Narrative and sub-genre of a thriller

Four types of narrative in a Thriller
-Omniscient: the audience members know everything about the character
-Restricted: the audience only knows what is revealed to them/what the character knows
-Linear: a clear beginning, middle and end
-Non-linear: flashbacks to throw the audience off track

Enigma code
Acts as an intriguing way of inviting the audience to pursue the plot of the narrative as the film gradually unravels. Builds on suspense and drama for the rest of the film

Sub-genres of a thriller
-Conspiracy: A hero/heroine is usually try to bring down a powerful organisation. Espionage and the secrecy of governments is a re-occurring theme in conspiracy thrillers as is propaganda and identification. Examples of conspiracy thrillers are "The Bourne Ultimatum" and "North by Northwest"
-Crime: This hybrid sub-genre constructs a more suspenseful element to the film. Focuses on the criminals and their motives throughout the film, although action and psychological events are emphasised in this sub-genre. Examples of crime thrillers are "Seven" and "A Perfect Murder"
-Disaster: The main following of this sub-genre involves a protagonist (or group of protagonists) that face either natural of simulated disasters (generally include extreme weather like floods or tornadoes). Man-kind and the human race are usually in danger unless they can be "saved". Examples of disaster thrillers are "2012" and "The Day After Tomorrow"
-Mystery: This sub-genre conveys themes of crime thrillers and centres itself around the detective/investigator who attempts to solve the mystery. The narrative of this sub-genre usually follows the path of being restricted; only allowing the audience to know what the character knows which provides and atmosphere of suspense/drama and lets the audience figure out the mystery with the character. Examples of a mystery thriller are "Shutter Island" and "Vertigo"
-Political: Analyses the solidity of governments and the dependence of the protagonist to ensure that unpleasant things don't happen. World wars are a re-occurring theme in this sub-genre. Examples of political thriller films are "The Contender" and "State of Play"
-Psychological: Intends to confuse audiences and includes a protagonist with either mental or emotional problems which causes suspense throughout the film. Examples are "Psycho" and "Shutter Island"
-Religious: This explores the pros and cons of religious ideas. Most religious thrillers include a protagonist on some sort of quest to discover further truth and secrets behind religion. Examples of religious thrillers include "The Da Vinci Code" and "The Ninth Gate"
-Techno: These thrillers are ususally about a futuristic world that is ruled by technology. Aliens, war and robots are typical elements in techno thriller. Examples are "I, Robot" and "The Matrix"

New ideas and alterations for our thriller opening

After visiting BFI Southbank this week, my group and I decided that we need to re-think how we want to film, plan and portray our psychological thriller. We decided to stick to the idea of a female protagonist having paranoia due to being mugged, but personally I think it'd be better to focus on the effect of the event rather than the cause; that way it'd be easier for the audience to understand that it's a psychological thriller and it would link more to paranoia.

If we used the whole two minutes for our opening sequence to explain the character is scared of getting attacked, gets attacked and then realises it was all a dream, that'd be extremely cliche and basic. At BFI Southbank, one of the speakers listed the most common student thriller openings and we realised that we had already used three of those cliches. So, we decided to change a few things to make our thriller film more interesting.

We're still planning to include the mugging scene in our thriller opening, but use it in the form of brief flashbacks during the protagonist's day to day life. Hopefully, this cross-over from hyper-reality to the everyday will make the paranoia more apparent and throw the audience off course. I think it'd be better for our thriller film to take some ideas and influences from the film "Premonition" because it uses ideas of discontinuity in terms of reality and being in a dream state. Another adjustment that I think would be effective with our thriller opening would be the usage of foley - having a loud sound of a clock ticking to create a tense and tedious atmosphere.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLsiGGF9DPc



This thriller opening i saw was very helpful and could heavily influence our own opening. This film focuses on the dream state and hyper-reality which is what our group is trying to achieve. We'll take ideas and influences from this film like the change-over from reality to manifestation.

Thriller Locations

I think this secluded footpath in Stone would be a fitting location for our thriller film because it's a long/winding road that has a mysterious look to it. There are a lot of trees/bushes and very few lamp posts which could build up suspense if the scenes were shot at night/in the dark. Seeing as our psychological thriller is based around paranoia, the empty space of this big road would help make the theme effective

The second location that I thought would fit our thriller film is the lakes at Bluewater shopping center. Again, it's a large open space that can make the protagonist feel inferior. It's also got a small woodland area a tunnel which helps create that mysterious effect

Planning our Thriller Introduction

-A psychological thriller that will appeal to 15-25 year old female audiences
-Your film should be a modern homage to a previous thriller director (Vertigo, Fight Club, Inception, Shutter Island)

Psychological Thriller
-Female protagonist
-Paranoia/Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
-Getting mugged  - triggers her into a frenzy
-Dream/flashback - it's a manifestation
-Motion blur editing
-Lighting intensified
-Locations: bedroom, alley/secluded area/long winding hill
-3 films to influence our Psychological Thriller: Orphan, Inception, Crank
-Fast paced movement from the protagonists, trying to figure out what's happening. Uncertainty and terror from the character
-While being mugged she is portrayed as inferior
Paranoia being shown as she wakes up and starts her "precise" routine

