Wednesday, 16 December 2009
1st Draft of our script of film
Friday, 11 December 2009
Audience-Suitable audiences to target/considerations we need to be aware of to attract audience
What audience is suitable for you to target?
When creating a film we must consider target audience, our groups aim is to maximise our audience as best as possible in order to gain a greater amount of viewers. The two main subgenres we have been considering are the psychological thriller and the action thriller. Action thrillers tend to be more of a male choice, they tend to involve guns, explosives and other forms of destruction. However the psychological thriller can meet both audiences as it is focused more on the mind of the viewer however could be more for the older age range. We will aim to meet mainly the male gender, this is because we have chosen to film an action thriller. This is a sub genre that is more preferred by the male audience, involving guns, crime explosives are all ideas that we are wishing to bring into our film. The age range we are aiming at is 15-25, otherwise known as teens to young adults. The reason we have chosen this age range is because our film is mainly focused on younger people, we will aim to grasp the likes of younger adults as this will be easier for us to relate to, we will consider what people of our own age range would like to see in a thriller film and put this into context. Based in the inner city where crime plays a huge role, teens to young adults will all be aware of these issues, the location of our film will be the inner city centre including alleys, estates and main london locations. Furthermore the actors which we use to shot the film will be of our age range this is relevant to the audience. The region we are aiming at is British more specifically London, this is because it will be shot in the area based on action and crime that occurs presently. It is a british production where we will incorporate the life style of a young teen in London and make it into a film.
What considerations do we need to be aware of to attract my audience?
As we have considered the 15+ age range this means that our film must meet all ages above 15, therefore teens and young adults. We have looked into the 15 certificate in order to see what limits we must base our sequence on.

15 must not use discriminatory language or behaviour, it must not show drug taking or promote drugs, weapons can be used however they cannot be glamorized furthermore the fact of death and sexual violence is unacceptable.
By looking at this age range we will make sure that our film is more action rather than violence, yet it still keeps the audience second guessing. We are aiming at the male gender of audience therefore there are many considerations we need to be aware of in order to meet the satisfaction of all those in our audience range.
The BBFC (British Board of Film Classifications) has helped to set boundarys for film makers, it restricts different sorts of actions such as violence for different age boundaries. As we will be aiming at the over 15 age range we will have to keep to the restrictions I have looked into above.
Analyses of relavent opening sequences- Common techniques and conventions/ opening sequences and the way they can have different effects
What are the common techniques and conventions?
The purpose of an opening sequence is to establish the mood and visual character of a film, to introduce the viewer to all or some of the following elements; characters, locations,narrative/plot, themes, visual style, genre.
The opening sequence can come in many ways; titles then action, action then titles, titles during the opening sequence gradually layered over the action or a short title at the beginning such as the production company and sponsors as seen in London To Brighton (2006) with the main title at the end of the opening sequence. All films may vary but thrillers tend to keepto the main title of the film and maybe the film sponsor and leave the rest of the titles to the end of the film such as characters, producers and directors.
Opening sequences can vary in terms of dialogue and sound. For example a psychological thriller is more likely to have little to no dialogue as the film aims to leave the viewer with many unanswered questions, it will aim to keep them puzzled and in suspense. Whereas a comedy thriller will have more dialogue, as it aims to keep the audience enjoying the film as well as building on their tension.
Below we have various clips from the opening sequence of Saw, the titles are layered over a black screen and the writing is blue. The titles relate to the opening sequence as the effect used is almost like water, the titles move like water on the screen and when we see the main film title it moves in a water wave like circle as if it is going down a drain, this is also seen in the main sequence as the key flows down the drain, the connection between the two have a more joint effect on the audience.

These two medium/ close up shots show two characters in the opening sequence, they look grime and tortured, the light is intense and the characters faces seem worried and lost. This type of opening sequence can lead straight to the goriness of the thriller, the audience straight away gains tension as they don’t know what could happen next, there has been no build up to this action and so therefore tension is gained straight away. The way the characters have been displayed also builds tension as they seem to have been hurt in some sort of way leaving the audience suspicious with many unanswered questions, such as why are they there? Why are they chained up?
Here are various shots from the opening sequence of the James Bond Film `From Russia With Love` here we can see that the opening action is dark and suspicious, clips of two men one after the other, the audience is instantly left asking questions as they know little of what will happen next, at the end of the opening sequence a red herring is revealed as the man who is caught they pull a mask from his face revealing his true identity this leaves us with more questions. By looking at the two clips of the opening titles, the colours used are bright and bold, projected onto the silhouettes of women’s body parts. These are glamorous women and make the film seem upbeat along with the score in the background. The way the titles have been left until the end of the opening sequence show that there is no connection between the opening sequence and main film part, this is due to the contrast between the opening sequence and titles, the opening sequence being suspicious and dark whereas the titles bold and Hollywood style.

