Questionairre results

Treatment

James rings up his three friends from college around for a party one night, and James and Tom decide to make an Ouija board to scare the girls. That night there is a close up shot as they gather around the Ouija board and start asking questions. Weird things start to happen around them, as they continue asking questions. There is a point of view shot from James as the door to the room flies open and everybody jumps, knocking the glass over. A long shot is used as James jumps out of his chair and runs upstairs, not knowing he was being watched. a mid shot is used downstairs as Tom, Sarah and Sophie are bewildered, frozen to their chairs. They hear James scream from upstairs, and a mid shot is used as they jump out of their seats and run for the door, only for the door to close on them. A close up of Sophie trying to open the door, her struggling to pull the handle down, and then a mid shot of Tom banging on the door in anger. A long shot then of Sarah pushing the others out of the way, banging on the door, then a mid shot from the other side of the door of Sarah banging on the door and trying to open it. A long shot of James falling against the closed door behind him, as he falls to the ground in fear, cowering into a ball. A mid shot to long shot of James walking past a train track, his apearance seems different to match his personality, and then a mid shot of him walking up the stairs. A point of view shot of James as he walks to town, meeting up with a mate, he looks at his watching realising the time, and he looks around him, and at people he passes, having flashbacks of the nights struggle. He walks all the way to town, looking at the river as he passes, having more flashbacks. As he walks past the pub he has another frightening flashback of that night. He makes it to where his friend is, having a horrifiying flashback of him falling to the floor, then he grabs his mate and his mate jumps, not realising its him. A train is panned passing by.

Later that day James meets up with Tom, who notices this change in him the second he see's him. Tom ignores it, putting it down to just creeped out still. They go back to Tom's house, as they usually did. While Tom played on his playstation, James sat staring into space, only to be startled by a knock at the front door, a loud knock. They run downstairs, as the knock is heard again, sounding this time more urgent. They run to the door to see flashing red and blue lights outside. When they open the door they are welcomed by two police officers, both looking sternly at the two boys. They ask if they can come in, to have a chat with the boys, and then they freely walk in, while James and Tom are speachless. Tom and James are questioned to where they were the night before, Tom being around his mates, James saying he was home. They are asked more questions about their friend Sophie, if they knew where she was, and what she had planned. Neither of the boys knew, and were even more confused to the questions when they were asked the same question about Sarah. They look at the two officers suspiciously, and then Tom asks what the questions are about. To Tom's horror, he is told his two friends have been hung, seemingly suicidal, but closely looked at to be presumed murder. Tom's face grew suddenly white, his pupils dilating, drops running down his eyes. James was sat there, silence beheld him, no sign of emotion, like he wasn't even there. The two officers stay until Tom's parents arrive, so that he is safe, and then take James to his own house after explaining the situation to Tom's parents. That night James lay tossing and turning, flashes of his two friends murder running through his dreams, the knife teasing their bodies, the rop teasing their necks. He see's his own hands pushing them into their wardrobes, his own hands wrapping the rope around his two friends, them screaming his name. He wakes up, light teasing the window, blood in the sky, the sweat from James' sleep soaking his bed. He jumps out of bed and rings Tom, to be introduced by the answer machine. He runs around to Tom's house, knowing Tom never misses a phone call. He knocks on the front door, no answer. He knows again, and again, no answer. He runs around the back, to Tom's window. The window is wide open, rope running down from the window. James climbs up, and into his friends window. H'e gets up to the window, but struggles to climb in, unable to find a grip on the inside. James falls, all the way to the ground, only to land on someone. After spending a minute trying to realise he was fine, he jumps up, to see who he fell on. Lying on the floor, lifeless, was Tom, just lying there. James grabs him and pulls him to his feet. Tom grabs a hold of James, and asks James what he was doing. James said he was scared something had happened to him, and asks Tom where he had gone. Tom was unable to answer, he had no idea. Tom told James to go home, that he had something to do, so James went home.

