Research into target audience

Introduction

Research was carried out so that we can find out what people like about thriller films and what they expect to see what is in them.  We asked 40 people so the results are more accurate and we have a wider range of them. We will use our results to create our sequence as we will only include things in it that will keep the audience engaged and it is what the audience want to see. Questionnaires are important to do as they tell you what the audience want to see within the film. Without using questionnaires, you would struggle to create a conventional sequence as you won't know what the audience want.

1. As the result of this question is 50:50, it shows that both males and females are answering the questions. This means that we have to keep in mind that males are more likely to enjoy watching violence in the thriller films whereas woman will more likely want to see a female victim as this will help them relate to the characters more. This means that if we use more violence then the film will most likely be preferred by males. By having an equal amount of both genders, it means we can look at what both like to see in thrillers which we also need to be careful of as well.







2. This question shows that we questioned mostly 15-17 year olds. This is the age group we will be targeting our audience at. This helps us because it means that most of the answers come from this age group so we know what they like to see in thriller films. However, as we also questioned other age groups, we still have to think about what they like as they may also want to watch our     sequence not just 15-17 year olds. We have to keep in mind that more of the 15-17 year olds are likely to enjoy violence whereas 12-14 year olds don't like it as much. Also, 18+ are more likely to want a psychological aspect to the thriller film. As we have targeted our audience at 15-17 year olds, it means that we have an age certificate of 15 and we have to be careful as to what we put in this. For example, we are only allowed a certain extent of violence and a certain amount of language to be used. This gives us restrictions on what we want to include in the thriller as it has to be appropriate for that age category.

3. As only 10% of the people interviewed don't watch thriller films, it tells us that most of the people interviewed know about what they like to see in thriller films and what are the best parts of thriller films. By most of the people being interviewed knowing about thriller films, it is useful as it means that we know what most people want from a thriller film as they have watched them whereas, the results received from the 10% of people that don't, won't be very useful as they are either guessing or making it up. Also, it shows that 90% of people watch thriller films and there is only a small handful of people that don't showing that although we're only targeting our film at 15-17 year olds, it means that other age categories will watch it as well so we have to think about what they want and not only our target audience. As a result, we have to make the film appropriate for other audiences and make it stand out to them as well.

4. This pie chart shows that 20% of people like Scream which means that elements in Scream are things that people enjoy watching in thriller films. This will help us as we can look at Scream and get some inspirations from watching it. By watching this film, we can include some of the elements they use as it is a very popular thriller chosen by people interviewed. As only 7% of people chose Insidious as there favourite film, it means that it isn't a very good thriller film which we should get inspirations from. We will therefore not watch this film as we will not find as many good elements as we will in Scream. As most of the people we interviewed said that they prefer another thriller film as their favourite, it tells us that there may be better thriller films out there that we should look at for ideas.

5. These results show that most people like the antagonist to use a knife as a weapon which shows that the audience are more frightened by the use of a knife as this can cause more damage to the skin then a gun or a saw. Not as many people chose a saw and a gun because these are rarely seen in thrillers so the people interviewed won't have seen them used as much as a knife is. This is because they are more likely to kill within the first touch of a human whereas a knife can cut someone without killing them straight away which builds up suspense. This is conventional to the thriller genre because it keeps the audience waiting and questioning what the antagonist is going to do next. Therefore, from these results, we will use a knife as the antagonists weapon because we know this is what the audience want to see within the film. By using the knife, we think that it will build up more suspense as the audience know what is going to happen but won't be ready for it.

6. This tells us that most people like the antagonist to be hidden from the audience which is because it creates an enigma which is conventional to the thriller genre as it keeps the audience engaged in the film. It also creates suspense as the audience don't know who they are so don't know what they will do next. This also helps the audience build a negative relationship with the antagonist as they feel scared of them. People said no because a thriller is meant to create surprise so by having a hidden identity means it does this.  The people interviewed said no because they don't like surprises and being kept in suspense so prefer the antagonist to be known by the victims and themselves. From this, we will give the antagonist a hidden identity by making him wear a mask so that neither the audience or the victim know who he is creating suspense. This will be good to use as it will create an enigma for the audience keeping them engaged.

7. These results show that most people prefer seeing a female victim. This is useful as we will use a female victim in our sequence instead of a male as this is what we know our target audience want and it is something that will keep the audience engaged. People chose a female victim instead of a male victim because they are weaker and more vulnerable. This means that they won't be able to fight back as much as a male would because the antagonist would usually a lot stronger than the victim as well. They also chose this because it helps the audience build up a relationship with the female victim as they feel sorry for her and worried about what the antagonist might do to her. By the male victim having a much lower percentage, it shows us that they aren't an easy target compared to females and they are more likely to put up a fight with the antagonist so the audience wouldn't be as shocked by the film.

8. From these results, we can see that an abandoned house was the most popular choice. People chose this as they know it's empty and there won't be anyone around to save the victim. This also helps the audience relate to the characters as they feel scared for the victim and are worried about what the antagonist will do as there is no one around to stop them. Also, an abandoned house is very creepy as there are usually spiders and spider webs around which many people have fears of. The graveyard got the least amount of votes as although they are usually empty, there is still life there because people are always putting flowers down showing that people still go there. From this pie chart, I think that we could use an abandoned house as we know that it will keep the audience engaged as they think anything could happen there as the antagonist can't be stopped by anyone. Also, as it is supposed to be abandoned, no one would expect people to be in there so won't come to help the victim.

