Thriller planning.
Characters: Tom, Anna and Charlie.
Tom and Anna are dating each other, Charlie is both Anna and Tom’s best friends, and Charlie is secretly in love with Anna but obviously can’t tell her because she is dating Tom.
Charlie is the killer, who is trying to impress a cult of serial killers; Charlie has to prove himself by murdering people in the local area. Tom and Anna are Charlie’s next victims, both Tom and Anna are unaware of the cult or that Charlie is targeting them.
Background:
Its set at dusk, the three characters have spent the day together hanging out, the characters relationships are shown when they are all saying goodbye, this shows that Anna and Toms relationship is more then good friends. The camera follows Anna home, then there is a cut and we see Anna doing everyday tasks such as having dinner, watching TV and getting ready for bed. There is a blackout as she turns off her bedroom light. The doorbell rings which wakes up Anna she looks out of the window but she can’t see anyone outside, she goes back to bed and there is another blackout. The doorbell rings again, cuts to Anna who goes to open the door whilst holding a knife in her hand, but again no-one is there, so she closes the door, then hears loud banging and shouting at her front door, she opens the door again this time to reveal Tom who has been chased to Anna’s house. Anna sits Tom down, then goes back to close the door, she doesn’t notice that the knife has been taken off the cupboard. Anna then locks the door. They go up stairs so that Anna can get her mobile, they both hear smashing and banging downstairs, Anna goes to the place where she left her mobile phone only to notice that it has gone missing, this makes them realise that someone else is in the house. Tom and Anna hide in a slated cupboard so that the person can’t find them but they can see what’s happening. The killer comes upstairs; when he comes into the room both Anna and Tom recognise the killer is Charlie, which causes Anna to gasp. This reveals the hiding place of the couple to Charlie; however he goes downstairs and pretends to leave. Tom says he’s going to check things out downstairs and assures Anna he will only be 10 seconds, Anna closes her eyes and counts down from 10 then opens her eyes; the killer is now standing in front of her.
Props:
Knife
Costumes: Anna-summer dress, light pyjamas/ Tom-white shirt and jeans/ Charlie: black shirt and dark trousers
Slats
Black paper
Street light
torch
Friday, March 13, 2009
Thursday, January 22, 2009
audience research
Thriller QuestionnaireThriller film:
A thriller film involves lots of tension but no gore. They often have a main character who acts as a hero in the film stopping the villain’s plans.
There is also usually a twist in the film and sometimes instead of there being a villain the problem could be psychological or because the villain wants revenge .
Some examples of popular thriller films are Psycho, The Shining, Silence of the Lambs, Jaws, Taxi Driver, Alien, Exorcist, The Dark, Knight, North by North West, Memento, Pans Labyrinth, Clockwork Orange,
1. How old are you? (please tick one)15-18 18-21 21+
2. What certificate would you most likely choose to see for a thriller film? (please tick one)15 18
3. Why do you think you are attracted more to this certificate?......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................4.
What kind of deaths do prefer to see in thriller films?....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................5.
What’s your favourite thriller film and why?........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................6.
How many killers would be interesting and a Thriller film? (please tick one)Just 1 2 or 3 more7. Why would you prefer this?......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................8.
Which sub genres do you find interesting in thriller films? (tick all that apply)
Action Thriller (e.g. James Bond, Bourne trilogy)
Crime Thriller (e.g. Seven, Godfather, Reservoir dogs)
Horror Thriller (e.g. 28 Days later, Saw, Psycho, Silence of the lambs)
Psychological thriller (e.g. The Sixth Sense, The Talented Mr Ripley)
Spy Thriller (Bourne Identity, From Russia with love, Mission Impossible)
Supernatural Thriller (e.g. Carrie, Unbreakable).
