Initial Ideas for Thriller Film (by Becky, Jess and Jodie) (edited by Becky 27/2/13)

Initial Plan

1) Man unlocking cellar door. Close-up of hand. (character's identity is not revealed)

 2) Girl leaving college and getting in her car. Shot of the car driving down the road.
3) Shot of the man throwing sheets over furniture in the cellar.
4) Shot of car driving into drive
5) Girl arrives at house. Gets out the car.
6) Man places ropes and chair in the centre of the cellar.
7) Girl enters the house (Match on Action shot)
8) Man sharpening knives.
9) Girl goes through to the kitchen. Puts the kettle on.
10) Man walks up the stairs out of the cellar.
11) Man stands at top of stairs and puts chloroform on a cloth
12) Girl walks into the lounge. Sees a body under a blanket on the floor. (Eye line match)
13) Walks over to lift up the blanket.
14) Man grabs her from behind. (fade to black)
15) Shots of girl being tied to a chair in the cellar
16) Man picks up keys (Match on Action)
17) Man walks up the stairs.
18) Close-up shot of the girl
19) Door slams, cut to black
20) Title fades in

Initial time: 2mins 6secs

Female character is terrified of the kidnapper 

Characters

Female Character

Stereotypical  everyday college girl

Casual Clothes

• We wanted the female character to appeal to the audience as a normal everyday girl. Her character needs to be believable and innocent in order for her to appear harmless.

Stereotypical character

• Her costume is a crucial element of her identity. From the beginning of our opening scene, the male and the female character need to appear as though they have no connection with one another. 

Scared

• As we come to the climax of our film, the stereotype of a innocent and helpless female, is developed further, when she is trapped and held captive within the kidnappers control. She needs to express terror and alarm in her facial expression and body language.

Male Character (Kidnapper)

Kidnappers identity is always hidden

Dark, black clothes

• This suggests mystery and power. Throughout our opening sequence, the kidnapper needs to appear in control of the situation, therefore his character needs to be seen as superior and dynamic.

Identity is never revealed

• This is going to be used to build up suspense and raise questions to the viewer. We felt that this was a key aspect of a successful thriller, as it increases tension and intrigues the audience.

Bleak and disturbed character

• The kidnapper needs to appear suspicious and bitter, in order to make our thriller opening a success. Unlike the female character of our story, his personality is veiled by his mysterious doings and secrecy. 

Character to play the body under the blanket

Character's identity is never revealed

• We decided that the identity of the body should be concealed, to create a higher dilemma and to hide the unresolved story line. 

Setting

College (girl works at the college)

• We have decided to place the female character in a twenty-first century setting, to enhance that there is no connection or relation between the two characters that the viewers first see.

House - Lounge and Kitchen (girl returns home from work)

• The use of this setting is going to add normality of everyday life to our film, in order to show the females innocent character.

Cellar - Dark, cold room (mystery and suspense takes place)

• Compared to our previous settings, this area is where the most bitter action of our film is going to take place. The darkness and desertion of the room, creates an orphaned and mysterious mood. It merges extremely well with the kidnapper's character.

Props

• Tools/knives Used by the kidnapper when in the cellar.
• Car Used by the female character when leaving collge and arriving back home.
• Kettle/mug Used when the female character arrives home and puts the kettle on.
• Sheets Used to cover up and hide objects within the cellar.
• Chair Used as a base to imprison the female.
• Rope Used to tie up the female character.
• Blanket Used to hide the identity of the mysterious body in the lounge.

Health and Safety

• Cellar stairs can be slippery. These could cause harm and injury to our actors as well as the film crew.
• Knives are sharp. If misused or left in hazardous ways, they could result in minor or severe injuries to anyone close-by.
• The kettle gets hot. Boiling water can cause serious burns to the skin and be harmful if spilt on any open surface or floor.
• Rope left lying around. People could trip over or get caught up in a tangle, therefore when not being used, they should be moved out of the way.
• The big lights get hot. These lights can be very harmful towards an individual, possibly resulting in hospital ermergencies if burned by these lights. extra care must be taken in order to ensure everyones safety.
• Wires need to be covered. People may trip and fall over these, so it is important that no unnecessary wires are left loose on the floor.
• Watch out for other traffic when filming the car driving. The safety of the public and other people around you needs to be considered when filming in a public place. Protection from harm must be crucial for everyone and not just those who are involved with the film. 

