Questionnaire

Questionnaire.

i designed this to gather a greater understanding of why people enjoy thriller film what they like about them what they dislike about them. with this information my group will try emulate this information to create an engaging film.

Tick or circle or write a brief few words answer.

1.       What is your gender you male of female?

 

                                    Male                                     female

 

2.       What age group are you currently in?

0 to 10      11 to 15     16 to 21      22 to 35        36 to 40      41 to 50        50+

 

3.       Out of ten how would you rate all the thriller film you have seen?

 

1           2           3           4           5              6              7             8             9              10

 

4.       What is your favourite thriller film?

 

         ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

5.       Did this film have a sub-genre if so which one do you think it would fall under?

 

          ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

 

6.       What age rating was given to your favourite thriller film?

 

 

 

 

7.       Do you think this age rating was suitable?

 

                        YES                             NO

 

8.       What was the last thriller film you watched?

 

 

………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

 

 

 

9.       Do you think the thriller genre has changed over the last over the last 10 years?

 

                                         YES                                NO

What do you think has caused this change?

 

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

 

10.   What is your favourite code and convention of a thriller film? E.g enigma, tension or suspense, shock and surprise.  

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..



The questionnaire was given to my class of 20 students and i also gave the questionnaire to family and friends to give different age ranges to my results and get different opinions. The results where all very similar between the young ages however the older ages where very mixed in what they enjoy in a thriller film. From the results my group decided to target our audience at the young generation ( ages 16 to 35) where the target objectives could be met therefore creating an execrating thriller film.

No Country For Old Men Analyses

No Country for Old Men analysing – Setting, Camera work, Editing, Characters / costumes, Sequence of events

The opening scene of‘No Country For Old Men’ begins with an establishing shot of the setting, showing the location of the scene to be deserted and far from civilisation. This evokes the feeling, adds that a victim would be helpless, therefore creating vulnerability as there are helpless when under threat of the antagonist as there is nowhere to hide or no one to help. This is conventional within the thriller genre as this creates an enigma for the audience as to how the victims will escape and therefore builds tension.

When the villain has been caught by the police, the camera zooms into police officer. The use of cinematography is suggestive of something happening to the police officer as this shot isolates him from the rest of the frame and therefore makes him vulnerable. As the victim is getting closer to the audience, this makes them feel on edge and builds tension. Also the use of the over the sholder shot which slowly turn into a high angle shot. Suggest that the antagonist is slowly gaining power in the scene as he gets closer.

 

When the antagonist is killing the police officer, there are many straight cuts that have been edited to create quick transitions between them. This creates a chaotic atmosphere and is representative of the antagonist’s mind set as being out of control. Also, his facial expressions show his lack of sanity making the audience feel uncomfortable and threatened by him.

 

The antagonist is wearing a black costume, a conventional aspect of the thriller genre. This is because the colour black connotes evil and darkness, representing the character he is. However his identity isn't hidden, opposing the convention of thrillers as this creates an enigma as to who the villain is.

 

By analysing the scene from ‘No Country for Old Men’ I have gained research that will benefit the planning of my own thriller opening. I feel this opening reveals the antagonist’s identity too early within the film and will therefore plan to create an enigma for the audience as to who the villain is when creating my own thriller this could be done though the use of a mask. This is a convention of the thriller genre and I feel it will be effective in engaging the audience to my opening as it builds suspense.

Scream Opening Thriller Conventions

Analysis of scream opening looking at thriller conventions.

 

 

The point of view shot help to emphasise tot he audience how close the women is to her parents and to be saved. this heightens her death as she was so close to being saved and allows the audience to feel sympathetic for the young women. this shot also highlights how much pain the women must be in not to call out for her parents. in addition it also frustrates the audience that  she cant call out being so close to survival. this ratifies to the audience the last chance for her freedom but is quickly crushed as her parents enter the house.

 
This shot is scene just before the women is killed. The close up of the iconography highlights to the audience the hope of survival ending as she is stabbed many times. in addition the little glimpse of survival in the scene has come to a end and have intensified the conclusion of her death. The blood on the knife helps to illustrate her death, her injuries and her pain plus the unlikeliness of survival. the knife is a common convention of thriller films as it is used as a weapon to kill. The close up of the knife helps to intensify the death of the women this is illustrated by the close up of the knife and gives a greater impact.

