Research task by Jodie Cruttenden

Initial Research

Task: To post research findings on at least four thriller openings. Make at least two references to each of the 4 areas of editing, camerawork, Mise en Scene and sounds.



Panic Room (2002)

Setting/Decor

Mise en Scene

• Setting- New York/New York apartment (You can instantly identify that it is set in New York because of the iconic yellow taxis)
• Decor-   It is an empty apartment in new York, and as the apartment is for sale the place is empty. Decor can usually tell you things about a character but as it's empty it  leaves you to interpret what the characters could be like.                 
• Props-  Scooter, umbrella, bags
• Lighting- When the characters are outside, it is daylight so the lighting is natural light. Whereas inside the apartment the only light is coming from the windows. 
• Costume- Fur coat, plain black clothes, white coat.
• Body Language- nervous



Setting





• Facial Expression- Unsure

Editing

• Straight cuts
• Continuity editing

Low angle showing the child on the scooter

Camerawork

• Low angles 
• Close ups, Medium Shots, 
• Tracking         

Sound

• Diegetic sound- Traffic, cars, children, walking, dogs barking, wind

Evaluation

This is quite a interesting opening to a thriller. At the beginning of the film you see the characters walking through New York to look at an apartment for sale. The questions that were raised when I watched this opening were- How is this going to turn into  a thriller? Simply because the opening to this film is a happy opening, the characters have a good lifestyle, it leaves the viewer wanting to know how the film ends.

P2 (2002)

Mise en Scene

• Setting- In New York, car park and in an office block
• Decor- Office setting, desk, computer, paper all over desk, plants               
• Props- Phone, headset, computer
• Lighting- Quite dark, her face is well lit 
• Costume- Blue shirt, hair up, plain trousers
• Body Language-  Friendly towards employee, stressed whilst on phone
• Facial Expression-  Not bothered, tired

Editing

Match on Action

• Match on action     
• Straight cuts

Camerawork

• Panning
• Depth of field 
• Close ups, big close up, medium close ups, 2 shots

Match on Action

Sound

• People talking in the background, music, sirens, keyboard, phone ringing
• No other sounds used in this opening

Evaluation

The opening of this thriller starts of with a few shots from the car park, the car park is dark and sets a 'nervous' atmosphere. It then switches from the car park to the office where you see the female character talking on the phone and then to an employee, you can interpret that something is going to happen because of the shot of the car park but that's the good thing about this opening because it leaves the audience wanting to know more.

The Machinist (2004)

Man lighting ciggarette

• Setting- An apartment/outside by the sea
• Decor-   Quite modern, big windows            
• Props-  Truck, cigarette, lighter
• Lighting-  Dark, few lights in the apartment. When outside it is night time.
• Costume-  Open shirt, trousers, blood and cuts on face
• Body Language-  Weak, tired, nervous
• Facial Expression-  Scared

Editing

• Long takes           

Camerawork

• Tilt
• Extreme long shot, close ups, long shots, medium long shots     
• Low angles

Sound

• Waves, truck, walking
• Music from the start of the film, plays throughout the opening

Evaluation
This thriller opening is different to the previous two because it begins with the actual 'story', whereas the other two started with the characters having no idea what was going to happen (dramatic irony). There is non   diegetic sound, and it is used from the start of the opening till the end, this creates suspense and fits perfectly with what is happening on screen,


Arlington Road (1999)

• Setting-  Neighbourhood, hospital
• Decor-    Very 'American' neighbourhood               
• Props-  Car
• Lighting-  Daylight, brighter lights when in hospital
• Costume-  Child is wearing trainers, trousers and a hoodie
• Body Language-  The child is limp and looks as if about to pass out
• Facial Expression-  Hardly a facial expression as about to pass out

Editing

• Cross cutting
• Quick cuts

Camerawork

• Low angles
• Long shots, extreme close ups, over the shoulder shot

Sound

• Non diegetic- Talking, background music
• Sounds when in the hospital

Evaluation

This is an intruguing thriller opening as it starts with the little boy and shows what has happened to him. This thriller opening includes suspense as you want to know what has happened to the child and why it has happened to him.