Lighting Homework (by Jess and Becky)

Task: 

• Replicate two scenes from films/TV dramas
• Record results on still camera
• Capture a silhouette effect
• Demonstrate six types of lighting

 Exercise 1: Shot 1:

We used two lights and tripods to create picture A on the lighting exercise. We had a light on each side of the subject, in order to create a low key lighting shot.









Shot 2:

We chose to re-create picture B which was illuminating one side of the subjects face. This created quite a dark effect, which could be used in a thriller movie. It imposes mystery and suspense, all of which are key aspects to a successful thriller.








Exercise 2:

This was our re-creation of the silhouette effect. To do this we used natural light, by placing the subject in front of a window. This keeps the subjects identity hidden, but gives clues as to who the subject is.













Exercise 3:
In this exercise we had to demonstrate six different lighting techniques. To do this we had to think carefully about lighting positions so we got the right effect and didn't blind the subject.

Frontal Key Light Only

 This created a shadow effect on half of the subjects face.This would be good for revealing a certain character and it also creates mystery, as you cannot see all of their face.

Key Light and Fill

Bottom Up Lighting Only

Top Lighting Only

Side Lighting Only

This made the subject more visible and allowed you to see all their facial expressions. This could be used as a standard shot, when capturing a reaction.










This creates a dark and spooky effect, as the person blends into the background. It enhances fear and suspense. This could be used during a climatic stage of a thriller film.










This lighting technique creates another dark and creepy effect. It presents a bleak and bitter mood to the viewer, and could be used as a shot to create tension.










 This shot, expresses a split personality, lighting up one side of the face and blending the other side into the background. It can be used to suggest that part of the characters identity is hidden.

Backlight Only

This shot creates mystery, as the subject is not clear or visible to the viewer. It would work as a powerful shot, if you didn't want to reveal the identity of the villain.











Problems we encountered:

• Placing the lights in the right position
• Making more of the subject visible than we wanted

Sound Homework (by Becky, Jess and Jodie)

Research Task by Jess Brayne

Thriller Opening 1: The disappearance of Alice Creed

Mise en Scene

• Setting: A car park, a hardware shop, a flat, the woods and a bed/furniture shop.
• Costume: Typical men's clothes, jeans, t-shit and a jacket/coat
• Props: Mainly DIY tools
• Facial Expressions: Not many
• Body Language: Normal, they know what they are doing

Editing

• Straight cuts

Camerawork

• Close-ups
• Extreme Close-ups
• Two Shots
• Panning Shots
• Tracking Shots

Sound:

• Diegetic: Exaggerated throughout, plane overhead, car moving, trolley wheel, DIY work. No talking
• Non-diegetic: Music - fast, sad, tense and builds over time

Evaluation:

This opening works well as a thriller because the audience is left with lots of unanswered questions like, out of all the cars why steal a van? Who are these people? Where is this film set? Why are they soundproofing a room? It also works well as there is no talking as it creates more mystery.

Thriller Opening 2: Along Came a Spider

Mise en Scene:

• Setting: An office, a flat, the street/road
• Costume: Smart work clothes
• Props: Food and drinks, computer/desk, a car
• Facial Expressions: Main character - Bored, fed up, maybe depressed. Others: Happy
• Body Language: The same as the facial expressions

Editing

• Straight cuts
• Maybe cross cutting

Camerawork

• Close-ups
• Over the Shoulder shots
• 2 shots
• Shots that just show setting

Sound

• Diegetic: Singing 'Happy Birthday', general chatter, feet tapping, typing on a keyboard
• Non-diegetic: Clunking as words appear on screen, music - gentle but fast and the main characters thoughts

Evaluation:

One reason this works so well as a thriller opening is because of the on screen writing that comes up first and then makes the audience wonder what this character has to do with the Fraternity. Also we wonder who the man getting out of the car is as the main character is talking about his dad as this other man come on screen so could that be his dad? Another reason this works well as a thriller is because it appears to be normal day so there must be a big twist as some point.