Do you prefer to have large amounts of tension all the way through the film or segments?Throughout segments
10.What do you like about previous thriller films?........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
11.What attracts you most to see a thriller film? (tick all that apply )
Good plot line
Unique characters
Tension Setting
12. What kind of music do you find builds tension and suspense?....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
13. Do you like the opening of a film to give hidden message about the film?
Yes
No
the result are above the actual questionnaire, i got the results from jade townsend with whom i worked together on the questionnaire with however i had no results when i passed out my questionnaires.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
continuity task
i tried to upload my media continuity task onto blogger but where i have used windows movie maker apposed to the iamx programme the file even compressed is too large to upload onto the site, but i have the actual task on a dvd.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Genre Reasearch
Top 5 thriller films.
memento
silence of the lambs
physco
the shining
L.A confidential.
Memento
The institution is new market capital group
The box office figure worldwide was $39,665,950
The target audience for this film was teenagers and adults
Review: In Memento, considerable subtlety and elaborate metaphor operate side-by-side to expose and indict the methods of memory control and historical falsification by which even major American war criminals (like Henry Kissinger and Colin Powell) are permitted to maintain positions of prestige and power in our depraved political culture.
Source http://www.lipmagazine.org/
Silence of the lambs
The box office figure worldwide was $275,726,716
The institution is Orion pictures.
The target audience was teenagers and adults
Review: the interplay between starling and lector as they share an indefinable dark understanding gives the film it’s unforgettable and unsettling power.
Source http://www.metacritic.com/
Physco
The box office figure worldwide was $32,000,000
The institution is shamley productions
The target audience was teenagers and adults
Review: This low-budget black-and-white shocker is one of the great achievements in the horror genre, although it eschews the monsters and supernatural trappings usually associated with the genre at that time, in favor of a psychologically based approach to terror. As producer Howard Hawks had done with THE THING FROM ANOTHER WORLD, producer-director Alfred Hitchcock took the familiar horror movie clichés and reused them in a new, contemporary setting. Although a realistic tale (loosely—very loosely—inspired by actual events), the approach to filming is full-blown Gothic. The lonely road and the rain the drives a victim to seek shelter where there is only danger—this is the stuff of classic horror movies, as is the spooky house, a fine 20th Century stand-in for Dracula’s castle. And of course, the lurking menace hiding in the attic or the basement—what more could you ask of a horror movie? Source http://www.hollywoodgothique.com/
The shining
The box office figure was $44,017,374
The institution is Warner brothers
The target audience was teen agers and adults
Review: Eliminating most of the supernatural episodes from the original Stephen King novel, Stanley Kubrick's version of The Shining is at once a coolly ironic near-parody (with a Jack Nicholson performance that defines "over the top") and a genuinely chilling dissection of how a family breaks down when the father cannot (or does not want to) perform his duties as provider and protector. Making the most of the then-new Steadicam technology for intricate camera movements, Kubrick renders the hotel and maze palpable as Danny moves through them, while turning the Overlook itself into an eerily threatening entity, punctuated by Danny's vividly disturbing shinings. It isn't just Jack who is psychotic: it is the hotel and all it represents about the American system. Positioned to be a summer hit, The Shining was released to decidedly mixed reviews (including from King, who vocally objected to Kubrick's alterations of his novel); although it was the most successful movie Kubrick had made, it did not become the blockbuster that he had hoped. Despite this checkered reception, Kubrick's ability to combine icy detachment with visceral dread makes The Shining a profoundly creepy interrogation of madness, memory, and familial disintegration.
Source http://www.starpulse.com/
L.A Confidential
the box office figure worldwide was $110,604,977
the institution is Warner brothers
the target audience is teenagers and adults
review: Director Curtis Hanson's elegant film is faithful to Elroy’s multi-layered and labyrinthine book, requiring some concentration to keep up with the subtle plot twists and coded dialogue. Every performance is a gem, from Spacey's arch louche to Kim Basinger's soulful but sassy turn as a call-girl who looks like Veronica Lake. Such themes of police autonomy and the cult of celebrity have never been more relevant in today's troubled times.
Source www.bbc.co.uk/films
I looked up the top 5 thriller films so that i could see what was a successful film and what people look for in thriller. so that this would help with my ideas when i came to planning my thriller opening sequence.
Spiral review.