These two shots show a different type of opening sequence, they bring in the aspect of enigma codes like the Saw opening sequence yet there is a lot more action, there is a build up to what will happen next, unlike the opening sequence in Saw the lighting is dark bringing mystery and suspicion to the actions of the characters. The close up and medium shots show the build up of the characters movements until they both meet and the antagonist attacks James Bond. This sort of opening sequence has a different effect on the audience as their questions remain unanswered; there is more action in this opening sequence than in the Saw opening sequence however this opening sequence is less scary than the Saw one, as the Saw opening sequence manages to leave the audience on edge as the characters seem to be tortured. The titles in `From Russia With Love` are used after the opening sequence, which breaks up the film and contrasts the opening sequence.
Do different approaches to opening sequences have different effects?
By looking into a range of opening sequences I have analysed the different effects they create in terms of narrative structure and titles. Different opening sequences can have different effects on the audience in terms of tension and fear. For example the 1963 James Bond film- From Russia with Love, the film opens with a brief bond motif and then cuts straight to the action. In the opening sequence the audience is left full of enigmas. Many unanswered questions like where are they? Why are they there? There are no titles during this opening sequence, we then cut to the main titles that appear at the end of the opening scene, the titles are layered over images on the screen-silhouettes of women’s body parts. These images are totally irrelevant to the opening sequence and show that there is no link between the titles and the opening scene. However looking at another film; Saw the sequence starts straight away with tension for the viewer, we briefly see action and then the title is revealed over a black screen, and then we return to the action again, it is unclear to see what is happening in the opening sequence which leads us straight to the tension of the thriller and the asynchronous sounds leave us suspicious anticipating what will happen next.
An opening sequence could start with a main piece of action, this can bring the audience straight into the thrill of the film giving them a slight taster of what is left to see, however other film producers may prefer to keep the opening sequence slow and gradual in order to build up to the climax of the film and work on building the tension. Therefore it is clear to see that different opening sequences can have a very different effect on the viewer.
Audience- Reseach into the BBFC classification guidelines
A 15 film''No one younger than a 15 may see a 15 film in the cinema no one under the age of 15 may rent or buy a 15 rated film.'' The film must not discriminate on a whole however drug taken can now be shown but not used in a way to promote this sort of behavior. The film can now have strong scenes of horror and dangerous behavior to add excitement to the film but also this use of weapons and danger should not be highlighted. nudity is now allowed also with some sexual scenes for the viewer is old enough and mature enough to distinguish there own thoughts.violence is also acceptable but strong scenes of torturing is not yet encouraged in a 15 film. thrillers are accepted and shown under this age limit, at this age the thriller genre can include much of its material but not too graphic .

The Purpose of an opening sequence
The purpose of an opening sequence in a film is to establish the visual style of the film, it introduces characters, location, narrative, genre and theme to the viewer.
The opening sequence tends to be a short sequence of around 2-3minutes long aiming to capture the interests of its audience and draw them into the film as a whole.
The main charecters are usually in the opening sequence allowing the audience to gain knowledge on their charecter and follow their actions throughout the opening sequence in order to determine their actions throughout the film, the audience can also become aware of the location and where the film will be set. It is clear that the reason an opening sequence is created at the beggining of the film whether before the opening titles or after is so that the audience can establish the overall style of the film, the gain an insite of what is yet to come furthermore many opening sequences tend to leave the audience puzzled and intreged to what will happen next, leading them to watch the whole film. The opening sequence of a film i would say is the most important scene in the thrillers because this is what causes the audience to make their judgment on the movie... hence if the movie had a opening sequence involving red herrings and enigma's, mystery suspicion and cliff hangers this will be an ideal opening sequence because the viewer would tend to prefer to carry on watching the movie.
Analyses of relevant key text

