Music Ideas
Within my thriller opening I am looking for music that will get the audience on the edge of their seats. Psycho is a classic example of a thriller genre, the music used within the opening credits of Psycho is what I’m looking for within my opening for my thriller film.
Thursday, 17 December 2009
Thursday, 10 December 2009
Batman Returns (Thriller Opening Ideas)
Batman Returns
Although Batman Returns may not be classed as a thriller film, it does have thriller aspects which I can use for my thriller opening. The reason for choosing Batman Returns is because it’s inspirational to me and helps give me ideas for my Thriller opening. Looking at the opening it’s a great example of the mise-en-scene that needs to be used within a thriller film, the lighting techniques and the use of shadows is just spectacular. I have selected some of my favourite images from the opening that I believe will be inspirational and useful for my thriller film.
The image below is one of my favourite moments in the opening this is the sort of thing I’m looking for within my opening. The way the director has used the lighting to bring this shadow out is really clever, it makes the audience feel intimidated and really brings out the thriller genre.
Although I may not be using a big castle mansion in my opening, this image below does give me some ideas. Looking at the picture we can see we got the narrow corridors making the audience feel claustrophobic and intimidated. Also got high up ceilings which help to give the impression that you feel small and weak. This concept would be a great idea within my opening, using these techniques I can make my audience feel intimidated and small and weak, really bring out the thriller genre within my film.
Although Batman Returns may not be classed as a thriller film, it does have thriller aspects which I can use for my thriller opening. The reason for choosing Batman Returns is because it’s inspirational to me and helps give me ideas for my Thriller opening. Looking at the opening it’s a great example of the mise-en-scene that needs to be used within a thriller film, the lighting techniques and the use of shadows is just spectacular. I have selected some of my favourite images from the opening that I believe will be inspirational and useful for my thriller film.
The image below is one of my favourite moments in the opening this is the sort of thing I’m looking for within my opening. The way the director has used the lighting to bring this shadow out is really clever, it makes the audience feel intimidated and really brings out the thriller genre.
Although I may not be using a big castle mansion in my opening, this image below does give me some ideas. Looking at the picture we can see we got the narrow corridors making the audience feel claustrophobic and intimidated. Also got high up ceilings which help to give the impression that you feel small and weak. This concept would be a great idea within my opening, using these techniques I can make my audience feel intimidated and small and weak, really bring out the thriller genre within my film.
Monday, 7 December 2009
Sin City
Sin City
Directors: Frank Miller, Robert Rodriquez, Quentin Tarantino
Released: 3rd June 2005 (UK)
Genre: Action, Crime, Thriller
Plot: A film that explores the dark and miserable town Basin City and tells the story of three different people, all caught up in the violent corruption of the city.
User ratings: 8.4/10 (reference: IMDB)
Awards: 16 wins and 29 nominations
The opening to Sin City starts of with the camera rotating around the city Manhattan. This is a great opening brings out its thriller genre, as the camera rotates upwards we then get the opening title “Sin City” with the red, merging into the name. The red represents, crime, blood different gothic aspects.
Through out the film it’s done in black and white, this brings out the gothic aspects and really gives of a criminality side to Sin City. The opening scene is your typical thriller woman, we got the red dress and the red lipstick which stands out from the black and white which gives of an affect that is bold and really brings her out. In the picture below, we can see the big city; the idea of the view of the city gives of the impression that it represents crime etc. She’s exposed to the sounds of the city, you can hear the traffic and the cold wind blowing, this technique is very clever.
The opening to Sin City emphasises female’s vulnerability as we can see in the picture below. Looking at the woman below we can see she has the red dress; red lipstick and blond hair making her look venerable. She’s got her arms together, looking weak in away. We can see the male approaching the woman in his suit, looking more important, tougher in away. Looking at the mise-en-scene we can see the lighting is very dark on the characters, on the female one half of her is shadowed and the other half isn’t this may represent a dark side to her whilst the other half may represent an innocent side to her.
