Directors of Thrillers

Alfred Hitchcock
Bryan Bertino
John Boorman
D.J. Caruso
Henri-Georges Clouzot
Joel and Ethan Coen
Jonathan Demme
Brian De Palma
David Fincher
Gary Fleder
James Foley
John Frankenheimer
William Friedkin
Robert Harmon
Mary Harron

Steven Spielberg

There are many thriller films and also thriller television programmes. Prison break and Lost are among a couple of TV shows that use the thriller genre.

Further Research on Conventions within a Thriller Film:-

A scene that is thrilling and eerie will more than likely use lighting of dark colours so it creates that edgy gut feeling of something about to happen. This intrigues the audience and makes them want to know more about what is going to happen in the film. Also lighting of the colour red is another convention that symbolises death, blood and violence. This in a way foreshadows the film as a thriller.
Sounds also lets the audience know its a thriller and a way to show the intensity of a thriller is by having sounds of a loud heart beating, loud breathing etc. This makes the film seem more realistic, and makes the audience extremely and utterly intriuged and at the edge of their seat in suspense.
Another Convention is a vulnerable female protagonist being chased by a dominant/scary male. This is used in many films (e.g. Prom Night)

Location Report

Address: Aldermans Hill, Palmers Green, N13 4RB
Broomfield Park is in the London Borough of Enfield

The reason we picked Broomfield Park as our location for our thriller film is because it has enough open space which is very convenient for our thriller opening, as our thriller opening requires enough space because we have to film people running.
It also has a pathway next to the bench which is good as it will help create tension for the audience when the actors are walking through the park. It helps the audience also focus on them walking. It also has trees in the background which are very eerie when it is dark. There is a playground in this park also which is why we chose it as it has swings and a merry-go-round for our camera shots.

Pymms Park

We changed our location for our filming as when we went to film, the park was closed at night. Therefore we could not film, also it had more street lights.

Research on Sub-genres in Thriller Films

The thriller genre can include sub-genres, which may include elements of other genres. Some examples of these are listed below:

Action thriller: In which the work often features a race against the clock, contains lots of violence, and an obvious antagonist. (E.g. James Bond films and The Transporter)
Crime thriller: This particular genre is a hybrid type of both crime films and thrillers that offers a suspenseful account of a successful or failed crime or crimes. (E.g. The Killing and Inside Man)
Psychological thriller: In which (until the often violent resolution) the conflict between the main characters is mental and emotional, rather than physical. (E.g. The Alfred Hitchcock films Suspicion, Shadow of a Doubt, and Strangers on a Train and The Talented Mr. Ripley)
Conspiracy thriller: In which the hero/heroine confronts a large, powerful group of enemies whose true extent only he/she recognizes. (E.g. Capricorn One and JFK)
Disaster thriller: In which the main conflict is due to some sort of natural or artificial disaster, such as floods, earthquakes, hurricanes, volcanoes, etc., or nuclear disasters as an artificial disaster. (E.g. Stormy Weather and Earthquake)
Drama thriller: In which the story consists of the elements of a thriller and drama film. These films are usually slower paced and involves a great deal of character development along with plot twists. (E.g. The Illusionist and The Interpreter)
Spy thriller (also a subgenre of spy fiction): In which the hero is generally a government agent who must take violent action against agents of a rival government or (in recent years) terrorists. (E.g. From Russia, with Love and the Bourne Identity)
Religious thriller: In which the plot is closely connected to religious objects, institutions and questions. (E.g. The Da Vinci Code)
Legal Thriller: In which the lawyer-heroes/heroines confront enemies outside, as well as inside, the courtroom and are in danger of losing not only their cases but their lives. (E.g. The Innocent Man)
Medical Thriller: In which the hero/heroine are medical doctors/personnel working to solve an expanding medical problem. (E.g. Awake)
Political thriller: In which the hero/heroine must ensure the stability of the government that employs him. (E.g. Seven Days in May and Agency)
Techno-thriller: In which (typically military) technology is described in detail and made essential to the reader's/viewer's understanding of the plot. (E.g. Tom Clancy defined and popularized the genre with his The Hunt for Red October)
Eco-thriller: In which the protagonist must avert or rectify an environmental or biological calamity, often in addition to dealing with the usual types of enemies or obstacles present in other thriller genres. (E.g. The Loop and Kim Stanley Robinson's Mars Trilogy)

Questionnaire Analysis

Do you know the difference between thriller and horror movies ? 50% of our target age group said that they were able to recognise the difference between thriller and horror movies. However, 40%, which is a high percentage, are not able to recognise the difference. So to make our opening good, we'll make it clear that it's an thriller opening by using codes and convections, i.e. non-digetic, creepy music but nothing like violence or heads being thrown around the screen because that's more of a horror convection.

