Planning

These are potential ideas for our thriller.

Cinematography

Cinematography is the making of the film this contains camera angles. Camera angles include the use of framing and positioning of objects and characters, as well as this it includes movements of characters.

Different camera angles give different results, such as:
Extreme Close Up (ECU) [This highlights a particular emotion of a character or an object]
Close Up
Mid-shot
Long Shot
High Angle Shot [Shows power]
Low Angle Shot [Shows vulnerability]
Point Of View (POV)
Shot Reverse Shot
Over the Shoulder Shot

Film Language

Camera:  Camera movement can include:
1. Steadi-cam (camera is worn by a person and follows the action by foot)
2. Panning Shot (camera moves slowly side to side on a fixed axis)
3. Tilt Shot (camera moves up and down from a fixed axis)
4. Crane Shot (camera, mounted on crane, moves around at a distance above ground level)
5. Tracking Shot (camera follows the action, by moving along tracks)
6. Rolling Shot (camera moves diagonally making the image askew, usually used to suggested a character bring ill or drugged)


Editing: Two main things to know about editing is Speed of Editing (how long does each shot last?) and Style of Editing (how each shot is joined together?)
Types of transitions:   1. Straight Cut
                                 2. Fade-Out (where the screen fades to black)
                                 3. Dissolve (where one image is slowly brought in beneath another)
                                 4. Wipe Cut (where one part of the screen moves to wipe across the other)
                                 5. Jump Cut (where the audience's attention is brought onto something)

Sound: For sound there are two types of sounds and they are diegetic sound, that can be on or off screen (it is sound which is part of the film world that we are watching, such as dialogue) and non-diegetic sound (sound which is not recognised as being apart of the film world, such as a voice-over or background music) There is also parallel and contrapuntal sound, parallel sound is when the music and image on screen are the same where as contrapuntal sound is when the sound does not fit the image on screen, for example a violent image on screen and the music playing is saying "sunshine lollipops and rainbows"

Mis-En Scene: For mis-en scene there are five important features and they are:
                        1. Settings and Props
                        2. Costume, Hair & Make-up
                        3. Facial Expressions & Body Language
                        4. Lighting & Colour
                        5. Positioning of Characters & Objects Within In A Frame

Expressionism - This refers to the expression of a state of mind through the mise-en scene

Analysis of Past Students' Work

This opening is from last years media students and it is called 'The Night Walker'. It opens with someone playing the piano and features a thriller convention which is blood this instantly intrigues the audience what happened to the persons hands, where did the blood come from? The music begins off with a sense of innocence as it continues it sounds adventure type of music, perfect for a chase scene which is what the audience get. The antagonist is a mysterious figure and is chasing after the protagonist, we only get a silhouette of the antagonist (which is made by using backlighting). It looks as if it is a political thriller since at the beginning their are peoples eyes begin cut and crossed out. There is not much dialogue besides the protagonists running, the sound of the eyes, which makes it more intriguing, then finally at the end, it finishes off with a cliffhanger.

Brick

Conventions within the film is the dead body which is an enigma

Camera Techniques: High angle shot, shot reverse shot (dead body vs protagonist) and flashbacks

Editing: Mostly straight cuts, simple and do not complicate or make the transition from one scene to another look worthless.

Sound: The music creates an atmosphere of sadness, the dialogue from a phone call causes tension and suspense (mystery)

Mis-En Scene: There is a graphic match used from the present scene to a flashback by using the victims (dead body) bangles

Memento

MEMENTO - ONE OF THE SMARTEST THRILLERS MADE. 
    - This film has an extremely difficult narrative structure where events are told in ten minute segments and backwards. This echos confusion that the protagonist feels as he struggles to remember things.

Included in this film..

Conventions such as: blood, abandoned building and a dead body.

Camera techniques in this film use a wide range of shots; close up and ECU (Extreme Close Up) to highlight either a character or an object, long shot of the abandoned building to give the audience a feel of the surrounding the characters are presently in and then slowly begins moving closer towards the location. Filmed in reverse, black and white which symbolises flashbacks and then goes in to colour, back to the present day.

