Definition of a thriller

"A thriller provides the sudden rush of emotions, excitement, sense of suspense and exhilaration that drive the narrative, sometimes subtly with peaks and lulls, sometimes at a constant, breakneck pace thrills. In this genre, the objective is to deliver a story with sustained tension, surprise, and a constant sense of impending doom. It keeps the audience cliff-hanging at the "edge of their seats" as the plot builds towards a climax. Thrillers tend to be fast-moving, psychological and threatening, mysterious and at times involve larger-scale villainy such as espionage, terrorism and conspiracy."

Scott's 15/18 rated research

EVALUATION:

• Similarly to Scott's previous research, the information is concise and to the point, which means that the most important points are made to me which makes it easier to analyse. 
• I think his research will be important to us in creating our own opening sequence because it not only educates us on what cannot be included in our film, but provides us with general knowledge which will improve my knowledge of media as a whole.

Evaluation of Connor's survey

EVALUATION:

• Connor has clearly put in lots of hours towards this survey because of the pilot survey and analysis of his results as seen on his blog.
• I think this will the most valuable piece of research that the group has carried out because it shows us what the consumer wants so therefore gives us ideas as to what to include in our own opening sequences. 
• I also think that by using a range of question types (e.g. open ended questions, multi choice etc) he kept the audience awake so avoided getting invalid results from a participant getting bored. 

Victoria-Louise's research cont..

EVALUATION:

• Victoria-Louise's remaining research was quite brief and there were no outlines of what an actual sub genre was, instead there were simply types of sub genres. 
• Despite this, the research into sub genres might be useful for when we decide which path to go down in our own opening sequence.
• I also think that the information on codes and conventions within the thriller genre was a little brief and I'm not sure that I learnt anything from it.

Evaluation of Scott's research

 EVALUATION:

• I think that Scott's research was really successful because it was very in depth and had lots of good analysis included that, after watching the clips, I don't think I would've seen.
• I also thought that his analysis of Momento was particularly good because it inspired me as to how our actual coursework could appear. This is because I really like the idea of the opening being shown in re-wind because it gives it originality and the audience therefore are gripped by this.

Research into thriller genres and hybrids

Thriller Film is a genre that revolves around anticipation and suspense. The aim for Thrillers is to keep the audience alert and on the edge of their seats. The protagonist in these films is set against a problem – an escape, a mission, or a mystery. No matter what sub-genre a Thriller film falls into, it will emphasize the danger that the protagonist faces. The tension with the main problem is built on throughout the film and leads to a highly stressful climax.

Examples of Thriller Films:

The Great Escape - A large group of POW’s plan an escape from a German camp in World War II.

The Silence of the Lambs - An FBI agent develops a relationship with the notorious serial killer, Dr. Hannibal Lector, in order to gain Lector’s assistance in the hunt for another serial killer.

North By Northwest - Mistaken for a government agent by foreign spies, an advertising agent travels cross-country trying to survive.

Sub-Genres of Thriller:

Action Thriller

An Action Thriller uses physical action to create suspense within the film. Like a traditional Action film, this sub-genre will often have continuous motion and action including physical stunts, chases, fights, battles, and races. Often, these scenes will contribute to the overall sense of danger that the protagonist is facing.

Examples: Die Hard, Kill Bill Vol. 1, The Bourne Identity.

Crime Thriller

Crime Thriller film is a sub-genre that incorporates the suspenseful aspects of a thriller with a crime film plot. This sub-genre's plot usually centers on a serial killer, murderer, robbery, or manhunt. As opposed to traditional crime films, the storyline focuses both around the criminal and the protagonist. Crime Thrillers use both action and psychological aspects to build tension and suspense.

Examples: The Usual Suspects, The Fugitive, Jagged Edge.

