We wanted the very start of our thriller to be action packed, which is why we combined lots of fast shots of the train together. Using different angles and different speeds our aim was create a 3 dimensional feel. We wanted to create a realist character that the audience could connect with, like most thrillers we wanted to make her vulnerable which is why she is alone and isolated. The character is around the age of 19 as our target audience could empathise with her. She is wearing dark clothing and a black coat covering most of her body as if she may be hiding something- however she looks well groomed indicating she has class. lots of camera angles are being used for example birds eye and worms eye shots when she is walking from the station so the audience is unsure whos perspective the shots from.
The music fits in with the scene as it create tension at just the right places, for example just as our character rose turns around the music goes completely silent. It also has an element of mystery and uncertainty as its not in sequence, its in a random pattern.
“Thriller is a loose genre term referring to any film that generates suspense and excitement as a major aspect of its narrative.”
G.K.Chesterton:
Chesterton was a writer from the 20th century, He came up with the idea/ theory of the transformed city he believed that thrillers took a urban day to day setting, the we use everyday and make it more exciting.
Northrop Frye: Heroic Romance
He believed that thrillers were just simply basic stories but they took ordinary people/characters and placed them into aextraordinary situations with a romantic twist.
John Cawelti: The Exotic
Cawelti believed that thrillers had elements of ordinary life but would also add elements of an exotic nature.
Noel Carroll:Question and Answer
He Augured that thrillers are mostly structured around lots of questions that the audience are led to continue watching for the answers.
Starts with the ambiance of the leaves, trees and birds in the background, overlaying the background music. Live sound of her deep panting and breathing creating a spooky eerie feel. As the opening of scene progressed the music became very intense.
Mise En-scene
forest, dim sky. Bare/ naked trees which could reflect the secluded area. bold white capital font credits flash onto the screen straight away -which is appropriate for the settings. In the background the camera flashes onto a lake, which is one of the typical convention of a thriller. Very Dim Lighting And colours being used, creates a 'un- nerving' atmosphere. Sign post written Pain, Agony and Hurt symbolising the character many experience this during the play.
Character:
in the opening 5 minutes the main character introduced is a girl, she is alone and focused, showing shes very independent and committed to her job. in the next scene she is surrounded by men, indicating that she doesn't really belong or fit in with the others. when looking at code and conventions of thrillers i found this character didnt really match, as usually you find a stereotypical beautiful women showing looks of flesh, being vulnerable, where as here she doesnt care much for her appearance and looks strong minded.
Camera
The camera angles are very deserving in the first opening seconds of the film As it appears she is being followed or chased in the forest creating tension and suspense. they use birds eye view of her feet on the leaves giving the impression she is being watched from above.
Somerset: old traditional- flat (no stairs all one level) Colours- whites, greys and greens. old fashioned dirty blinds. Coffee mug emptying into the sink. 5 items lay on the wooden coffee table, including a pen, knife and a gun case, each being picked up in a specific order. A day to day routine. light brown/ cream bedding very neat made bed. Grey jacket/ blazer lay on bed. Small bed side cabinet with an old fashioned telephone, lamp and a metronome. Alone in his house, no other sign of anyone currently living their.
Mills: small bedroom- boxes, not unpacked everything, just moved house. dressing table with a large sized mirror, two pictures stuck to the side of the mirror but not clear of what yet. A little cluttered and miss placed as just getting used to their new surrounds. Small round table full of clutter with a small telephone.
Costume- Somerset: White shirt with black braces, top button fastened, thin black tie done up to the top. Several items placed into him top pocket. Grey blazer/ jacket ironed and kept in good condition as it was lay straight on the bed. - takes pride in what he wears. Mills- Un-ironed shirt with tie already made up. Top buttons not fastened scruffy approach, hair just smoothed/ brushed down with his hands.
Character- Somerset: Somerset has a certain way he likes things done, and too some extent is O.C.D with the way his routine works, like the way he places several items in his pocket in a particular order. also the way he picks off the smallest piece of cotton from his jacket. His old fashioned roots are shown with his clothes and his house. He seems isolated from everything, bar his job as he has no partner and lives by himself, he also finds it hard to get along with mills at first.
Mills: Theirs a huge contrast between mills and Somerset, mills is very keen and wants to get stuck in straight away as its his 1st day whereas somerset has all the experience and hes coming to the end of his career. Mills has a very hands on approach. unlike Somerset he's in a strong relationship with his partner. And is a modern day version of a detective rather that a stereotypical image.
Sound: busy city noise/ effects. Cars and rain. For somerset an awkward silence apart from the ticking of the metronome like this reflected his thoughts.
Mise-en scene On land: Calm friendly atmosphere like a social gathering/ event, smoking and drinking on the beach with several campfires the Equilibrium at the start of film. Dim lighting to create the peaceful atmosphere.
In Water: Total contract, fury and panic.The Disequilibrium. Camera angle from the sharks perspective, under the water to create a lot of suspense and tension as shown in picture A . Secluded and alone.
Character: Chrissy, who appears to be a main character at this stage, seems a little secluded from the others as she is sat outside the circle of people. It shows her being alone and indicates her being vulnerable.
Sound: this was a key element to the opening section as it created a lot of suspense by slowly building up in speed and volume giving the audience the impression something is about to happen. there is a great deal of contrast in the music as it starts with the natural ambiance of the calm water surrounds, being very soothing and relaxing to this loud, furious fast paced music.
