Genre Research

Thriller Definition.

A thriller is a genre of film designed specifically to keep it's audience tense and on the edge of their seats. Though it is a large area of film with many sub genres (mystery thriller, spy thriller, psychological thriller etc.) all feature the same basic concepts; plot twists, red herrings, a fast pace and action, a resourceful protagonist and twisted antagonist. Thrillers are usually certified a 15 or 18 due to plots, language or scenes of violence though actual blood and gore is rarely shown (differentiating thrillers from horrors).

What is genre?

Genre is when a type of media – film, text, radio etc – uses repetition and variation to tell a familiar type of story with characters and situations stereotypical to the story and situation. It helps to limit the scope of the film for not only the audience but also writer and director. It also makes it easier for audiences to select which type of films they want to watch and this is good for the industry as a whole as audiences will often go to see a film at the cinema purely because of it’s genre. This, in turn, makes it easier to promote as the target audience is easier to identify. It also makes it easier for the audience to relate to and identify the film as they know what to expect and, consciously or unconsciously, expect a certain type of ending that they expect to enjoy which is why they go to see the film in the first place. Audiences enjoy watching a certain genre as unexpected twists and turns are added to basic storylines, bringing about a conclusion that is both expected and surprising.

What is a thriller?

A film designed to keep the audience on edge using techniques to create suspense and tension. Thrillers have also been made for other media texts such as radio or books. It is a very large genre often sorted into sub-genres or over lapping with other genres such as mysteries or dark comedies. Thrillers are often fast paced with complex twists and turns throughout the plot.There are several characteristics – codes and conventions – that define the thriller genre. They have lots of plots twists and red herrings, a strong, sometimes mentally disturbed and typically male “villain”, a weak, vulnerable victim who is often a woman and portrayed as a sex object and a creepy, isolated setting.

Sub-Genres:

Psychological.
Sci-fi.
Serial Killer.
Spy.
Action.
Crime.
Supernatural.



Top 5 Thriller Films

1) The Da Vinci Code Made by Columbia Pictures. (Sony)
Made $217,536,138 at the Box Office worldwide.
Target Audience – Educated adults, people who have read/are interested in the book. Rated as a 12A by the BBFC.

Why was it successful?

There was a lot of hype surrounding the film and everyone knew about it. The book was a best seller so the film appealed to it’s millions of fans. It stared famous, successful actors such as Tom Hanks and sir Ian McKellen. Well known director – Ron Howard – who had already won an Oscar. It was advertised a lot. It was controversial and caused religious people to speak up and make a scene, drawing more attention to the film and making people curious. Debuted at the Cannes Film Festival which gave it a lot of publicity.“The wide appeal of The Da Vinci Code book coated the film in critic-proof armour long before it was even made.
With 50 million copies of the book sold worldwide, it is virtually guaranteed to be a commercial hit.” - BBC

2) The Sixth Sense
Made by Spyglass Entertainment. Distributed by Buena Vista.
Rated a 15 by BBFC.
Made $661,500,000 at Box Office’s worldwide.
Target Audience of men and women over the age of fifteen.

Why was it successful?
It stared a well-known actor – Bruce Willis. Unexpected twist at the end. Good storyline and acting.
“...let me say that the coolest thing about The Sixth Sense is how this twisty ghost story, about a child who sees dead people all around him, circumvents all such instincts. It's a psychological thriller that actually thrills.” – Entertainment Weekly.

3) Jaws
Made by Universal Pictures.
Made $470,700,000 at Box Office’s worldwide.
Rated a PG by the BBFC.
Target Audience of teenagers and adults – 15 and above.

Why was it successful?
Relies on tension and suspense – the shark has limited screen time. Good score by well known composer – John Williams. Original idea. Shocks unexpectedly. Famous director – Stephen Steilberg. “John Williams' memorable score is used sparingly but its tone of impending terror is more responsible for the power of the film than the sightings of the beast itself.”“Confident direction combined with clever editing, lulls you into relaxing at precisely the wrong moments to great effect. Being able to calm the viewer only to wrench into their most primeval fears when least expected is the essence that lies behind the ability of "Jaws" to shock and entertain.” – BBC.

4) Mission:Impossible
Made by Paramount Pictures.
Made $457,696,359 at Box Office’s worldwide.
Rated a PG by the BBFC.
Target Audience – People who had watched the TV series. Mainly men, aged 14 – thirties.

Why was it successful?
Special effects and stunts. Well known star – Tom Cruise. Catchy theme tune. Use of twists. Lots of action.
“Bursting into action with that unmistakable theme tune...” - Film.U-net“...succeeds in offering up several exciting and suspenseful sequences...” - RottenTomatoes

5) The Bourne Ultimatum
Made by Universal Pictures.
Made $442,817,159 at Box Office’s worldwide.
Rated a 12A by the BBFC.
Target audience – Fans on the books. Ages 14 and up.