Film-Noir

Film Noir is not simply a sub-genre, but rather a term for a distinct, stylistic type of crime-drama or thriller that was popular throughout the 1940s and 1950s. Film-Noir is characterized by a black-and-white style with stark lighting effects. The main character is usually a cynical hero. Film-Noir relies on a narrative voice and various flashbacks to explain the intricate plot.

Examples: Sunset Boulevard, The Maltese Falcon, Sweet Smell of Success.

Psychological Thriller

In addition to the traits of a regular Thriller, a Psychological Thriller incorporates elements of drama and mystery film. The suspense in this sub-genre comes from the mind, rather than from a psychical threat. The protagonists in Psychological Thrillers must rely on their mental resources to solve the situation. Because of their nature, many Psychological Thrillers cross over into the Horror genre.

Examples: Memento, Rear Window, Taxi Driver.

Science Fiction Thriller

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. Often, this sub-genre will explore the “future-gone-bad” theme, including plots that revolve around alien invasions, dystopian scenarios, and super-diseases.

Examples: Aliens, Inception, District 9.

Religious Thriller

Religious Thriller film incorporates religious themes, including religious questions, ceremonies, and objects. Though some films can revolve around a specific church, many Religious Thrillers include supernatural experiences not pertaining to a certain religion. Exorcisms, demon possession, and church cover-ups are typical themes of Religious Thrillers.

What is the difference between a sub-genre and a hybrid film?

A Sub-genre is a sub-category within a particular genre. A hybrid genre is kind of a mix of more than one genre.

What is the difference between horrors and thrillers?

I have tried hard to identify the difference between the two genres and this is what I have put together in order to differentiate between the two: If the film is about a SINGLE protagonist against A GROUP of an antagonistic nature (or SINGLE antagonist that represents that group or force), then it ordinarily would be a Thriller. If the film is about a GROUP of people up against a SINGLE force – supernatural or human – then it’s likely to be a horror.

Victoria-Louise's research

 

 EVALUATION:

• Victoria-Louise's analysis of Shutter was really good because it had very in depth information which clearly showed she'd taken a long time over the work.
• I also think that her other two pieces of research were good because they were contrite and to-the-point which is useful because it means we don't have to read the whole extract in order to gain points.
• The analysis within her work is good and will be useful for us in the future.

Evaluation of Connor's research

My Evaluation:

• Connor's research is good because he goes into a lot of detail into all four categories: Mise-en-scene, camera, editing, and sound.
• However, I think that his research lacks a further level of analysis meaning that I don't have a lot of an implication into whether his analysed material would be useful for our own coursework.
• There are also some small grammatical errors which aren't major however it shows he did not proof read his work.
• I also think that his work shows that he has alot of technical knowledge about camera angles and editing which suggests to me that he will be good at the technical aspects of our coursework, whereas I probably won't be.

Glossary

Mediation: the means by which, through the use of representation, a media organisation and its employees stand between an event and the public’s perception of that event.

·         Mediation involves the process of constructing, interpreting and editing material in accordance with the requirements of the chosen medium of communication.

Diegetic Sound: sound generated within a film narrative.

·         Non-Diegetic sound is outside the narrative such as an orchestra playing rousing music during a battle scene.

Verisimilitude: seeming to be like or to be connected to the real.

·         The term is important in many media genres because it determines the level of audience engagement and willingness to engage in suspension of disbelief.

Iconography: the distinguishing elements, in terms of props and visual details, which characterise a genre.

Indexical sign: signs where the signifier is caused by the signified (the meaning that is applied) e.g. smoke signifies fire.

Symbolism: Words that signify something e.g. Starbucks and coffee.

Ambient sound: Background sounds e.g. birds

• Foley-artificial
• Natural-real

Diegetic sounds: on screen sound

Non-diegetic sounds: off screen sound

Dialogue:Speech

Parallel sound: sound that fits the action/scene

Contraparallel sound: sound that doesn't fit what is on screen

Voice-over: Would be dialogue if it was spoken within the frame.