We can see that the director is using the 180 degree rule, the woman is always on the right side and the man is always on the left side. This technique has been use so it doesn’t confuse the audience. Through out the start of the opening, we have a narration, this helps to connect with the audience so we not what’s going through the mans head and what he is thinking. The woman smoking helps to relate back to its thriller genre, the woman acting bad in away. As we can see in the picture below we got the man holding the packet of cigarettes in a tight manly grip where as the woman is taking one out in a delicate fashion.
The camera angle being used in this shot is over shoulder, this technique can make the audience feel like they’re looking over there shoulder but in a sly way. Its almost like the audience shouldn’t be looking at something they’re not aloud to look at. In this scene below we have your higher class sort of criminals, we got a rich man in a suit then we have the female in the red dress. This is helps gives of its thriller genre within the film. The mise-en-scene within the film is that the lighting is still dark and gothic, giving it a thriller effect to it and the sound is gone so we can only hear the speech, and the audience is not distracted by the traffic noise and sounds of the big city.
In this picture below, the overhead is changed so now we see the woman’s back but the mans face. The use of this technique is very clever as we can see the mans characteristics and expression on his face. But the woman’s face is taking away from the audience, so we then become curious as into wondering what the characteristics on her face are, what facial expression she is doing. The idea that we cannot see her face gives of a thriller factor within the film and is taking something away from the audience, it’s almost like the director is trying to hide something.
In the picture below we can see that the woman has her back turned to the mans face almost as if she’s hiding something, hiding her facial expressions. This technique connects to the audience as we can still see the woman’s characteristics and we can see the mans facial expression, so there’s nothing hidden from the audience only from the male. The woman with her back faced to the man is like she’s trying to prove she’s independent she doesn’t need help or protection, trying to prove that she’s tough. The whole idea of her smoking also helps to bring out the thriller side within the film.
As the film continues through, we get a quick image of the picture above us in a graphic novel image; this technique helps the director to keep the films originality. Looking at mise-en-scene within the image we can see that lighting is very dark and gothic, on one side of the woman’s face it’s shadowed representing a dark side to her where as the other half isn’t representing an innocent side to her. Where as the man’s face is just completely shadowed giving of this dark image and telling the audience that he’s dangerous. Within the picture we got rain representing its thriller aspects within the film as well as giving of a gothic factor.
The use of the binary opposition technique within the picture is very bold, we got the black and white contrasting to each other, giving of a gothic effect and bringing out its thriller genre within the film. We got a dark image below, the city being black representing a dark, big dangerous world where as the characters are in white making them stand out from the back round so the audience immediately connects within the characters in the image.
Throughout the opening of Sin City we know the male is going to be a dangerous man, through out the film the audience sees this dark side to him. The mise-en-scene helps the audience to understand through lighting effect and sound that the man is going to be dangerous. This also emphasises woman’s vulnerability within in the film, it makes woman seems weak and venerable.
Looking at mise-en-scene within the picture we can see that it’s a very thriller image, it has a gothic side to it. We got the rain coming down and the man with his head up almost like he’s pleading for help. Looking at the lighting we can still see that the man’s face is still shadowed up still representing a dark image towards him. He’s been portrayed to the audience as a dark image.
Sin City has one of the greatest openings in any thriller film, we got are typical red dress, red lipstick woman who’s venerable and weak. Then we got our male character coming into play who we know is dangerous. It’s a great opening and brings out its thriller aspects within the film.
Directors: Frank Miller, Robert Rodriquez, Quentin Tarantino
Released: 3rd June 2005 (UK)
Genre: Action, Crime, Thriller
Plot: A film that explores the dark and miserable town Basin City and tells the story of three different people, all caught up in the violent corruption of the city.