In an era of flashy filmmaking and movies driven by taglines it’s refreshing to see a film with deliberate pacing, a character driven plot, and a bow to Master filmmakers of times past. “Spiral” is a film written by, directed by, and starring Joel David Moore who most will likely know from his many supporting comedic roles (Grandma’s Boy, Art School Confidential). He has crafted what could be described as Alfred Hitchcock’s response to “Lars and the Real Girl”. A perfectly paced, beautifully shot, psychological thriller.
A Mentally Unstable Telemarketer
Mason (Joel David Moore) is an emotionally troubled young man who lives a solitary life filled only with jazz music (which is unfortunately played throughout the movie) and painting. He works at an insurance telemarketing firm for his best friend Berkeley (Zachary Levi), a tactless misogynist who mostly perceives Mason as a charity case.
One day Mason meets the slightly neurotic Amber (Amber Tamblyn) who takes an interest in him mistaking his peculiarity for artistic genius. As Amber poses for a series of paintings by Mason they develop a friendship. Eventually, Amber begins to suspect that something is wrong.
Assured Direction With Excellent Pacing and Tone
One of the strongest points of this film is the focus on tone, pacing, and an intentional aesthetic. Joel David Moore and Adam Green (Hatchet) have a firm grasp on the world they are attempting to create. The uses of red to represent psychological unease and danger, the costumes and design of the telemarketing firm, and the lingering shots of characters contrasting off of each other are just a few examples. The pacing is bang on for creating the unsettling tone, but may frustrate a less patient viewer. Also, each shot is gorgeously framed by cinematographer Will Barratt. This is an unexpected follow-up to the campy horror of “Hatchet”; but a welcome one.
A Surprisingly Strong Script from Moore and Boreing
The screenplay penned by Jeremy Danial Boreing and Joel David Moore, is particularly strong as well. We’re never treated to redundant exposition in order to explain what is going on. The characters and their interactions drive the story. The audience is respected rather than placated, which again, is rare these days. The only weakness of the script is the development of Amber. There are a lot of factors within her character and her relationship with Mason that cannot be discussed as they will ruin the movie. However, despite her character’s ignorant interest in someone with an artistic predilection, there isn’t a lot of insight into why she would be overly interested in someone who, on the surface, appears to be borderline schizophrenic. Had more care been taken to develop her character, and her motivations, the film would have gone from “good” to “great”.
Tamblyn and Levi are Stars of the Future
The acting is surprisingly strong for an indie feature. Amber Tamblyn is the biggest “name” in this film, aside from Tricia Helfer who does a fine job in her supporting role. Tamblyn, plays her character with a well placed neuroses and insecurity, and does so without making her character seem like a victim. This is a fine balance and she does so with effect. Zachary Levi is a revelation here. Most people will be familiar with him only from his television work as “Chuck”. He plays a very different character in this film, melding self assurance with bigotry and his own form of empathy; he may be the most interesting character in this movie. This is an actor to watch out for in the future. Joel David Moore does a fine job with an unstable character. The only criticism might be that he went a little too over the top, making a love interest angle unconvincing.
A Slow Convincing Hitchcockian Thriller
“Spiral” is a rare independent treat. Mixing the character driven motivations of films like "Dedication", and the film theory insights of "All the Boys Love Mandy Lane". It may be too slow and subtle for some viewers, but will likely interest Hitchcock fans, and those who aren’t afraid of investing a little thought into a low budget film.
By Robert Bell.
memento
silence of the lambs
physco
the shining
L.A confidential.
Memento
The institution is new market capital group
The box office figure worldwide was $39,665,950
The target audience for this film was teenagers and adults
Review: In Memento, considerable subtlety and elaborate metaphor operate side-by-side to expose and indict the methods of memory control and historical falsification by which even major American war criminals (like Henry Kissinger and Colin Powell) are permitted to maintain positions of prestige and power in our depraved political culture.
Source http://www.lipmagazine.org/
Silence of the lambs
The box office figure worldwide was $275,726,716
The institution is Orion pictures.
