Film Studies

What Is a Thriller Film?

Objective:  The objective of the lesson is for all students to understand what a thriller film is. Students should able to demonstrate their understanding

Task1

GC	Point	Evidence	Explain	Relate
Cinematography	Mid-shot	Conversation between the two detectives	They are talking about the investigation	This makes the audience feel more involved in the movie and wants them to know more about the film
Sound	Diegetic sound	When the detective turns off the light in scene	This is falls into the Mise-en-scene as well because it makes the film look realistic	This makes the audience think that the scene is realistic
Editing	Straight cut	When the two detectives are talking about the dead body	The storyline is being introduced and the audience start to suspect that the film is a crime or thriller	This helps with the target audience because they will become more intrigued with the film and want to know more about the film and start asking questions about the film making them watch it more
Mise-en-Scene	Costumes	The uniforms and the detectives badge	This is to make the film look realistic	This also gives the audience an idea of what is going to happen also this sets the mood as in the audience can get ready for the movie which is a crime and thriller
Target Audience	18	The graphic scenes of violence which and also the have explicit images	To set the mood for crime film and the suspense of the film	This is for people who are interested in crime and thrillers and also the film contains bad language and very explicit images
Surprise, Shock and Suspense	The music	In the title sequence	The music creates suspense because the music they play	This makes the audience get in the mood for the movie

Task 2

The film Seven is a thriller because of the some of the generic conventions it follows and also some of the graphic scenes it has, such as in scene one where they discover the dead body this is part of the introduction to tell you that this movie is going to be a crime and thriller because it will make the audience want to find out more about the movie. Also in the title sequence where there are introducing the characters the font they used is like hey have sketched in also they add different images of people with sharp objects in there head. This will make the audience ask what is going on, furthermore there is a part where somebody cuts of there finger tips this adds suspense to the film because you want to know why he is doing that. From the those scenes in the film I can tell that the film is going to be a thriller, crime and a mystery film

Task 3

This could help me when it comes to making my thriller film because in the movie Seven I think that the title sequence keeps you in suspense and that is what makes a good thriller, keeping the audience is suspense. Also I will try and Make my own way but similar to the opening to the movie Seven because uses the opening sequence which is quite scary.

Cinematography Continued

Objective: to be able to show an understanding of how camera shots are used in thriller films.

Outcomes

·         All – Will be able to identify and describe one camera element

·         Most – will be able to identify and explain 3 or more camera elements with examples

·         Some – Will be able to use media language correctly to analyse the effect of camera shots have appropriate examples

Task 1:

·         Establishing shot

·         Tilt shot

·         Long shot

·         Low angle

·         Zoom

·         Mid shot

·         Tracking

·         Two shot

·         Shit reverse shot

·         Tilt

Task 2 – Face Off – Chapter 3

Camera Shot	No. of Times I saw the shot	Evidence  - where the shot was used	Relate – what effect does this have on the audience
Tracking	6	·         When the jet is taking off ·         When the jeep is following the jet ·         When Nicolas Cage is getting on the jet	This allows us to follow the characters and give us an understanding of the different angles that they use in cinematography and in movies

Saw Analyse

Film Studies

Point	Evidence	Explain
Cinematography	There is a close up of the man’s face when he wakes up in a bath tub and he us surprised	This is because we don’t know what is going on and it makes us wonder what is going on this also makes the film a mystery because we are into the film and a man is choking in water
Sound	The sound is a diegetic sound because it is coming from the man himself because he is choking in the water and you can hear the sound of water going down a plug.	This makes the film realistic and it makes the audience already ask questions like why is he doing this and what is going on this leaves the audience puzzled and makes them want to watch more and also want to know what is going on
Mise-En-Scene	The location they use relates to the genre of the film which is a thriller and horror. The location they are in is a basement and there are chain locks, blood on the wall and the place is dirty	This is because they want to make the film look realistic and also this helps set the mood for the film and helps the audience film more involved in the film
Camera	There is a extreme close up of a key item which gets flushed down the toilet at the beginning but the audience does not know this makes them watch more and learn more about the film	This is because the they want to leave the audience in suspense and make them want to know more about the film this leaves the audience in suspense and makes them want to know more
Target Audience	18 years and over	Because it contains graphic scenes, violence, swearing and disturbing images
Suspense, Shock and Surprise	When it is completely dark and one actor is talking asking if someone is there and somebody else replies	This leaves us in suspense because that means he is not alone in this basement there is somebody else and this keeps the audience intrigued and want to know more

Task 2

Saw is a thriller because of the generic conventions it follows and the opening scene where the man wakes up and he is in a bath tub it makes the audience wonder why he is in a tub and this adds suspense to the film already within the 10 seconds of the film because it intrigues in the audience making them want to watch more. Furthermore in the film you can barely see anything but someone is shouting out for help and the shouts are getting louder then someone in the mere distance answers at this point in the film the audience is still confused and wants to know what is going on this is leading on the audience because we still do not what is going on, this makes the characters mysterious.

Task 3

In the film Saw they also use suspense by using close ups by showing the characters facial expressions when they are scared. This a good way to show that this film is a thriller, I am going to use technique to show when a character is scared in my thriller opening, this a good way to keep the audience intrigued and keep them involved, which will help to create suspense which is needed in a thriller film.

Panic Room Grid

                                                                                                                           

	Point	Evidence	Explain
Cinematography	Establishing shot (City)	Name of film is in big bold lettering in-between buildings	Film is set in a city first thing we see is city
Sound	Non Diegetic music	As credits are shown it has slow beating music playing	This is probably to add suspense and keep audience focused on the screen
Editing	Added film credits in the middle of a city	not originally in scene	This is to draw the eyes of the viewers but also these are not originally in the scene and are added
Mise en scene	Buildings, estate agent, family (mum and Daughter)	Been placed on the street in a crowed, girl on a scooter	Characters are going somewhere, camera focuses on them. Then zooms in
Target audience	15+	Its a thriller film also age certificate on case is 15	Thrillers aren’t suitable for anyone below the age of 15 and the film you need to focus to understand what is happening.

Task 2- Panic Room is a thriller because starts off with strange suspense building music also the title Panic Room shows the audience or gives them a clue to what may happen one other thing that makes this film a thriller is it is set in a old empty house typical thriller/horror film is based characters are alone and they are being watch by some mysterious characters.

Task 3- in the film Panic Room they also use suspense building music, and low key lighting this is a good way to show the film is a thriller. I will use this technique in my thriller film because its a quick way to get the audience involve and focused on the film, also it creates suspense which is needed in a thriller film.