Later on that evening, James fell back asleep, he started having another nightmare, of his two friends death, and then an extra, Tom. This time he dreamt of Tom, the knife peircing his shoulders slowly, teasingly. The rope slowly being pulled tighter, all again by his own hands. James wakes up to the same, red sky, and soaked swet bed. He jumps out of bed and runs around to Tom's, only to be introduced by police cars. He turns away, scared, in fact petrified, of why they were there. He arrived home and ran upstairs, and locked himself in his room. Flashes of his friends murders running through his mind, getting more grousome. He falls to the ground, his head throbbing from the thoughts, there screams, screaming his name running through his ear drums. He hears a knock, then a voice, at first his mothers voice, shouting his name, then Tom's voice, Then Sophies, and then Sarah's, all shouting his name. He runs into his mothers room, scared of why he heard her voice. To his horror, in the middle of the room, his mother, hanging from the fan above her bed, blooding dripping onto the bed sheets. James cowers into a corner, their screams penitrating his very soul. Then he hears an unfamiliar voice, an unfamiliar laugh. He looks up, expecting to see a face, staring into his eyes. He see's nothing. He hears it again, coming from the mirror, he walks over. He doesn't see his own reflection, no, he see's the reflection of an image he had seen once before in his own mirror that night. He takes a step back, tripping over his feet then falling to the floor. He sits their, staring at this mirror, while this image laughs. The figure stops, staring at him, then speaks, asking him if he knew what he had done. He explains that the nightmares he has been having aren't nightmares, there his visions that he was seeing through his own eyes, unconsiously watching his friends death, unconsiously killing his friends. James cannot believe it, he runs out and into his own room, locking the door. The figure is stood there, this time not in his mirror, but stood infront of him, slightly transparent, but their. James falls against the door as this figure walks over to him, and as James falls to the ground he is picked up, and thrown into his cupboard. He looks up to see a rope and he stands up, grabbing a hold of the rope, he looks at the figure and it nods at him, as he pulls himself up to be head level to the rope. He stands on the bar in his cupboard, looking through the noose. He sticks his head threw, looks at the figure, which vanishes and appears closer. James' face goes white, his eyes fade out, his body becoming lifeless, as the figure kicks the pole out from under him. James just hangs their, like he wasn't their, the light runs through the window teasingly, reddish.

Questionairre.

Thriller Questionnaire

1) Age:

2) Gender:

3) What is you favourite thriller?

Seven [ ]

Jaws [ ]

Saw [ ]

Fight Club [ ]

The Butterfly Effect [ ]

Other (Please specify)__________________________

4)What is your least favourite thriller?

Seven [ ]

Jaws [ ]

Saw [ ]

Fight Club [ ]

The Butterfly Effect [ ]

Other (Please specify)__________________________

5) What type of music do you prefer in a thriller film?

Fast [ ]

Slow [ ]

Powerful [ ]

Soft [ ]

None [ ]

Other (Please specify)__________________________

6)Do you prefer someone to die in the opening sequence?

Yes [ ] No [ ]

7) Would you prefer to see a male or female killer?

Male [ ] Female [ ]

8) Where would you like a thriller film to be set?

9) Should you see the killer's face straight away?

Yes [ ] No [ ]

10) What kind of weapon should the killer use?

Gun [ ]

Knife [ ]

Katana [ ]

Machete [ ]

Other (Please specify)________________________

11) Should everyone die in the film?

Yes [ ] No [ ]

12) Do you prefer younger or older actors/characters?

13) Should the opening be gory or should it just introduce the story?

14) Do you like the plot to be hidden?

Yes [ ] No [ ]

15) Do you prefer conventional thrillers?

Yes [ ] No [ ]

16) Should it be set at night or during the day?

17) Should the film be focused on the killer or the victims/hero?

18) Would a male or female killer be better?

19) What makes you scared?

