My group consists of three members; Me, Vasil Nikolov and Daniella Cross. We were set to do a preliminary task to show our current skills and so we can analyse what we did well and what we did wrong. Our task involved one person entering a room sitting down opposite another and having a short conversation. We used different camera angles to portray who was speaking and who was the dominant character.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrdoESQ6ipM
From this preliminary task we learnt how to use the camera effectively and how to set up a tripod, this then allows us to use a tripod when doing our own thriller which lets us get a steady shot when filming. We also learnt how to use different camera angles to portray the authorities of each character and to show who is talking at that moment in time. In addition we also learnt not to put the camera in a position which doesn't allow us to see vital things in our clip, for example if we need to see both characters faces/bodies we will not place the camera behind one of the characters as we can only see one characters face. We also learnt how to use an editing programme to cut and crop our different clips to make a smooth transaction from one clip to another. For example if we wanted to do a shot reverse shot we would not want poor editing as the shot wouldn't have an effect on the audience and wouldn't really show the emotion of the scene. When editing my clips I found it difficult to edit at 0:15-0:17 when we had 2 clips that needed to be edited together because we did not have enough footage to make the two clips blend together well, this was because we did not have much time to film our work so we could only film certain clips and not others. In addition I also found it hard to edit at when we had to edit another two clips together and again didn't have enough footage to make the editing move smoothly. When doing my thriller opening I will film as much footage as I can, as I have a lot of time to do so, which would then allow me to edit the clips to make the transactions look smooth. Another problem we had was when trying to pan the camera we also had to pan downwards when Vasil went to sat down, this was because we couldn't move the camera down and across at the same time so we had to pan across then down and it doesn't look very good.
This preliminary task will allow to me have an engaging and dramatic opening thriller sequence as I can analyse the preliminary task and look at what I did wrong and change it for my main task. This will then improve my work and then I can have an opening scene which will create shock, surprise and suspense. I can also look at what I did well and then use that in my final idea as i know what I created was good and will give me confidence in my new idea.
Monday, 21 October 2013
Sunday, 20 October 2013
Group Narrative - Miss Georgiou
A narrative is essentially a story line to a
film, in a thriller this is used to create suspense, shock and tension which engages
the audience. Many thriller films tend to use an Enigma in their narrative to
confuse the audience and so they can have something at the end, which solves
the enigma and surprises the audience. Within my group we read through one another’s
work and looked at the advantages and the disadvantages of each idea. This then
allowed us to get a well thought about narrative that create suspense, shock,
surprise and will engage the audience.
The first idea I looked at was an idea about a man who comes home from work and finds that there is no one home in his house; he then receives a phone call from an unknown number. During the phone call cheerful music is being played to lead the audience into a full sense of security. The character then runs up the stairs to find his wife dead hanging from the attic. He then turns around and finds the murder standing behind him with a knife in his hand. This is a good idea but I believe it doesn't quite bring shock, surprise or suspense throughout although does show elements of these in some parts. Although we have decided to use a few elements from this in out main idea but some ideas do not reach the criteria of a good thriller. For example the idea of the man answering an unknown phone call is a good idea as it creates suspense, as we do not know who is on the other end of the call. On the other hand the idea of when the man turns round to find the killer doesn't create the shock in which it should when revealing the villain.
Another idea contains inspiration from the film 'Nightmare on Elm Street' and 'Paranormal Activity'. The narrative is about a young boy has this nightmares but actually this nightmares are real, yet he isn't aware of this, and he ends up getting abused in a sort of way by this mysterious person in an anonymous mask, that for example, when his breath would be cold against the hot air, something bad would happen, in this occasion this masked character would become present and drag the young boy off his bed whilst he is asleep, but the boy wakes up and finds himself on the floor and very confused so it creates a lot of sense of enigma, and would play on the audiences mind. My group were able to pick out the points that would come at an advantage for our group narrative for example in sixth sense when the main character is about to be part of something he didn't want to, he would breathe cold air that would go against the heat and create a puff of condensation appears, and my group would like to use this idea and have put it forward for when we do our opening clip.