Aerial Shot-A shot taken from a crane, plane, or helicopter. Not necessarily a moving shot. Backlighting-The main source of light is behind the subject, silhouetting it, and directed toward the camera. Bridging Shot-A shot used to cover a jump in time or place or other discontinuity.

Extreme long shot: A panoramic view of an exterior location photographed from a considerable distance, often as far as a quarter-mile away. May also serve as the establishing shot.

Fade in:A punctuation device. The screen is black at the beginning; gradually the image appears, brightening to full strength. The opposite happens in the fade out.   Fill light: An auxiliary light, usually from the side of the subject that can soften shadows and illuminate areas not covered by the key light.   Flashback: A scene or sequence (sometime an entire film), that is inserted into a scene in "present" time and that deals with the past. The flashback is the past tense of the film.   Flash-forward: On the model of the flashback, scenes or shots of future time; the future tense of the film.   Focus: The sharpness of th image. A range of distances from the camera will be acceptably sharp. Possible to have deep focus, shallow focus.

Focus in, focus out: a punctuation device whereby the image gradually comes into focus or goes out of focus.

Pan:(abbreviation of panorma) Movement of the camera from left to right or right to left around the imaginary vertical axis that runs through the camera.

Glossary of camera shot types

Gender stereotypes in Primeval

To make the media text easier to analyse, I have split it into four sections. The sections are as follows:
Section 1=beginning until the roar of the saber tooth
Section 2=roar of saber tooth until gun shot
Section 3=gun shot until discussion at base
Section 4=barn scene

Section 1

In the opening of the extract there are contradicting representations. The following reasons support this:

• Woman looks weak as she walks out of opening scene upset with the male represented as the 'protecter' by saying "She's been through a lot, leave her" which suggests he is the stronger of the two characters.
• Camera angles position woman in digger as high up whereas the man is viewed from a birds eye view. This makes the male look weak yet the female looks strong which contradicts common stereotypes.
• Woman is located in a large digger which is a bulky, angular piece of machinery which would ordinarily be associated with 'man's work'. Therefore, she's representated as strong and capable of the responsibility, supporting the idea that the male looks weaker with his mere hands for machinery.

Section 2

This impression is reinforced as the extract continues. The following reasons support this:

• The woman in the digger has the role of attacking the saber tooth which suggests that she has enough strength to tackle it, whereas the male possibly doesn't. The saber tooth is a cat which is stereotypically associated with feminimity, so the idea of strong female characters is reinforced here.
• The man is shot trying to get away from the saber tooth which shows weakness in fear. Therefore, there is a contradiction of traditional roles within this scene as the female is representated as stronger than the male.

Section 3

As the text continues more traditional images about gender are created. The following reasons support this:

• As the scene begins, the characters all move in a line towards the camera. The woman is marginalised meaning that she's pushed to the edge of the camera. This suggests that the males are superior to her at this point.
• Also, eyeline shots are frequently used on the male characters which means that they are important and worthy of the character space.
• However, weaker male characters are also identifiable through the use of mise-en-scene. For example, a man wears a pink top which makes him look feminine, which further makes him appear weaker than the other males visible in the frame.

Section 4

By the end of the media text these traditional representations of gender are reinforced. The following reasons support this:

• The farmer appears strong due to his typical appearance, i.e. stubble, short hair and masculine clothing. He also holds a gun which connotes powerfulness and masculinity. The farmer holds most of the screen time because he has more control over the situation.
• Eye level shot is present when farmer pushes woman to the floor, making her look weak and him look much more superior.
• When the male and female from digger scene appear, the man stands in the foreground which suggests that he's in control of the woman behind him which supports the original stereotype of a woman.

 

Do generic conventions help or restrict film makers?

Group 5 2012 AS from Media @ CCC on Vimeo.