User ratings: 8.4/10 (reference: IMDB)
Awards: 16 wins and 29 nominations
The opening to Sin City starts of with the camera rotating around the city Manhattan. This is a great opening brings out its thriller genre, as the camera rotates upwards we then get the opening title “Sin City” with the red, merging into the name. The red represents, crime, blood different gothic aspects.
Through out the film it’s done in black and white, this brings out the gothic aspects and really gives of a criminality side to Sin City. The opening scene is your typical thriller woman, we got the red dress and the red lipstick which stands out from the black and white which gives of an affect that is bold and really brings her out. In the picture below, we can see the big city; the idea of the view of the city gives of the impression that it represents crime etc. She’s exposed to the sounds of the city, you can hear the traffic and the cold wind blowing, this technique is very clever.
The opening to Sin City emphasises female’s vulnerability as we can see in the picture below. Looking at the woman below we can see she has the red dress; red lipstick and blond hair making her look venerable. She’s got her arms together, looking weak in away. We can see the male approaching the woman in his suit, looking more important, tougher in away. Looking at the mise-en-scene we can see the lighting is very dark on the characters, on the female one half of her is shadowed and the other half isn’t this may represent a dark side to her whilst the other half may represent an innocent side to her.
We can see that the director is using the 180 degree rule, the woman is always on the right side and the man is always on the left side. This technique has been use so it doesn’t confuse the audience. Through out the start of the opening, we have a narration, this helps to connect with the audience so we not what’s going through the mans head and what he is thinking. The woman smoking helps to relate back to its thriller genre, the woman acting bad in away. As we can see in the picture below we got the man holding the packet of cigarettes in a tight manly grip where as the woman is taking one out in a delicate fashion.
The camera angle being used in this shot is over shoulder, this technique can make the audience feel like they’re looking over there shoulder but in a sly way. Its almost like the audience shouldn’t be looking at something they’re not aloud to look at. In this scene below we have your higher class sort of criminals, we got a rich man in a suit then we have the female in the red dress. This is helps gives of its thriller genre within the film. The mise-en-scene within the film is that the lighting is still dark and gothic, giving it a thriller effect to it and the sound is gone so we can only hear the speech, and the audience is not distracted by the traffic noise and sounds of the big city.
In this picture below, the overhead is changed so now we see the woman’s back but the mans face. The use of this technique is very clever as we can see the mans characteristics and expression on his face. But the woman’s face is taking away from the audience, so we then become curious as into wondering what the characteristics on her face are, what facial expression she is doing. The idea that we cannot see her face gives of a thriller factor within the film and is taking something away from the audience, it’s almost like the director is trying to hide something.
In the picture below we can see that the woman has her back turned to the mans face almost as if she’s hiding something, hiding her facial expressions. This technique connects to the audience as we can still see the woman’s characteristics and we can see the mans facial expression, so there’s nothing hidden from the audience only from the male. The woman with her back faced to the man is like she’s trying to prove she’s independent she doesn’t need help or protection, trying to prove that she’s tough. The whole idea of her smoking also helps to bring out the thriller side within the film.
As the film continues through, we get a quick image of the picture above us in a graphic novel image; this technique helps the director to keep the films originality. Looking at mise-en-scene within the image we can see that lighting is very dark and gothic, on one side of the woman’s face it’s shadowed representing a dark side to her where as the other half isn’t representing an innocent side to her. Where as the man’s face is just completely shadowed giving of this dark image and telling the audience that he’s dangerous. Within the picture we got rain representing its thriller aspects within the film as well as giving of a gothic factor.
The use of the binary opposition technique within the picture is very bold, we got the black and white contrasting to each other, giving of a gothic effect and bringing out its thriller genre within the film. We got a dark image below, the city being black representing a dark, big dangerous world where as the characters are in white making them stand out from the back round so the audience immediately connects within the characters in the image.
