Filming day

This was third attempt at filming as the first two days were littered with problems. the first day we tried to film the weather was terrible and therefore i could only get limited footage. The second attempt of filming we had a problem with the lighting as the sun was low in the sky so again i could only get limited footage. The third day went much better as it was overcast so there was no problems with the lighting.

I managed to get all the shoots of the car that I needed. I also had the idea to film some shots sat inside the car as ponit of view shots. These shots were easy to film and will fit into the opening quite well. We had a twenty minute period where it was not possible to film anything as there was heavy rain. The only other problem I encountered was at one of the spots that we though would be quiet the traffic was much busier than expected. We managed to get some shots done there eventually.

Soundtrack

Thriller opening - soundtrack

 

Possible sounds - For my thriller opening I could use a string soundtrack. I could use high pitched violins to create a sense of panic and chaos. I could also use a brass instrument that makes a deep low pitch sound. The low pitch sound would build tension during the slower shots. The violin would then add a sense of panic during the shots in the latter stages of the opening. This is similar to climactic scenes from some crime films and also gangster films.

 

For my soundtrack I am going to use a heartbeat sound at the beginning. I will use a couple of heartbeats per shot then cross cut to another shot. The heart beat sound will gradually get quicker as the pace of the editing gets faster. I will then change to a fast drum beat at the end of the opening to create a sense of speed and chaos. this is similar to a car chase sequence from james bond. In Bond films there are instruments over the top of the percussion. I could also do this as the scene reaches its climax.

 

Thriller Conventions

Conventions of the thriller genre

 

Camera work is huge part of the thriller genre as used effectively it can create the mood for the film. It is used in thrillers to create excitement particularly in action thrillers and suspense in all forms of thriller film. Typical shots in thriller openings consist of mid shots and close ups. These two shots are used to show the emotions, expressions and reactions of key characters. The close up shot can also be used to conceal certain things to create suspense and keep the audience guessing. Close ups can also be used to give a sense of claustrophobia, particularly in action thrillers. The composition and framing of shots is also vital in thriller films to create suspense and tension. The exclusion of objects can also have this effect. Camera angles are crucial in thriller films to show the audience which characters may be powerful and which characters are vulnerable. A low angle shot on a character will give them a sense of power and dominance. A high angle shot on a particular character will show vulnerability as the audience are looking down on them.

 

Editing is a key part of all films and TV and in thriller films it used to great effect to create tension and set the pace of the film. The typical transitions used in a thriller film include dissolves, fades and quick cuts. A dissolve can be used to link events together. Fades to black or white can be used to show flashbacks. A fade to white can also be used to show a death. Quick cuts are predominantly used in chase scenes or fighting scenes to show panic, pace and action. Editing can also be used to structure the narrative of a film. If it is non-chronological it can create tension. A dual narrative can cross cut between a victim and a villain.

 

The opening to a thriller has the same key elements to most films. The titles will show actors, directors and other key information. There will always be a key event in the opening to a thriller and an introduction to a plot. This will make the audience engage with the film and want to watch the rest of the film to see how it pans out. Key characters will also be introduced at this stage.

 

One of the most important components of a thriller is the sound whether it is diegetic or non-diegetic. The non-diegetic sound is used to build the atmosphere of the film. In particularly tense moments of a film a low pitch sound may be used to build suspense among the audience. During climactic scenes high pitch sound will be used to give a sense of the pace and urgency.  In thriller openings there is often no dialogue as the main plot begins after the titles.  

 

Mise en scene is a huge element of thriller films. Thriller settings vary largely between sub-genres. For example, action thrillers will tend to be set in urban areas where more props can be used such as buildings and vehicles. Supernatural thrillers will often be set in rural or woodland areas as those places are associated with scary goings on. Props in thriller openings can usually be a hint towards the plot of the main film. Weapons can be a big giveaway to a plot that involves murder and violence. In most films gender plays a huge role. Often, males are cast as the dominant character, either a hero or a killer. More often and not the female character is a victim or the person that the male hero saves. Costume is also important to the atmosphere of the film. A darker costume can add to a dark atmosphere.

 

It is common for the narrative of a thriller to be based on a revenge story or perhaps a justice theme. The narrative of a thriller could be a dual narrative where the action cross cuts between two characters or scenarios. This could be done to create a psychological effect.

Questionnaire Analysis

Questionnaire Analysis

 

In the results from my questionnaire I have found that most people watch between 1 and 3 films each week. A majority of the films watched by the people who answered my questionnaire were thriller films. This shows that thrillers are still popular viewing. My results also found that the most memorable thrillers tended to be action thrillers such as Die Hard and James Bond. This suggests that the most effective thriller films have plenty of action to keep the audience enthralled and entertained.

 

I also found out that the most popular setting for a thriller is an urban setting. This reflects that the most popular sub-genre of thriller in my questionnaire was an action thriller. Action thrillers are often set in an urban setting as it is more believable for car chases and crimes to take place in an urban setting.  Another popular choice of setting was a rural setting. This type of setting lends itself to supernatural thrillers as the idea of remoteness and loneliness often plays a part in supernatural thrillers and horror thrillers.

 

I asked people what they though made a successful thriller opening the most common answer I got was suspense. I think that people said suspense as it would make them want to watch on and find out what happens in the film. Another answer I found interesting was a dual narrative. A dual narrative would set the scene for the film and would also introduce key characters at an early stage. One person also answered that keeping identity hidden during the opening would create suspense. This would also make the audience want to watch the rest of the film in order to find out who these characters are and why their identities are kept hidden from the viewer.

 

Taking all the feedback into account I have decided produce an opening for an action/crime thriller. The opening will be a dual narrative between a victim and a villain. The scene will cross cut between the two characters. The victim will be walking on his own. For this part I will use some high angle shots to show vulnerability and will also show the villains car in the background. I will cross cut to villain driving down a country lane in a remote place. For this I will use fast paced editing to show a sense of urgency and speed.