Language Of The Moving Image

Camera
Shot distance
Angle
Movement
Position

Sound
Diegetic/non-diegetic 
Volume
Matching

Editing
Pace
Style

Mise-En-Scene
Lighting
Setting
Props
Body language

Thriller Intro Storyboard Sequence

1. Intro starts with darkness.


2. Camera slowly begins to track down the stairs.


3. Dead bodies become visable as the camera tracks down the stairs.


4. As the camera tracks over each body, cut-scenes of that person being murdered are shown.


5. Eary music begins playing while the camera continues to track over the bodies.


6. After the camera tracks to the bottom of the stairs it slowly begins to tilt upwards.


7. The camera keeps tilting upwards until a person is seen sitting on the chair, head down.


8. The person then slowly looks up directly at the camera, blood splattered on their face.


9. The person then begins laughing as the non-diegetic music stops playing.


10. The screen suddenly goes dark again as the person's laugh continues to echo.

Thriller Genre Research

Thriller movies often follow the same conventions in terms of editing. Many thriller films use quick cuts with each of the cut varying in camera angles and shot distance.


The opening of most thriller films don't usually give most of the film's plot away, instead they tend to introduce the audience to the setting of the film and often a character.


The character(s) featured in thriller films are either 'good' characters, or 'bad' characters. The good characters are usually weak and vulnerable to the bad characters. The bad characters are usually strong, dangererous and usually set out to get the good characters, this is a common plot of a thriller movie.

Differentiation Between Classifications 15 & 18

Films with classification '15' are for viewers of the age of atleast 15, they do not feature as extreme content as films classified '18', therefore younger viewers are able to watch these films. One example of a classified '15' thriller film is '1408'.

Films with classification '18' are for viewers of the age of atleast 18. Content featured in these films can contain extreme violence, sex scenes, disturbing scenes and breaching of criminal law. One example of a classified '18' thriller film is 'Psycho'.

Other Students' Thriller Openings Analysis

'Room To Breath'

Genre: Hybrid - Thriller/Romance

Audience: 15

Technical Ability: Level 2

This is how I graded the thriller intro after watching it, I believed it was a good plot to the intro but aslong as it's positives it also had some negatives. I classified it '15' because it was rather distressing but I think it was suitable for people aged atleast 15.

Positives:

• It had steady shots when appropriate.
• Good lighting choices.
• Appropriate editing.
• Good contrast in music.
• Good plot.

Negatives:

• There wasn't a wide range of shot distances.
• Some of the sounds weren't well timed, like the girl's scream.
• It seemed more like a film trailer rather than an opening.

What I have learned from this film opening: I thought the contrast in this opening was effectful and I could possibly include some sort of contrast in my opening.

'Unrequited Loved'

Genre: Hybrid - Thriller/Romance

Audience: 12A

Technical Ability: Level 3

This is how I graded this film opening, i believed the editing was especially good but I didn't think the opening had a good plot. I classified it '12A' because it did follow the conventions of the thriller genre with the girl cutting the paper with a pair of scissors, but it wasn't scary nor distressing.

Positives:

• Very good editing.
• It had steady shots when appropriate.
• Good use of audio and sounds.
• Good close-up shots.

Negatives:

• Very continuous.
• Weak plot.
• The girl cutting the paper with a pair of scissors was a bit of a cliché.
• Not a wide range of shot distances.
• I thought sequences were too quick.

What i have learned from this film opening: I thought the editing was very good and i thought the quick cuts were effective so I may include quick cuts in my film opening.

'Root Cause'

Genre: Thriller/Horror

Audience: 15

Technical Ability: Level 4

This is how I graded this film opening, I believed the editing was very good and they used camera effects well created a traditional black and white style which suited the content. I classified it '15' because although there was one particular disturbing scene, it wasn't presented graphically.

Positives:

• Good editing
• Good camera effects
• Good plot
• Good camera angles/shots
• Good use of non-diagetic music

Negatives:

• Continuety error
• Sometimes the camera wasn't steady

What I have learned from this opening: I thought the camera effects in this opening were good, and I might use this opening to help me incorperate some camera effects in my film opening.

Mind Map

Thriller Genre Film Types:

• Action
• Horror
• Mystery
• Stalkers
• Phsyco

Editing:

• Fast cuts
• Jump cuts

Camera:

• Long shots/ Extreme long shots
• Close ups/ Extreme close ups
• Point of view
• Panning

Sound:

• Diagetic
• Non - Diagetic
• Dialogue

Mise-En-Scene

• Monsters
• Blood
• Knifes
• Guns
• Forests
• Graveyards

Thriller Genre Research

Conventions

In terms of editing, most thriller films follow the same conventions. Many of these films use quick cuts, with each cut varying camera angles.

The opening of most thriller films don't usually reveal much of the film's plot, instead they tend to introduce the audience to the setting of the film and minimal characters.

The character(s) featured in thriller films tend to either be 'good' or 'bad'. The good characters are usually the weaker characters and are vulnerable to the bad characters. The bad characters are usually strong, dangerous and mysterious and set out to attack the good characters. Some examples of the type of bad characters featured in thriller films are; criminals, monsters, creatures, stalkers and disturbed individuals.