The extreme long shot help the audience to relate with the young women as she is so far from any help. However there is a glimmer of hope as a car comes down the road, this is then transported on to the audience as there is a glimmer of survival which then intesified the scene and creates a urge to see what happens. the distance is intensified by the lack of sight of the car the Fields and the hedges give the effect of allot distance. the audience can relate with the women as she is so far from any help, plus anyone in her situation would be terrified.

this mid shot illustrates a lot to the audience. Firstly the audience see the blood on the women's back highlighting the women is in pain and is hurt. this could suggest why she could not shout out for her parents. The audience also see the killer and the knife which suggests that she will be killed as she couldn't call out for help. this is a sign that all hope of survival is lost for the women. the iconograpy illustrates this to the audience that her life will be ended in a horrible way therefore following the connotations of a thriller film. The shot also highlights how close she was from getting help as the audience can see she is only foot steps away.



The audience are left with a final image, a long shot which bring conclusion to the scene, this then cuts away any gilmps of suvrial left in the audiences mind. it is a long shot to show the young women hung. the blood highlights the pain she went through, and illustrates it was not a simple killing but a gorry heartless killing, this is also suggested by the blood and gutts left on the floor hilghting the womens dignatits has been lost. which is a connation of thriller films. the audience are made to feel simpothy for the womens parents as no parent should see the child like that. the point of view allows the audiece to see what the parents would see, therefore highlighting the simpothy feeling given. This shot highlights what the killer is capable of and sets the audience with the mind set that the killer is very dangerious. The shot is left on the screne for a while giving the audiece to take in all the events that had happened in the scene

Individual Narrative

The narrative starts with a young woman aged between 20 and 24 and is business dressed; like coming from work, it is late and there are not many people around she makes eye contact with a man around the same age. The innocent woman walks down a dark alley which looks very mysterious and dangerous. At the same time there is a man chopping up a body there is gore and blood the low key lighting helps to hide the killers face. We then see this man walk also walk down a dark road the low key lighting hides his outfit and face. The slow editing crosses between the man walking and the women. The woman becomes scared by a dangerous looking man who the audience would suspect is the killer. The dangerous looking man is used to throw the audience off the scent of the killer who comes across at first to the audience as a police officer who has the denotation of a hero; in this case he is the killer of the film. By throwing the audience of the scent of the killer at first makes the audience more intensified by the characters therefore making the film more engaging. Instead of following the normal conventions of a thriller film by using a gun or physically dangerous weapon I decided to go down the route of using an injection this is more mysterious. The injection also has many different affects death, poising in this case it is used to put the women to sleep. The use of the police offer and the injection will acts as a cliff hanger to keep the audience engaged. The hero is an normal citizen who see the women being sedated and runs to her rescue her the off screen sound will create a dramatic chase to get to the women he runs to the car but it is to late therefore creating the tone for the rest of the film.

 

We are going to follow Tzvetan Todorov theory. who simplified the idea of narrative theory whilst also allowing a more complex interpretation of film texts with his theory of Equilibrium and Disequilibrium. Equilibrium is a simple formula can be applied to virtually all narratives - it is a more formal way of thinking about the beginning, middle and end, and it takes into account Aristotle's theory that all drama is conflict i.e. there is disequilibrium at the heart of every narrative. These help to create a new equilibrium creating a better narrative. The narrative is not seen as a linear structure but a circular one. The narrative is driven by attempts to restore the equilibrium. However, the equilibrium attained at the end of the story is not identical to the initial equilibrium. Todorov argues that narrative involves a transformation. The characters or the situations are transformed through the progress of the disruption. The disruption itself usually takes place outside the normal social framework, outside the ‘normal’social events. The fictional environment begins with a state of equilibrium (everything is as it should be), it then suffers some disruption (disequilibrium), and new equilibrium is produced at the end of the narrative. There are five stages the narrative can progress through. A state of equilibrium (all is as it should be) then to A disruption of that order by an event thirdly A recognition that the disorder has occurred An attempt to repair the damage of the disruption A return or restoration of a new equilibrium.

 

Sub-Genre

Sub-genre

The thriller genre is changing and there are now many form of sub-genre linked with the thriller films.

Among the new age in thrillers there are conspiracy thrillers. This type of genre consists of some sort of hero or heroines who are stereotypically journalists or armature investigators who find themselves trapped in a very powerful organisation, examples of this can be Alfred Hitchcock north by west, the game and the Bourne ultimatum. These films sway from the original thriller films to create a tension building film. The story later unravels powerful evidence in addition to many enemies who try to keep the secret of their organisation; another convention would be to do anything to keep the secret of their organisation. Through lies propaganda or through killing the person investing the organisation.  The conclusion of the film normally ends in the organisation being brought down by the protagonist character. This type of genre plays with the identification of good to overrule the evil unknown world. Conspiracy thrillers often play with secrecy of government and major organisation in history, this creates an enigma which makes the film more entertaining. In the image bellow we see evidence of conspiracy in the thriller film. both people look like they are part of a conspiracy. 