Ticking clocks [ ]

Footsteps [ ]

Scratching [ ]

Other (Please specify)_______________________________

20) What is you favourite colour?

Blue [ ]

Red [ ]

Green [ ]

Purple [ ]

Other (Please specify)______________________

Thriller analysis.

Seven.

Narrative Structure.

There are clues within the opening sequence of someone doing something which is what the film could be about. It is a linear opening as the shots are flowing together. The opening of a book at the beginning represents that it is the start of the film.

Thriller Codes And Conventions.

The use of partial vision is used throughout the opening sequence, as it only shows close ups of someones actions, and not showing what this person is doing. Also the use of concealement and elements of the transformed city is present together, as it could be anywhere in the world. The use of question and answer is present as it is making the audience ask questions like who is this person? Why is he/she doing this? What is he/she doing?

Camerawork.

There is a close up view of a book, with the pages turning over. Then there is a close up of a person cutting the tips of there fingers, creating more question and answers. There is actually a wide range of extreme close ups, concealing but revealing very little, causing more q+a. There is also a panning shot of the cabinets.

Mise-En-Scene.

For the most part it is unclear just what is happening in the opening, showing very little of whats going on. Very little is also shown of the location, but looking at the background and the equipment used in the opening, it seems like it is located in an office.

Sound.

There is a sound in the background, like a heart beat, which builds up tension throughout the opening, and the heart beat speeds up throughout the opening creating more tension. There is also a scratching screechy like noise present, like a disturbing noise, making the audience feel uneasy. Also the use of supernatural noises are present adding to this effect.

An urgent beat soon kicks in towards the end of the opening, adding suspense, and the last part of the opening contains lyrics, adding to question and suspense. The music towards the end is louder than the rest creating uneasyness.

Editing.

Fast paced editing is used, with lots of cuts going with the music. A dissolved shot is used, which is two shots dissolved together. The opening is full of jump cuts.

American Psycho.

Narrative Structure.

The opening sequence is non linear. Equilibrium is present, which means it is balance, because he is at a club then at home and in the shower, and there is no problem or nothing suspicious about this.

The opening sequence shows his morning routine, he also explains through words what he does.

At the bar he threatens the bar tender, which creates question and answer when it switches to his house and shows he lives a normal life style. His last words creates suspense and question, making the audience want to know more.

Thriller Codes And Conventions.

The transformed city is the club then his home, which is a typical place to be, the club, and an everyday place to be, his home.

Attraction is created as we do not understand why we are told his day routine. Concealement is also present with his last words, where he tells us his life style then tells us there is no him, making the audience question, as this is contradicting.

Him removing a face mask as he says this makes the audience wonder if his routine is a mosk to who he really is. Question and answer is created making the audience ask who is he? what does he do to the girl? what is this about?

Camerawork.

The use of shot reverse shot is present between the main character and the bar tender. An over head shot is used which shows the building is packed with people, maybe making this a fun place to be.

An over shoulder shot over the bar maid peering in to see what is going on is used, showing her curiosity.

A tracking shot is used to take us through his house, showing it is plain, and lifeless, without any sign of emotion, but a sign of normality, making us question.

Mise-En-Scene.

His home is a contrast between his life and who he is. At night he is wearing black and at home everything is white, and he talks about his life. His house is bright, while the club has dark lighting, showing the contrast between two things at the beginning.

Sound.

A digetic sound is used, which sets up the scene in the club. Unsure if his house music is digetic or not as we do not see a music player being used, or any sign he hears the music. The narration is undigetic.

Editing.

A shot reverse shot shows his conversation with the bar tender. A slow paced editing is used to show a flowing motion of his life, and the editing matches the piano playing.

Graphics.

The credits are written in a white font, in capital letters, and turned into posh writing. The contrast in the fonts show's the contrast in his personality.

Slience Of The Lambs.

Narrative Structure.

The opening starts of with a girl running in the woods, making us unsure where she is running to or why.

Question and answer is created straight away making us wonder where is she running or why?