Thriller Mind-Map

Action Chicks

Kill Bill
-In this film, women are seen as feisty, powerful, strong and capable of defending themselves
-The female characters in this film challenge their suggested stereotype; they've dared to step out of the domestic role and adapt masculine qualities.
-Although the characters themselves don't want to be seen as sexual objects, they're usually dressed in costume that focuses on their bodies (for example, Uma Thurman's character in Kill Bill is dressed in leather). She wears a semi-tight black and yellow jumpsuit, both physically and metaphorically "wearing the trousers". Throughout the film her costume gets dirty, suggesting she's been doing some hard/manual labour - further challenging the female stereotype.

-The Asian lady is wearing a traditional gown, walks with elegance and has her hair tied up. In physical appearance, she's conforming to the female stereotype but her characteristics and knowledge of violence suggest otherwise. There's a scene in the film where she is leading a group of people; she is center of the camera, dressed in white and everyone behind her is blurred/dressed in black - showing she's dominant and the most important out of the people in that shot.

 

-Sharp camera shots are used to fully engage the audience in the pace of the film. Tilt camera angles are used to show the power status of the character. When there is a low angle and the camera is looking up, there is an implication that the characters are superior. If the camera is looking down, there is an implication that the character is inferior

-Throughout the film there are numerous fight scenes where the women are acting violently. the sideways and crab shots follow the movements of the characters to keep the pace of the scene which infers they have "strong personalities". There's a suggestion of phallic imagery with the swords; women having swords could be a symbolism that they've taken on masculine qualities and genitals.
-The sounds of weaponry and fighting are used heavily in this film. Short sentences are spoken by the characters to create intensity in the atmosphere

Exploring how the role and representation of women has changed from 1970 until today

"Live and Let Die" (1973) - Bond meets Solitaire
-The woman is dressed in all white and a "flowing" outfit. This could possibly be symbol of purity and innocence. She has long hair, a dainty way of walking and a gentle voice. Her character in this film conforms to the female stereotype; fragile, attractive and uses melodramatic gestures. When she enters the room she is standing in a very sensual stance, intended to be seen that way by the male audience.

-She is submissive, barely stands up for herself and is oblivious to the man's intentions - causing the audience to believe she's naive and only used for her body. Emphasizing the theory of the Male Gaze that women are vulnerable and sensual objects.

Mr and Mrs Smith
-The character "Mrs Smith" is dressed in a provocative outfit, openly allowing herself to be seen as a sexual object. She's using her body to get what she wants in the situation she's in. The camera focuses primarily on her body and outfit
-Reversing the role; being a typical feminine object, using the male gaze, then suddenly being violent to show that not all women are weak - taking on masculine features

Thriller Mood Board

Dexter re-make

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4SYb6pQM5Y&feature=youtu.be

Class notes - Thursday 12th September

Challenging Stereotypes

1) What do you notice about gender stereotypes?
2) Does this reinforce or challenge stereotypes?
3) Why is this being shown?

"Mad Men - Women in the Workplace" clip analysis
-The women in the video clip are being discriminated against; the narrator of the video clip infers that women are simple-minded and unfit to be in the work place. In this extract, women are portrayed as sexual objects who are there to be "looked at" by the men - this enforces the female stereotype and the idea of the Male Gaze. Almost all the women in this extract fit the female stereotype of being simple-minded, exposed, available to be looked at and in the mind-set of servitude.

-Due to the fashion choices, colours, camera quality and location suggests that this video clip is set in the 1950s era where women had very few rights and were seen as lesser than men. They appear to be subjected to the position of servitude which was the social norm at the time. The women in this clip are represented as intellectually inferior. However, the men shown in this extract are presented as powerful, concealed, in control, in position of hard-work/management and there to look at the women.

Four Steps in analyzing gender in Media Studies
Step 1: Look for significance of gender (masculine/feminine) in character roles, their behavior and they story/situation
Step 2: Relationship of power (who is subordinate? who is dominant? How does this tie in with gender?
Step 3: Difference - how are they represented as opposites?
Step 4: Is this re-inforcing or challenging stereotypes? Are they acting how we would expect this group to act?

