Sub-genre mini film

As we explored into the sub-genres of thriller, me Eye and May were paired up to create a mini film based on a sub-genre of thriller in our preference. We began to edit our footage, however our film was unfinished due to time constraints.

Here is a part of our footage made into a gif.

Our Psychological thriller plot was based on a women being  mentally unstable. As she prepares a banana for a smoothie,  her mind switches between the her cutting and blending her own fingers. She is in her own head until a friend calls her name and everything returns to normal.

Sub-genres of Thriller

  

TYPES
1) Crime Thriller

2) Psychological

3) Espionage/Spy/Political thriller

4) Supernatural

5) Action

6) Film Noir

CRIME THRILLER

Based on a crime being solved or prepared and seen from either the detectives or criminals point of view and can sometimes be both.

Codes and conventions:

• Cat-and-mouse

• Chasing

• Mysterious

• Rivalry

Setting:

• Banks

• Crowded cities

• Dark nightclubs/ streets/ alleys

Technical codes:

• Camerawork- close ups to show the frustratio from the antagonist or protagonist, long shot/ establishing shot, blocking shots

• Fast paced music to build suspense

PSYCHOLOGICAL

Se7en (film)

Psychological thriller films contain both genres of horror and thriller. However, it often incorporates elements from the mystery and drama genre as well. The main characters are usually emotionally unstable (or have mental problems), making them not able to differentiate between good/bad and what is real/not real.

Codes and conventions:

• Perception

• Identity

• Reality

• Plot twists

• Scenes of violence

Setting:

• Old, abandoned houses (victorian buildings)

• Hospitals (mental hospitals)

• Dark isolated buildings/ places

Technical codes:

• Mirrors

• Shadows and low lighting

• Flashbacks

• Tension building music

• Quick cuts

• Mixture of slow and fast editing to show the up and downs of someone with a mental illness
• Claustrophobic spaces

ESPIONAGE/SPY/POLITICAL

All the President's men (film)

This sub genre focuses on the protagonist involved in conflict with a large secretive organisation (that has bad intentions). 

Codes and conventions:

• Secrecy and conspiracy

• Good VS Evil

• Includes working institutions (e.g: police, government, army)

• Fighting/chase scenes

• Possibly plot twist

Setting:

• Urban areas

• Huge modern locations

Technical:

• Dark/dim lighting

• Tension music

• Quick cuts

SUPERNATURAL

The Others (film)

Supernatural thriller is a sub genre which consists of the main character having supernatural abilities. The plot usually involves the protagonist fighting a malevolent paranormal force brought by the antagonist.

Codes and conventions:

• Good VS Evil

• Tension and suspense

• Villain/protagonist possess superpowers/psychic ability

• Plot Twists

• Unworldly elements or creatures

• Religious elements

Setting:

• Forest

• Abandoned areas

• Small houses (isolated)

Technical:

• Dark/dim lighting

• Tension music

• Quick cuts

• Diegetic sound of breathing

• Montage of shots

ACTION

James Bond: Casino Royale (film)

The main protagonist is the hero and controls the action, while the villain is often a millionaire or ex-military who sometimes hides his/her identity. The villain may also have an evil companion.

Codes and conventions:

• Black(villian) VS White(hero)

• Guns = danger

• Helicopter chase

Setting:

• small American town(everything appears okay and tranquil providing an equilibrium.)

• city centres (sense of speed can be shown easily this provides a sense of urgency during a disruption)

              

Technical: 

• Dark and mysterious lighting is used to show danger, bright lights is used to show happiness.

 • Emphasis of power is created by the camera angles

• Tracking shots during chase scenes

• Diegetic sounds are amplified

FILM NOIR (dark film)

Double Indemnity (1944) (film)

The film noir genre generally refers to mystery and crime drama films produced from the early 1940s to the late 1950s.The genre was prevalent mostly in American crime dramas of the post-World War II era.

Codes and conventions:

• Omniscient narrator

• Flashbacks

• Black and white

• Plot twists

• Emphasised narrative gaps

Noir hero: 

• hard boiled detective, alienated from society, morally ambiguous

Tragic flaws -  uncontrollable lust for duplicitous women. 

Setting

• Small town, suburbia

• Streets in the early morning

• Street lamps with shimmering halos

• Flashing neon signs on seedy taverns

• Diners

• Apartment buildings

• Streams of cigarette smoke wafting in and out of shadows

Technical

• High contrast lighting

• Low & high angles

• Narration

• Flashbacks

• Denouement in the opening scenes

• Audience is cognisant of impending doom

• Sudden noises

How fears are used for entertainment

Dexter Credits : Shape Theory

1. Information:
• The Tv show "Dexter" is an American television with crime, drama and mystery.
• Genre:  
• Crime drama
•  Psychological thriller
• Mystery
2. Main Character: 
   Dexter Morgan, Miami Metro Police Department blood spatter analyst, has a double life. When he's not helping the Homicide division solving murders, he spends his time hunting and killing bad guys that slip through the justice system. He spends his sun-drenched days solving crimes - and moonlit nights committing them. But not to worry, our cool-blooded Dexter doesn't kill just anyone. He reserves his homicidal hobbies to taking only the lives of other killers. Written by Enrique Tovar from Delano, CA.
   