We analysed one another’s work and came up with a final idea. This idea consists of many ideas from the first piece i looked at and also the second as well as mine. Our final idea is about a man who comes home from work and goes upstairs to find his wife isn't there, he then receives a phone call from the killer who is hiding in the wardrobe the electricity goes out and the house becomes dark, the victims breathe goes cold as he realises someone is there to kill him. He then tries to escape and runs towards his car but forgets his keys, he then runs back to the house to find the electricity back on. He then tries to escape but see's a hand covered in blood on the window. I believe this idea does well in creating surprise, shock and suspense as we do not know whom the killer is and we get shocked when we see the hand on the window. I also believe the enigma in out piece, the hidden identity, does well in creating suspense and leads well into revealing who the killer is and where he was hiding.
The first idea I looked at was an idea about a man who comes home from work and finds that there is no one home in his house; he then receives a phone call from an unknown number. During the phone call cheerful music is being played to lead the audience into a full sense of security. The character then runs up the stairs to find his wife dead hanging from the attic. He then turns around and finds the murder standing behind him with a knife in his hand. This is a good idea but I believe it doesn't quite bring shock, surprise or suspense throughout although does show elements of these in some parts. Although we have decided to use a few elements from this in out main idea but some ideas do not reach the criteria of a good thriller. For example the idea of the man answering an unknown phone call is a good idea as it creates suspense, as we do not know who is on the other end of the call. On the other hand the idea of when the man turns round to find the killer doesn't create the shock in which it should when revealing the villain.
Another idea contains inspiration from the film 'Nightmare on Elm Street' and 'Paranormal Activity'. The narrative is about a young boy has this nightmares but actually this nightmares are real, yet he isn't aware of this, and he ends up getting abused in a sort of way by this mysterious person in an anonymous mask, that for example, when his breath would be cold against the hot air, something bad would happen, in this occasion this masked character would become present and drag the young boy off his bed whilst he is asleep, but the boy wakes up and finds himself on the floor and very confused so it creates a lot of sense of enigma, and would play on the audiences mind. My group were able to pick out the points that would come at an advantage for our group narrative for example in sixth sense when the main character is about to be part of something he didn't want to, he would breathe cold air that would go against the heat and create a puff of condensation appears, and my group would like to use this idea and have put it forward for when we do our opening clip.
We analysed one another’s work and came up with a final idea. This idea consists of many ideas from the first piece i looked at and also the second as well as mine. Our final idea is about a man who comes home from work and goes upstairs to find his wife isn't there, he then receives a phone call from the killer who is hiding in the wardrobe the electricity goes out and the house becomes dark, the victims breathe goes cold as he realises someone is there to kill him. He then tries to escape and runs towards his car but forgets his keys, he then runs back to the house to find the electricity back on. He then tries to escape but see's a hand covered in blood on the window. I believe this idea does well in creating surprise, shock and suspense as we do not know whom the killer is and we get shocked when we see the hand on the window. I also believe the enigma in out piece, the hidden identity, does well in creating suspense and leads well into revealing who the killer is and where he was hiding.
Friday, 11 October 2013
Opening scene analysis - Miss Georgiou
An opening sequence is essential to a thriller film as it engages the audience into the scene and sets the mood for the rest of the film. The opening sequence is also used to introduce some of the following elements; Characters, locations, Narrative, Plot and Themes. The opening sequence is a personal thing but when a film grabs your attention from the opening frame it knocks you out of your seat or even grinds you into it, you tend to remember it fondly, even if the rest of it fails to measure up. I will be looking at the conventions used by the director, the sounds used by the director and how he used cinematography in the 1973 film 'Halloween' which was directed by John Carpenter.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELF1DCf1ChA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_tGvktfjjk
Cinematography
In the film 'Halloween' the director uses cinematography (the art or science of motion picture photography) to create shock, surprise and suspense and to also engage the audience into the opening scene. The first use of the camera we see is the camera zooming in on the pumpkin during the credits. This create tension because as the camera gets closer to the pumpkin the audience become more tense to whats about to happen in the opening scene. This is also used because a pumpkin is a symbol of Halloween and allows the audience to make conclusions to as whats going to happen.
Another use of the camera is when the actor has the camera in his hands, this is called point of view as we can see what the actor is seeing. This is used because it creates movements of which are known by us as what we see and do, for example it creates jerky movements and makes the opening scene realistic and tense. We see this used when who we think is the 'killer' slowly moves towards the house and searches round the house for an open door or window. This engages the audience into the scene as they feel as tho they are the person going towards and around the house. At this point we also do not know who the killer is because of the point of view shot as we have only seen what they are seeing and no other view.