There are also crime thrillers which is a hybrid between crime and thriller. Crime thriller creates a more suspenseful account to showing successful and failed crime acts on film. Crime thrillers stress action over psychological aspects although there is also a psychological part to this genre as-well. Topics covered are usually double-crosses, heists, shootouts, chases, robberies, killers and murders; an example of this would be the film taken. Crime thrillers focus more on the criminals and their activities.

The sub-genre which is disaster thrillers follows a certain groups or persons survival in conflict with natural or artificial disaster like floods, earthquakes, hurricanes, volcano eruptions. Some disaster films have also had causes of human activity that has brought mankind on the fence of extinction through nuclear disasters which are artificial. An example of this would be the 1997 film volcano which highlights the genre is all about the future and what could happen to mankind if such disasters were to happen. These films are very enticing as the audience can relate to the situation. And could create the question what would you do in the situation? 

The mystery thriller sub-genre clashes with the crime sub-genre. Conversely it focuses mostly on the efforts of the detective or the private investigator in order to solve the films enigma. The sub-genre looks at the happenings of the enigma or the crime itself in order to try and figure out what the clues add up to. This is commonly seen in most horror films such as insidious, paranormal activity, women in black ect. Audiences are made to take part of the search as they usually follow the protagonist and grow a strong bond with them. This brings a more dramatic effect to the films mystery during the investigation.

The political sub-genre looks into the hopes and stability of the government and the reliance on a hero or heroine (protagonist) that must ensure the stability of the government that employs him in order to prevent bad things from happening. This can be seen in the film the knowing repeatedly used scenarios are the US presidential elections and the preventions of world wars occurring.
 

The religious sub-genre looks at the plots closely religious objects, institutions and questions. Many religious related films usually unravel the positive and the negetive points about religion and how it overcomes the bad in films, through a quest to finding out the truth

The supernatural thriller sub-genre often brings an otherworldly element that shows something out of the ordinary happening to a protagonist that had to overcome this powerful factor. An example of this would be the new film sinister which overlaps over with the horror genre. Supernatural thrillers are also mixed in with tension and suspense in addition, to having unsuspected twists during the film. The hero and the villain usually have a close link to religious thrillers as usually daemons entering the human body, alien life form, apparitions or the possession of a pivotal character is a element of a super natural thriller film

The techno thriller sub-genre is all out the sophisticated technology playing a prominent part in taking over the world, giving the new world order where mankind is then run by robots. This can be seen in the film i-robot, where will smith try’s to save the world from mankind distinction. This subgenre is mainly based on fictional speculations on life that tend to follow a science fiction trend. There are many common themes that fall well into these categories like world wars, action and science fictional occurrences like aliens taking over with a new manipulation of technologies.

 

Film Classification

Universal all ages are admitted and there is nothing unsuitable for children. It is impossible to predict what might upset any particular child. But a ‘U’ film should be suitable for audiences aged four years and over. ‘U’ films should be set within a positive moral framework and should offer reassuring counterbalances to any violence, threat or horror. An example of this would be Sherlock Holmes - Dressed to kill / the many face Of Sherlock Holmes. This rating was given as it is a fantacy and not real and has a possitive meaning.
 

All ages admitted into PG, but certain scenes may be unsuitable for young children. May contain mild language and sex/drugs references. May contain iconography if justified by context (fantasy). If a work is particularly suitable for a pre-school child to view alone, this will be indicated in the consumer advice. In addition General viewing, but some scenes may be unsuitable for young children. We see PG rating in the thriller film Scooby doo which uses moderate violence which is backed up by fantasy.

		Cinema introduced the 12a age range in 2002 with the release of Spiderman which was under scrutiny over the age group it fell in.  Films under this category are considered to be unsuitable for very young people. Those aged less than 12 years are only admitted if accompanied by an adult, aged at least 18 years, at all times during the motion picture. However, it is generally not recommended that children under 12 years should watch the film. Films under this category can contain mature themes, discrimination, soft drugs, moderate swear words, infrequent strong language and moderate violence, sex references and nudity. Sexual activity may be briefly and discreetly portrayed. Sexual violence may be implied or briefly indicated.

Unaccompanied children of any age may watch. A ‘PG’ film should not disturb a child aged around eight or older. However, parents are advised to consider whether the content may upset younger or more sensitive children. Exactly the same criteria are used to classify works at ‘12A’ and ‘12’. These categories are awarded where the material is suitable, in general, only for those aged 12 and over. Works classified at these categories may upset children under 12 or contain material which many parents will find unsuitable for them. The ‘12A’ category exists only for cinema films. No one younger than 12 may see a ‘12A’ film in a cinema unless accompanied by an adult and films classified ‘12A’ are not recommended for a child below 12. An adult may take a younger child if, in their judgement, the film is suitable for that particular child. In such circumstances, responsibility for allowing a child under 12 to view lies with the accompanying adult.an example of this would be the women in black.