EVALUATION:

• I think that our presentation was well structured because we made clear points that were easy to interpret.
• I also think we worked well as a group because despite us all having different, busy timetables we came together by communicating via facebook to organise the presentation. As well as this, we had practiced the presentation previous to its filming so that there were minimal mistakes.
• However, in my opinion the presentation could've been improved by collecting more evidence to back up our points. For example, after watching other student videos it is clear that by using example films and information the presentation appeared much more length and more thought out.
• I also think that the presentation could've had more in depth information in it to have supported our ideas.
• Following on from this, we concentrated mainly on the disadvantages of generic conventions and didn't take in much about the counter argument which I think would've made a more successful presentation.

Shutter (2004) Analysis

Shutter (2004) is a Thai horror/thriller film.
Camera:

• The lense of the camera is always red which automatically connotes danger and blood even before the film has started. This influences the audience to believe that despite the film not even have started yet, they already know the intentions of the film are.
• As well as this the camera shows short flashes at photographs which introduce the character within the film. These flashes of photographs increase with speed alongside the music, adding to the suspense.
• Also, random words appear on the camera lense which implies that anything could be round the corner which makes it eery.

Editing:

• The film is edited in a rough, jagged way that almost makes the audience jump. This gets their emotions on edge and creates a scary, eery atmosphere.

Sound:

• The music within this film is high-pitched, screechy music that gathers in speed and volume as the introduction goes on. This adds to the tension within the scene, which is already scaring the audience and nothing has even happened yet.

Silence of the Lambs Analysis

Camera:

• Due to the tracking of the woman through the forest, it shows the audience that she breaks the stereotype of a traditional woman, and at the time of the movie being produced (despite being made in 90's) woman were still partially expected to be simple housewives. This is shown through the fast paced tracking meaning that she is running fast, and this sport ordinarily connotes men. Furthermore, this displays her dominance and masculinity despite the film having been only approx 10 seconds in and the audience already know the main character. 
• It also pans across the forest at the beginning of the sequence which gives the impression of isolation and eeriness, which may be an insight as to the emotions of the main character. This pan shot also reinforces the dominance of her character because it is seen that woman shouldn't be alone in a foggy forest but she isn't afraid at all.

Sound:

• At the beginning of the opening sequence, the music matches the eery surroundings but as the bass comes over and dialect begins, the music softens because the character is being familiarised with the audience.

Editing:

• At the beginning, the shots are seen as fast paced because the editing is abrupt and jagged to match the speed of her running, however when she begins to slow down the editing does. Also, at the beginning of the sequence (in between the fast editing) the scene slows down as the editing allows for a long pause on her face to introduce the character.

Mise-en-scene:

• Clothing used within the scene introduces the main character effectively by showing that she is part of the FBI.

Panic Room Analysis

Camera:

• From the birds eye view shot of New York City it sets the scene for the whole film and allows the audience to familiarise themselves with the place at which the film is set, the time at which the film was set etc. The birds eye view also makes humans look minuscule and therefore weak and insecure.
• As the camera pans across skyscrapers, it shows the inactivity from above which makes the audience feel isolated to the "real world"

Sound:

• The music used throughout this opening sequence is the main point of interest within this film because it tells the audience that this is not a "happy clappy" (for want of a better word) film. This is because with the use of a wide shot of New York City it can create a very broad idea in the audience's minds (for example, the skyscraper shot is also used in Sex and the City-a very different film) so the music is used to create an eery, suspense-filled atmosphere so the audience are aware that even so early in the film, all is not well.
• This is reinforced through the use of slow, low tones instruments which, as well as the use of rising tempos throughout the scene which add to this feeling of suspense, and give the impression to the audience that something is about to happen.

Mise-en-Scene:

• The mise-en-scene is used to create the "normal" happenings of day-to-day life in New York from above, such as yellow cabs and business-dressed individuals. This also adds to the suspense because this added to the camera usage shows that the people in shot aren't aware of any danger however the audience is, which draws us further into the film.

Podcast of our research plan