   
   
   
3. Analysis of Connotation and Denotation
   
   

Denotation: Cutting meat

Connotation: Cutting human flesh 

The colour of the meat and the connotation of the triangular shapes created when the meat is cut suggests the idea of danger and violence.

Denotation: Cutting up egg + Ketchup
Connotation: Cutting up a body + Blood
The cutting of the egg, again into triangular shapes along with the yolk seeping out as it is cut Creates connotations of a body being cut with blood(represented by the yolk) bleeding out. This is then reinforced by the splatter of the ketchup which has obvious connotations of blood.

Denotation: Coffee grinding

Connotation: Disposing of bodies

The idea of repetition and cycle associated with the round rim of the coffee grinder along with the coffee beans(=human meat) being blitz suggests the act of disposing the body repetitively as the character may have had many victims. 

Denotation: Cutting and juicing oranges

Connotation: Guts/brains being removed

The triangular shape of the knife cutting into the circular shape suggests the sense of disruption and discomfort,reinforced by the dark red background which signifies blood. The idea is then further built-up by the red colour of the orange's flesh that is squeezed which suggests guts being removed.

Denotation: Shoe being put on and laces tied

Connotation: Strangling a victim

A High amount of pressure on the hand can be seen as the character pulls on the shoe lace this suggest the strangling of a victim as the first shots of the shoe being tied, the shoe can barely be seen. This allows the audience to wonder what the character is actually tying : body? shoe?

Denotation: Shirt being put on

Connotation: Suffocation of victims

The tension of the fabric as the character puts on his shirt implies the idea of asphyxiation as the features of a face is shown through the fabric.

Shape Theory

CIRCLES:


TRIANGLES:

SQUARES:

Why do we watch scary films?

Why do we watch scary films?

Difference from normal entertainment

Subversive:
Sadistic - deriving pleasure from inflicting pain, suffering or humiliation on others.

Masochistic - putting ourselves in the situation of the victim

Aristotle 384 BC - 322 BC:

Catharsis:

We cleanse our own violent/negative feeling, by watching/experiencing violent, negative imagery.

Golf Zillman: - Excitation transfer theory

The negative emotions gained from violent imagery - intensifying the positive.

What do films need to be scary?

1) Tension - Create use of micro-elements and manipulation information and narrative.

2) Relevance - The gear generated has to be relevant to the audience - and believed.

3) Unrealism - The audience have to be aware it isn't real.

Similarity is thrillers I notice from their trailers:

- A scary looking character

Name	Scary character
The Town (2010)
Black Swan (2010)
The Purge (2013)
The Skin I Live (2011)
Captain Phillips (2013)

Film Narrative Range Analysis: Zodiac (2007)

GENRE : Crime drama, Thriller (Psychological ?), Non- Fiction, Mystery (SERIAL KILLER)


Director : David Flincher 
Other films: Se7en, Fight Club, Panic Room, Gone Girl, The Girl with the Dragon Tatoo, The       Game)

Main Actors : Robert Downey Jr. (as Paul Avery)
                       Mark Ruffalo (as Dave Toschi)
                       Jake Gyllenhaal (as Robert Graysmith)

Brief Plot :
1) Murder
2)Investigation begins
3) Another murder - recognised pattern
4) Slowly track down killer








BIG PICTURE : (Long shots, Wide angle, Hight angle)
Unrestricted : Audience knows more than characters

   - The audience knows the Zodiac never got caught
   - The audience knows about killings.

Examples :
Shot the the city - links to the idea of the Zodiac having suspects all over town.

A recurring theme of the Zodiac's murders in isolated areas and in cars, hence he was never caught.

Omnipotent -  High angle ariel view of taxi scene shows the big picture

The Bird's eye view angle lets the audience question who's point of view this is from.
- Possibly the Zodiac? (as he is known for his murders all over town,  this shot may show that the Zodiac is "watching " the civilians almost as if he is a god.)
- The cars (marked in red) disappears as the shot gets closer to the taxi providing a sense of isolation.


CHARACTERS : 
Gray Smith:
- Motivated
- Friendly
- Curious
- Brave
- Detached from other people (colour of clothing and position in the frame)
Evidence:
   - Infront of doors

Toschi :
- Idealistic
- Hardworking
- Devoted to case/law
- Stylish
Evidence :
   - Centre of frame


Division personality through of Mis-en-scene in the cafe:

DETAIL : (Close up)
Restricted: Audience learns information/ plot same time as the character.
- Details of case + number of suspect
- We learn the evidence as the characters
- audience is bombarded with detail

Examples :