Questions

Describe your target audience. (their cinema and film habits, including other thrillers they’d  enjoy/not enjoy; psychographics and demographics)

The target audience of the film would most likely be 16-24 year olds in the C1, C2 and D demographic classifications. They would go to the cinema occasionally and usually in friend groups. Recent major films they have probably seen include, The Dark Knight, I Am Legend, Kidulthood and Adulthood. They would be from a middle to working class background with an average amount of disposable income. This disposable income would mostly be spent on mainstream goods, such as fashionable clothing and popular music. The lower band of the audience would be less likely to spend as much money but would still try to make themselves look as wealthy.

What pleasures does you thriller offer your audience? Make references to thrillers, and use the 9 types of pleasures we looked at in class.

The thriller offers a variety of pleasures to the audience. For example, there is a narrative pleasure due to the cliff hanger left at the end of the opening. It may also offer a psychological pleasure to those who feel they can connect with the characters. A third pleasure is intellectual pleasure. The mystery pertaining to why the father attacks his daughter is key to this pleasure. The social pleasures gained from relating to the characters may also occur in some.

Is your thriller an indie or a mainstream thriller? Who would exhibit your thriller – indies or chains? Make reference to other thrillers and their exhibitions.

The thriller would be more likely to be released in indie cinemas rather than major chains due to the nature of the film. Due to its unusual genre, it would have a hard time attracting viewers if it were released in a major cinema, like Vue. Instead, it relies on an audience willing to watch something new. However, despite its unusual genre, it may also appeal to the audiences gained by indie hit films Kidulthood and Adulthood, due to similar themes and backgrounds.

Who would produce your thriller – indies or majors? Make reference to other thrillers and their production companies. Would your film seek funding from the UKFC.BFI/FilmFour?

The thriller would be more of an indie production based on the production and distribution companies involved with Kidulthood and Adulthood. As it shows a glimpse of real life, the locations are very down-to-earth; we would probably be able to get funding from the UK Film Council or FilmFour.

Discuss your thriller in terms of genre. Is it a genre film? Is it a hybrid genre? Is it a sub-genre? Use the quotes about genre to support your ideas and to discuss your film.

Our thriller is a Psycho-Realist Thriller. Nicholas Abercrombie says that “boundaries between genres are shifting and becoming more permeable.” Our thriller is a good example of that as it combines aspects of several different sub-genres of thriller, including Mystery, Psychological and Realistic. This combination allows for a wide thriller audience to enjoy the film.

The film plays to the thriller genre very well as the opening contains a significant amount of mystery, i.e. the audience want to know why the father attacked his daughter, and therefore keeps the audience interested.

Preliminary Task Video

For our preliminary task film, we used a variety of filming techniques to make it have a more professional feel. These shot types allow the audience to better understand what is going on within the camera’s view. To make sure the audience does not become disorientated by the movement of the camera, a method called the 180® Rule is used. The 180® Rule makes an invisible line within the scene that the camera does not cross at any point. This prevents the audience from becoming confused by the sudden switch of all of the characters positions.

The second technique we used was match on action to make the audience feel a connection with the character. Shot reverse shot allows the audience to understand what the character can see when he is entering the room. Finally, an over-the-shoulder shot during the conversation shows who is talking to whom. This gives the scene an easy to understand feel as you know who to be paying attention to. As the two characters leave, the camera follows them until they are out of the door, giving the scene an appropriate end.

Costumes

Hoodies can be  used to conceal the face which connotes anonymity. They also wear very similar styles of clothes, typically comfortable brand name clothing because they care about their image or "street cred". The similarity between many hoodies clothing allows them to slip into a crowd very easily. The stereotype of this kind of character is a selfish, anti-social thug. The picture below is a still from the film "Kidulthood". This is the film that gave us the inspiration to use a character type that is often percieved as being the bottom of society. However, we have challenged the sterotype by giving them a sense of loyalty to each other, showing that "hoodies" can have values too.

A suit connotes a strong connection within society and a high degree of respect. Anyone wearing a suit has a  professional look about them and is generally considered to be a well-standing member of society. The grey hair of the character connotes experience and sensibility. The steroetype of this character is a law-abiding citizen. The picture below is of James Cromwell's character in the 1997 thriller "L.A. Confidential". He plays a police officer who appears to be by-the-book. However, as the film progresses it is revealed that he is the mastermind behind large-scale corruption, including beating up potential criminals, within the police department. This character gave us the idea to have a seemingly law-abiding citizen who is secretly very sadistic and controlling.

Thriller Location Images

 Canted shot connotes confusion.

 Graffiti connotes corruption and seedyness.

Shabby looking, estate style shopping area connotes a bad neighbourhood.

 Wet streets are a typical convention of thrillers.

Block of flats looks run down.

 Bare trees show that the area is lifeless.

These pictures were taken at our filming location by Maddie and myself.

Analysis Of The Opening Scenes In One Upon A Time in America (1984)

The concealment of the majority of her face highlights the parts that are visible while the light reflecting off the pearl necklace is a good use of chiaroscuro.

The light of the lamp is the same colour as her clothing, this connotes that there is some kind of symbiosis between the woman and the lamp. This is further implied when the light is turned out after she is killed. The rule of thirds is also used effectively.

The angle of the shot connotes that the men are in a much more powerful position. Also, her prone body at the bottom of the shot frames the rest of the scene very well, emphasising the importance of the men. Examples of typical noir style clothing are present, as this wass the most common type of clothing at the time the film is set.

A shot of the elevator shaft with the elevator descending connotes a sense of claustrophobia. This shows that the general outlook of the film is negative as several tragic events take place in a short time at the beginning of the film.

A canted worm’s eye first person view connotes several things. For example, the canted angle of the shot shows that the person from whom the view is being taken is disoriented. Also, the very low worm’s eye shot shows the man to be much stronger and more powerful.

Briefcases are a typical aspect of thrillers, especially noir, as they connote mystery. It is impossible to know what is in a briefcase without opening it and an entire story can be based on wanting to know what is in a suitcase alone.

*Pictures aren't uploading, I'll add them later.

Preliminary Task Storyboard

 Subject 1 walking towards doors.

 Subject 1's hand pushing open door.

 Subject 2's viewpoint of Subject 1 walking through door.

 Over-the-shoulder shot of Subject 2 from Subject 1's viewpoint.

Over-the-shoulder shot of Subject 1 from Subject 2's viewpoint.

 Final shot of Subject 1 and 2.

Summary Of Ideas For Original Thriller Plan

Open with girl walking down road

Cut to girl walking into shop complex

Cut to hoodies in the middle of the way out

Cut to shot of alleyway

Cut to girl walking into alleyway

Cut to shadow across girls face

Cut to large figure at end of alleyway

Cut to figure attacking girl

Cut to hoodies running towards alleyway

Cut to figure running away

Cut to hoodies trying to help girl

Cut to figure escaping in car

Cut back to hoodies trying to help girls; sirens in the background

Cut to hoodies running away

Cut to hoodies footprint in the mud

End