Thriller Codes And Conventions.

The transformed city is the woodlands, as this is where she is located on her jog.

Camerawork.

It starts of with a long shot of the girl running, as she runs closer and closer until it is a mid-shot of her. She then runs past the camera with a panning shot of her running and then she runs away from the camera eventually going back to a long shot.

There are close ups of her feet running, and then her face as she breathes.

The opening starts off instantly with a view shot of what you can see from the woods.

There is then an over shoulder shot of a guy shouting the woman, creating question and answer of who he is? why he is shouting her? where he and she is from?

Mise-En-Scene.

The woman is dwarfed by all the large men around her, making her stand out, and making her seem like she doesn't belong there. She is also wearing a grey jumper while all the men are wearnig red jumpers, making her stand out even more and make her fit in less.

Sound.

There is a digetic sound as she is running through the leaves.

As non digetic sound gets faster, the non digetic sound gets louder and faster.

There isn't really any talking within the opening sequence.

Editing.

There is an eyeline match, as you see from her eyes what she see's within the room. The eyeline match shows her scanning the wall full of pictures with her eyes.

Match on action is also added into the opening sequence.

Graphics.

The writing is a black font with a white outline, which can represent the white surrounding the black, as good surrounding the evil. The writing is bold, and in capital letters, and is placed in the centre of the screen.

Jaws.

Narrative structure.
The opening is a linear opening as it is flowing and has a clear beginning. It is an equilibrium as it is balanced, teenagers are on the beach having a party. It soon moves to disequilibrium when she's in the water and we, as an audience, know something is wrong. The whole opening sequence leads you to watch the rest of the film to find out whats in the water. It does this by creating question and answer, with the questions what happened to the girl? what is in the water?

Thriller codes and conventions.
The transformed city is the beach, it is a general place to be and there is nothing wrong with it. Concealment and protraction is created as we don't know what the guy and girl will do. Q+A is also present with questions will the girl die? why are they on the beach? why is no one saving her?

Camera work.
Opens with a point of view shot. we don't know who we are or where we are.
there is tracking through the reef
there is a mid-shot of the teenagers on a beach having a party while the camera tracks, making the audience feel like their there.
There are over the shoulder shots signifying we shouldn't be there, also showing that neither should they.
close up of a guy then of a girl,sexual desire in their eyes. shows main characters of this scene.
High angle shot showing danger and that their vulnerable, character then moves into the frame.
The camera tracks the characters like we shouldn't be watching because their doing something naughty.

Mise-en-scene.
Set on a beach. somewhere we would associate with safety. teenagers on the beach drinking and chilling around the fire.
man and girl run to water which gives a sense of urgency. dark so when they go to swim the audience can't really see much, showing the characters cna't see much. adds to suspense.
typical teenage clothes.

Sound.
Jaws theme at the start adds suspense.
Non-digetic music - means its within the narrative which is leading the audience.
fire crackling, talking, laughing, bell ringing

Editing.
Opens on a beach scene with a long take.
shot reverse shot is present with the guy and girl looking at each other (switching between two people and back)
Long take under the water.
Cross cuts is also present with a one peice of action to a totally different action.

Graphics.
White, bold and big.
central

Donnie Darko.

Narrative structure.

The opening is a linear opening, as it is chronological, and flows. It appears an equilibrium, as the camera is simply panning across a vast landscape. Though, as we see a figure appear in the middle of the road, we begin to question. At first, the audience could possibly be questioning what the silhouette on the road actually is, but as the camera zooms, it becomes clear that it is the figure of a person. As the figure begins to move, we ask more questions, such as why he is there, and why he is only dressed in night attire. Then, as the boy stands, and facing the camera, laughs, the audience are then lead to ask more questions such as "Why's he laughing?" etc. This creates a great deal of tension and suspense, because as an audience, they have not been given many answers, which makes the film seem intriguing.

Thriller codes and Conventions.

