Research on mystery/conspiracy thrillers

Mystery/Conspiracy Thriller

This film has a very interesting plot and overall I think it's a good film because it makes the audience feel involved. It hooks you by giving you clues that leave you trying to work out what's going to happen next. I think that this is a really good way to get the audience interested, and that's the reason we chose to have mystery/conspiracy as the sub-genre for our thriller.


Examples of conspiracy thrillers:

              

Genre in Film

What are genre and sub-genre? Sometimes it's hard to know the difference.

In this blog post, I will explain what genre and sub-genre are.

Genre:
A genre is a category in which a film falls into, depending on it's storyline and aspects of the film.
Films tend to follow set storylines depending on the genre.
For example, a romance will typically have a male and female who meet unexpectedly. The two characters will build a friendly relationship and to the audience, seem perfect together. There will always be an obstacle in the way, whether it be another person or a situation to overcome. The obstacle will always be tackled and the two characters live 'happily ever after'.

Genres are important for film-makers and producers because they allow them to have clear investment opportunities. For example, if a certain genre is popular at a certain time, they know that the best option would be to make a film in that specific popular genre.

Genres also make budgeting easier as film-makers and producers can estimate how much needs to be spent on a film

Sub-Genre:
A sub-genre is a more specific category that may condense aspects of a larger genre, or add aspects of a different genre to create a different genre.
This allows for much more creativity and freedom to take the film in different directions because you are not restricted to just one set of film aspects to work with.
For example, a horror-thriller will have a typical horror storyline that has a specific tendency to follow typical aspects of a thriller film like creating suspense and keeping people hooked or 'on the edge of their seats'.

Genre & Sub-Genre

Genre & Sub-Genre                  Kellie Ward

The genre of a film is the specific type of plot/atmosphere which allows it to be categorised with other similar films. In order to make film-making clear and straight forward, allow marketing to target appropriate audiences and media types, and also to inform the audience of what to expect from a film and how to choose a film depending on their interests.

The genre of a film is shown by using technical elements in a certain way whilst constructing the film, meaning that Mise-en-Scene, camera, sound, and editing are relied on to represent the overall genre.

Some examples of film genres are...

• Drama
• Thriller
• Action
• Adventure
• Animation
• Comedy
• Romance

A Sub-Genre is more in depth because it is the specific area of a genre being focused on. For example, a film which is a thriller could be a mystery thriller, disaster thriller, crime thriller, or action thriller etc. 

 

The genre/sub-genre that interests me the most is conspiracy thriller. This is because it allows the audience to become psychologically involved as they take the character's sides, usually the hero. A conspiracy thriller typically consists of one main character having a piece of information and knowledge about a more authorative group of people, resulting in the attempt to prove it to the rest of the world in order to prevent bad things from happening.

Example of a conspiracy thriller - The Constant Gardener

 

 

 

I believe that the 'conspiracy thriller' sub-genre, and this film in particular will have a big influence on the way we make our own film opening, because it will give us valuable examples of things such as sound and plots which will impact the way we film and edit it in order to be placed in the genre.

 

Collateral Remake

Our Remake...

The original...

                                                                           

Collateral Re-make Storyboard

Making of Collateral (Remake)

This was the first shot of our opening - Kelly (Character A)'s walking down a stair case. We filmed this shot in three different views. I believe this opening scene was successful.

Towards the end our scene. Anthony was filming a close-up of Kelly (Character A) and Deborah (Character B) as they engage in conversation. This scene was difficult as the group tried extremely hard to keep continuity consistent. There was also an extreme close-up of the two bags and both character's hands as they picked up the bags. 

Another shot - The first take of Kelly and Deborah's conversation, a shot reverse shot was used to capture both character's facial emotion as well as speech.  

Anthony putting the camera onto the tripod. There was a lot of fiddling to do as it was hard to get a straight shot because of the shape and density of the plaza's floor. Despite this, filming was successful which resulted in a good opening.

Shot Type Research

Shot Type Research

Extreme close up

This focuses on specific features and is often used for exaggeration, to intensify emotion and emphasise certain features.

 Wide shot

A wide shot is used to set the plot as it is landscape and shows the setting/environment.

 High angle foot shot

We chose to use this shot as it illustrates movement well. We thought that it was an interesting way to take a picture of feet because it tilts towards the direction the feet are heading.

Point of view shot

 We chose to use a point of view shot in this picture to involve the audience by showing perspective and unity between different people.

 Rule of thirds

We believe this shot is successful as the eyes are placed in the top third of the shot and there is no head-room.

 Over the shoulder shot

This shot works well with conversation and shows the relationship between two people.

 Long shot

This shows the person in their surroundings but doesn't focus too specifically on the surroundings.

This picture was successful, however we understand that window shots due to the light are not the best because of the exposure to the camera.

Conventions of a film opening

A film opening exists not only in order to entice the audience into continuing to watch the film, but to establish things such as genres, types of characters and location. To achieve this, many films stick by using the same few conventions in their openings.

What are the conventions of a film opening?

The main typical aspects which are cooperated into EVERY film opening are:

Music, this sets the mood and tone of the entire film, it also works along with the pace of editing, determining whether it is a fast/slow paced atmosphere. Location (which is Mise en scene) is another component for obvious reasons, it simply introduces the setting directly sets the plot, it is often the opening shot, and also where the rest of the film will take place. Lastly, introducing the main characters relatively near the start is significant, this lets the audience know which characters are actually the main ones, and in the case when they are big stars, it entices the audience further. (An example of this is in every 007 James Bond movie, it starts with the main character Bond shooting the screen). However, some films do not show the main characters straight away, either to create suspense whilst they wait for characters to appear, or surprise them when they do.