The target audience was teenagers and adults
Review: the interplay between starling and lector as they share an indefinable dark understanding gives the film it’s unforgettable and unsettling power.
Source http://www.metacritic.com/
Physco
The box office figure worldwide was $32,000,000
The institution is shamley productions
The target audience was teenagers and adults
Review: This low-budget black-and-white shocker is one of the great achievements in the horror genre, although it eschews the monsters and supernatural trappings usually associated with the genre at that time, in favor of a psychologically based approach to terror. As producer Howard Hawks had done with THE THING FROM ANOTHER WORLD, producer-director Alfred Hitchcock took the familiar horror movie clichés and reused them in a new, contemporary setting. Although a realistic tale (loosely—very loosely—inspired by actual events), the approach to filming is full-blown Gothic. The lonely road and the rain the drives a victim to seek shelter where there is only danger—this is the stuff of classic horror movies, as is the spooky house, a fine 20th Century stand-in for Dracula’s castle. And of course, the lurking menace hiding in the attic or the basement—what more could you ask of a horror movie? Source http://www.hollywoodgothique.com/
The shining
The box office figure was $44,017,374
The institution is Warner brothers
The target audience was teen agers and adults
Review: Eliminating most of the supernatural episodes from the original Stephen King novel, Stanley Kubrick's version of The Shining is at once a coolly ironic near-parody (with a Jack Nicholson performance that defines "over the top") and a genuinely chilling dissection of how a family breaks down when the father cannot (or does not want to) perform his duties as provider and protector. Making the most of the then-new Steadicam technology for intricate camera movements, Kubrick renders the hotel and maze palpable as Danny moves through them, while turning the Overlook itself into an eerily threatening entity, punctuated by Danny's vividly disturbing shinings. It isn't just Jack who is psychotic: it is the hotel and all it represents about the American system. Positioned to be a summer hit, The Shining was released to decidedly mixed reviews (including from King, who vocally objected to Kubrick's alterations of his novel); although it was the most successful movie Kubrick had made, it did not become the blockbuster that he had hoped. Despite this checkered reception, Kubrick's ability to combine icy detachment with visceral dread makes The Shining a profoundly creepy interrogation of madness, memory, and familial disintegration.
Source http://www.starpulse.com/
L.A Confidential
the box office figure worldwide was $110,604,977
the institution is Warner brothers
the target audience is teenagers and adults
review: Director Curtis Hanson's elegant film is faithful to Elroy’s multi-layered and labyrinthine book, requiring some concentration to keep up with the subtle plot twists and coded dialogue. Every performance is a gem, from Spacey's arch louche to Kim Basinger's soulful but sassy turn as a call-girl who looks like Veronica Lake. Such themes of police autonomy and the cult of celebrity have never been more relevant in today's troubled times.
Source www.bbc.co.uk/films
I looked up the top 5 thriller films so that i could see what was a successful film and what people look for in thriller. so that this would help with my ideas when i came to planning my thriller opening sequence.
Spiral review.
In an era of flashy filmmaking and movies driven by taglines it’s refreshing to see a film with deliberate pacing, a character driven plot, and a bow to Master filmmakers of times past. “Spiral” is a film written by, directed by, and starring Joel David Moore who most will likely know from his many supporting comedic roles (Grandma’s Boy, Art School Confidential). He has crafted what could be described as Alfred Hitchcock’s response to “Lars and the Real Girl”. A perfectly paced, beautifully shot, psychological thriller.
A Mentally Unstable Telemarketer
Mason (Joel David Moore) is an emotionally troubled young man who lives a solitary life filled only with jazz music (which is unfortunately played throughout the movie) and painting. He works at an insurance telemarketing firm for his best friend Berkeley (Zachary Levi), a tactless misogynist who mostly perceives Mason as a charity case.
One day Mason meets the slightly neurotic Amber (Amber Tamblyn) who takes an interest in him mistaking his peculiarity for artistic genius. As Amber poses for a series of paintings by Mason they develop a friendship. Eventually, Amber begins to suspect that something is wrong.