Why was it successful?
Part of a well known franchise. Surrounded by a lot of hype. Well advertised. Good, involving plot.
“...a blockbuster with brains as well as brawn.” – Channel 4



Codes And Conventions Of Thriller Films.

Motif - A motif is something that is repeated throughout the film. It is used to put an idea in the audience's mind. E.g. The use of stuffed birds in Psycho.

Plot Twists - Every thriller has plot twists. They are used t keep the audience guessing and in suspense.

Quick Cuts - This is a form of editing. It builds suspense and speed and can be used to disorientate the audience and/or build tension as well as causing suspense.

Background Music - It is usually instrumental, stringed and high pitched. It is used to indicate to the audience that something is about to happen and build a tense atmosphere.

Over-The-Shoulder/Perspective Shot - These camera angles can be used to make the audience feel as though they are in the movie, a good way to build tension and make the audience more involved. It also can be used to show character's emotions and create mystery.

Stereotypical Characters (killer with mental problems, the innocent, sweet victim) - Stereotypical characters are often easy to relate to, make plot twists easier to create and means the audience can usually figure out who is who.

Close-ups - A camera angle used to show emotion. Can also be used to create mystery. E.g. focusing on the victim's face while the killer is there without showing the audience what the killer is doing.

Low Angle Shots - Used to give a character power and make them seem more intimidating. It can also put the audience in the place of a character, typically the victim, building fear and tension.

Dull/Dark Lighting - By keeping the lighting low it creates a creepy, tense atmosphere as, typically in films, nothing bad happens in bright light. The dark also allows hidden things to happen.

Isolated Settings - By using an isolated setting the audience knows no one will be around to help the victims, creating a scarier atmosphere.

Iconography - An icon is something that represents something else. These are used to subtley tell the audience something.

Costume - Costume is often used to represent a characters personality. White is often used to represent innocence while black is representative for the bad characters. Masks are often used to represent mystery.




Representation In Thrillers.

Men are stereotypically the killer. They are represented as powerful and intimidating. If thrillers do feature a male victim they are usually the leader of a group - the stereotypical "hero".

Women are usually the victims and represented as vulnerable and sexual. If the killer is a woman, she is often shown as manipulative and crazy.

Children are usually represented in two ways. They are either the vulnerable victim (the little girl in Hide And Seek) or creepy and evil (Damien in The Omen).

Old people are usually represented as ugly, devious, creepy and, typically, evil.



Advanced Film Making Techniques.

Cutting Rhythm - Where the cuts in the film are and how fast or slow the film is cut.

Montage - The assembly of shots and the portrayal of action or ideas through the use of many short shots. This creates a relationship between the shots and subjects.

Jump Cut - An instantaneous transition between two scenes that have identical subjects in slightly different screen locations which makes subjects appear to jump within the scene. Indicates that time has passed.

Clock Wipe - Sweeps a radius around the centre point of a scene to reveal a new scene. Indicates time passing.

Negative Image - And image with colour reversed from positive to negative, making white seem black etc. The effect of this is that it makes the scene and/or character seem ghostly and creates a surreal/other worldly atmosphere.

Flash Frame - A very short shot (usually one frame, sometimes several) that appears in a sequence of images. This can emphasise an important plot point.

Fast Motion - Movements on screen appear faster then in real life. This can show speed but also represent the character feeling out of control.

Flash Back - A segment of film that breaks chronological order showing thoughts and/or memories of characters. Can help to create a background for a character, make the audience feel more emotion for a character and to tell the story.

Auteur - A film maker who has an individual style and complete control over all elements of production, giving film a personal and unique stamp. E.g. Tim Burton.

Cinema Verite - A technique of documentary film making that records actual people and events as if they don't know they are being filmed. This adds more realism to the film.

Sound Effects (SFX) - Sounds placed over the top of a scene in a film that aren't there when filming. These add more emotion, drama and understanding.

Talk To Camera - When a character looks and talks directly at the camera. This can show authority and expert status. E.g. The beginning of I Am Legend shows a newsreader talking directly to camera.

Zoom Shot - This is when the director magnifies a part of the image, creating a difference in perspective. This can draw attention to a particular detail or important plot point.

Zoom Freeze - A zoom shot ending in a freeze frame. This can create a stop in time as well as drawing attention to a particular detail.

Crab Left/Right - When the camera moves left or right but the subject stays still. This creates the effect of the scene being viewed by an outsider.

Cross Cutting - A cut from one line of action to another. Like a montage, this creates a relationship between scenes.

Freeze Frame Shots - When one shot is printed in a still frame several times to create the illusion of a still photo.

Selective Focus - Blurring out one part of the shot like the background and having the foreground in focus. This draws attention to a particualr detail of a scene.

Tilt Shot - When the camera looks up and down at an object. This makes it seem more dramatic and shows power levels within the scene.

