Research Task
On Monday (30/01/2012) we were shown the main task
assignment and what genre our short film would be about, the genre turned out
to be thriller and we were then shown some opening clips of some popular
thriller films including inception, and how these films gave the audience a
thrill that something exciting is about to happen within. we first had to
research into the genre thriller so that we had a full understanding of the
genre, and so that researching would give us ideas for our own short thriller
film.
On Friday (3/02/2012) and Monday (6/02/2012) we continued with our own individual research and then briefly discussed some of our findings and ideas, and continuing on with our blogs as well as sending out a questionnaire for research into what audiences look for in thriller movies, one of questions included do they enjoy thriller films or watch thriller films?
Thriller Opening ScenesOn Friday (3/02/2012) and Monday (6/02/2012) we continued with our own individual research and then briefly discussed some of our findings and ideas, and continuing on with our blogs as well as sending out a questionnaire for research into what audiences look for in thriller movies, one of questions included do they enjoy thriller films or watch thriller films?
The opening titles/scenes of a film portray alot to the audience as if the film gives off excitement and suspense to the audience then it will desire them to watch the rest of the film.
Inception is an example of a thriller because it gives the audience excitement and suspense throughout the whole film, fitting in with the genre of thriller. Inception is seen as a science fiction thriller because it incorporates hypothetical, science-based themes into the plot of the film. The Advertisement for the film such as the posters show that the film has a lot of mystery within it because it gives the audience the sense of unexplored locations which fits is with the science fiction thriller theme. In the opening scene/titles of inception there is a shot of a man washed up onto a beach with shots of children playing in the sand, at first there is the question of how he got where he is, where he is, and why he is there with children playing on the sand, it gives off a sense of mystery, intriguing the audience with what will happen next. As the sequence goes on we see that the children are not actually there and that it must be a mere memory of his childhood or his own children, giving off more questions of why they are there, who they are and that they must be significantly important to be included in the beginning of the film. As the sequence unfolds more the audience see that the man must be the main character or at least on of the main characters as the first sequence revolves aroud him and those children,
The scene continues on showing mystery as it then shows that he has washed up on either a secret base or a restricted area that trespassers are not permitted on, as he is taken away subtitles appear showing that he is in a foreign country, there is then a man shown only by the back of his head, suggesting that he could be important, giving the audience the question of who he is, and why he presents himself as important. As the man is shown the main characters belongings such as the gun, he shows no sign of concern towards the weapon but whilst reaching out for his glass of wine he is shown a spinning top which he then stops and turns in concern to see the main character being dragged in, producing more questions on why he would stop when shown the spinning top but not when shown a weapon, giving the audience the sense of mystery and wanting them to watch more into the film to discover the answeres to all these questions. There is then one significant shot of the spinning top spinning, with the main character looking up confused, which also shows his dirty rugged clothing, which then swiftly changes into shots of other men joining him all clean and smartly dressed. As the scene continues the answers to some of the questions unfold such as where he is and who he is, towards the end especially the scene switches to him and the other men asleep in different rooms, with explosions and screaming noise outside in the background, confusing the audience as to how and why the shots suddenly changed giving off supsene and tension and wanting the audience to watch more to understand the opening scene.
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| This is the beginning scene when we see the main character wash up on the beach |
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| This is the shot when we see the spinning top a significant part of the film. |
The Woman in Black
The women in black is an example of a thriller because it makes the audience feel tension and suspense throughout the film the whole film, fitting in with the genre of thriller. Woman in black is a horror-thriller film because incorporates the typical genre of horror but also shows the typical conventions of the genre thriller because it creates supense, tension and 'edge of the seat' feeling.
The Advertisement for the movie such as the posters shows that the film is eerie and mysterious, and gives the audience the sense of a thrilling story fitting in with the horror thriller genre. In the opening scene/titles of the woman in black there are a few shots of a children's tea set, and children playing with them and their dolls. There is then a shot of three little girls having a tea party and smiling happily, giving the audience no sense of a threat so far, but as the sequence progresses there is a sudden shiver of tension and suspense that slowly builds around the little girls.
The shot then turns to the three little girls staring at something, with the look of horror in their faces, which gives the audience a sense of confusion and question what they are staring at and why the mood suddenly changes, The music in the background of the sequence creates tension and suspence as the audience are now expecting something to happen because the three little girls have changed completely and are now focusing on the three windows opposite them, the little girls then start to walk towards the windows dropping all of there tea sets and toys like they don't care anymore, or they are possesed by something pushing them towards the window, as the scene reveals more it shows that the little girls are going towards the windows to jump out of them, this makes the audience want to watch more of the film so that they can discover why they suddenly jumped out of the window, As the starting scene closes we see a faint shadow of a figure standing in the corner, overshadowing where the little girls were playing suggesting to the audience that the figure was the thing that frightened or possesed the little girls to jump out of the window, this starting sequence shows the typical signs of a horror thriller genre as it shows the creepy, eerieness or horror and then shows the cliffhanger, tension-driving part of the thriller genre.