The transformed city is the landscape and the road the man is laid in. The landscape is dimly lit in a morning glow, and seems like a very warm and perhaps even innocent setting. Concealment and Protraction occurs when the character rises, looks at the landscape and then smiles, deviously. This creates caution for the audience, and engaging them in the story almost instantly.

Camera work.

The camera opens on a long shot of a beautiful landscape. The landscape is lit only slightly, and the camera pans across, remaining on this long shot, and displaying the scenery. The camera stops panning after it spots something on the road. Still on the same shot, the camera approaches the character on the road, zooming. The camera continues to pan forward, and pans around the character as he sits up in a fetal position. The camera follows still, round the the characters face, now at a medium shot, to display his expression and emotion. The shot then changes to another long shot of the landscape, and pans across it again. This shot is supposed to seem like it is from the protagonists point of view. Then, the character stands, in view of the shot, directly in the middle. This is at a medium shot again. The camera stays stationary as the character turns around and laughs to himself. The camera shot remains the same as the opening title comes up.

Mise-en-scene.

It is set in a delicate landscape, on a road. The landscape seems safe and secure, as the view is quite spectacular. This gives the audience a sense of relaxation. The lighting however, is only ever so dim, as it is to demonstrate that it is early morning. The audience are then struggling to see what is happening, and things may seem a little curious.

Sound.

At the beginning, only thunder can be heard. A type of piercing thunder that sends chills down your spine. This immediately alerts the audience, and they are ready and waiting for what they are about to see. There's a small amount of silence, where the birds chirp, which creates a relaxing atmosphere for a small amount of time. There's then a low, unnerving tone, which creates awareness and maybe even promotes fear within our audience. Another very basic instrument then plays, which creates a very unsettling atmosphere. As the music begins, it is only very quiet and slow. The music has an wary type of feel to it, creating caution within our audience. The music has a very awkward vibe to it and seems quite uncomfortable. Though, the music still fit with the beautiful lands scape as the piano adds a seemingly sweet edge to it. Then a lower tone darken the mood, as the character smiles, and the title appears.

Editing.

The whole section is a very slow and relaxed one, though it still builds tension and causing. The audience are gripped on his every move because the clip is so slowly paced. All the shots within the short clip are not very close, which causes our audience to wonder, and to try and focus more. This also aroused suspicion for our audience, and questions, maybe questioning if there's a reasoning behind this etc. Altogether, the camera is only very basic, and only sticks to maybe 3-4 shots in the whole clip. This creates an impression of our audience actually being in the film, with the audience experiencing this. This is opposed to if there were many shots all at once, and they were collaboratively 7-8 shots. That would extract a little of the realism.

Graphics.

There's only 2 uses of writing in this short clip. The first being writing saying 'a Richard Kelly Film' and the second the displaying of the actual name 'Donnie Darko' The font seems to give off a very Gothic and uncomfortable. It almost gives a cold feeling, making our audience feel on edge. The writing is extremely simple. Small, bold and white. This is very striking to the audience, and upon a black ground is very clear.

Babylon A.D.

Narrative Structure.

The opening is linear and is flowing, it is clear he is walking in a rough place.

Disequilibrium is present with the bad weather, the army and all the people selling weapons

A man grabs a guy, pulls out a gun, and starts shouting that he nearly got killed with it, he wants his money back. This creates questions like who is he? why did he nearly get killed? why is there weapons?

Thriller Codes And Conventions.

The transformed city is a run down city, guess is new york from the instant opening showing the statue of liberty, but questioned from the foreign languages being spoken by civilians. Concealement and attraction from the questions where are they? why is the army there? why is there guns? why does it look like a war zone?

Camerawork.

Opening of the film starts with an ariel view coming down to a mid shot, then a close up of glasses reflecting an explosion.

The opening sequence starts with a view shot of the side of a building, and a man walks in from the left, then the camera tracks from a mid shot from the side.