9. This pie chart tells us that having an enigma is what the audience wants. By having enigmas, it creates suspense which is conventional to the thriller genre as it keeps the audience engaged in the film. Also, it means that the audience don't know what is happening so keep questioning the film which also keeps them engaged as they want to find out what happens. I think that the 10% of people that said no had said it because they don't like being on the edge and waiting to find out what happens. Thriller films are supposed to create surprises and shock the audience which an enigma does and I think that these people probably don't like surprises and shocks. In our sequence, we will use enigmas as we know that the audience like them and it will keep our target audience engaged. One enigma we will use is giving the antagonist a hidden identity which will create suspense as the audience and victim don't know who he is.

10. As the results show that all the options given have similar percentages, this could be because they are all conventional to a thriller genre so they are all wanted to be seen by the audience. Also, this means that we will use all of them in our opening sequence as the results show that they are all equally wanted by the audience. This means we will build up suspense then shock the audience with a climax. We will then create some tension and give the audience a surprise which will keep them engaged in the rest of the film. Therefore, we will use all of these conventions in our thriller as we know the audience will enjoy it more.

Vox pops are where you interview members of the public either via radio or television. In our vox pops, we will just be filming our interviews about thriller films and they are posted below. We are using vox pops as this proves that we have actually done the interviews to get our results and it also shows that people of different ages, have different opinions on thriller films. The vox pops provide qualitative data as it means the people being questioned can elaborate on their answers.

Conclusion

In this research, I found it useful to find out what each different audience likes to see in thriller films and what is expected from them. For example, I found that males are more into the gory thrillers whereas girls like to be able to build a relationship with a female victim. We will incorporate our results into our thriller sequence by using a knife as the murder weapon because this was the most popular choice from looking at the results. We will also use a female victim because this was also the most popular choice and it shows that the antagonist is a lot more stronger and powerful than her. If I was to carry out the research again, I would probably give more options for them to choose from as I feel that the people interviewed were quite restricted on being able to give their opinion.

Opening sequence analysis of Halloween

Introduction

The purpose on an opening sequence is to introduce the antagonists and victims and to attract the audience so that they want to finish watching the film to find out what happens. It is also there to introduce the plot and the narrative themes for the rest of the film.

The sequence I will be analysing is the Halloween 1978 opening:

The first element I will analyse is the sound. Non-diegetic sound was used when there are kids chanting Halloween rhymes right at the beginning of the film. This shows that it is Halloween so it sets the time of the film. This builds up tension because Halloween is the scariest night of the year which makes it more realistic for the audience. As they are young children, this also makes it feel more realistic and makes the audience feel like nothing bad can happen as there are children around. Also, the words they were chanting, 'cauldron', 'witches', 'night, and 'spells' foreshadow that bad things are going to happen. This tells the audience that someone will get hurt or die. This is conventional to the thriller genre because it helps the audience build up a negative relationship towards the antagonist and they feel sorry for whoever the victim is.

The second type of sound used in this sequence is diegetic sound when the owl is howling. This tells the audience that it is late at night which is when owls usually howl. This is good to have in this sequence as it makes the scene spookier for the audience to watch. This is also conventional to the thriller genre as the sound is related to the time it is set. This creates tension as it is a normal sound to hear late at night so it makes it feel like the average Halloween night when there aren't actually any murders taking place which makes it more realistic for the audience.

Another sound used in this sequence is on-screen sound. This is shown when they are speaking so they use dialogue. The dialogue used is when he asks her is they're alone or not. This shows that he senses that someone else is also there. This helps the audience build a relationship with the characters as they also feel like someone else is there so are both in the same position. By him asking this, it makes the audience also think it so they know something is going to happen and one of them is going to be a victim to some sort of crime. This foreshadows a murder to both the audience and the characters on screen. This is conventional to the thriller genre because an enigma is created as the audience and the characters don't know what is going to happen. Therefore, the audiences are asking many questions keeping them engaged in the rest of the film. By showing that he knows someone is there through dialogue is good as it is easy for the audience to know what he is thinking and they then know that they are also thinking the same thing. This is conventional to the thriller genre because it helps the audience build up a relationship with the male character as they are both thinking the same thing.

The final sound used in this sequence is also non-diegetic sound. This is used when the clock starts ringing as Michael walks up the stairs. As it is the same clock as one at a church during a funeral, it signifies death. This is conventional to the thriller genre because it foreshadows to the audience that there's going to be a murder. It also happens just before she's stabbed so symbolises end of life. This tells the audience that something bad is going to happen and she is going to be hurt. This also builds up suspense because the audience know something will happen but are just waiting for the antagonist to strike at his victim. By using the clock as non-diegetic sound, it shows the audience that the antagonist is taking his time to get up the stairs and to his victim because he knows that his victim is going to die anyway. So, the clock tells the audience that the antagonist knows what's going to happen and doesn't care. This is conventional to the thriller genre because it helps the audience build up a negative relationship with the antagonist and makes them feel sorry for the victim.

The second element I will analyse from this sequence is cinematography. A point of view shot is used when the killer is walking into the house. This shows the audience exactly what the antagonist can see. This helps the audience build a relationship with the killer because they see what he sees and therefore, have an idea about what he is thinking. This also keeps the killer unknown and hidden from the audience and victim. This creates an enigma which then creates suspense as it keeps the audience questioning who the killer is. This shot is conventional to the thriller genre because it keeps the audience asking questions which then keep them engaged in the film as they want to find out who the murderer actually is. This shot also creates an enigma where the audience don't know what is going to happen next as they don't know where he's going to go.