Research into Thriller Sub genres
Research into the Thriller Genre-Sub genres
Thrillers
Thriller is a genre that attempts to achieve suspense, tension and anticipation through its narrative and different techniques such as cinematography, Mise en scene, sound and editing. Usually the crucial convention of the Thriller genre is the withholding of evidence or knowledge from the audience leaving many enigmas, thus heightening the suspense and fear. It will attempt to "thrill" its audience by placing characters at great risk. This constant unease throughout the story makes the narrative suspenseful to the reader by creating a tense atmosphere. Thrillers are often genre hybrid’s, for example the action-thriller. As part of my research I will look into a range of thriller subgenres, I will specify the difference between each one along with examples.
Romantic Thriller-

A mix of fear and excitment, Wicker Park (2004) is a good example of this sub genre it is about A young man who believes a woman he sees in a café is his long-lost love. His conviction leads to obsession, as he puts his life on hold to trail her. The storyline is based on a mans love for someone he believes in his long lost love however the idea of him becoming obsessed makes the film a thriller, the suspense and tension of his actions in the film leave the audience on edge during this thrilling love story.

Comedy Thriller-
This type of film blends the suspense, threat and action of the thriller genre along with comedic elements. What makes it different from any other thriller is that although danger lurks, its effect on the audience is light hearted entertainment rather that pure fear. For Example Rush Hour (1998) and The Accidental Spy (2001) despite having a fairly serious and - in some parts - a dark plot, they still feature some humour, as this is typical of Chan's movies.

Action Thriller- This type of sub genre consists of a characters race against time, it is likely to contain a lot of violence and an obvious antagonist. Main features of these films are guns, explosions and large film sets where the action takes place. They both tie in with crime and mystery films always leaving the audience on edge about what is going to happen next. Notable examples are the James Bond films, The Transporter, Bourne Ultimatum and Die Hard (1988). Below are a range of clips from Die Hard. From the first long shot we can see the character running from an explosion this emphasizes the action part of the film, whereas the second medium shot clip we see two characters, a man holding a gun (one of the main props found in a action thriller) to the lady’s head. The lighting is low and there are shadows formed on the characters faces this clip shows the tension and fear created in a thriller film, mixing the two genres together to create a hybrid.


Crime Thriller-This particular genre is a hybrid type of both crime films and thrillers that offers a suspenseful account of a successful or failed crime or crimes. These films often focus on the criminal. Crime thrillers usually emphasize action over psychological aspects. Some of the main topics of these films include murders, robberies, chases, shootouts, and double-crosses are central ingredients. Some examples include Sin City (2005) and Collateral (2004).

Horror Thriller-This subgenre combines the more gory details and gruesome scenes found in a horror film along with the suspense, tension and anticipation in a thriller film. An example of this sub genre is the Blair Witch Project (1999) a film about three film makers students who disappear in the oods and a year later the footage is found. This footage is builds fear for the audience along with gory details of a horror film.

Psychological Thriller- This thriller sub genre is when the conflict between the main characters is mental and emotional, rather than physical. Alfred Hitchcock films are a clear example of the phsychological thriller such as Strangers on A Train (1951) and Shadow of a Doubt (1943) also other films such as Copy Cat (1995) and Jacobs Ladder (1990). Copy Cat is a film about a psychologist and a detective who work together to take down a serial killer who is copying the works of another serial killer. The film focuses on the mental acts of the serial killer and their attempt to hunt him down.

Sci-fi Thriller- Science Fiction is the main framework for this subgenre of thriller, an example of this genre hybrid is the 2002 film Minority Report.

Spy/Espionage Thriller- This sub genre is where the hero is generally a government agent who must take violent action against agents of a rival government or terrorists. Examples include Mission Impossible (1996), The Bourne Identity (2002).

Legal Thriller- In which the lawyer-heroes/heroines confront enemies outside, as well as inside, the courtroom and are in danger of losing not only their cases but their lives. The system of justice itself is always a major part of these works, at times almost functioning as one of the characters. An example of this genre hybrid is the 1993 film The Pelican Brief a film about two Supreme Court justices who have been assassinated, and the legal fight to find out who really killed them.

Erotic Thriller-
This sub genre combines elements of erotica with elements of a thriller to form an erotic thriller. Films may be based on the danger of love. Examples of this genre hybrid are Basic Instinct (1992) and Fatal Attraction (1987).