A long distance shot of a guy walking through the city is then used, then a panning shot into over the shoulder shot is used, then it skips to a tracking shot from the side. Back to an over shoulder shot then a panning shot of the people. Eye view shot of the man with weapons then a long shot of the guy walkings towards you. A point of view shot is then used of people with guns.

Mise-En-Scene.

It is set in a beat down city, somewhere we would associate with danger. People, mainly men, walking around in the rain with guns, army patrolling, people selling guns. Casual walking around gives the sense of normality. but evil stares from groups gives the sense were not wanted.

Sound.

Starts with a simple drum beat, then rapping. This is non digetic music meaning its apart of the narrative. Digetic sounds of thunder, rain and shouting tells the audience its a normal place. Helicopter sounds are then used.

Graphics.

The graphics are centered and capital letters in a white font colour. They have a dark shadow effect added.

Thriller genres and rules.

Definition:

A thriller is a genre of fiction that attempts to thrill the audience by placing a character at risk. There is no clear ingredience of what a thriller should consist of.

Thriller is a problematic genre.

Thrillers can be catigorized by fast paced editing, action, heroes, who must outwit the villian. Devices such as red hearings and cliff hangers are usual.

Thrillers usually take place in exotic places; foreign cities, deserts etc.

The hero is usually a hard man accustom to danger, most of the time a normal person.

Thrillers often overlap mystery stories, however thrillers usually work on a much grande scale, eg. Big crimes, mass murders etc.



Sub genres:

Action thriller - race against time, contains violence.

Conspiricy thriller - hero confronts a powerful group.

Crime thriller - Hybrid of crimes films and thrillers. Focus on criminal rather than police.

Disaster thriller - conflict against natural disaster.

Drama thriller - slow paced, great deal of character developement

Eco Thriller - Protagonist must rectify environmental problems.

Erotic Thriller - Popular since the 1980's. See "Fatal Attraction".

Horror Thriller - Conflict between the main character is up against a superior force.

Legal Thriller - Lawyers in danger, have to do the case to save their lives.

Medical Thriller - Heroes are doctors who solve a medical expanding problem.

Political Thriller - Hero must create stability for the government.

Psychological Thriller - Conflict is mental and emotional.

Spy Thriller - Government Agent. See "Bourne Identity".

Techno Thriller - High tech equipment.



Rules:

The Transformed City.

GK Chesterton.

Usually in a boring, everyday, usual place such as an urban environment so that they become transformed into an exciting one by what happens there or who invades the place.



Heroic Romance.

Northrope Frye.

An ordinary person who becomes someone different (a hero) in extrodinary circumstances. The hero is similar in worlds to romance but exchanges romantic settings for modern cities. The laws of nature are suspended, for example, the hero has 5 minutes to get to a destination and he succeeds.



The Exotic.

John Cowetti.

This is usually an exotic place such as a jungle or an exotic woman. Either are used to create unusuality in a normal, boring location.



Mazes & Labyrinths.

Will Matthews.

Used because mazes are full of twists, turns, dead ends and the type of film keeps the audience entertained. The maze/labyrinth has to be kept very complex and needs to give the audience clues and even false clues etc.



Partial Vision.

The audience is only given so much to see, e.g. The villain's legs walking across a room.



Concealment & Protraction.

Lars Ole Saurberg.

This is a suspense technique. It diliberately hides information to make people confused and delays the outcome.



The Question & Answer.

Noel Carroll.

If a film is constantly giving the audience clues, then simultaneously the audience will loose interest. False clues & wrong answers are given, and after the opening sequence the audience are left with clear questions, which will finalise in them having felt in suspense.

2nd day

today we watched the whole of the film Seven so we could get a grip of what a thriller is and the different techniques of making a thriller. We then watched the opening sequence a couple of times and wrote down some notes about it. We then discussed as a class about the different techniques used and filled in a 'thriller analysis' sheet (narrative structure and thriller codes and convections).