Another piece of cinematography used is a zooming out shot. This is used when Michael's mask gets pulled off of his head. The camera zooms out turning it into a high angle which shows that a murder has taken place in that house. It sets an enigma for the rest of the film as it keeps the audience wondering whether or not Michael is actually the murderer. This also sets the scene as to where the murder happened and also to where the body has been left. This is conventional to the thriller genre as the audience can see exactly where the victim has been killed and this also creates suspense as the audience don't know what is going to happen next. By the camera zooming out straight after the mask is taken off, it tells the audience that it is the antagonist and he was the one that killed the victim. As a result, an enigma is created because the audience don't know his reason behind killing the victim. This is conventional to the thriller genre because the audience keep engaged within the rest of the thriller film.

The next element I will analyse from this sequence is editing. The first piece of editing I found was slow editing. This is used when the killer is walking round the house. This is conventional to the thriller genre because it builds up suspense as the audience don't know when the killer will strike. This engages the audience because it means the antagonist could kill when they least expect it to happen. This is conventional to the thriller genre because an enigma is created as the audience don't know when the murder will take place. Therefore, they stay engaged within the rest of the thriller film. This also tells the audience that he is going to kill but doesn't want to scare his victim so moves slowly and quietly around the house. This helps the audience build a negative relationship with the antagonist because they know he will kill her no matter what. They also build a relationship with the victim because they know he is going to hurt her and she doesn't so they feel sorry for her. This is conventional to the thriller genre because suspense is built whilst the audience are waiting for the killer to get his victim.

The second piece of editing used is the linking of section which is done when the camera looks at the victims then looks at the bedroom. This is conventional to the thriller genre as it tells the audience that the antagonist is going to kill and where the antagonist is going to kill. This engages the audience as it makes them feel scared and sorry for the victims. It also helps the audience build a relationship with the victim as they know what is going to happen to her and want her to get out so she isn't hurt. By the camera doing this, it also shows where the victim actually is at that moment in time. This is conventional to the thriller genre because it tells the audience that he has been watching her and knows all her movements. This helps the audience build a negative relationship with the antagonist because they believe he has been stalking her for ages.

The final shot used is the reaction shot when the girl sees Michael and screams. This is conventional to the thriller genre because it shows that the victim didn't expect it especially as it was his named she screamed showing that she knew who he was. This engages the audience and it makes them want to find out what is going to happen next. This also helps the audience build a relationship with the characters as they can see how they are feeling by their facial expressions. In this sequence, the audience can tell that she's scared as she screams so they feel sorry for the victim.

Another element I will analyse from this sequence is conventions. The first thriller convention I found was the use of low key lighting. This was both inside and outside of the house. By using this type of lighting, it created shadows and silhouettes which told the audience that there was someone else around. This also created an eerie atmosphere which engaged the audience as the murder could happen at any time. This built up tension as the audience don't know when the killer will strike at his victim.

A second thriller convention found was the use of suspenseful music. This was heard when the killer entered the house. This type of music created tension as it built up which makes it scarier for the audience to watch. As a result of this, the audience are more engaged as they want to know what will happen next. This also makes the audience believe something bad is going to happen as the music is so tense.

The next convention used was iconography of the knife. This was taken out of the draw by the antagonist. A knife is a popular weapon for an antagonist in thriller films because they can easily kill and cause suffering with it. In this sequence, it is conventional to the thriller genre as the audience know that by getting it out of the draw, the antagonist wants to hurt or kill their victim. This helps the audience build a relationship with the victim as they begin to worry for her safety.

Another thriller convention used is a female victim. This is shown as it  is a young woman that is killed by the antagonist. This is conventional to the thriller genre because it shows that she is weak and vulnerable making her an easy target. It also means that she won't be able to fight back so the audience know that she is most likely going to die. This helps the audience build a relationship with the female as they feel sorry for her because they know she won't be able to do anything about it.

The final thriller convention used was iconography of the mask. This is shown when the antagonist picks up the mask from the floor then puts it on. From then a point of view shot is used. This helps the audience relate to the character as they can see what they see so nothing is hidden from the audience. By using a mask, it keeps the identity of the antagonist hidden creating an enigma for the audience. This engages the audience because they will want to know what happens next to find out who the killer is.

The next element I will be analysing from this sequence is the representation of the characters. The first representation is of the girl. She is only young and shown as being innocent. This makes her an easy target for the antagonist as they know she is weak and vulnerable. She is also wearing white which signifies purity which is conventional to the thriller genre as it shows she's a female victim. It also shows that she rarely gets in trouble so is a good girl which makes the audience wonder why she is being killed. This also creates an enigma which is conventional to the thriller genre.

The second representation is of the killer. It is shown to be a man but once the mask is taken off of him, it is actually a boy. This creates an enigma because the audience don't expect a young boy to be a killer. A young boy is known to be cute and innocent whereas in this sequence, the audience are surprised to know that the killer is a young boy. This is conventional to the thriller genre as it makes the audience shocked and surprised to know the truth.

The final element I will be analysing from this sequence is the narrative. The first piece of narrative is an innocent girl becoming victim of a murder where she was brushing her hair then is suddenly stabbed to death. This is conventional to the thriller genre because she is weak and vulnerable. This makes her an easy target for the antagonist. It also helps the audience build a relationship with her because they know what's going to happen to her and feel sorry for her as they know she hasn't done anything wrong.

The second piece of narrative is that the film is set on Halloween. This is a typical date to have a murder as it signifies death and suffering. This makes it conventional to the thriller genre as it means there's going to be a murder. This helps the audience relate to the characters as they know what is going to happen to them. It also creates tension as the audience don't know when the killer will strike.