Title Sequences

Fightclub
-Images: Inside of the body, nerves. Suggesting there might be something physical about to happen in the film. Sweat dripping down a man's face, exhaustion?
-Style(colours): black and tinted blue, suggesting a cold, frosty and intimidating atmosphere
-Visual effects: fast paced to show that it's not a lighthearted film
-Animation of the title: the words/credits flash and then vanishes, disappearing into mist, almost forgotten about. Foreshadowing of the film?
Editing: created on a computer to draw the inside of the body, fast travelling

Catch Me If You Can
-Images: Animation that sets the story-line. Different locations
-Style (colours): One main colour for each scene/section. Very little secondary colours are used. Bright and dark colours contrasting. Suggestion of personalities clashing in the film?
-Visual effects: One character is very fast and jumpy, the other has brisk elegance
-Font: certain letters run up/down the page
Animation of the title: set the tone of the film, had an abstract jazz element to the cartoon animations

Thriller Spoilers

In Her Skin (I Am You)

Published in 2009, In Her Skin is an Australian thriller-drama, based on a true story. When fifteen-year-old Rachel Barber goes missing, her parents set out to find her and figure out what may have happened to their “perfect child”. Little do they know, Rachel’s old baby-sitter has re-appeared into her life and holds dear terrible secret about their daughter’s whereabouts. Told through the eyes of the victim, the victim’s parents and the baby-sitter, In Her Skin slowly unravels the motive behind Rachel’s disappearance. Exploring ideas of suspense, mystery and psychological damage, In Her Skin looks closely at the power that comes with obsession and the extreme lengths that will be ventured to achieve “happiness”. Rachel’s parents are concerned about their daughter’s sudden disappearance and are on a frantic search throughout the film, stopping at nothing until they find an answer to this event, which almost sends them both into a state of shock and mental instability.

 

The Roommate

This American thriller starring Minka Kelly and Leighton Meester explores ideas of friendship, jealousy, mental disorders and obsession. The Roommate bases its stratagem around two girls who start college and are paired up to share a room together. Through the eyes of one of the girls, Sara, a genuine friendship blossoms between them, but with the other, Rebecca, something much more severe and passionate is being painted. As the film progresses, the girls learn more about each other resulting in what appears to be a stronger friendship, but as Sara forms relationships with other individuals also, Rebecca becomes determined to keep her roommate to herself. Excessive tactics and procedures are carried out to ensure that this sacred friendship isn’t “contaminated” by others, regardless of potential consequences. When Sara learns there’s a more psychological background for these schemes, she becomes aware she has to end things with Rebecca. Told through the perspective of both characters, the emotions, motives and dynamics are evident throughout the film, creating an atmosphere of suspense, mystery and the slow unraveling of obsession.

 

Inception

Released in 2010, writer and director Christopher Nolan brings to life a science fiction thriller that focuses on the themes of espionage, influencing the subconscious and conning the powerful. Dom and Arthur are trained con artists who specialize in extracting information from their targets by gaining access to their subconscious by sedation and the insinuation of lucid dreaming. A Japanese business man takes interest in their work and requests their assistance on an idea he has to detach a contending company, and in return Dom would no longer have murder charges against him. Gathering up a team of dream specialists, Dom and Arthur prepare themselves for the most dangerous and complex project they’ve worked on yet. Leaning heavily to features of science-fiction, Inception fixates on the design of a three-layered dream to benefit the characters’ lives when they finally wake and how corporate manipulation can be used for a positive impact. “The past comes back to haunt you” is a significant theme in this film, demonstrated by the re-occurrence of Dom’s ex-wife - a projection of his memories that tries to sabotage their missions. With copious amounts of suspense, the team go through collective and individual endeavors, all for the sake of experience, wealth and redemption.

 

Class notes - Monday 9th September 2013

In introduction to Thrillers
Thriller film = an exciting, suspenseful play or story
A book/film/play depicting crime, mystery or espionage in an atmosphere of excitement and suspense

Three Thriller Films to write about
I Am You
The Roommate
Inception

Espionage = the practice of spying or of using spies, typically by governments

Thrillers involve constant danger of protagonists

using artofthetitle.com, take a look at the following films
-Vertigo
-Catch Me If You Can
-Seven
-Fightclub
-Sherlock Holmes
-Casino Royale

What elements are involved in the design of these title sequences?
-Images
-Style (colours, etc)
-Visual Effects
-Font
-Animation of the title
-Editing (how each shot changes to another)

Class notes - Thursday 5th September 2013

Why choose Media for A-Levels?
-For 16 years we've been manipulated by the world
-What is seen as "normal"?
-Why do we admire the celebrity lifestyle?

A clip from the TV show "Pimeval" 
What is significant about how men and women are represented?
What roles and behaviours are presented?
Are there any hidden meanings?

Analysis = give significance or meaning
Context = relationship with others

-Guns are a symbolism of power
-When the farmer was standing over the woman, he physically and stereotypically had more dominance
-The digger is used by the woman, breaking the stereotype
-The gender roles were switched in the first two scenes
-The digger represents masculinity
-How has the camera placed the characters? Is there any reason for their positioning?

Do TV shows challenge stereotypes?
There isn't ever one specific meaning to something. Open to interpretation

1) What social groups could you be asked to write about?
2) What are four technical areas that you'll have to write about?
3) What are the four steps for framework analysis?

Connection with authority = who is insignificant and who is superior? Does it link to gender?

Re-creating movie titles

Over the summer we were given the task of re-creating the opening credits to the movie "Napoleon Dynamite"; this is what i came up with