Thriller Opening 3: Donkey Punch

Mise en Scene

• Setting: City, a hot country, a hotel, bars
• Costume: Swimwear and dresses over the top, stereotypical summer clothes
• Props: Drinks
• Facial Expressions: Mostly happy, at one point concerned, maybe angry
• Body Language: Mostly happy and ready for a good time,

Editing:

• Straight cuts

Camerawork

• Panning
• Close-ups
• Multi person shots
• Over the Shoulder shots

Sound:

• Diegetic: Plane, chatting, water, phone
• Non-diegetic: Music - slow, acoustic

Evaluation

This opening makes the film seem very normal and that it is going to be about a group of girls who have a nice holiday, the only hint of something bad is when there is a close-up of a blood covered tissue in the sink. Although there is a little bit of speaking which is uncommon in thriller openings it helps give the impression that this will be a very happy film.

Thriller opening 4: Watchmen

Mise en Scene:

• Setting: A flat, Presidents office, a TV studio, outside the flat
• Costume: Pyjamas, dressing gown, smart/professional
• Props: Badge, cigar, kettle, TV
• Facial Expressions: Serious
• Body Language: Not a lot, mostly standing still or sitting down

Editing:

• Straight cuts
• One shot links to another, the character changes the channel and the setting changes as well

Camerawork:

• Close-ups
• Medium-long shots
• Pan-in

Sound:

• Diegetic: Kettle boiling, the TV, water
• Non-diegetic: None

Evaluation:

Although this is not a classic thriller opening, as they like to give the impression that everything is normal, I think it is still a very effective one because the audience still doesn't know this character is or why the news is so important to him/his character. The lighting in this opening is very low and this suggests that something bad is going to happen as usually bad things, like murders for example, don't happen in broad daylight. One reason this is very different to any other opening is that there is no non-deigetic sound, it is all in the film.

N.B. I am sorry for the lack of screen shots but I do not own the films on disc and when I paused them a 'play' button came up in the middle of the screen.

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.

Research task by Becky Fermer

 Initial Research

 Inception

Mise en Scene

Reveals the setting

• Setting: beach/by the sea (waves crashing, sand, rocks)

• Costume: Main character = Dark, grey, damp and dirty

                   Girl = Pink dress

                    Boy = casual shirt and trousers

                    Man = Smart suit, clean

                    Guards = Military-like uniform

• Props: Guns, spinning gem

• Central positioning of subjects in the frame

• Facial expression: sad, helpless

• Body language: helpless, weak

Editing

Good use of DOF

• Straight cuts

• Slow motion (children building sand castle)

Camerawork

• CU, ECU and LS

• Low angle and eye level shots

• Tilt ups

• Good use of DOF

Sound

Props

• Diegetic: waves crashing, dialogue, children screaming and talking, gun on the table, spinning gem on the table.

• Non-diegetic: Low, humming pitch in the background.  

Evaluation

The opening to this film, considers the aspects of what makes a good thriller. These include suspense, tension and dark themes, all of which engage the audience. At the end of this opening scene, we are left with a series of unasked questions. Who are these people? What is the object they are discussing? What do the children on the beach have to do with the character? Where are they? These factors produce an ENIGMA, which is a key feature to a successful thriller film. 

Character in context (LS)

 Jaws

Worms view

Camera work

• CU/LS/ELS distances

• High angles and eye levels. 

• Worms view of the character from underneath the water.

• Tracking (Characters running along the beach.

Mise en Scene

• Lighting is low key

Character in context

• Characters costume consists of beach wear items

• Body language: -Loose, flexible, relaxed – tense, shaky, helpless

• Facial expression: - Happy, cheerful, full of life – scared, worried, shocked

• Setting is based by the sea (beach and sea)

• Characters and subjects are positioned in the centre of the frame.