Do you enjoy ambiguity or giveaway plot lines ? 80% of our target audience claimed to preferring ambiguity plot lines. This makes it easier for us as it's a thriller opening and it will be more interesting when it keeps the audience at the edge of their seats

Casting

• Michael Mann will act as the homeless man
• Junaed Badat will act as the frightened boy
• Andreas Kavallares will act as the leader of the group
• Aidan Scoutter will act as the ditsy boy


MICHAEL MANN - THE HOMELESS MAN
Our group decided to choose Michael Mann as the homeless man because he's good at doing intimidating voices which will be important in creating tension for the audience.Our group decided that the costume of the homeless man will consist of a black scruffy coat (to show that he is poor) and a red shirt underneath to connote danger -seeing as he will be acting as a potential killer in the thriller opening.





JUNAED BADAT - THE FRIGHTENED BOY
We chose Junaed Badat to act as the frightened boy because he is good at making facial expressions and this will be vital in order to show a clear range of emotions. These emotions will be highlighted through close ups or extreme close ups to show their significance. It will also give the audience more knowledge about the personality of the characters; for example: a character that often has a worried facial expression denotes that they are a character that is quite tense and on edge all the time.


ANDREAS KAVALLARES - THE LEADER OF THE GROUP
We chose Andreas Kavallares to act as the leader of the group because he has the natural quality of being quite a bold and assertive person. In order to emphasise that he has higher status we all think it's best to use a lot of confident body language such as: walking tall with his head and shoulders back - to show confidence or cockiness , using his hands a lot while talking to show his authority (emphasizing his points while speaking by firmly shaking his finger or palm in beat to his words) and walking with wide, long steps to show a powerful stride.



AIDAN SCOUTTER - THE DITSY BOY
We chose Aidan Scoutter to act as the ditsy boy because like Michael Mann, he is good at using his body language and facial expressions - which will be useful in order to convey the simple-minded, over exaggerated ditsy character that we would like to portray.





However one of our actors Junead, did not show up to our filming sesson. Therefore we had to get Imani to act as the third boy. We picked Imani as she is good at talking and acting like a boy. She also knew all the camera shots and scenes, so she was prepared and ready.

Shooting script

Shooting Script

Broomfield Park 11:00pm
[Andreas, Imani, Aidan and Michael]

ANDREAS, AIDAN AND IMANI ARE WALKING THROUGH BROOMFIELD PARK

Imani:
Aidan have you got modern warfare 2 yet?

Aidan:
Yeah, I got it the day it came out

Andreas:
Yeah, it's the best game I've played for a while

Imani:
What rank are you

Andreas:
Hold up, what's going on with the blood everywhere, and what is that

ALL THREE BOYS THEN LOOK AT THE GROUND

Aidan:
[Laughs] Look at that homeless man, I can smell him from here

Andreas:
Junaed, I dare you to take his alcohol

Imani:
I don't think that's a good idea

Aidan:
Just do it, what's the problem

Andreas:
Quick!

IMANI SLOWLY WALKS OVER TO THE HOMELESS MAN. AFTER A SLIGHT PAUSE HE TAKES THE ALCOHOL. AIDAN TAKES THE ALCOHOL FROM IMANI

Andreas:
[Laughs] Now pull his hood down

Aidan:
[Laughs]

Imani:
What, why?

Andreas:
Just do it!

IMANI WALKS OVER TO THE MEN, SLOWLY PULLS HIS HOOD DOWN, BUT THE HOMELESS MAN WAKES UP. ANDREAS AND AIDAAN THEN RUN OFF
IMANI STANDS SHOCKED FOR A FEW SECONDS, THEN RUNS OFF. HE THEN TRIPS OVER THE HAND. THE HOMELESS MAN THEN WALKS OVER TO IMANI.

Michael [homless man]:
You've had your fun, now I'm going to have mine

End of film opening