Research

Research

Elvisa Vali

Introduction• In my project I have been instructed to create a title and opening for a movie. This will last about 2-3 minutes. The title and

opening is based on the genre Thriller. To ensure my title opening fits the codes and conventions of this genre I have to research everything about thrillers in detail. In order to achieve this I shall research the codes and conventions, take a look at opening thriller movies also I will look into the sub genres of a thriller for example comedy thrillers or crime thriller.

Codes and ConventionsCamera Movement/Angles. This convention helps to give a film its thriller genre, as different camera angles create different senses of body language and emotions. Thriller films also use Camera Angles such as close up shots and mid – range shots. An example of a close up was used in a film called “Taken”, in the film there is a close up of the mans face whilst he is speaking over the phone to his daughters kidnappers showing that he is furious, which helps to show tension, and helps the audience to feel as if they are in the film and gets them to start asking questions. Some Camera Movements also make the audience feel tense and also helps to make them feel like they are actually in the film. For example when the camera man moves the camera about, they try to mimic the characters breathing. This can be shown in the opening sequence of The Bourne Supremacy, when Jason Bourne wakes up in his bed after a nightmare and begins to heavily breathe. This makes the audience feel like they are in the the room with Bourne. Another Camera Movement is tracking, this is a fast paced camera movement. This types of shot has been used in films such as Goodfellas, when the camera is quickly tracking through the kitchen of the Copacabana, this makes the audience more tense and also makes them quite nervous and makes their heart beat fast, as they know that something may happen next due to the fast pace.

The other important convention that makes up a thriller is Editing, things like quick cuts and shot reverse shot. These quick cuts can also be seen in films such a psycho, when the women in the shower is getting stabbed there is a lot of fast cuts, as it shows different angles of her being stabbed. This makes the film fast paced and makes it more uncomfortable for the viewers. Shot reverse shot is used when two characters are having a conversation and the camera jumps from character to character. An example of this is in Matrix when Morpheus and Neo are having a serious discussion whether Neo will join the Matrix or not. This is effective because it connotes the importance of the conversations creating a suspenseful atmosphere for the viewers.

This also contains very important elements which make up a thrillers. Jumpy and and quite scary music which are played in each scene, can be named as themes as they produce different moods and settings for thriller films. Another sound element which is very important is high pitched sounds/orchestral stabs such as screeches. For example orchestral stabs such as screeches are used in thrilling films such a psycho, when the lady in the shower is being stabbed. Psycho was written in 1960 by Alfred Hitchcock .This adds suspense and horror/thriller to the film to give it its thrilling genre. Other sound elements which are used to give the films their thrilling genres are; diegetic/ non-diegetic sound.

Mise-en-Scène contains a few important elements which help add thriller to films and also help to add suspense as well. Lighting such as colour design has to be dark to help give the film a gloomy mood and helps to make the audience feel more suspense towards the film. Another thing which also makes the opening off a thriller stick to its thrilling genre is props, as in thriller films there is a lot of sharp objects and weapons like glass, knives, guns etc….In films such as Train-spotting, they use props such as drugs, needles and cigarettes, to show that the characters are druggies and to show the audience what type of personality each character has. Train-spotting was created in 1996 by Danny Boyle . This shows the audience that the objects are going to be used to kill someone or something. The set design/ location also helps the genre of the film stick to thriller, as the right set/location such as a gloomy warehouse or dark woods give a thrilling film as it shows mystery and suspense/tension towards the audience.

