Ideas for thrillers

Ideas for thrillers

Beth's Idea

• Victorian times 1847
• A girl
• A governess
• Turns out governess is her mother
• Girl hates her
• Governess ends up strangling her in anger
• Victorian clothes
• Use of the school building, and landscape setting
• Walks up road up to the main school building
• Creepy lighting
• Suitcase prop

Flora's idea

• Troubled teen
• Has anger issues, criminal records
• Kicked out house
• Moved in with aunt
• Then tries to get his life back on track
• She forbids him from going
• Sees red
• He beats his Aunt to death

Toby's idea

• Alcoholic, rebellious teen
• Short tempered
• Irresponsible
• Goes to a party
• Gets really drunk
• Decides to walk home, takes wrong road
• Ends up on wrong side of town

 

 

 

Feedback on Thriller idea pitch

 

 

 

Feedback on thriller idea pitch

Feedback we received from our thriller pitch was positive, and we were pleased with the comments. We were told that we shouldn't use children in our thriller, as they were hard to get and to work with; it is easier to use adult actors, therefore we can just use our peers as actors. I had an idea to set our thriller in my Auntie's house, who lives 15 minutes from the school. It's large and has a creepy, mystical feel to it. They then gave me the task to go away and take photos of it inside, to see whether it fit Victorian era we had planned, and wasn't too modern to use. We have the back up of using one of the boarding house, which could be ideal as well.

Intro to editing

 

Editing

Editing is a crucial part of film making as it brings all the clips together in a sequence. To edit our prelim we used a programme on mac called final cut pro, which is used for professional film editing. We learnt how to create folders (bins) and add the most important clips to insert in there. We chose the best clip out of each section (close up, over the shoulder, wide shot, medium etc.). We discarded some clips because they weren't right- for example head cut out of the shot. Our individual group decided we would begin the film with a close up of the boot kicking the door open following a wide shot of the actors bursting into the room.

Continuity helped us to attach to clips next to each other smoothly without a fractured look. It helped the film all fit together, giving it an actual meaning and storyline. The finished result was good, as we'd all worked together to assure all the clips were in the right order and flowed. A section we enjoyed doing was taking the sound from a previous clip and adding it in the background of another clip (door slam without seeing the door).

Our group worked well together, allowing each other to have equal amounts of time on final cut pro. We all respected each others ideas and opinions and created a successful prelim. Key advice we were presented with was to save! Mac computers like to shut down without warning, therefore loosing everything. This happened once, the lesson was learnt. That was something that frustrated us after hard work of editing.

What is a Thriller?

 

 

 

What is a Thriller?

A genre is a style of characteristics that occurs frequently in a specific type of film (e.g. thriller, rom-com, horror etc.) For example in a rom-com film, we expect it to involve comedy (something to make the audience laugh), a romance between two characters and usually set in a unrealistically beautiful scene. 'Hanna', 'Shutter Island', 'The Awakening' are all separately different in characteristics, yet all fall under the category of thriller. 'Shutter Island' and 'Hanna' are both in strong contrast to each other, due to the era they are portrayed in. Shutter Island is seen as a film set in the 1950's, whereas Hanna is distinctly set in present day, shown by the use of techno scenery. Hanna is said to be a violent, action thriller- it consists of a adventure, and perhaps a hero and enemy. Shutter Island is mysterious and known as a sci fi thriller. It similarly involves intensity and anticipation , but action and excitement isn't included as much as Hanna- the pace is slower.

 

Shutter Island is set on an island, in a mental hospital, and the scenery continuously dark and gloomy. Immediately this gives the audience, a clear view on what the film will be focussed on-suspense and not knowing. Hanna begins with the set of isolation providing the audience with the idea that Hanna will be fighting a majority of the film on her own, independently. The costumes and clothing relates to the era the films are set. Leonardo Di Caprio's costume remains dark, with lack of colour, blending him into his surrounding. Shows us that perhaps he is a secretive, mysterious character. Hanna is regularly exhibited dressed in a boldly orange prison outfit, metaphorical for the fact Hanna is brave and adventurous. She is our key character, therefore has to stand out.

 

Similarities between the films show that both films are centred around solving crimes and capturing someone. The main characters in the films are seen as flawed anti-heroes. They are characters the audience cannot really relate to, but enjoy watching. Both Hanna and Teddy are murderers and their lives evolve around solving crimes and defending themselves. The setting, although different, are alike in the idea that they're both isolated and remote. The narrative structure of the films are similar in which it has a beginning, middle and an end. Ignoring twists, and flash backs that are included, both have a simple, straight forward structure.

Title Structure

 

 

Title Structure

In a traditional title sequence, the audience expect to see a black background with text displayed on it. This is a way of preventing the audience from knowing too much early on in a film. An example of a film that uses this structure would be 'Sixth Sense'. The lack of information in the film's beginning signifies the film will be a thriller involving mystery.

 

A straight into the film title sequence, is when the text is displayed while the action begins. Narrative information in this way, in 'Donny Darko'. This type of title structure creates a enigma for the film, forming a mystery type setting. The audience assume now there is a mystery that needs to be solved.

'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo' is an illustration of a discrete film, as it gives a slight overview of the film's genre without giving too much away. It tells us what it'll be about, but we don't know see the faces of our characters, therefore don't know any details about them as of yet.

'Stylised' title structure is a combination of immediately entering the film's action, then followed by a discrete title sequence. 'Skyfall' is an example of this structure, as it begins with some action, then follows by animated credits. The music assists in setting the film as quite sinister, however questionable.

Sexy Beast Opening Analysis

 

 

 

Sexy Beast Opening Analysis

 

 

Sound

• Diegetic cricket sound effects
• Diegetic dog bark sound effects
• Non-diegetic music- symbolic of his character.
• Walks to the beat of the music
• Up beat music is contrast with old character
• Music is silenced by water splash

Camera

• Camera follows rock tumbling down hill
• Also use of eye line follow here
• Tracking technique
• Tilted camera angle- presenting beast like figure

Mise En Scene

• Quick introduction to the characters
• Seems like a character with authority
• Ironic- sexy beast. He's the complete opposite (old and large).
• Accent characterisation- cockney/ East End
• He's red, like a lobster
• We get the impression he's expensive- perhaps a business man or criminal.
• Positioned at the top of a hill- symbolic for king

 

 

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Sexy Beast Opening Scene
 

 

 

 



The Shining Opening Sequence Analysis

 

 

The Shining Opening Sequence

 

Opening sequences are a way of showing and demonstrating perhaps the main characters and setting. Not giving everything away. And nothing crucial.

 

Camera Shots

• Birds eye shot
• Tracking shots shows the long journey
• Constant cuts
• Cuts close to the car, creates suspense, but then pulls away again

Sound

• Extremely loud 'trombone/trumpet' music.
• Sound as if raindrops
• Non-diegetic sound effects. Made to sound real (screaming electric, voices, wailing)
• No diegetic sound

Mise En Scene

• Woods symbolize secrets/mystery
• Lake/street/woodlands
• Present isolation
• Climbing- further and further from civilisation
• Journey to where the film is set
• Inside the car- protagonists
• Reaches a hotel. First inhabited place. Escape from civilisation.
• Snow melting, shows spring.

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The Shining Opening Sequence