific sub-genre. se7en, however, does not fit neatly into one sub-genre and this may be one of the reasons the film has been such a success and why it is so popular. It contains elements of crime thriller, action thriller, psychological thriller, religious thriller and film noir. It is crime because it explores the actions of a serial killer; action because there are shoot outs and chase scenes; psychological because the serial killer plays ‘mind games’ with the detectives; and film noir due to the low key black and white visual style of the film.

Websites used for my research:

• http://www.thrillerpress.com/whatmakesathriller.html
• http://thescriptlab.com/screenplay/genre/thriller#

Task B & C - Thriller Research - James Bond 'Quantum Of Solace'

James Bond (Daniel Craig) descends into mystery in 'Quantum of Solace' as he tries to stop a mysterious organisation from eliminating a country's most valuable resource. All the while, he still tries to seek revenge over the death of his lover.


Analysis Of Opening Scene

The scene opens with tense dramatic music being played whilst the audience can see an establishing shot of where the scene opens. This creates tension as the establishing shot shows calm waves crashing into what appears to be a peaceful island. However the tense and quick paced music makes the audience feel like something unexpected is going to happen as the sound and picture seem to show very different stories. Next we see the screen alternate between a dark screen and that of a car. We only see specific close up shots of part of the car. The audience can hear the sound of the wind pushing against the car which makes it seem like the car is travelling at high speeds. This again creates tension as there is always a greater risk of a crash when travelling at a faster speed. We then go back to the original establishing shot, however this time the camera seems to be moving across the water towards the land. This could be a way of showing to the audience that the closer they get to land the closer they will get to the truth of the scene and what is happening. Next, the audience sees that what may be the car seen at the start has ammunition on board. This shows that violence will be a key part of the film; however it may also make the audience feel scared as they are unaware of what or who the target is.

We then get the first image of a person, who looks to be the driver. He seems to be anxious with sweat round his eyes and we then hear the noise of a gun being loaded to create tension. The audience can tell that the scene is at a climax and then the music stops to show this. Suddenly we hear the sound of the car’s engine and the noise of the car going up a gear. The noise continues to get louder, showing that the car is going faster and faster. This creates tension as there is a greater risk of a crash. We then finally get a clear idea of what is happening in the scene and we find out that there are two cars involved in a chase with one shooting at the other. This gains the whole of the audience's focus and puts them in an exhilarating position as they feel they are sitting in the back of one of the cars.

Next shown on screen is a mid-shot of James Bond who is easily recognised from previous films. We then see a truck lose control and bump into Bond's car.  This creates a sense of shock as the audience feel a crash could be about to happen. As his car starts to spin the picture goes into slow motion however the sound effects get quicker. Still in slow motion we see Bond regain control back over the car and there is a sense of relief with the audience. This also shows that Bond has got respect from the audience as they are impressed with the level of skill he possesses.

As they appear out of a tunnel the tense music begins again to show that the chase is still at a dramatic stage and maintains the audience's focus. Next we hear the first piece of dialogue in the film, the foreign police calling for back up. Some viewers who can guess the accent or language gain an insight into where the film is meant to be set before they announce is to the rest of the audience. Through the use of multiple still shots of the cars travelling past the camera it gives a sense that the cars are travelling at a fast pace. Then there is another point of view shot, this is the police's angle - they have also joined the chase. We see the back window of the car in front smash and a gun appears which seems to be aimed at the audience. This puts the audience in a frightening position as they feel they cannot control the situation. The music then reaches another climax culminating with Bond shooting the driver of the other car and it plummeting to the bottom of a cliff. This finally gives the audience time to relax and feel relieved. As Bond slowly enters a town the camera rises and we see an establishing shot of the town. The caption 'Siena Italy' is also displayed. This gives the audience additional information as to the setting of the scene. The scene ends with the traditional Bond music and the screen cuts to the tiles and some cast members.

Ideas To Use In My Thriller

• I like that there is a contrast in beliefs at the start of the scene so that the picture being shown does not match the sound played. I believe that this is unique and gains the focus of the viewer.
• I also agree that the opening should contain action so that the viewer is 'hooked' and wants to carry on watching.
• I also like the way music was used in the scene to create tension. The fact it reached a climax and then suddenly stopped worked really well and I will definitely include this in my main task.

Task B & C - Thriller Research - 'Psycho'

Summary

'Psycho' is a physiological thriller directed by the world famous director Albert Hitchcock. It is about a young woman working at a restaurant who is tired of a life of secrets such as spending her lunch break with her new lover at hotels. She is given the chance to deposit $40,000 at the bank for her employer but instead decides instead to start a new life with her sudden gain in wealth. After a long day of travelling she spends the night at a hotel

Effects Used In The Opening Scene

Instantly we hear fast dramatic music being played whilst the titles of the production team are being presented. This creates tension and suspense with the audience and gains their focus. We then see Alfred Hitchcock's name displayed in the centre of the picture written in white in a big font. For some viewers this gets them engaged as he is one of the most famous directors of his time in the world. Next the title of the film is shown written in a 'slanted' italic font that is unique to the viewers. This is included to make the audience feel scared and the film seems strange to them. The theme in the title sequence is grey bars shooting across the screen. This gives the viewer the feeling that they are locked up. This is the technique of foreshadowing that violence may be a main part of the film. Also used in the title sequence is a black background with a thick white font. This makes the viewer focus solely on the key information displayed on the screen.