The final piece of narrative used is that the antagonist is wearing a Halloween costume. This is conventional to the thriller genre as it sets the plot and setting for the rest of the film. By wearing a Halloween costume, it could make the audience feel like the antagonist is just dressing up and being the character of the costume he is wearing. This builds up suspense as the audience are scared for the victim.

Conclusion

Overall, this sequence informs the audience of the conventions of a thriller as it shows many different types of conventions to make a thriller scary for the audience. The conventions should be able to build up suspense and create shock and surprise for the audience. If each of the conventions of a thriller do this, then the audience will be frightened. By doing this analysis, it has helped me with planning my own thriller as it has shown me what different conventions do to make it scary. For example, I like the use of the knife as it is a popular weapon choice for antagonists which helps the audience know what is going to happen next. Also, the use of suspenseful music is good and it creates tension which engages the audience more.

Research into thriller conventions

Introduction

Conventions are elements that are common within different film genres. They are patterns that can be seen or used in different films from the same category.
Examples of conventions used in thrillers are:

• Jumpy scenes
• Masked antagonist
• Death
• Chase scenes
• Enigma
• Unknown/eerie location
• Mentally unstable antagonist
• Timing of shots - slow/fast

The clip I will be analysing is from Saw 2:

The following conventions are used in this thriller clip:

• Blood
• Tense music
• Unknown/eerie location
• Masked antagonist
• Defenceless victims

The convention of blood is used in this clip when she falls into the needle pit and all the characters have blood on them. This shows that they have all been through some sort of pain where they have been hurt. This helps the audience build up a relationship with the victims as they start feeling sorry for them. This is conventional to the thriller genre as the audience begin to feel anger towards the antagonist. The blood shown on the girl in the needle pit proves she is scared and in a lot of pain. By there being so much blood on the female victim, it creates an enigma for the audience as they don't know whether she is going to die or not. As a result, the audience stay engaged within the thriller to find out. In this clip, it shows the needles going into the victim and as they go in she screams. The blood seems to be coming out all over her body showing that the needles are stabbing her all over. This builds up tension for the audience as they because scared for her life as she is stuck in there when she is innocent. Blood is conventional to the thriller genre because it shows the audience that something bad has happened. Therefore, the audience want to find out what has really happened so stay engaged in the rest of the thriller film.

The convention of an unknown/eerie location is used in this clip as they have no idea where they are. By them not knowing where they are creates tension for the audience as they also don't know where the victims are. As a result, the audience can build up a relationship with the victims as both of them are thinking the same thing. It looks like the victims are in some kind of basement. This type of location is conventional to the thriller genre because it is quiet and there is usually only one way out. This means that if the antagonist locks the only way out then the victims are stuck there and are most likely going to die. This makes the audience feel hate towards the antagonist because they know that all the victims are innocent and don't deserve to die. The unknown location creates an enigma as the audience and the characters are confused as to where the victims are. This helps the audience relate to the characters as they feel like they are in their position. By having an unknown/eerie location creates suspense as it makes the audience think that anything could happen. It also makes them believe that something bad will happen. This is because they know the antagonist won't care if the victims die.

The convention of tense music is used in this clip when she is about to be thrown into the needle pit and when she is actually in the needle pit. As she is about to be thrown into the needle pit, the music gets louder creating tension. This shows that she is going top be thrown in so she will be hurt by the needles. As a result of the music getting louder, the audience begin to feel nervous and frightened for the female victim as they know she is going to be hurt. Therefore, they feel sorry for her as she doesn't deserve to be injured. Once she is in the needle pit, the music isn't as loud anymore which tells the audience that she has realised the needles have gone into her. This helps the audience realise the pain she is going through. This helps the audience build up a relationship with the victim because they feel scared for her life as they know she could die any minute. When she is in the needle pit, the music gets louder each time they show the needles in her. This creates fear for the audience as they can see how much she is suffering. By the music getting louder as they show the needles in her, it creates tension for the audience which is conventional to the thriller genre as it helps the audience build a negative relationship with the antagonist.

The convention of having a masked antagonist is used in this clip as the characters can only hear his voice and not see his face. This creates tension as both the audience and the characters don't know who is making them suffer so much. This helps the audience build a relationship with the characters as they are both thinking the same thing. This is conventional to the thriller genre because it creates tension for the audience as they are left wondering who it really is. By them not knowing who the antagonist is makes them question what he might do so the audience stay engaged in the rest of the film. As they don't know what's going to happen next, the audience will think the worst, that all the victims are going to end up dying. This helps the audience build up a lot of hatred towards the antagonist as they know he doesn't care whether they suffer or not before dying. By having a masked antagonist, it creates an enigma which is conventional to the thriller genre as it builds up suspense.

The convention of defenceless victims is used in this clip as they have to do what the antagonist says otherwise they will be locked in there and most likely end up dying. This creates tension as they have to go through pain to find a way out. This is also because the audience and the victims don't know whether what they have to do will be worth it. It helps the audience build up a relationship with the victims because they feel sorry for them and want them to stay alive. As a result, they stay engaged within the film as they want to find out whether the victims live or not. By them being defenceless, it means that they have to do what the antagonist tells them or they will be hurt and suffer anyway. This creates panic for the characters as they have to rush which makes the audience also panic so they feel like they are in the victims position. This is conventional to the thriller genre because the audience build up a negative relationship with the antagonist as he is making the victims do horrible things which he knows they will do if they want to make it out alive.

Conclusion

This clip from Saw 2 was successful in terms of creating a conventional sequence because it built up tension and helped the audience relate to the characters differently. I will use the tense music in my opening sequence because it helps build suspense which is conventional to the thriller genre. I will also use defenceless victims as they help the audience build a relationship with the characters because they feel sorry for them.