Editing: Slow dissolve into the film.

Sound: The mood is tense right from the beginning even before we the audience see a visual, we know something terrible has happened, the music is the clue.

Mis-En Scene: Red (blood) symbolises danger and destruction. The photo of the dead man immediately make the audience intrigued, do we trust the protagonist?

Cliffhangers

Cliffhangers are sometimes, not always used, often features the protagonist in a precarious or difficult dilemma, or confronted with a shocking revelation. This can entice the audience to keep watching in order to see how the situation resolves itself.

Example Film: 'The Italian Job' [1969] (a literal cliffhanger) gives us, the audience a witty example of a cliffhanger in it's famous ending, however it is not exactly, strictly speaking a thriller, but it has the conventional device of a thriller.

North By Northwest

"that plane's dusting crops where there ain't no crops"

In North by Northwest, protagonist, Thornhill is sent to meet a man called Kaplan to explain why he has been mistaken for a government agent and we believe, that that the man can help him however instead of anyone helping him a femme fatal tells him to go to an unknown location, in the middle of nowhere. Where he gets attacked by a plane. This is a red herring because we, the audience believe he's about to find the truth instead he's getting attacked.

Red Herrings

A red herring is the name given to a device which intends to divert the audience from the truth or an item of significance. Can work with other devices such as enigmas to create suspense.

For example, in Saw two characters spend time imprisoned in a room in which a third person lies dead. Throughout the film, both characters appear to be guilty of a series of murders, until it is discovered at the end that the third person in the room is not actually dead, but is, in fact, the killer.

Enigmas

This refers to a puzzle, something mysterious, inexplicable or a riddle or difficult problem. In thrillers this is commonly something which the protagonist has to try to find out or solve before the narrative is resolved and the film finishes.

Narrative - Structure, formulas and devices

For examples: use of 'continuity editing'

The clear establishment of 'cause and effect' plotting which establishes character character motivations and helps tell an interesting story which proceeds logically and steadily.

The Psychological Thriller

The mind, conflict and past

The suspense created psychological thrillers often comes from two or more characters, preying upon one another's minds, either by playing deceptive games or by merely trying to demolish the other's mental state. An example of this is the film called Sloth.

Sometimes the suspense comes from within one solitary character where characters must resolve conflicts with their own minds. Usually, this conflict is an effort to understand something that has happened to them. An example of this are Bond films.

British Board of Film Classification

The BBFC (British Board of Film Classification) is responsible for the national classification of films in the UK. Below are the classifications and it's guidelines.

         Universal- Suitable for all

A “U” film should be suitable for audience aged four years an over, it should have positive moral framework and should offer reassuring counterbalances to any violence, threat or horror. Scary sequences should be mild, brief and unlikely to cause undue anxiety to young children. The outcome should be reassuring.

Parental Guidance

General viewing, but some scenes may be unsuitable for young children. Frightening sequences should not be prolonged or intense. Fantasy settings may be a mitigating factor. No detail of potentially dangerous behaviour which young children are likely to copy. No glamorisation of realistic or easily accessible weapons. Moderate violence, without detail, may be allowed, if justified by its context (for example history, comedy or fantasy).


No one younger than 12 may see a “12A” film in a cinema unless accompanied by an adult and films classified “12A” are not recommended for a child below 12. Moderate physical and psychological threat may be permitted, provided disturbing sequences are not frequent or sustained.


No one younger than 15 may see a ‘15’ film in a cinema. No one younger than 15 may rent or buy a ‘15’ rated video work. Strong threat and menace are permitted unless sadistic or sexualised. Violence may be strong but should not dwell on the infliction of pain or injury.


No-one younger than 18 may see an ‘18’ film in a cinema. No-one younger than 18 may rent or buy an ‘18’ rated video. Adults should be free to choose their own entertainment. Exceptions in the followings areas:

    - Where the material is in breach of the criminal law, or has been created through the commission of a criminal offence.