The scene opens with a high angle slow pan establishing shot of the environment where the scene is set, high rise buildings in Phoenix, Arizona. This gives the audience an understanding of location. The location, time and date are displayed. This makes the viewer focus on this and creates curiosity as to whether this information is important. Next the camera uses its zoom effect and slowly narrows in on one building. This shot then fades onto a closer shot of the building, where we can see the window open in one of the rooms. Through camera movement it feels like the viewer is actually there, journeying through the window, and is spying on the characters inside. As the camera enters the building the main focus is on the woman lying on the bed. However, we then find that the man shown has a higher status than the woman as he is standing over and as we cannot see his face it creates curiosity as to his identity. The camera then pans around the couple who are now lying on the bed and the dialogue confirms that they are not married and are currently keeping their relationship a secret. This creates an awkward feeling for the audience as having a sexual relationship before marriage was seen as wrong in the 1960's. Adding to this feeling we see a 'two shot' of the woman getting dressed and the man lying on the bed behind her. This again makes the audience feel they are spying on the characters and they have no privacy. However the mood changes as the dialogue changes from sexual to a more romantic feel. This is symbolised by the fact that they are now both wearing clothes and there is calmer and peaceful music being played in the background. However this does not last very long and the man's growing frustration means the music stops and his voice is raised...

Ideas To Take From The Opening

• I really liked the idea of using black and white for the background and titles as it draws the viewer's attention to the key important information.
• I also liked the transitions used in the title sequence and I would like to use this in my thriller as a way of foreshadowing what is to come later in the film.
• I also like the idea of opening the scene with an establishing shot as it is a great way to show the viewers the setting.
• I would also like to take the idea of displaying the date and time to create curiosity and tension with the audience. Is this information significant the viewer wonders? It also grabs their attention.

Task A - Opening and Definition of "Thrillers"

In this blog I will be giving updates on my AS media coursework on thrillers. It will include updates on research into thrillers, reviews on thrillers I have watched as well as updates on my group's progress, decisions made, reflections on the production so far and evaluations.

What is a Thriller?

A 'thriller'  is a genre that revolves around anticipation and suspense. The aim of a thriller is to keep the audience alert and on the edge of their seats. The characters in these films are set against a problem – an escape, a mission, or a mystery. No matter what sub-genre a Thriller film falls into, it will emphasise the danger that the characters face. The tension 

within the main plot is developed and built throughout the film and leads to a highly stressful climax.

Thriller is a genre that can be found in literature, film, and television. It is characterised by suspense, tension, and excitement. Thrillers impact upon the viewer's moods, giving them a strong sense of anticipation, a high level of expectation, often a sense of uncertainty, the unexpected, concern and fear. Films of this genre tend to be fast-moving, hard-edged and  intense.

A thriller will stimulate a rush of emotions in a viewer. Feelings of excitement and exhilaration that drive the story-line, often subtly with intense periods of dramatic action followed by quieter periods. The pace of the narrative is invariably high, keeping the audience on the 'edge of their seats', as the plot builds towards a peak or climax. Literary devices such as red herrings (aspects of the plot that 'trick' the viewer), plot twists (sudden unexpected events), and cliffhangers (the viewer is left desperate to know what happens next) are used extensively. At the centre of a thriller is usually a villain, who puts barriers in front of another protagonist (invariably a 'hero') which must be overcome.

Common subgenres are action thrillers, crime thrillers, Film-Noir, psychological thrillers, Science Fiction thrillers and Religious Thrillers. The horror and action genres will often overlap with the thriller. Thrillers tend to be psychological, terrifying, mysterious and at times involve larger-scale ciminality such as deception, terrorism and conspiracy.

Task A - Research into Industry

The Dark Knight (2008)

The Dark Knight is the top US grossing thriller film thus far and the 10th grossing film of all time, with the estimated budget for The Dark Knight being recorded as $185million. The thriller took a gross of $533.3m in the USA, £48.7m in the UK and got a staggering gross of $1billion worldwide. The production companies behind the film were Warner Bros. Pictures, Legendary Pictures, Syncopy and DC Comics. It had one of the top distributors in the film industry, Warner Brothers. The Dark Knight had a blanket release of 4,366 screens in the USA and 502 screens in the UK with the weekend gross $158.4m in USA and £11.2m in the UK. The film was released in 19 countries 13 of which Warner Bros distributed to. The film was accredited with a vast number of awards with their winning total tallying at 85. It won the Saturn Award for the Best Action/Adventure/Thriller film and the AFI Movie of the year.