Research into sound

Introduction

I will be researching how sound is used in thriller films to create different responses from the audience and how it helps create more of an understanding of the film for the audience. I will be analysing Scream 2 because it uses music that builds up tension and sounds that show fear.

The types of sound used in this film are:

• Off-screen sound
• Non-diegetic sound
• On-screen sound
• Diegetic sound

Off-screen sound is used when she answers the phone (0:22). On the other end of the line is a man with a deep voice, as he's speaking to the girl, she has frightened facial expressions. This shows mystery as she does not know who the man is. It also shows that she is vulnerable and weak because she is a female. This is conventional to the thriller genre because tension is created which creates fear for the audience. Also, villains in the thriller films usually make their target a woman because they know that they are innocent and will find it difficult to fight back. This helps the audience build a relationship with the victim as they begin to feel sorry for her and are scared for her safety. As it is an off-screen sound with him being on the phone, it puts the audience into her position as neither know who he is or what he is going to do. This creates a sense of mystery for the audience and they don't know what will happen next.

Non-diegetic sound is used when she first sees the villain and she screams (0:38). The soundtrack speeds up and the beat of it makes the clip more tense for the audience. As the tension builds up, the audience know someone is going to get stabbed which is conventional to the thriller genre. Also, as the pace of the music gets faster and louder, it implies that the villain is getting closer to her and makes the audience think she is never going to get out of the house. This helps the audience build a relationship with the character because as the music builds up they become frightened for her and don't want her to get hurt as she's innocent.

On-screen sound is used when the knife goes through the door (0:49). This is frightening for the audience because they fear for the boy stood on the other side. The sound of the knife going through the door is conventional to the thriller genre because it is a dangerous weapon. As the knife goes through the door, blood is on the knife which builds up more suspense as it means that he has stabbed someone before hand. The sound of the knife going through the door makes the audience think that the boy on the other side has been stabbed as they can't see him when it first goes through the door. It also makes them think that the antagonist could do anything as he doesn't seem afraid or nervous about stabbing anyone. This helps the audience build a relationship with the antagonist as they feel hate towards him.

Diegetic dialogue is used when she is screaming and running towards the door then the boy outside starts shouting her name (0:43). This shows that they are both panicking and scared. This is conventional to the thriller genre as it builds up tension and makes the audience scared for their safety. By him shouting her name, it shows the audience that he cares for her and doesn't want her to get hurt. This helps them build a relationship towards the characters because their feelings towards each other are realistic so they understand how they feel more.

Conclusion

This research has taught me that non-diegetic sound is useful to build up suspense and create a scarier film for the audience. I will apply non-diegetic sound to my thriller because it builds up tension making it conventional to the thriller genre. This sequence created both suspense and an anti-climax and no one was badly injured.

Research into editing

Introduction

I think a variety of editing styles are used in thriller films because it helps build up suspense for the audience making them more wary of what's going to happen. I also think they are used to show their facial expressions more clearly which helps the audience understand the film more.
Some examples of editing terminology are:

• Montage - the speed of editing, where shots are quickly juxtaposed together to create excitement.
• Wipe cut - one part of the screen moves away to wipe another.
• Linking of section - is where one section of a film is linked to another scene, which has significance.
• Linking shots - is where a number of shots are linked together to add emotional impact.

I will be analysing a clip from Annabelle:

One editing style used is slow editing which is when clips are juxtaposed together at a slower pace and this is to create suspense. This is done when she has just entered the storage room in the basement and she is looking around. This shows that she can sense another presence in the basement with her. As she looks round slowly, it builds up suspense for the audience. This is conventional to the thriller genre because it makes the audience believe that something bad is going to happen and someone else is around. This also creates an enigma because it helps the audience build a relationship with the character as they are also wondering what the presence is.

A second editing style used is the reaction shot which is any shot in which a subject reacts to a previous shot. This is shown when she is walking towards the pram where the sound of crying is coming from. The camera is moving behind her as she walks up to the pram then goes onto her face which shows her facial expressions. This is important because it tells the audience how she is feeling which in this clip is that she's frightened. This is conventional to the thriller genre as it helps the audience to relate to the character by feeling scared for her and the baby. This also builds up suspense because the audience don't know what the presence is going to do next to make her more feel more scared.

Timing shots are used which are when shots are either edited slower or quicker to add emotional impact or to create suspense. This is shown when she is running towards the elevator. The scene is edited quicker so that the audience know she is very frightened. This helps the audience build a relationship with the girl because they are worried for her safety and the babies safety. It also builds up suspense as the audience don't know whether the antagonist is going to chase after her or not. This is conventional to the thriller genre because it makes the audience very scared. This also creates tension as the speed she is running is faster so it shows how worried she actually is.

A final shot used is the kuleshov effect. This is when two shots equal a one meaning. This is shown when she is running up the stairs then she falls over. As she stands back up she looks down onto the banister. The camera then gives a point of view angle where she's looking at the banister. On the banister is a hand or an object moving. By her scared facial expressions, it shows that someone is chasing her. This tells the audience that something bad is going to happen which is conventional to the thriller genre because it creates tension. As the object moves slowly, it builds up suspense making the audience become more frightened of what's going to happen. This also helps the audience build a relationship with the girl because they feel like they are also in her position as they don't know what it is either creating an enigma.

