What I have learnt from watching opening sequences:

After watching opening sequences of thriller movies I have realised that sound, mise en scene, locations, lighting and costumes play an important role for the elements of a thriller. For example if you shot a man in a suit with a rose in central London and in high key lighting, majority of people will say he is romantic in an upper profession and probably assume he is a good person. But where you place the same man with a rose in an alley way dressed in ripped and black clothes with low key lighting, majority people will assume he is dangerous and a bad person. This is due to the way in which representations are made of specific people and places so therefore there is a connotation attached to costumes, lighting, mise en scene and sound. As a result when we are filming and editing we must think about the way in which we present the footage in order to provide the intended result. For example when we want to create suspense, enigma and excitement we must choose the right location usually dark places are ideal locations such as a park. The sound we are using must be mysterious, creepy, concealed and be horror like in order to give the audience suspense, enigma and excitement. Therefore everything we do during production, pre production, filming and editing must be thought through thoroughly and we must always think about the opening sequences we have watched in order to produce a good outcome. Additionally fast paste editing with short lengths of tittles work well as the audience can stay hooked into the film. I have also learned that white text with black background work well for tittles and make a film look skilled.

In conclusion I plan to use these elements of a thriller that I have seen in the opening sequences I viewed particularly Se7en.




 

Forms and Conventions of thrillers:

Genre which follows specific devices in order to create a certain effect.

Music: The music used is usually tense mainly concealed. Starts of slow and then quickens the pace becoming dramatic.

Pace: The pace is usually quick and fast especially when there are loads of events. But it is slower where the protagonist is trying to figure out what to do.

Themes: Pain, isolation, revenge, obsession, love, passion, psychological, outcast, corrupt childhood, jealously, vulnerability etc.

Mystery: Enigma will run throughout the film and it is usually answered right at the end of the film. The antagonist or protagonist will work out plot in the end.

Mise-en-scene: To make the film look realistic thrillers are usually based in cities that contain diversity and culture so lots of action can take place. This is done so the crime committed can be seen normal. The costumes are mainly casual so the antagonist and protagonist can look like the rest of city where the audience cannot distinguish who is who. Therefore all characters are everyday people. Additionally the props used are usually knifes, guns and weapons.

Gender: Stereotypically the male is usually the main character being active and saving the female. Usually the antagonist is usually a male. The protagonist can be a mixture of female and male.

Brain storm of forms and conventions:

·         Enigma

·        Suspense

·        Violence

·  Blood

·        Darkness

·        Low key lighting

·        Crime

·      Guns

·        Weapons

·        Action

·        Protagonist and antagonist

·        Mystery