What is a thriller?A thriller is a book or film which is designed to keep the reader or viewer on edge with suspenseful and sensational action. Thrillers have also been produced in the radio, theater, and television media. Thrillers typically involve sudden plot twists, for example, keeping people unsure about what is going to happen. This suspense can get almost unbearable, especially in a long piece or a television series. Thrillers also have a lot of action, which is often chaotic, and they typically feature resourceful heroes and exotic settings. The plots of thrillers can vary widely. Some are supernatural, for example, centering around mystical antagonists. Others are scientific or medical in nature, forcing their protagonists to contend with biological agents or mysterious scientific happenings. Some are simply straight mysteries with clever, horrific, or intriguing antagonists, while others be focused on the inner workings of the legal system, environmental threats, technology, or natural disasters

Analysis of films

The Girl With The Dragon TattooThe Girl With The Dragon Tattoo is adapted to the Swedish novel by Stieg Larsson. A journalist Mikael Blomkvist investigates a disappearance almost 40 years ago. The protagonist in the film (Mikael Blomkvist) is aided by a young women who helps him with his investigation. As they work together they uncover things beyond anything they have ever imagined. The codes and conventions of this film is as following. In crime thrillers, there is usually really fast paced music played to set the mood for the film like in The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. Both characters in the film are usually dressed in dark clothes, the female in the film is a pierced, tattoo, punk computer hacker which makes the audience question if she is the protagonist or the antagonist, if she is really good or bad; this sets a deferral atmosphere for the viewers. The subgenres of this thriller film are crime, drama and mystery.

InceptionA complicated film based on the wonders of dreams. The main character, Dom Cobb is a skilled thief; stealing valuable secrets from deep within the subconscious during the dream state, when the mind is at its most vulnerable. For this film to be a Personal quest based thriller film four conventions are simultaneously used all through the film. Narrative trajectory – Cobb’s character is compelled to achieve a personal quality of a moral crisis that demands immediate action. Due to Cobb’s ability he is an international fugitive which has cost him everything he ever loved, to have a chance at redemption he must accomplish a task that could risk his life. Timescape is used because Cobb’s quest takes weeks/months for him to come to grips with the personal quest, although an extreme even will always loom. Last but not least the characters in the film struggle with the conflict between equivocal virtue versus moral certitude to determine the value of integrity. The subgenres of this thriller film are personal quest, adventure and mystery.

The Bourne UltimatumThe plot of this film is about a man that’s trying to find out who he is but in-between all of that he is accused of something he has not done, he finds himself in even more trouble as he discovers more things. This cliffhanger make the audience feel on edge and excited to find out how he over comes all of this trouble. The writers use various conventions to convey that this is a thriller film. For example, narrative trajectory- The audience experience an powerful identification with Bourne and his willingness to stay alive throughout the movie. Bounded World – Bourne is isolated and is obliged to overcome the circumstances on his own also he has to isolate himself due to betrayal. Also timescape is used to show that Bourne has little time to fix everything before his enemies kill him, this keeps the viewers hooked into the suspenseful plot. Lastly Bourne discovers that the only way to stay alive is through self reliance and that he has to be independent so the larger community is not affected; this is called character ethos. The films subgenres are action and crime.

What is a genre?Genre is the term for any category of literature or other forms of art and entertainment, E.g music or films. Genres are formed by conventions that change over time as new genres are invented and the use of old one are discontinued. Often , works fit into multiple genres by way of borrowing and recombining these conventions.

Character Ethos:A comparatively uninvolved character is drawn into an increasingly large menace, and discovers that the only way to remain alive is through self-reliance, by exposing the malevolent evil before it can assault the larger community.

Protagonist Research:A movie succeeds to the extent that its audience identifies with the film’s protagonist (and often with the antagonist as well) The protagonist of a thriller film is a character who plays the main role, a character that the viewers empathize with. Also the protagonist usually figures in real life situation so that the viewers understand them better.

Comedy Drama Mystery Detective/Crime Horror Thriller ActionAdventure

Sucker Punch No Country Rear Window No Country For Old Men

Night Of The Living Dead

Inception The Bourne Ultimatum

The Guard The Dark Knight Vertigo Pulp Fiction Paranormal Activity

The Sixth Sense Casino Royal

Fargo Unknown Seven The Departed Psycho Limitless Children Of The Men

Johnny English Taxi Driver North by Northwest

The Silence Of The Lambs

Halloween Jaws Season Of The Witch

Insidious Challenging The usual suspect

Momento The exorcist Black Swan The Matrix

Subgenres and examples of thriller films