Conclusion

This research will help me plan my own sequence because it has shown me how different techniques create different reactions rom the audience. I will probably use the slow editing as it builds up suspense which is what the opening sequence of a thriller scene should do. I have taken an inspiration from this clip when they use the kuleshov effect as dialogue don't need to be used to create one meaning. I like this as dialogue won't need to be used in my sequence so I can create a good meaning from using it.

Research into mise-en-scene

Introduction

Mise-en-scene is the all the elements that make up a scene of a film. These elements are:

• Settings and iconography
• Costume, hair and make-up
• Facial expressions and body language
• Lighting and colour
• Positioning of characters/objects within the frame

The thriller film I will be analyzing is Woman in Black:

The first piece of mise-en-scene I found was the setting. The scene is located in the attic at the start of the film when the three girls are playing with their dolls. This is a popular location for children as they can sit and play quietly up there. As the attic is at the top of the house, it is a long jump down for the girls which makes it scarier for the audience. The attic is also a very creepy place because there are usually spiders and cob webs up there which a lot of people have a fear of. This is conventional to the thriller genre because the film makers want the audience to be scared of what is happening on the screen so the location has to be something in which creates fear and suspense.

The second piece of mise-en-scene I found was their costumes where they are wearing dresses. The three girls are sat playing with their dolls wearing pink and lilac dresses. This is a popular outfit for young girls to wear because it makes them feel very pretty but also makes them look innocent. The dresses make them look more vulnerable as they look cute and sweet. They are also wearing bows in their hair which makes them look like little dolls. As they look like dolls, the audience may feel that the Woman in Black is playing with them like they play with their dolls. This is conventional to the thriller genre because villains like their targets to be people that are weak and innocent.

The next piece of mise-en-scene I found were their facial expressions. At the start of the scene, the girls have happy expressions as they sit and play with their dolls but when they see the Woman in Black, they seem to become a bit scared although they are fearless to go up to the window and jump. This shows that they are only innocent young girls and are weak as they do not fight back and they do what the Woman in Black tells them too. Facial expressions tell the audience a lot about how the characters are feeling so in this scene, it makes the audience feel sorry for the girls as they were playing nicely and then told to jump out of the window. This is conventional to the thriller genre because the aim of a thriller is to make the audience feel sorry for the victim and be scared of what's going to happen.

Another piece of mise-en-scene I found was the lighting and colour. It is quite dark and gloomy in there which the audience would expect as it is an attic. This makes it scarier for them to watch. As it is quite a dark colour, it connotes fear and brings more of a dramatic effect to the scene. The windows are the only source of light in the attic so this could mean that the Woman in Black is sending the girls to a brighter place as they are playing in the dark. Both high key lighting and low key lighting are used in this scene as there are some shadows being created but there is also only a filler light being used. The high key lighting is effective as it shows that the girls are enjoying themselves whilst they play because it doesn't give a depressive mood. However, the low key lighting is also effective because it gives the scene more of a dramatic effect as it tells the audience that something bad is going to happen. This is conventional to the thriller genre because tension is built up which should happen in all thriller films.

Conclusion

My research will help to plan my own thriller film as I have found out that if I want a character to look weak and innocent then they should wear a dress or a cute outfit. I have also found out that if the lighting is dark then it will create more of a dramatic effect. Finally, I will make facial expressions a priority as they show the audience exactly what a character is thinking.

Research into cinematography

Introduction

Cinematography is the camera work and photography in making a film. In this essay, I will be discussing cinematography in thriller genre in the film Woman in Black: Angel of  Death. The clip I will be using is:

The first angle used is a mid shot. This is shown when the camera is pointing up to the boy listening to Alice Drablows message (seen at 0:04). The camera is angled to show his full face which shows his facial expressions. This shows that he found the message so he is in charge of what happens to it. This makes the audience feel like they are also sat there listening to the message as well because they can clearly see the facial expressions being used on the boys face. It also makes the audience feel like they are in the scene listening to the message with the boy as the camera is positioned directly opposite from him.

The second angle used is a close up. This happens when the woman goes up to the dirty window and stares out towards the cross in the marsh (seen at 0:52). The camera shows her full face so the audience can see her facial expressions. By having her look out of a dirty window shows that the house is old and hasn't been cleaned for years. Her facial expressions show fear which tells the audience she is worried about what happened at the house. The close up creates suspense for the audience which makes it scarier to watch.

The third angle used is a high angle but it is also a point of view. This is when the woman is looking through the gap down at the boy laying on the bed (seen at 1:28). It shows that he is innocent as he is just laying on the bed drawing. This builds up tension because the audience don't want to see a young, vulnerable boy get hurt. It also shows that the woman is scared for his safety because the hole is right above his bed where he sleeps. This creates tension as the woman has scared facial expressions making the audience also feel frightened.

I found the use of steadicam within this clip when the woman is looking down at the boy and a body falls down next to her which is hanging itself so the camera moves upwards (seen at 1:52).This shows that it has come out of nowhere which scares the woman. As it moves up, it shows the whole of the body still making it creepy for the audience to see. It creates suspense as the camera moves up fast and by it moving quickly, it also makes the audience jump.

The final piece of cinematography I found was zooming in. This happens when the camera zooms in on the cross situated in the marsh (seen at 1:00). As the camera moves towards the cross, it shows that there must have been a death that had happened there in the past. It also shows that it has been abandoned as there is nothing else around it. This builds up tension as the camera is moving slowly and because there is no movement around the cross. It also makes the audience think more about what's happened in the past for it to now be so lonely and quiet.