Editing

• Straight cuts

• No cross cutting or parallel editing

Tension and suspense starts

Sound

• Diegetic: Dialogue, gasping for breath, splashing, screaming

• Non-diegetic: Deep sounding music (creates tension)

Narrative

• The first few seconds, start off in normality, when she is gathered around the campfire and running along the beach.

• However there is a dis-equilibrium, where an unrestricted narrative is used, as the audience know that something is going to grab her from underneath the water, although the character does not know this.

Evaluation

LS of character in context

The opening to Jaws, works well as a thriller. At the beginning, the film casts a calm and joyful atmosphere, with no sign of danger or trouble. However, this doesn’t remain the case. A few second later, we see panic and anxiety within the character as something appears to grab her from underneath the water, although the viewer and the character don’t actually see what it is. Suspense and tension therefore develops as the character starts to struggle. The introduction of intense non-diegetic sound reinforces this panicked mood, before the character is pulled under. The opening therefore ends unresolved and lies on a cliff-hanger.

44 Inch Chest

CU of hand

Mise en scene

• Close up shot distances of context (smashed up glass, torn cushions, scared dog) suggesting an argument or fight has taken place.

• Compositions of subjects in the frame are central.

• Lighting is low key

• Character is casually dressed (casual shirt and trousers)

• Setting appears home-like (sofas, TV, computer etc.)

• Man’s facial expression is drained and pale

• Body language is weak and helpless

Birds eye view (character appears dead)

Editing

• Transitions are a simple cut.

• Short and simple.

• No cross-cutting or parallel editing.

Camerawork

• Slow pan of the setting, from a LS (reveals a body lying on the floor)

• Close up of a hand (no movement, implies that he is dead)

• Close up of the man lying on the floor, eyes wide open (looks dead)

Sound

• Non-diegetic

• Sad music ( creates a sense of loss and sorrow)

• No other sounds within the extract

Evaluation

Although this is an unusual way of opening a thriller movie, it does work in an effective way. Everything is slow, calm and silent; however it casts a sense of distress and drama, which thrillers contain. The audience is left intrigued to continue watching the film and find out what’s going to happen next, all of which is a key feature when making a thriller movie. 

  The Usual Suspects

Mise en Scene
• Setting: On board a ship (night)
• Costume: Dark, black
• Hair: Short and scruffy (Keaton)
• Lighting: Low key, producing shadow and creating a tense mood. Lighting has been used in order to create a fire effect.
• Body language: Relaxed (Keaton) Bold and tall (Kaiser)
• Facial expression: Bleak, tired (Keaton)
• Composition: Character is central in the frame (Keaton) however we only see part of Kaiser, and never his face, therefore hiding his identity from the viewer.
 
Camerawork
• CU, LS, MCU
• Eye level when Keaton is in the frame. Low angle when Kaiser is in the frame.
• A tilt upwards is used, when the audience is first introduced to Kaiser’s character.

Editing
• Straight cuts
• Match on action

Sound
• Foley sound (footsteps of Kaiser when walking down the steps)
• Off-screen source of sound (the gun shot)
• Diegetic sound
• Slow, low pitch, non-diegetic pitch playing in the background

Narrative
• The structure of the film, places the resolution at the beginning, therefore highlighting a key scene, which helps the audience relate to the whole story.
• Objective camera is used
• Restricted narration is used, where the audience know less than the character (who is Kaiser?)This raises questions to the audience


Evaluation
The opening sequence to this film, considers aspects of dark themes, suspense, tension and engagement with the audience, all of which contribute to making a successful thriller. The usage of a restricted narrative leaves the audience with a series of questions. Who is Kaiser? What is the relationship with the two characters? Why are there so many dead bodies around? At the ending of the opening scene, we are left with an off screen gun shot, therefore, the audience are unsure whether Keaton was actually shot or not.

Final Prelim