Only those over the age of 15 are admitted. Films under this category can contain adult themes, hard drugs, frequent strong language and limited use of very strong language, strong violence and strong sex references, and nudity without graphic detail. Sexual activity may be portrayed but without any strong detail. Sexual violence may be shown if discreet and justified by context. No-one younger than 15 may see a ‘15’ film in a cinema. No-one younger than 15 may rent or buy a ‘15’ rated video work. An example of this would be  the thriller film the devil inside. which had scene which

Only adults are admitted to watch a film in the cinema with this rating 15. Films under this category do not have limitation on the bad language that is used. Hard drugs are generally allowed, and explicit sex references along with detailed sexual activity are also allowed. Scenes of strong real sex may be permitted if justified by the context. Very strong, gory, and/or sadistic violence is usually permitted. Strong sexual violence is permitted unless it is eroticised or excessively graphic. No-one younger than 18 may see an ‘18’ film in a cinema. No-one younger than 18 may rent or buy an ‘18’ rated video work. An example of this would be taken.

Rated 18 can only be shown at licensed adult cinemas or sold at licensed sex shops, and only to adults, those aged 18 or over. Films under this category are always hard-core pornography, defined as material intended for sexual stimulation and containing clear images of real sexual activity, strong fetish material, explicit animated images, or sight of certain acts such as triple simultaneous penetration and snowballing. There remains a range of material that is often cut from the R18 rating: strong images of injury in BDSM or spanking works, urolagnia, scenes suggesting incest even if staged, references to underage sex or childhood sexual development and aggressive behaviour such as hair-pulling or spitting on a performer are not permitted. More cuts are demanded in this category than any other category. The ‘R18’ category is a special and legally restricted classification primarily for explicit works of consenting sex or strong fetish material involving adults. Films may only be shown to adults in specially licensed cinemas, and video works may be supplied to adults only in licensed sex shops. ‘R18’ videos may not be supplied by mail order.

 

psyho shower scene editing

Psycho shower scene – how is editing used to enhance the conventions?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8VP5jEAP3K4

The invisible art also known as editing was advanced by DW grifth who used the first close up. Ever since that moment the art has advanced greatly and now into the editing we see in movies which have an collection of different techniques. Editing is the juxtaposition (placing side by side) of shots to create meaning. Editing is when you choose a range of camera shots arranging it in a coherent whole. In addition there are many techniques used for editing , which give a array of different effects most commonly; cross cut, straight cut, match on action, fade, dissolve, wipe and split screen. We see use of many editing techniques in the shower scene in psycho. Although not all techniques are used there are loads of excellent examples used. Hitchcock uses point-of-view and direct address editing preceding the famous shower scene in Psycho, during which the camera manipulates the spectator's perspective through cutting and enhancing  the conventions.

Cross cut is a techniques used in editing it is used to cut the narrative or action to a different one.  This is used to cut down scene times in a two hour film there is not enough time to show a whole train journey, cross cut is used to shorten the time in the scene but still give the audience the impression that they have been on the train and it was long journey. This could be done by having a shot of the train moving, a shot of a man sleeping and a shot of a man getting off the train. These shot would all suggest a long train journey without the long time it would normally take. This can be seen in psycho where the woman is in the shower the use of shots suggest she has been in the shower for a very long time however the editor have only used three shots. This highlights the effect of cross cut editing which creates the feeling of length in psycho through the use of not many shots seen in the tree shots bellow.
 

 Similar to cross cut another technique used is Straight cut. Straight cut is used as a sudden change of shot from one view point to another. an example of this is seen in in physco where the audience see a shot of the killer and stright away see the shock and surprice of the woman. This shows the audience what is going on in the scene and makes it clear. the stright cut also helps to highlight meanings. it also helps to build suspence this is also seen in these to shots where it is suggested that the woman will be killed. 

 

Match on action is A cut made on action or movement between two shots in which the action has been overlapped either by repetition of the action or by the use of more than one camera. often helping to establish a strong continuity of action and linking the two shots metaphorically.

