Target audience questionnaire

Why do you watch thrillers?
I watch thrillers for the suspense they cause me. I watch them to see plot twists and for the excitement of the unknown and the surprise when i find out. Also it it because they are great to keep me entertained and stay focused on the film.

What is your favourite thriller and why?
My favourite thriller is "I legend". This is because it contains everything a thriller should: a plot twist, a good ending although unhappy and the suspense.

What do you want from a thriller that hasn't yet been done?
I want it to have a sad ending where the protagonist does not succeed and it shows a time skip to show how the world has turned out.

What causes the most suspense in a thriller for you?
When everyday objects are turned into something that makes me feel uncomfortable. This is because it is very relatable and i find it amazing how a kettle whistling for example can me me jump out from my seat.

Target audience and movie proposal

Lighting analysis

Lighting

Lighting can affect the scenes effect and the suspense a scene will create. This is because the lighting will only allow us to see some things of a character ad may hide and object that looks like a knife but ends up being a flower.
For example in this picture it shows someone surrounded by what looks like torn up bodies and

sharp objects on the end of his fingers. The low-key lighting example shown here allows the audiences imagination to  run wild and is great in horror movies as it easily creates suspense and entices the audience.





High key lighting gives a more angelic effect and  shows more of what is going on. This is done to create an atmosphere of happiness as the truth is not hidden and it shows exactly what the character thinks about what is going on as their body language and facial expressions are not hidden.These are effective in romance movies to help show how they feel about each other.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              These are two common examples of how lighting is used for effect. However there are rules to lighting such as the standard 3 point light.
This is used to make a clearly lit scene where the audience can see everything that is happening clearly and links to the effects of high key lighting. Turning off certain lights in this basic set up can create different effects. For example the fill light is less intense than the key light, however is used to lessen the contrast and shadows surrounding the object. The back light is used to create a silhouette effect and seperate subject and background to show depth. The key lioght is just meant to illuminate the main subject so they can be seen clearly on camera.

Typography analysis

Typography

The typography used in a film can help to get names recognized and creep out the audience watching.  For example in the opening of most movies it shows some credits of those who directed and helped out in production. The names are usually in bold and their jobs are normal, this is done to make the names stand out to the audience to help advertise that person and show how good he/she is at their job. But it is also done to help the audience get a feel for the film before it has even started. this is because the directors are known for different kind of films so if Stephen Spielberg did it people have high expectations whereas if it was an unknown director they think nothing of it. However typography can also be used to get a reaction out of the audience. For example. 

The colour, texture and shape of the font are very aggressive making the audience aware the film will be a thriller or horror. Therefore showing typography is important as it can help the audience understand the type of film they are watching as well as advertise names which could affect the audiences opinion and expectations of the film. The red suggests violence and blood.

 The colour of writing in Seven is white which connotes pure and unknown. The                                                                                            scratchy writing however suggests pain and confusion. This is useful for our font as it gives the audience the conventional impression of a thriller which is the suspense feeling we wanted to give the audience. 

         









   

Music analysis

Music

Music can affect the mood of movies in many different ways. For example a slow piano tune creates a sad atmosphere as shown in ET when he leaves the kid and the sad music starts.This makes the audience sympathies with the character and become more emotionally attached and invested in the movie. This is good for movies and series as it gets the audience hooked from the start and keeps them watching. However music can also be used to make the audience riled up and aggressive to make them feel as though they are in the same moment the movie is. This is mostly done in action movies such as pulp fiction and die hard. This is done to help the audience feel as though they are more involved in the scene that is going on. Music is also used to help set the scene and make the audience feel in the moment and in that time setting. For example in the olden times they used violins and acoustic guitars and these are used in openings of older films to help the audience be in the moment and hooked from the start. Overall, Music is usually used to set the mood and help the audience become emotionally attached and feel part of whatever is going on.

Thriller Mood Board

Movie opening proposal

Movie

A group of 4 teenage friends meet up outside a local forest on a Halloween night. This night is said to be the mot dangerous night of all as all supernatural superstitions come to life. But these kids are met by a drunken beggar at the gate to the forest. They give him some money and he speaks gibberish and hands him something and then says it will protect them, but the kids ignore his waring and throws the talisman into the forest. When they enter many supernatural occurrences happen and by the end only one comes out.

The opening will show a boys face and the camera will slowly pan down his body to show the scratches and blood splatters on him. Then the camera switches to an establishing shot to show his whole body and where he is, an interrogation room. He then looks at the table in front of him and the background goes blurry and low murmuring starts the same time as quick flash back. This speed up until it becomes unseeable and finally the inspector opens the door.

Silent retreat opening analysis

Silent retreat opening analysis

Camera

Starts with a close up on a sleeping woman in a car. this then switches to an establishing shot then pans to follow the car. As the car speeds along the road the setting is shown. As it is a forest it instantly causes tension in the audience as this is a typical thriller/horror movie setting. Moreover as the leaves are red it connotes blood and danger creating an atmosphere of tension. The setting then switches to a lake in the woods which connotes drowning. Moreover as the font used is white and blurs in and does not keep still it makes viewers uncomfortable. Also it uses quick cuts between images and starts to quickly increase the light intensity and decrease it. This creeps out viewers and as the forest is in the sun set it suggests danger as the sky is red. Then switches to an ink blotch and abandoned bathroom which suggests murder keeping viewers drawn in. Then the screen flashes red which tell viewers a murder will take place in the woods. Th close up on the moss covered log could mean the murdered victim could have been buried and the close ups on the eyes are to make the viewers uncomfortable. The camera has scratches on the lens making viewers believe it is old.