The taking of Pelham 123

The components of this film opening...

• The first shot of this film is a wide shot (birds eye view) of New York City - This instantly sets the location for the audience. 
• Moving graphic animations present the credits onto the screen - the shape and movement associate with the plot of the movie because they resemble a train. This also holds the audience into paying attention to the credits, as it makes it more entertaining to endure.

Sound also contributes to making a first impression to the audience...

• From the beginning, there is a gloomy low bass music playing - this sets an uneasy atmosphere. Then, it then switches to a fast paced upbeat track along with a fast motion long shot of New York which again sets the location, but this time in a more specific way. The fast motion editing sets an overall fast, chaotic pace for the movie.

‘Watching’ Documentary on film Openings

1). What does Thomas Sutcliffe mean when he says “Films need to seduce their audience into long term commitment. While there are many types of seduction, the temptation to go for instant arousal is almost irresistible”

• Although I’m not Thomas Sutcliffe and I wouldn’t actually know what he means, he stresses that a film opening is crucial. I believe that he talks about individuals and their preferred genres in film. As in the audience need to be instantly drawn to a film from the beginning. For example, if an comedy fan saw their favourite actor (i.e. Jonah Hill) in distress, they’d instantly be ‘hooked’ to the film all the way through to the end.

2). According to Director Jean Jacques Beineix, what are the risks of ‘instant arousal’?

• The expectation of a film will have to live up to a it’s opening, providing that it’s good. If a film turns out to be a ‘flop’, despite it’s decent opening, it may not be able to keep the audience entertained. 

3). Explain why “a good beginning must make the audience feel that it doesn’t nearly know enough yet, and that at the same time make sure that it doesn’t know too little”

• You’d want to give away enough of a story's plot to keep the audience interested, better known, aroused. However, one’d want to avoid giving away too much of a films plot, rendering it pointless/not worth the money.
  

4). What does critic Stanley Kauffman describe as the classic opening? Why does this work?

• The classic opening to a film according to S.K is a shot/pan of the city which the plot takes place. I believe this establishes a true setting and applies the plot to everyday life.
  

5). Why is Kyle Cooper’s title sequence to the film Seven so effective?

• The title sequence for the film Seven foreshadows what is going to happen in the film the notebook and pictures.
  

6). What did Orson Welles want to achieve with his opening to a film A Touch of Evil? What did Universal Studios do to it? Why?

• Welles wanted to achieve the “All in one” take, capturing enough of the plot in the opening. Universal Studios put music and title sequences over the original footage. I think this was done to add realism/professionalism to the film’s style?

7). What is meant by “a favourite trick of Film Noir”? What is the trick?

• Although I’m still unsure as to what “a favourite trick of Film Noir” means, the trick is to record the film in non-chronological order. e.g. putting the ending of the film at the beginning.  

8). How does the opening to the film The Shining create suspense?

• Suspense is created in the opening of The Shining as the camera is following the car conveying connotations of a hunter following it’s prey. Also, the eerie music creates tension. Eventually creating suspense as the volume gradually gets louder and louder.

Opening of Trainspotting

I watched the opening sequence of Trainspotting. I noticed many things that made it a good opening to a thriller film.

SFX: Text is used to introduce the characters with their nicknames which correspond to the personalities of the characters and consequently gives us an idea of their character qualities. This means that as soon as we see the opening, we already feel like we know the characters and it immerses us in the film. This immersion is a common quality of thriller films, as the audience needs to be caught up in the goings on in order to make a connection with it and therefore be affected by the events that happen later on.

SOUNDS: The non-diagetic music that plays in the opening sequence is fast paced to set the feeling of anxiety and leaves the audience feeling uneasy - another typical thriller film element.
The monologue from the main character gives us an insight into the film and its storyline, drawing the viewers in.

EDITING: The cross-cutting between shots in very faced paced, and matches the music. It makes us feel as if we have to pay attention or we'll miss something and gives us a reason to continue watching. this again, is a common thriller film component.

Conventions of a Thriller - Trainspotting

I looked at the opening for the following film - Trainspotting in which we are shown all of the main antagonists. SFX (Text), is used to introduce the characters  e.g. when text is highlights the name of Ewan McGregor's character - 'Renton'. Other characters are given nicknames depending on the attitude or personality. This is enforced using still-shots. The character 'Sick-Boy' is characterised as the 'hardman' of the group by his facial/body expression.

Towards the end of the clip, Renton references heroin, a class A drug, though there is nothing specific about this, connotations go as far to suggest that Renton and other characters are involved in crime/law-breaking - typical convention of a thriller.

Trainspotting

Trainspotting

The opening of the film trainspotting is very sudden. You would usually have credits at the beginning but in this case they went straight into the action which shows that the film is very action packed and quick paced. Fast editing and up-beat music also contribute to this.

An elipsis and the location are used to introduce and familiarise us to the characters. For example we see the group of boys playing football and also the surroundings throughout the opening are quite rough, this could reflect their personalities.

This is the link for the opening of 'Trainspotting':

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xcwgrl_trainspotting-opening-scene_shortfilms?start=23