What is a thriller?

(Done by a member of my group)

For my group I had to research what is a thriller?
This is what I found out:

If a thriller were to be defined strictly it would be said to be a genre with a single goal; to give the audience “thrills” and keep them on the edge of their seats as the plot develops to a climax. These are types of films known to promote intense excitement, suspense, a high level of anticipation, ultra-heightened expectation, uncertainty, anxiety, and nerve-wracking tension. The tension usually arises when the main character(s) is placed in a menacing situation or mystery, or an escape or dangerous mission from which escape seems impossible. Their lives are usually in danger because they are unknowingly in a dangerous situation.

Thrillers are often hybrids - there are lots of varieties of suspense-thrillers:

• action- or adventure- thrillers
• sci-fi thrillers (such as Alien (1979)
• crime-caper thrillers (such as The French Connection (1971)
• western-thrillers (such as High Noon (1952)
• film-noir thrillers (such as Double Indemnity (1944)
• even romantic comedy-thrillers (such as Safety Last (1923)

The horror gene is also very closely related to the genre of thriller. They create tension and suspense and take the viewer through agony and fear.

Characters in thrillers include convicts, criminals, stalkers, assassins, down-on-their-luck losers, innocent victims (often on the run), prison inmates, menaced women, characters with dark pasts, psychotic individuals, terrorists, cops and escaped cons, fugitives, private eyes, drifters, duplicitous individuals, people involved in twisted relationships, world-weary men and women, psycho-fiends, and more. The themes of thrillers frequently include terrorism, political conspiracy, pursuit, or romantic triangles leading to murder.

Alfred Hitchcock had a huge influence on shaping the modern genre of thriller. He manipulates his audience’s fears and desires and allows his viewers to associate with the representation of reality that faces the characters. He often places an innocent victim into a strange or life threatening  situation by mistaken identity, misidentification or wrongful accusation. He often used a “red herring” to catch the viewers attention. Also known as a McGuffin which would drive the plot forward. It initially appears to be very important but it intentionally misdirects the audience, it then quickly fades into the background and ends up being trivial, irrelevant, or incidental to the film's story. For example: The 39 Steps (1935): the nature of the 39 Steps, and the smuggling of secret plans (vital to the country's air defense) out of the country and Psycho (1960): the stolen money, the $40,000 wrapped up in a newspaper in the motel bedroom.

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From this research I can see that it is going to be important choice for our group to choose which type of thriller opening we will do, and what contributes to each thriller, therefore changing the type of opening it will be.

coursework- certificate ratings

For our coursework, 2 minute opening to a thriller, it is important that we research the restrictions certain certificates have. In order to decide which rating we want our thriller to be based on and what our target audience is, we need to research the boundaries 15/18 films have. From: http://www.bbfc.co.uk/sites/default/files/attachments/BBFC%20Classification%20Guidelines%202009.pdf we could find out the rules of each certificate.

 2009. 
15 
This film is not suitable for any under the age of 15. People under the age of 15 can buy or rent a 15 rated film.

 Discrimination
 The media text can’t encourage discriminatory language or behaviour.

 Drugs
 Drugs can be shown as a whole but you cannot promote or encourage the use of them. Showing the misuse of solvents and alcohol are unlikely to be acceptable due to them being easily accessible.

 Horror
 Horrors can be “threat” and “menace” but sexualised and sadistic is unacceptable. Imitable behaviour hanging, suicide and self harming should be shown in detail as it could be copied. Easily accessible weapons can’t be “glamorised”.

 Language
 Strong language can be justified if in the right context. If repeated the strongest language this could be seen as unacceptable.

Nudity
 Nudity is allowed in educational sense and in a non sexual sense. Nudity is allowed in sexual scenes but not in detail

 Sex
 Sexual activity is allowed but without detail. this includes sexual references,Works whose primary purpose is sexual arousal or stimulation are unlikely to be acceptable.

 Theme
 No theme is prohibited, provided the treatment is appropriate for 15 year olds

Violence
 violence can we strong but not in infliction. Sexual violence is allowed but mildy. The strongest “gorey” violence is unlikely to be acceptable.

18
The BBFC says that an adult should be able to choose their own entertainment  but expectations are most likely for the following:
 “• where the material is in breach of the criminal law, or has been created through the commission of a criminal offence
 • where material or treatment appears to the BBFC to risk harm to individuals or, through their behaviour, to society – for example, any detailed portrayal of violent or dangerous acts, or of illegal drug use, which may cause harm to public health or morals. This may include portrayals of sexual or sexualised violence which might, for example, eroticise or endorse sexual assault
 • where there are more explicit images of sexual activity which cannot be justified by context. Such images may be appropriate in ‘R18’ works, and in ‘sex works’ (see below) would normally be confined to that category. In the case of video works (including video games), which may be more accessible to younger viewers, intervention may be more frequent than for cinema films. Sex education at ‘18’ Where sex material genuinely seeks to inform and educate in matters such as human sexuality, safer sex and health, explicit images of sexual activity may be permitted. Sex works at ‘18’ Sex works are works whose primary purpose is sexual arousal or stimulation. Sex works containing only material which may be simulated are generally passed ‘18’. Sex works containing clear images of real sex, strong fetish material, sexually explicit animated images, or other very strong sexual images will be confined to the ‘R18’ category. Material which is unacceptable in a sex work at ‘R18’ is also unacceptable in a sex work at ‘18’.”

Based on the imformation we have found out we want our thriller opening to be a.........

Camera Shots

Aerial shot: an above shot which looks down upon the scene. This shot is used to emphasise the vast/ grandness of the scenery.

Tracking shot: Where the camera moves to follow the movement of the character of object. Used to emphasise the importance of the character/ object in this part.

Tilt shot: camera is stationary but moves up and down; making the view look vast/ grand.

Pan shot: Stationary, but moves left or right. Showing off the scenery.

Post Production and Sound

post production: the parts that are added in after the filming stage.

Parallel sound: sound you expect to hear, matching what is on screen.

Ambient sound: sound that matches the scenery/ location.

Foley sound: everyday sounds that are added to a certain clip.

Sound bridge: Music carries on from one scene into the next.