Conclusion

I think these shots and angles were used because they all create tension and make the audience frightened. This is also helped by the facial expressions used on the characters as this helps build up the tension as well. They are conventional to the thriller genre as tension should be created in thriller films which is what these angles/shots create. The use of angles/shots in this clip has influenced my thriller opening scene because it has shown me how to take them and how you can create suspense out of them.

Research into the BBFC - Miss Miller

Introduction

The BBFC stands for 'British Board of Film Classification'. Their purpose is to keep the public safe from scenes which could cause potential risks of harm. They allow the public to make suitable viewing choices. They are there to appreciate adult freedom of choice without breaking the law. They change the age classifications through the changing social attitudes towards media content. This is done through talks with the general public and research. The BBFC give out a cost - effective and efficient classification service within the law.

Age Classifications - U, PG, 12A, 12, 15, 18

The 'U' classification stands for Universal which means that it is a film in which everyone aged 4 and above is allowed to watch. A film is rated 'U' if it shows no sightings of drugs, discrimination, unsuitable behaviour, nudity, unacceptable language, sex, threat or violence.
The only acceptable bad language is very mild. For example, 'damn' and 'hell'. Kissing and cuddling is acceptable as the only sort of sexual interaction. Violence will hardly ever be shown but if it is then it will be a short fighting scene.
'U' classified films are varied themes which are acceptable to be watched by young children. The films that are made for children usually give a positive message and in most cases have a happy ending.

Example - Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs:

Snow White lives with her wicked stepmother that is also the Queen. The Queen forces Snow White to be her maid. Everyday, she would ask her mirror, 'who is the fairest of them all?' and for years, he would reply saying the Queen but one day it tells the Queen that Snow White is the fairest. She then tells the huntsman to take Snow White into the forest and kill her and bring back her heart in a jewelled box, but the huntsman can not kill her. This means that no violence is shown. He tells Snow White to go into the forest and never come back so Snow White made friends with many woodland animals who took her to a little cottage belonging to seven Dwarfs. Snow White then cleaned the whole cottage and looked after it whilst the Dwarfs worked all day. When the mirror told the Queen that Snow White was still the fairest in all the land, she realised that she is still alive. Then she worked out that the heart in the box was a heart. She then used magic to turn herself into an old woman and entered the forest to find the cottage. Once she found it, she gave Snow White a poisoned apple which would make whoever takes a bite fall to sleep and the spell can only be broken by love's first kiss. The apple is acceptable in the 'U' classification as it is not a dangerous weapon. Snow White took a bite and the Dwarfs find her on the floor when they return from work. A Prince whom had already met and fallen in love with Snow White then came along, he kisses her and she awakens giving them a happily ever after.
This film is classified as a 'U' because there is no swearing, no sex and no violence. Although, there is danger in the film, it isn't violent danger. The happily ever after makes it a good film for children as that means it has provided a positive message.

The 'PG' classification stands for Parental Guidance which means it is a suitable film for all but some scenes might not be acceptable for younger children. A 'PG' rated film should not upset a child that is 8 or older. The parents of a child should decide whether a child younger than this should be able to watch the film.
Some films with a 'PG' rating aren't films that would attract and younger audience but are acceptable for them to watch. There is mild bad language in these films but the words used will be in context. References to sex are unlikely but if there is then it will be used in a way that a child wouldn't understand. Violence will be very mild and there may be some signs of blood but the way in which they are hurt will not be shown. Some moments of fear are shown but nothing that has tension building up to it.

Example - Paddington:

Paddington is a bear that leaves his life in the jungle in Peru because of an earthquake and heads to Paddington station, London to look for his Uncle. He meets the Brown family who name him after the station and they take him to an antique shop to ask about the stamp on his Uncle's hat in which Paddington had found after the Earthquake. They find out that the stamp comes from an explorer that found his Aunt and Uncle, Montgomery Clyde. Meanwhile, a woman named Millicent Clyde who stuffs dead animals finds out about Paddington and wants to get him. With the help of the Browns' neighbour, Millicent Clyde climbs in to the Browns house and attempts to get Paddington. Paddington isn't happy living with the Browns so leaves and goes and looks for Montgomery Clyde on his own. He finds out that Montgomery died and that Millicent turns out to be his daughter. Millicent captures Paddington and puts him to sleep ready to stuff him. When the Brown family find out, they go and save Paddington. At the end, the Browns adopt Paddington so there is a happily ever after making it a god ending for a PG.
This film is classified as a 'PG' because the language is mild. Also, the idea of the earthquake and the villain, Millicent Clyde, might scare younger children. There is also a very small amount of violence shown in the film.

The '12' and '12A' classification means there are scenes which are not suitable for under 12's. The difference between the 2 classifications is that no one is allowed into a '12A' rated film unless accompanied by an adult whereas no one under the age of 12 can go into a '12' rated film. The adult that intends to take a chid to a '12A' rated film should decide whether the film will be acceptable for a child younger than 12 to watch. If a film is quite negative and dark, it will be rated a '12' as it may scare children younger than this. Language used in a '12' rated film might be words like 'f***' but it won't be said very often and if it is used in a strong tone then it will be rated as a '15' instead. Nudity might be seen in '12A' films and sex could be very brief in both '12' and '12A' films. Mild violence is accepted in these films and some gory moments are acceptable as well. Weapons like knives which 12 year olds can reach are not acceptable to be used in '12' and '12A' films. Scenes with rape or sexual assault taking place will only be shown in these films is they have a strong justification. Some horror films are rated '12' and '12A' as long as the horror scenes are short and don't continue or a long period of time. Behaviour where people hang themselves or commit suicide, for example, are shown at this rating but this will not be behaviour children are likely to copy.