Assured Direction With Excellent Pacing and Tone
One of the strongest points of this film is the focus on tone, pacing, and an intentional aesthetic. Joel David Moore and Adam Green (Hatchet) have a firm grasp on the world they are attempting to create. The uses of red to represent psychological unease and danger, the costumes and design of the telemarketing firm, and the lingering shots of characters contrasting off of each other are just a few examples. The pacing is bang on for creating the unsettling tone, but may frustrate a less patient viewer. Also, each shot is gorgeously framed by cinematographer Will Barratt. This is an unexpected follow-up to the campy horror of “Hatchet”; but a welcome one.
A Surprisingly Strong Script from Moore and Boreing
The screenplay penned by Jeremy Danial Boreing and Joel David Moore, is particularly strong as well. We’re never treated to redundant exposition in order to explain what is going on. The characters and their interactions drive the story. The audience is respected rather than placated, which again, is rare these days. The only weakness of the script is the development of Amber. There are a lot of factors within her character and her relationship with Mason that cannot be discussed as they will ruin the movie. However, despite her character’s ignorant interest in someone with an artistic predilection, there isn’t a lot of insight into why she would be overly interested in someone who, on the surface, appears to be borderline schizophrenic. Had more care been taken to develop her character, and her motivations, the film would have gone from “good” to “great”.
Tamblyn and Levi are Stars of the Future
The acting is surprisingly strong for an indie feature. Amber Tamblyn is the biggest “name” in this film, aside from Tricia Helfer who does a fine job in her supporting role. Tamblyn, plays her character with a well placed neuroses and insecurity, and does so without making her character seem like a victim. This is a fine balance and she does so with effect. Zachary Levi is a revelation here. Most people will be familiar with him only from his television work as “Chuck”. He plays a very different character in this film, melding self assurance with bigotry and his own form of empathy; he may be the most interesting character in this movie. This is an actor to watch out for in the future. Joel David Moore does a fine job with an unstable character. The only criticism might be that he went a little too over the top, making a love interest angle unconvincing.
A Slow Convincing Hitchcockian Thriller
“Spiral” is a rare independent treat. Mixing the character driven motivations of films like "Dedication", and the film theory insights of "All the Boys Love Mandy Lane". It may be too slow and subtle for some viewers, but will likely interest Hitchcock fans, and those who aren’t afraid of investing a little thought into a low budget film.
By Robert Bell.
Codes and Conventions.
conventions
are what you expect to to find when you watch a certain film for example in a horror film you'd expect there to be a creepy setting eg. a haunted house.
codes
are what you expect to see in a film for example in a romatic film you'd expect to see two people sharing a kiss.
codes and conventions in thrillers.
like horror movies you expect there to be a creepy setting, there also has to be a twist so that you make your audience think, there is normally a hero and a villian and or a victim, the villian normally has some form of physcological problems.
definition of the thriller genre.
the thriller genre is suspenseful film with no gore.
examples of thriller films:
- psycho
- raising cain
- hide and seek
- the exorcist
- the orphange
- the forgotten
- the others
- misery
- the village
- zodiac
- sixith sense
- 13 ghosts
- the birds
- north by north west
- vertigo
- rear window
- to catch a theif
codes/conventions
- physcological/ plays on audiences mind emotions
- poor weather,dark/ makes it seem like something will happen
- use low angle /makes a person look powerful
- representation: object/ makes the audience think what it is used for
- tense music/makes suspense,eeire
- killer: main character always has a sinister background/shows the reason for the way they act
- over the shoulder or prespective/ puts you into the perspective of the killer
- close-ups/to show fear and other facial expressions
- dull lighting-dark/ creates an atomsphere, allows hidden things to happen
- quickcuts/ builds suspense and speed
- crazy person/ unpredictable
- innocent or weak person/ highlights the victim
- isolated setting/ that theres no help around
- iconography/represents something else
- knife/ death or violence
- masks/ something to hide
- black clothing/ bad person or dangerous.
representation
- men are typically the hero or the killer
- woman typically the victim or sexualized
- children can either be vunerable or creepy
- old people are normally creepy and/or devious
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