Sound

It starts with quite music and a little amount of musical instruments. This makes all viewers anticipate the next move in the movie keeping them all drawn in. As the music slowly builds up it mirrors the tension in the room and the creepy pictures. This music carries on throughout and this is the only sound heard throughout the whole opening sequence. This makes the audience uncomfortable but drawn in from the start to the end of the opening sequence. The lack of music makes the audience more focused on what is happening and as what is happening will make them uncomfortable the lack of music adds this effect.

Editing
The quick cut shots make the viewers very uneasy as it isn't reassuring in anyway and makes the wonder as to what could have happen if the image did not change. This helps to keep the audience intrigued with the film making it a useful thriller convention. Furthermore the changing light intensity confuses the audience and makes the concentrate more on the details in the opening. Also the black and white at the end made the opening look  old and creep just like the scratches on the lens of the camera which suggested danger.

Typography

As all the writing is in white and important names are bold. This is important as it gives obvious credit to those who took part in helping the film become what it is. However as it is white it suggests purity and makes you feel safe but this juxtaposes the genre of the film as it is a horror thriller. This makes the audience feel  safe for a moment but this is then tossed aside and replaced with fear and confusion. This is useful as it helps draw the audience into the genre and is a great example of how typography effects an audience.

Hermeneutic and Proairetic code

Hermeneutic and Proairetic  code

The hermeneutic code refers to an element in a plot that is unexplained and raises questions to the viewers that demand an explanation. Barthes hermeneutic code is on that argues that every narrative is linked and interwoven with many different codes. An example of this is in "now you see me" when everyone finds cards in their pockets and no one knows who did it until the end where the face is revealed.

The proairetic code refers to a small action in a plot line that needs an action to follow it. This is used to create suspense in the audience to keep them drawn in. An example of this is in the avengers when Loki starts calling the hulk names making the audience yearn for hulks reaction which was to pummel him into the ground.

Barthes code believes that all codes are interwoven with different movies.

These codes suit thriller movies as they make atmospheres of suspense and cause tension. These are key themes of thriller movies making these codes extremely useful in all thriller genre films. The hermeneutic code draws the audience in from the start as it means a big mystery is left unsolved at the start instantly drawing the reader in. The proairetic code helps to build up tension for a big surprise which keeps the audience intrigued.

Movie ideas

Movie ideas

Name: The Date

Genre(s): Thriller, supernatural, romance

Plot: It all began in 21st century England. Two single people meet at a speed dating cafe.They decide to take this further and go on a date. On the way home they are approached by a strange man shouting drunken gibberish, this man placed a talisman in the couples hands and disappeared. The following week they are followed by a series of bad events that are  unfathomable. The talisman is supposedly lost but has left its mark on this couple.

Name: The Real East London

Genre(s): Documentary

Plot: This will tell the story of two young friends and their life in East London. This documentary will follow the hardships these innocent teens have to endure on a daily basis. Drugs, violence gangs these are just some of the hardships shown but this documentary will show how these teens work their way up hierarchy and how they get in the illegal business.

Name: Fortnight

Genre(s): Thriller, mystery

Plot: A boy that lives in a small town in the country side wakes up thinking it would be a normal day but little did he know just how wrong he really was. It all began when his father disappeared for a fortnight and when he came back he had a key and told young Mathew that he should never let this key fall into the wrong hands. The movie follows Mathews journey to find the trail of breadcrumbs and find out what happened that fortnight.

Thriller sub-genres

Thriller sub-genres

Action/thriller

This is a good combination as the action is great for creating suspense. This is an advantage of having action as a sub-genre as the violence creates a tense atmosphere and usually connotes death. This keeps the audience on the edge of their seats which is a main goal for a thriller making this combination great.

Crime/thriller

The suspense created comes from the journey of finding evidence and stopping the criminal who was always one step ahead at he last moment this is always a good combination as the genres complement each other and both meet the initial ideas meant for the genre to accomplish. These would typically be from the criminals point of view.

Legal/thriller 

These are usually based in a courtroom. This means the suspense created is from the flashbacks and facts presented within the courtroom. This means the sub-genre compliments the thriller genre as it still keeps the audience on the edge of their seats in a unique way.

Romantic/thriller

The plot line follows a typical thriller’s tension, suspense, and excitement, but a main element is the growing relationship between two characters.This still makes the atmosphere needed for  thriller as the events happening between the characters is where the audience is drawn in from and becomes attached to.

Supernatural/thriller

Characters usually contain some powers of different kinds. This plays with the fears in peoples heads which is really effective to create the atmospheres needed for a successful thriller.

Conventions of a thriller film

Conventions of a thriller film

Some of these conventions are needed for a thriller and are always involved such as the shaky camera. This is done to create an atmosphere of tension which helps to draw in the audience which helps to make the film more successful. The lighting also adds to this atmosphere as the darkness creates an ominous atmosphere and the darkness connotes death. This keeps the audience on the edge of their seat which is also a convention of thrillers.

• Camera shakes
• low lighting
• shadows
• diegetic sounds (breathing)
• dark music to make audience feel uncomfortable
• forest or deserted environment
• death
• psychopathic characters
• weapons
• crime

these pictures are not mine they were found of google
Examples

• Now You See Me; the suspense of the situations and the way they with the tables all the time.
• Jason Bourne; the mystery as he does not know who he is and who is chasing him.
• The Hateful Eight;As they are 8 dangerous westerns who hate each other the room is always filled with suspense as all have weapons and are ready to kill one another.