Throughout the opening of Sin City we know the male is going to be a dangerous man, through out the film the audience sees this dark side to him. The mise-en-scene helps the audience to understand through lighting effect and sound that the man is going to be dangerous. This also emphasises woman’s vulnerability within in the film, it makes woman seems weak and venerable.
Looking at mise-en-scene within the picture we can see that it’s a very thriller image, it has a gothic side to it. We got the rain coming down and the man with his head up almost like he’s pleading for help. Looking at the lighting we can still see that the man’s face is still shadowed up still representing a dark image towards him. He’s been portrayed to the audience as a dark image.
Sin City has one of the greatest openings in any thriller film, we got are typical red dress, red lipstick woman who’s venerable and weak. Then we got our male character coming into play who we know is dangerous. It’s a great opening and brings out its thriller aspects within the film.
Sunday, 6 December 2009
Phone Booth (draft)
Phone Booth
Director: Joel Schumacher
Released: 18th April 2003 (UK)
Genre: Mystery, Thriller
Plot: Stuart Shepard finds himself trapped in a phone booth, pinned down by an extortionist’s sniper rifle.
User ratings: 7.2/10 (reference: IMDB)
Awards: seven nominations
Director: Joel Schumacher
Released: 18th April 2003 (UK)
Genre: Mystery, Thriller
Plot: Stuart Shepard finds himself trapped in a phone booth, pinned down by an extortionist’s sniper rifle.
User ratings: 7.2/10 (reference: IMDB)
Awards: seven nominations
Thriller Planning: Plot and Story Board
Plot:
My thriller story is based on a woman who has left her husband as he isn't good enough for her. The husband then begins to track down the woman with the initial intent to murder her. As he is chasing her through endless narrow alleyways, he then manages to get to her and shoots her leaving her bleeding all over the floor. But it turns out he has murdered the wrong woman and all this time his ex-wife has been watching him but he doesn't know.
Camera Angles:
1st shot: Your typical blond thriller woman running away, she takes of her shoes so she can run faster. Camera angles: Long shot of her running and a close up of her taking her shoes off.
2nd shot: Tall all black man wearing a big baggy black coat, with a straight in his hand following her. Camera angles: long shot of him behind and close up of him lighting his straight.
3rd shot: Woman turns into an alley way and is running up it then all of a sudden man appears out in front of her and then “bang”. The man has shot her in the stomach. Camera angles: tilted shot of her running up the alley way then close up of her face when she gets shot. You can hear her take her last breath, this should add into thriller genre.
4th shot: Woman falls to the ground, dead on the floor. The man pulls out a photo of him and her together, rips it up in half and drops it on her dead body then walks off. Camera angles: When she falls to the floor the camera angle is an extreme long shot of her falling from behind, then a close up on the floor of her face. Close up of the photo as well.
5th shot: Camera pans up to the sky clear night sky, then credits roll in.
Thriller Planning (costumes and locations)
Thriller Planning
Genre: Crime, Thriller
Locations: Alley way by St Stephens it’s very narrow and claustrophobic as well as that it also has a vanishing point. Another area is Norwich cathedral area; the roads are empty, very old English. Old Victorian cobble flooring, which what I’m looking for in my film. Plenty of good space as well, ideal for different camera angles etc.
Setting: Natural darkness, slightly wet on the floor to bring out a better thriller feel, clear sky so the moon is visible. Also quiet, deserted to give that feel that my character is alone, she has no one to run to, there’s no escape.
Characters: Tall, biggish man, big black baggy coat, shaved head to help give of the crime genre within the film. Slim woman typical red dress, red lipstick and pearl necklace, with short curly blond hair.
Props: Fake gun, accessories for clothing e.g. necklace, hats etc
Genre: Crime, Thriller
Locations: Alley way by St Stephens it’s very narrow and claustrophobic as well as that it also has a vanishing point. Another area is Norwich cathedral area; the roads are empty, very old English. Old Victorian cobble flooring, which what I’m looking for in my film. Plenty of good space as well, ideal for different camera angles etc.