Example of a '12A' - The fault in stars

This film is based on the novel written by John Green. It is about a 16 year old girl named Hazel Grace Lancaster that has cancer. She meets a 17 year old boy called Augustus Waters at a cancer patient support group. He had cancer in the past where the bottom of his leg had to be amputated. He was there for his best friend, Isaac, that had cancer in his eyes. They both fall in love and Hazel gets Augustus to read her favourite book, 'An Imperial Affliction', written by her favourite author, Peter Van Houton. Augustus tells Hazel that he had found Peter's assistant and emailed her asking questions but they replied saying that the answers could only be told in person. Later, Augustus suprises Hazel with a trip to Amsterdam to meet Peter Van Houton. When they finally meet Peter, he is very drunk and very rude to them both so they leave. Peters assistant then runs after the two of them and takes them to visit Anne Franks house. The next morning, Augustus tells Hazel that his cancer has come back and it is spreading fast. When they arrive back home, Augustus is taken straight to the ICU and fearing his death, invites Isaac and Hazel to his pre-funeral where they read their eulogies. Soon after that, Augustus died. At his real funeral, Peter Van Houton turns up and gets into Hazels car where he hands her a letter but she throws it straight on the floor. That night, Isaac goes to see Hazel where he tells her that the letter was actually from Augustus who had sent it to Peter.
This film is classified as a '12A' because there are scenes of nudity and sexual interaction. There is also some bad language used throughout the film. The film is not scary so younger children are allowed in to watch the film.

The '15' classification means that anyone under the age of 15 is not allowed in to watch the film. No types of scenes are prohibited as long as they are appropriate for 15 year olds to watch. Strong violence, continuous strong language, scenes of sexual activity, nudity, drug taking, strong verbal references to sex, brief scenes of sexual violence and discriminatory language or behaviour are all acceptable in a '15' rated film. There is no limit on how much bad language is used in these films. Discriminatory language and behaviour may be shown in a '15' classified film but nothing will be shown that will promote discriminatory language or behaviour among 15 year olds. Sexual activity is shown in a '15' and sex scenes may be long. There may be strong references to sex but these will only be shown if they are justified in the film. Gory scenes might not be acceptable at a '15' but strong violence is. There will not be much sexual violence but if it is shown then it needs to be justified and a short scene. Drug taking is shown but should not endorse drug taking to 15 year olds.

Example - Bad Neighbours

This film is about a couple, Mac and Kelly Radner, who move into their new house with their newborn daughter. They find out that their new neighbours are a group called Delta Psi Beta who are known for their outrageous parties. One night when one of the parties was being held, Mac and Kelly asked Teddy, one of the groups leaders, to keep the noise down and he told them they will as long as they call him instead of the police. Teddy invited them to one of their parties where he shows Mac his room which has a pile of fireworks and a box that controls the power in the house. The night after, they couldn't get hold of Teddy to ask to keep the noise down so ring the police instead who tell Teddy who made the call. The day after, all of the parties rubbish had been thrown over the Radners front garden. The couple go down to the college dean who tells them that there is a three strikes policy and the Delta Psi Beta are on their second. They then fail to make the group move by messing up their house so Kelly gets Pete (Teddy's best friend) and Brooke (Teddy's girlfriend) to have sex and Mac gets Teddy to walk in on them. A fight breaks out causing a barbecue to roll into a car injuring a teacher. This gave them their second strike. This basically ruined their party plans. From then on, Teddy began to do violent pranks on the couple. The couple send a letter to Teddy telling them they have their parties again. As the next party starts, they call a police officer, Watkins, and Teddy realises so stops the party just in time. Jimmy (the Radners friend), throws himself from the balcony to distract Teddy which allowed Mac and Kelly to get into Teddys room and restart the party using his power box. Teddy takes the blame for the party and the college shut the house down.
This is a '15'classified film because there is nudity and sex scenes. There is also violent scenes and pain and injury is briefly shown when Jimmy jumps off the balcony. Strong language is used throughout the film from start to finish.

The '18' classification means that only adults can go and watch these films. No one under the age of 18 is allowed to watch these films. There is no content in an '18' rated film that is prohibited. This means that some adults may be offended by some things that are shown. Very strong violence, continuous strong language, strong scenes of sexual activity, strong horror, strong scenes of blood and gore, sex and discriminatory language or behaviour are all acceptable in an '18' rated film. There is no limit on how much bad language is said even if it is followed by violence. There might be racist, homophobic and other discriminatory language used and it could be offensive to some adult viewers. Strong and detailed scenes of sex are shown in an '18'. Violence shown in an '18' classified film can be extremely strong which could include gory scenes and scenes of sexual violence. Drug use is shown but it cannot promote drug misuse. Some scenes might be cut if they are breaching the law, risking harm to individuals or, through their behaviour, society or where there are sexual images which are not justified.

Example - The Shining

This is a psychological horror film about a writer and recovering alcoholic, Jack Torrence. He accepts a job offer as an out of season care taker at the empty Overlook hotel. His son gains psychic abilities where he can see the past and the future. After the family have moved in, they get trapped inside by a snowstorm. Jack suddenly becomes influenced by a supernatural presence and attempts to kill his wife and son.
This film is an '18' because is contains some very violent scenes and lots of bad language throughout.

Conclusion

The BBFC is important regarding films and audiences as they make sure young children are not allowed to see content which may disturb them. Also, they make sure certain scenes are cut if they are not appropriate to a certain age certificate. My research will help me decide the age certificate to make my thriller film at as I know how much of certain contents can go into it. For example, bad language cannot be used throughout to have my film at an age certificate of '12'.