RESEARCH

This section will include my research for this project.

23.09.2024

Media Representation

What is it?

Media representations are commonly standardised and stereotypical depictions of social groups across different media outlets.

Types of media representation

Age - Children, Youth and Elderly
Gender - Masculinity and Femininity
Class - Upper class, middle class and lower class
Ethnicity - Ethnic minority groups
Sexuality - heterosexuality and LGBTQ+

Effect on audience

By using these types of media representation in thriller films, it connects the watcher to real life scenarios where these are usually seen. Age is represented in many ways and in thriller, it usually shows that not all age groups are bound to be safe. It also shows how the age groups could/would act in different scenarios.
Gender plays a role in these films by showing both masculinity and femininity. Although it is not only men who have masculinity, but women in thriller films also show masculine and more dominant traits. By doing so, it breaks societal norms.
By using class in thriller, it also shows the audience how people struggle when they are in lower class, and also shows that not everyone in the upper class are happy although they are blessed. This reflects onto the real world where some people struggled with this on the daily.
So, by using media representation in thriller, I believe that it shows a deeper meaning in each scene and plays a large role in how the media is taken in. By using some of it, it becomes more realistic and at times, makes the audience feel as though they relate to a certain character or scene in the movie. Such as in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, when Voldemort had supposedly killed him, Draco Malfoy's mother lied to Voldemort by saying harry was dead, in order to protect her son. This showed the audience how a mother's love is stronger than anything else, and that they make big decisions / sacrifices that could impact their own life, in order to protect their child.

17.09.2024

Research on Thriller Genre

What makes thriller special?

What makes it stand out from the other genre is Its ability to create suspense and action throughout the movie.
The unexpected plot twists, pacing, tension, and atmosphere sets it apart from other genres.

(additional)

Thriller originally became popular in the 20th century with films such as The lodger (1927) by Alfred Hitchcock which is often considered as the first proper thriller film released. On top of that, Alfred Hitchcock is known to be one of the best thriller film directors globally (found from multiple sources).

The directed target audience

Young adults and adults
Suspense fans
Horror fans

Key conventions used in thriller

Cinematography - Using different camera angles such as close ups (which convey emotion on a particular subject), medium shots (most commonly used in film) and high/low camera angles (which could represent either superiority or inferiority).
Sound - The music used plays a crucial role in making film as music can control the emotion of the scene. By using eerie sounds, it can create a feeling of suspense and give a foreboding effect, whereas a calmer tune can signify peace.
Editing - When editing the scenes together, using particular effects can help in further showing the message to the watcher, or informing them about something. Such as adjusting the speed to either make it faster or slower.

How has thriller developed throughout the years?

Thriller films were originally made to show action, and suspense. Whereas in the recent years, thriller films focus more on the horror effect, action and plot twists. It has also shifted to focus more on the character developments rather than focusing mainly on the actual plot. Recently, character building has taken a huge roll in thriller, as well as film in a whole as it allows the watcher to reflect among themselves and realise that character building (positively) is important. An example of this can be seen in the thriller/crime film "Nightcrawler".

11.09.2024

Research on Thriller Openings

1. The Killer (2023)

What stood out the most:

- Most of the first few opening scenes took place in one singular room and the overall lighting and mood was very dark and created an unsettling feeling.

Film techniques used:

Over the shoulder shot
Medium shot
Close up shot
Establishing scene
Aerial shot / High angle

The opening of The Killer had the character doing their own thing and had a voice over as thought we are listening to the characters own thoughts and opinions as the film progresses.The atmosphere overall was unsettling and showed the character in his own apartment/ room which was shown as an empty and dirty old unfinished apartment. It shows the character then looking out of the window using a high angle shot to show the perspective of the killer. It shows the people downstairs living their own life and minding their own business as the main character listens to upbeat music. The atmosphere is not as dull and blue anymore and then shows a few signs of a yellowish orange hit to it. However, this soon changes. What I liked about this film was the high angle shots used to show the other characters while it was a voice over of the main character. This showed the effect that life goes on differently for each person.

2. LongLegs (2024)

what stood out to me:

The background was entirely white due to the snow and the house was white as well. To make the main girl stand out from the rest of the background, they put her in red clothes. By doing so, it sets her apart from the rest of the story. On top of that, it could mean that something bad will happen to her in the future as red usually signifies something bad or even count as a warning.

Film techniques used:

Establishing shot / long shot
Medium
Zoom in
Close up

The start of this film was very quiet which created an unsettling feeling as the only noise heard was the footsteps of the girl going to see why there's a car outside her house. Then, as the clip zooms in onto the car, there is a music which gives a foreboding effect on the reader and gives a slightly creepy vibe. Then the director usedjumpscare effect to scare the audience by making it completely silent and using a sound on the clip where the character suddenly pops up behind the girl. What I liked the most in this film was that they dressed the girl in red to make her stand out from the background.

3. Jackie Brown (1997) - Quentin Tarantino

what stood out to me:

It was how they managed to use the camera to follow her while walking and then onto another flight attendant speaking without there being any cuts. This shows that they did the scene in one entire go.

Film techniques used:

Knee level angle
Medium
Close up
Tracking shot

The movie starts off with what shows a flight attendant a bit late to work and she is walking quickly to her gate. Most of this was shown using a "tracking shot" and it followed her for roughly a minute of the scene. It then moves onto a flight attendant announcing the boarding and the main character returning to welcome the passengers boarding the plane. I found this technique quite interesting.

How/ What could I implement in my own thriller opening from these techniques?

I could use the silent noise (like the one in Longlegs) and use this to create an unsettling effect at the beginning of the thriller film.
I could use some inspiration from the lighting techniques and colours from The Killer and use that further expand the uneasy feeling.
Lastly, I could use the knee level angle to show the viewer a scene of the character walking after doing something that they shouldn't have.

Post Research Reflection 1

By doing this research on thriller film openings, I have learnt how different films use camera shots and angles to portray a different meaning which is suitable for the scenario/movie itself ( such as using the tilt angle to create an uneasy effect). I have also learnt some different camera angles and lighting and its effect on the audience. (such as the tracking shot from Jackie Brown and the lighting and colours from The Killer). I could potentially use some of these camera angles and lighting as inspiration for my own thriller opening. By doing this research, I have gotten a broader idea of how different camera angles and techniques can be used to illustrate the different meanings the director wants the audience to understand and feel. Hence why this research has helped me.