Supernatural Thriller- Similar to the horror genre however it is not as violent, focused on one character acting as either the hero or the villain in which they have super natural powers that must be called upon. The character tends to end up in a situation where they are battling an evil paranormal force or in a situation beyond there force. Examples of this sub-genre are Cat People (1942) and Carrie (1976).

Drama Thriller- Tends to be slower paced, working mainly on character development along with plot twists, they combine with the suspense, tension and anticipation desired in the thriller genre film. An example of a drama thriller is Public Enemies (2009).
Other thriller sub-genres are: Political thriller, religious thriller, medical thriller, techno thriller, eco thriller, disaster thriller, conspiracy thriller, historical thriller.
Wednesday, 9 December 2009
History of the Thriller Genre

HISTORY OF THE THRILLER GENRE
A thriller is a broad genre of film. Thrillers are normally outlined by a fast pacing beat , frequent use of action and the broad use of adventure. Thrillers normally consist of antagonists and protagonists as the characters of this genre. Thrillers often take place in exotic settings such as foreign cities, deserts, polar regions, or high seas. The heroes in most thrillers are frequently "hard men" addicted to danger: soldiers, spies, seamen, pilots or law enforcement officers. However, they may also be ordinary citizens drawn into danger by accident. While such heroes have traditionally been men, women have become increasingly common to the thriller genre.
Thrillers often relapse with stories that consist of much mystery, but are more known for the structure of their plots. In a thriller, the hero must abolish the plans of an enemy, rather than uncover a crime that has already happened.
Monday, 7 December 2009
Thriller scenes that are relevant to our film


Friday, 27 November 2009
Audience-What audience may be drawn to the thriller genre?
Audience- What audiences may be drawn to the thriller genre? Which types of thriller could appeal to different audiences?
Action thrillers : Normally feature a race against the clock, containing lots of violence, and an obvious antagon
ist. These films usually involve large amounts of guns, explosions, and large elaborate set pieces for the action to take place. This type of thriller is normally suitable for teenagers and young adult ranging from 15-25. This will be suitable for such age groups as they are interested in being tense and left in suspense in the moment. Enjoy films that leaves them excited and wanting more which appeals to an action thriller. It could also be said that this genre will appeal to men more than women as males enjoy destruction and mayhem. A key film that will fulfill this genre is Bourne Conspiracy which is packed with action and suspense.Crime thrillers This particular genre is a hybrid type of both crime films and thrillers th
at offers a suspenseful account of a successful or failed crime or crimes. These films often focus on the criminals rather than a policeman. Crime thrillers usually emphasize action over psychological aspects. Therefore the age rating of of this genre should be 15-20. This is because a crime thriller is constantly building suspense and tension as the audience wants to know whether the criminal will be caught or not. This genre is filled with close shaves and a lot of evasion ( trying not to get caught) which appeals greatly to this age group. A good example of this is Strangers on a train by Hitchcock.Disaster th
riller In which the main conflict is due to some sort of natural or artificial disaster, such as floods, earthquakes, hurricanes, volcanoes, etc., or nuclear disasters as an artificial disaster. this genre would be suitable for groups that can grasp visual content as they can understand the cause of the problem, this age group will be 12-20 as it is normally filled with visual guidance to the plot rather than verbal guidance making it appropriate for young audiences. A good example of a disaster thriller is 2012.Erotic Thriller this genre involves forms of erotica and thriller. it rose to popularity sin
ce the 1980s and after the dramatic rise of VCR market penetration. This form of thriller is normally suitable for 15-30 due to some adult content. An example of an erotic thriller would be fatal attraction and body heart.
Psychological thriller is a genre that involves mental and emotional well-being that dr
ives a character to act as a catalyst. This sort of genre is suitable for 1
8-30 because the audience would need to be intelligent enough to anticipate the chara
cters action and mentality. this genre was captured extremely well in Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho.
Religious thriller is where the is closely connected to religious objects, institutions and questions. While suspense stories have always shown a significant affinity for religion and philosophical issues. This film is suitable for ages 12 and about due to the fact that it only requires religious understanding. An example of a religious thriller in the Omega code as it is a billed as an apocalyptic thriller based on Revelation.