    - Where material or treatment appears to the BBFC to risk harm to individuals or, through their behaviour, to society.

    - Where there are more explicit images of sexual activity which cannot be justified by context.

AS Coursework - The Brief

The titles and opening of a new fiction film in the thriller genre to last a maximum of two minutes.

The coursework is 50% of the course

Marks are awarded for excellence in the following criteria:

   - Holding a shot steady

   - Framing a shot 

   - Using a variety of shots (ECU, Close-ups, medium shots and long shots)

   - Shooting material appropriate to the task set

   - Editing so that the meaning is apparent to the viewer

   - Using varied transitions (straight cut, dissolve and fade out), captions and other effects

   - Using sound with images

Hitchcock's Maguffin

A maguffin (sometimes spelt MacGuffin) is a plot device that motivates the characters and advances the story, but has little relevance to the story. It's just useful for the characters within the diegetic world.

"We have a name in the studio, and we call it a 'MacGuffin.' It is the mechanical element that usually crops up in the story. In crook stories it is always the necklace; in spy stories it's always the papers." - Alfred Hitchcock


In the film Notorious (made by Alfred Hitchcock) the protagonist is trying to find the secret about the Nazis which he finds in a wine bottle, however the audience are more interested if the protagonist gets the girl at end.

Rope - Suspense

The film Rope (made by Alfred Hitchcock) It tells the story of two young, wealthy men, Brandon and Phillip, who strangle and murder a friend of theirs just to see if they can get away with it. They then invite other close friends (including the murdered man's parents) to their apartment for a dinner party, whilst hiding the body in a chest/box in their sitting room, just to see if they can get away with it.

The suspense is created through the body in the chest/box. What will happen? Will the body (and the two men ) be discovered and brought to justice? Do we, the audience even want this to happen?

Suspense and Shock

Imagine a scene in a classroom with students and a teacher. The camera reveals that there is a bomb under the table to the audience but however in the diegetic world (the students and the teacher) are aware of it. Will we be saved? Will the bomb go off? This is SUSPENSE. 

An example of suspense is in the film, Sabotage (made by Alfred Hitchcock). In this film, a boy has been given packages to deliver (by a terrorist) which us, the audience know that inside is a bomb that is due to go off at 1:45pm, however the boy is unaware of this fact. The tension builds as the time comes closer and closer, near the end Hitchcock adds more tension by repeating a certain imagery which is of clocks; while we are seeing this imagery the sound is parallel as it is of a ticking sound. This warns the audience that the time is near the end which has brought the suspense to it's climax.

Imagine the same scene except that instead of the camera revealing the bomb under the table, it simply just explodes without any warning, killing everyone which is present. This is SHOCK.

An example of shock is the film Children of Men. In part of this film the audience see a man go into a coffee shop, which is crowed with people watching the news that is reporting the death of the youngest person alive, the news seems abnormal and almost a trick to get a large number of people in one place. After the man leaves the shop a few minutes later the shop explodes, with a dark gust of smoke coming from the shop

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Suspense - Alfred Hitchcock

"In the 39 steps, the suspense films abandon both thrills and suspense when the falsely accused character finally reaches safely" - Rick Altman (Film/Genre)

The Suspense 'Thriller' - Alfred Hitchcock

"Under a strong influence of Alfred Hitchcock, thrillers often begin with a crime and the accusation of an innocent bystander. Where the accused to contact authorities, no doubt the case could be promptly solved, but instead the poor bystander runs from the law thus further jeopardising life and limb" - Rick Altman (Film/Genre)

Quote from Alfred Hitchcock

"I am a typed director. If I made Cinderella, the audience would immediately be looking for a body on the coach." 

This implies that Hitchcock was hugely known for making films in the thriller genre and this also shows that society generalise; he may have made a large number of thrillers however he did make other genres as well therefore he was versatile.