Fade, Dissolve, Wipe and Split screen editing are not seen in the phcyso however are used in thriller film which have contrasting effects. Fade is a transition to or from a blank screen. This is normally seen at the end of scenes. to create a slow eding and for the audience to think about the ending.  Dissolve editing are the slow transition as one image merges into another. this is commonly used to show a change of setting or scene. wipe editing is an optional technique where on shot wipes another off the screen. This normally creates a dramatic effect to the audience. Split screen is a division of the screen in order to show two or more lines of action simultaneously. this is commonly used to show two points at the same time.

Fast editing is used when Marion is getting stabbed in the shower, the cuts include shots of her hands feet and stomach getting stabbed one after another, this is done within about 20 seconds of filming. It is conventional to a thriller film to have fast paste editing this is to keep the audience engaged and alert. In this instant the main character has just died this begins to trigger questions in the audience’s head as to what is going to happen in the rest of the film and to who the mysterious killer is and what their intentions are, this sets the stories enigma and allows the audience’s minds to flow.

Slow editing is used in the beginning and end of the shower stabbing, it is used at the beginning to create the beginning equilibrium. This is when the shower is turned on and when stepping into the shower. The audience do not know at this point that Marion is stepping into the cause of her death the shower knob could be used as a trigger of Marion’s death. After the stabbing, the camera tracks the blood going down the plug whole this is to signify the characters life going down the drain and the close up of the eye is to trigger what the audience have just witnessed in her POV.

Importance Of The BBFC

Explain why the BBFC is important to the film industry?

 

The BBFC stands for the British Board of Film Classification and are very important to the film industry. It was set up as a public consultation under the human rights Act 1998. BBFC’s guideline concerns will not normally override the principles that adults should be able to choose their own entertainment. The bbfc are group of experts highly experienced in field of regulator of the moving image. The group serve as a social function in society which advises and protects viewers from moving images (film). They provide public information that empowers film viewers and parent to make appropriate viewing decisions for themselves and those in their care. This can be seen in the age groups pg and 12a which allow parents to make informed decisions weather to let their child or children watch certain films. This was seen in the reviling of Spiderman where content was arguably unsuitable for children. Therefore giving the power to the parent who could decide whether to allow their child to watch the film. This highlights that they are advising and protecting the audience, and giving them power to make their own decisions when at a certain age. This is empowering adults to make informed decisions on there children and them selfs which highlights the bbfc are giving power to the audienece.


 They also help to protect vulnerable viewers and society from the effects of viewing potentially harmful or unsuitable content while respecting adults freedom of choice. This suggests that they are protecting viewer and trying to help them make informed decisions on films which could be unsuitable. The BBFC do make exceptions these are likely to be seen:  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 sexualized violence which might, for example, eroticize or endorse sexual assault, where there are more explicit images of sexual activity which cannot be justified by context. The illustrates how important the BBFC is as they advise and give power to adults and the film industry. If there was no BBFC the film industry would be harmful to young children and where there is no advise available adults can be mistaken of what they are going to watch. This highlights the importance of the BBFC as if it was wasn’t there the film industry would fall apart.

The BBFC is very important as it set age limits to protect the public from seeing harming and demoralising scenes. if the BBFC was not there to set age limits and advise the public on what there watching, there could be damaging effects on the public as they would be exposed to thing they shouldn't be or exposed to things they didn't want to view. This would expose children to stuff they are two young to understand. In addition it could show children it is acceptable to do stuff which it is not. this is why it is important that there is someone in place to protect the public.

Target Audience For Thriller Film

 

Decide on what age certificate your film will be and why? Consider the content of your narrative and your target audience too.

My groups gave a lot of thought to the age range as it is such an important factor of a film. We didn’t want to deny certain age groups from watching our thriller film; however we didn’t want to stray from the codes and conventions of a thriller film. This could make the film boring and unconventional. Therefore my group went for the age group 15. We believe this is the right age group that allow us to use all the codes and convention of a thriller film and the film to apply to a large range of people and age groups, consequently creating a exciting engaging exhilarating film with can apply to a large audience and still using the codes a conventions to create an pulse pumping film. The bbfc age rating 15 consists of these themes; can contain adult themes, hard drugs, frequent strong language and limited use of very strong language, strong violence and strong sex references, and nudity without graphic detail. Sexual activity may be portrayed but without any strong detail. Sexual violence may be shown if discreet and justified by context. These themes consist with other thriller film such as gone which is a new thriller film which consist of the same convections our thriller film may consist of. in addition we didnt want to put our age range to high or two low. if  we went with the age range bellow it would allow a larger audience to view the film however we wouldnt be able to use all the codes and convetions of a thriller film as the bbfc has certain criterias. plus if we went to the age group above 18 it would minamise the age range that could watch the film. therefore this is why we gave the age group of 15. We feel that this age criteria is perfect for entertaining our audience and making a very thrilling movie.