The Advertisement for the movie such as the posters shows that the film is eerie and mysterious, and gives the audience the sense of a thrilling story fitting in with the horror thriller genre. In the opening scene/titles of the woman in black there are a few shots of a children's tea set, and children playing with them and their dolls. There is then a shot of three little girls having a tea party and smiling happily, giving the audience no sense of a threat so far, but as the sequence progresses there is a sudden shiver of tension and suspense that slowly builds around the little girls.
The shot then turns to the three little girls staring at something, with the look of horror in their faces, which gives the audience a sense of confusion and question what they are staring at and why the mood suddenly changes, The music in the background of the sequence creates tension and suspence as the audience are now expecting something to happen because the three little girls have changed completely and are now focusing on the three windows opposite them, the little girls then start to walk towards the windows dropping all of there tea sets and toys like they don't care anymore, or they are possesed by something pushing them towards the window, as the scene reveals more it shows that the little girls are going towards the windows to jump out of them, this makes the audience want to watch more of the film so that they can discover why they suddenly jumped out of the window, As the starting scene closes we see a faint shadow of a figure standing in the corner, overshadowing where the little girls were playing suggesting to the audience that the figure was the thing that frightened or possesed the little girls to jump out of the window, this starting sequence shows the typical signs of a horror thriller genre as it shows the creepy, eerieness or horror and then shows the cliffhanger, tension-driving part of the thriller genre.
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| This is the shot of the three little girls playing happily |
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| The moment when the three little girls are pushed to jump out of the window, with faint screams in the background. |
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| The figure that could suggest to the audience is the thing that made the girls jump out the window. |
The Genre Thriller was introduced in the mid 1920's with a film directed by Alfred Hitchcock calledThe Lodger which was one of the first ever silent 'jack the ripper' thriller films, he then went on to directing 4 other thriller films.There are many different types of thriller films also known as sub-genres, as some films are different such as the action-adventure thriller which normally is set on a mission or a mystery, but still giving the audience the sense of excitement, anticipation and tension. Many thrillers are based on ture events, and while most are fictious in nature, they could happen.
Sub-Genres
- Action-Adventure Thriller-which is based around a mission and a journey to find treasure or a lost archaeological site, or if the film is more like an Action Thriller then it would use physical action to create suspense within the film. this sub-genre will often include continuous motion and action including physical stunts, chases, fights, battles, and races. some examples of action/adventure thriller films are- die hard, the Bourne identity and indiana jones.
- Conspiracy thriller-In which the hero/heroine confronts a large, powerful group of enemies whose true extent only s/he recognizes. Some examples of Conspiracy thriller films are- Awake, Snake Eyes and Edge of Darkness.
- Crime thriller-This particular genre is a hybrid type of both crime films and thrillers that offers a suspenseful account of a successful or failed crime or crimes. These films often focus on the criminal(s) rather than a policeman. Some examples of crime thriller are The Usual Suspects, The Fugitive and Jagged Edge. some examples of crime thriller films are The Usual Suspects, The Fugitive and Jagged Edge
- Psychological thriller-In which the conflict between the main characters is mental and emotional, rather than physical. Characters, either by accident or their own curiousness, are dragged into a dangerous conflict or situation that they are not prepared to resolve. Some examples of psychological thriller films are the Alfred Hitchcock films Suspicion, Shadow of a Doubt, and Strangers on a Train.
- Spy thriller-In which the hero is generally a government agent who must take violent action against agents of a rival government or (in recent years) terrorists. They often revolve spies who are involved in investigating various events, often on a global scale. Some examples of Spy thriller films Casino Royale, the Mission: Impossible franchise, Notorius.
- Science fiction thriller- incorporates hypothetical, science-based themes into the plot of the film. Traditionally, a Science Fiction film will incorporate heroes, villains, unexplored locations, fantastical quests, and advanced technology. These elements can be used in a Science Fiction Thriller to create anticipation and suspense. Some examples of Sci-fi Thriller films are Aliens, Inception, District 9.
These are some of the sub-genres in the thriller genre that i found, some others that i found were religious thriller, medical thriller, supernatural thriller, legal thriller, historical thriller, disaster thriller, techno thriller and serial killer thriller.
Example of films
-The dark knight (2008)
-Se7en (1995)
-Psycho (1960)
-Inception (2010)
-The silence of the lambs (1991)
Example of Directors
-Alfred Hitchcock
-Gregory Hoblit
-Stephen Hopkins
-David Fincher
-Carol Reed
-Gregory Hoblit
-Stephen Hopkins
-David Fincher
-Carol Reed
Audience Research Questionnaire
Questionnaire
1) How old are you?
6) What in the opening scene would make you want to
continue watching the film?
12-18
19-25
26-32
33-39
40+
2) What is your favourite form of thriller?
Just a basic
thriller
Horror Thriller
Action thriller
Comedy
Thriller
Sci-fi Thriller
Political thriller
Other
3) What do you find appealing about a thriller?
The characters
The
story
The fear and tension
generated
Other
4) Which do you think is the most important
convention of a thriller?
Story
Introduction
Characters
Other
5) At which point in the introduction do you
think the title of the film should be displayed?
Right at the
start
During the
credits
Right at the
end
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