Setting: Natural darkness, slightly wet on the floor to bring out a better thriller feel, clear sky so the moon is visible. Also quiet, deserted to give that feel that my character is alone, she has no one to run to, there’s no escape.
Characters: Tall, biggish man, big black baggy coat, shaved head to help give of the crime genre within the film. Slim woman typical red dress, red lipstick and pearl necklace, with short curly blond hair.
Props: Fake gun, accessories for clothing e.g. necklace, hats etc
Thursday, 3 December 2009
Layer Cake
Layer Cake
Director: Matthew Vaughn
Released: 1st October 2004 (UK)
Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Plot: A successful cocaine dealer gets two tough assignments from his boss on the eve of his planned early retirement.
User ratings: 7.4/10 (reference IMDB)
Awards: 3 wins and 8 nominations
The opening scene to Layer Cake is the back of a black van this comes across to the audience as a dark film. So already we can see that the genre is going to represent crime within the film. The use of the black van on the black back ground gives of a gothic appeal towards the audience.
.bmp)
The next shot we see is a robbery we got smoke filling the room giving it a thriller genre. In the back ground we got gangster men raiding the back of the black van and we have another gangster with a shotgun threatening the public. All this together helps give of the concept of the film and tells the audience what sort of genre they will expect, crime and thriller. In this scene the director has used a mid angle shot, we can see that the camera is only filming the mans upper body but we can see the men in the back ground. This camera angles helps give the perception that the man with the gun is dangerous.
In this scene below, we have Daniel Craig Narrating it and continually through out the film. He’s describing how drug business has developed over the years, “then came the summer of love” this meaning more people doing drugs means more profit. The use of this technique of him narrating is very good as it connects within the audience and tells the audience what’s happening so we don’t get lost. The narrator’s voice has a London Accent to it which gives of this serious gangster sound which really helps connect with its crime genre.
During the start of the film, the camera uses this merging technique which is very good. Looking at the picture below we can see the merging technique in place. As he is walking, everything behind starts becoming a pharmacy. This is a clever technique, as he is narrating its like he’s falling from his world back to reality.
The next shot we see is a mid angle shot, we got the camera walking with him as he is going down the path. We can see on the characters expression he is very serious, well kept and shouldn’t be messed with. This is what the director is trying to get across to the audience; his characters look dangerous and are dangerous, he is establishing a fear a factor within the audience. This technique helps to give of the thriller aspects within the film, he's establishing the thriller genre within the film through fear and crime.
This scene here we got two people cutting up their coke getting it ready to deal. This camera angle is really good on the left side we got the assistant and on the right side we have the boss. The use of the black walls and closed curtains helps to give of a gothic appeal. The black walls and closed curtains represents that they’re hiding, keeping a low profile. This scene has a gothic appeal to it and helps to establish its crime genre to it, dealing coke, keeping hidden all this represents the crime genre.
Through out the film, we have the narrator describing his key rules to survival and how to get through the business and be successful. Here below, we have our typical “thriller” shot, loads of money all stacked up; packing it up this tells the audience that these criminals are successful. The use of the money is used in a lot of thriller films, e.g. psycho when she takes the money and runs off with it etc. This scene below has a thriller appeal to it, around the table we have gangsters getting the share of the profit etc, your typical sort of gangster “scene” if you like.
In this shot here, we have one of the main characters walk through the door. The camera angle is slightly panned upwards to make Jimmy look bigger and more powerful, this technique is very clever. We can tell he’s important by his facial expressions, the way he’s standing. We also have someone opening the door for him this is sign of respect.
The final shot of the opening is a great shot, it’s very gothic. The lighting in this scene is very dark and very gothic, we can’t see the characters face, everything around him, and the environment is all dark. This gives the impression of a very dangerous, dark area. This shot here is a very typical thriller shot, man in a suit with a case walking down a dark gothic road.