Tracking Shot - Action of moving the camera along a path parallel to the path of the object being filmed.

High Key Lighting - This is used in film, TV and photography. It reduces the light ratio within a scene and this reduces the image of any skin imprefections and makes skin look light. Everything else within the scene has to be darker for the scene to appear normal. It is often used in romances and comedies as it sets a tone of happiness and perfection.

Back Lighting - When the subject is lit from behind while everything else is darker. This creates a glow around the subject. The subject can also be lit from the front and back so they can hardly be seen. This is used to create a sense of mystery.

Ambient Lighting - This is used to create a natural effect in a scene. It includes light not provided by the crew and creates more realism.

Cameo Lighting - A spotlight that accentuates a single subkect in a scene, drawing attention to that and nothing else. It can lead to color distortion in the darkest areas.

Diegetic Sound (Actual Sound) - This is any sound where the source is visible on the screen or is implied to be present by the action in the film. This includes voices of characters, sounds made by objects in the story, music coming from stereos, instruments etc in the story. Diegetic sound is sound that is in the world in which the story of the film is set and can add realism, set a scene and help to create an atmosphere.

Non-diegetic Sound (Commentary Sound) - This is sound that is represented as coming from outside of the story. The source is not on screen or implied to be there and this includes a narrator's commentary, the voice of God, a sound effect added for dramatic effect, basic sound effects, mood music and film scores. It is often used to create atmosphere and mood, such as suspense and tension.

Synchronous Sound - These are sounds that are matched with what is viewed. If a character is talking, the words are heard as their lips move. It can be recorded while shooting or dubbed and added in later and any unwanted sounds can be dubbed over. Sound and visual perspective must match for this to seem real. This is the distance from which a sound is heard and how it effects the sound.

Non-synchronous Sound - This is any nosie whose origin is not seen. Eg; a gunshot in the dark, a train whistle, a rush of air.


Film Classification.

BBFC's Guidelines For Certificate Films

1. What certificates are usually used for thriller films?
15, 18

2. What is the definition of these certificates?

15

Theme - no theme is prohibited, provided the treatment is appropriate to 15 year olds.
Language – there maybe frequent use of strong language (e.g. fuck) but the strongest terms will be acceptable only where justified by context. Continued use of the aggressive language will not be acceptable.

Nudity – nudity maybe allowed in a sexual context but without strong detail. There are no constraints on nudity in a non-sexual or educational context.

Sex – sexual activity maybe portrayed but without strong detail. There maybe strong verbal references to sexual behaviour.

Violence - violence maybe strong but may not dwell on the infliction of pain or injury. Scenes of sexual violence must be brief or discreet.

Imitable techniques – dangerous techniques (e.g. hanging, suicide and self harming) should not dwell on imitable detail. Easily assessable should not be glamorised.

Horror – strong threat and menace are permitted. The strongest gory images are unlikely to be acceptable.

Drugs – drugs taken maybe shown but the film as a whole must not promote or encourage drug misuse.



18

In line with the consistent findings of BBFC’s public consultations, at ‘18’ the BBFC’s guidelines concerns will not normally override the wish that adults should be free to choose there own entertainment, within the law. Exceptions are in mostly the following areas:·
Where material or treatment appears to the board to risk harm to individuals or, through their behaviour, to society e. g. any detailed portrayals of violence or dangerous acts, or of illegal drug use, whish is likely to promote the activity. The board may also intervene with scene of sexual violence which might, e.g. eroticise or endorse sexual assault.· The more explicit images of sexual activity – unless they can be exceptionally justified by context and the work is not a ‘sex work’ as defined below.

In the case of videos and DVD’s, which may be more accessible to young viewers, intervention may be more frequent. For the same reason, and because of the different way they are experienced, the board may take a more precautionary approach in the case of those digital games which is covered by the Visual Recording Act.

Sex Education - where sex material genuinely seeks to inform and educate in matters such as human sexuality, safe sex and health, exceptions to the normal constraints on explicit images may be made in the public interest. Such explicit detail must be kept to the minimum necessary to illustrate the educational or instructional points being made.

Sex Works – sex works are works, normally on video or DVD, whose primary purpose is sexually arousing or stimulation. Sex works which contains material which maybe stimulating would normally be passed as an ‘18’, while sex works containing clear images of real sex are confined to the ‘R18’ category.

Action Points

Based on my research into the Thriller genre, in my own film I will:

* Make it an 18. This is because people are more likely to watch an 18 as they expect it to contain more violence/sex/disturbing ideas etc and to be more controversial and interesting.

* Have a male killer and female victim. This is a convention of thrillers that audiences, mostly, expect to see.

* Use a variety of editing techniques and camera angles. This will not only create a sutiable atmosphere but will keep the film fresh and interesting throughout so that the audience will remain interested.