Through out the film, we have a narrator which is a very good technique as it helps to connect within the audience and we get to know the main character very closely and can relate to him better. The film has used different techniques and ideas to reach its thriller genre e.g. using the pile of money and the dark gothic rooms and area. The film has been very successful within reaching its thriller genre.
Director: Matthew Vaughn
Released: 1st October 2004 (UK)
Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Plot: A successful cocaine dealer gets two tough assignments from his boss on the eve of his planned early retirement.
User ratings: 7.4/10 (reference IMDB)
Awards: 3 wins and 8 nominations
The opening scene to Layer Cake is the back of a black van this comes across to the audience as a dark film. So already we can see that the genre is going to represent crime within the film. The use of the black van on the black back ground gives of a gothic appeal towards the audience.
.bmp)
The next shot we see is a robbery we got smoke filling the room giving it a thriller genre. In the back ground we got gangster men raiding the back of the black van and we have another gangster with a shotgun threatening the public. All this together helps give of the concept of the film and tells the audience what sort of genre they will expect, crime and thriller. In this scene the director has used a mid angle shot, we can see that the camera is only filming the mans upper body but we can see the men in the back ground. This camera angles helps give the perception that the man with the gun is dangerous.
In this scene below, we have Daniel Craig Narrating it and continually through out the film. He’s describing how drug business has developed over the years, “then came the summer of love” this meaning more people doing drugs means more profit. The use of this technique of him narrating is very good as it connects within the audience and tells the audience what’s happening so we don’t get lost. The narrator’s voice has a London Accent to it which gives of this serious gangster sound which really helps connect with its crime genre.
During the start of the film, the camera uses this merging technique which is very good. Looking at the picture below we can see the merging technique in place. As he is walking, everything behind starts becoming a pharmacy. This is a clever technique, as he is narrating its like he’s falling from his world back to reality.
The next shot we see is a mid angle shot, we got the camera walking with him as he is going down the path. We can see on the characters expression he is very serious, well kept and shouldn’t be messed with. This is what the director is trying to get across to the audience; his characters look dangerous and are dangerous, he is establishing a fear a factor within the audience. This technique helps to give of the thriller aspects within the film, he's establishing the thriller genre within the film through fear and crime.
This scene here we got two people cutting up their coke getting it ready to deal. This camera angle is really good on the left side we got the assistant and on the right side we have the boss. The use of the black walls and closed curtains helps to give of a gothic appeal. The black walls and closed curtains represents that they’re hiding, keeping a low profile. This scene has a gothic appeal to it and helps to establish its crime genre to it, dealing coke, keeping hidden all this represents the crime genre.
Through out the film, we have the narrator describing his key rules to survival and how to get through the business and be successful. Here below, we have our typical “thriller” shot, loads of money all stacked up; packing it up this tells the audience that these criminals are successful. The use of the money is used in a lot of thriller films, e.g. psycho when she takes the money and runs off with it etc. This scene below has a thriller appeal to it, around the table we have gangsters getting the share of the profit etc, your typical sort of gangster “scene” if you like.
In this shot here, we have one of the main characters walk through the door. The camera angle is slightly panned upwards to make Jimmy look bigger and more powerful, this technique is very clever. We can tell he’s important by his facial expressions, the way he’s standing. We also have someone opening the door for him this is sign of respect.
The final shot of the opening is a great shot, it’s very gothic. The lighting in this scene is very dark and very gothic, we can’t see the characters face, everything around him, and the environment is all dark. This gives the impression of a very dangerous, dark area. This shot here is a very typical thriller shot, man in a suit with a case walking down a dark gothic road.
Through out the film, we have a narrator which is a very good technique as it helps to connect within the audience and we get to know the main character very closely and can relate to him better. The film has used different techniques and ideas to reach its thriller genre e.g. using the pile of money and the dark gothic rooms and area. The film has been very successful within reaching its thriller genre.
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