We then see the 'killer' enter the house and take a knife from the draw, we see the 'killers' arm and hand but no other features, this creates even more tension as we are dying to see who his person is. In addition this also creates a relationship between the 'killer' and the audience as the audience feel as though they are the person picking up the knife and are about to kill an innocent girl. This is conventional to the thriller genre as a knife is a common murder weapon as well as the hidden identity which is also commonly used in thriller films. Both of these conventions create tension and suspense as we are waiting to see who the killer is and we are waiting for thr murder weapon to be used.
Finally the last piece of cinematography used is at the end of the opening scene when the camera zooms out from a close up of the mysterious house into a long shot of the house. This creates an emotional distance as we can see the shock on the young boys face as he has just realised he's murdered his older sister. The zooming out then creates unknown and uncertainty as the audience questions whether the young boy is the killer or not.
Sound
Sound is key in an opening scene as it creates tension and makes the scene more dramatic and interesting. We first hear the films soundtrack playing over the top of the credits, this is non-diegetic as it is added in the editing stage of the production of the film. This creates suspense as we can hear some young children chanting and makes the audience more uptight and scared about what is going to happen next. This also creates tension as the audience may think the film is going to be about little children being harmed which is something nobody enjoys watching. This also adds to the drama of the opening scene as we do not know who is walking into and around the house. This is conventional to the thriller genre as many thriller films tend to use an upbeat and dramatic soundtrack to scare the audience from the start.
We then hear off-screen sound, the clock in the background chiming. This is off-screen as we can hear the clock but we cannot see the source although this is not non-diegetic as it isnt added in the editing stage and is there when the scene is being filmed. This could signify the end of the scene and/or the end of the girls life. This creates suspense as we are waiting for something to happen because of the chiming and also creates tension as the audience are on edge waiting for something bad to happen.
Lastly we hear some parallel sound when the 'killer' is walking up the stairs, the piano is being played in time of the killers footsteps which creates emphasis on the killer going up the stairs. This creates suspense as we do not know what is going to happen but we know something serious will happen because of the way the piano is in time. this also creates a lot of tension as the audience now start to focus onto the murderer which makes them feel more on edge and nervous about what is to happen next. It also makes the audience feel as though they are part of the film and puts them into the killers shoes which puts the audience on the edge of their seat and are then thrown into the back of their seat when the girl is murdered. This is conventional to the thriller genre as the sounds make the villain out to be more terrifying and intimidating than he would without the sounds.
Narrative
The narrative of a film is very important as it is the core of the film and other things like camera shots are focused around the narrative and what the director wants to portray throughout the film. The narrative of this film is based around the night of Halloween hense the reason the film is called 'Halloween'.
We first see a detached house in which a boy and a girl are kissing and watching tv, this makes the audience feel as though this scenario could happen in an everyday situation like theirs and scares them more than it would have in a forrest as it is expected. In addition we then see the inside of the house from the point of view of the killer which again engages us into the narrative and makes us feel part of the story. We then watch as he walks up the stairs and into the girls bedroom where he picks up the clown mask, which is the main piece of iconography used, along with the knife. It is then revealed to us that the killer was the little boy, which creates an enigma which is misleading as we do not believe it was him.
This story line is very conventional to the thriller genre as many thriller films consist of an enigma, a villain, a victim and an every day setting. In addition many thriller films narrative are about a serial killer who kills unexpected victims.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELF1DCf1ChA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_tGvktfjjk
Cinematography
In the film 'Halloween' the director uses cinematography (the art or science of motion picture photography) to create shock, surprise and suspense and to also engage the audience into the opening scene. The first use of the camera we see is the camera zooming in on the pumpkin during the credits. This create tension because as the camera gets closer to the pumpkin the audience become more tense to whats about to happen in the opening scene. This is also used because a pumpkin is a symbol of Halloween and allows the audience to make conclusions to as whats going to happen.
Another use of the camera is when the actor has the camera in his hands, this is called point of view as we can see what the actor is seeing. This is used because it creates movements of which are known by us as what we see and do, for example it creates jerky movements and makes the opening scene realistic and tense. We see this used when who we think is the 'killer' slowly moves towards the house and searches round the house for an open door or window. This engages the audience into the scene as they feel as tho they are the person going towards and around the house. At this point we also do not know who the killer is because of the point of view shot as we have only seen what they are seeing and no other view.
We then see the 'killer' enter the house and take a knife from the draw, we see the 'killers' arm and hand but no other features, this creates even more tension as we are dying to see who his person is. In addition this also creates a relationship between the 'killer' and the audience as the audience feel as though they are the person picking up the knife and are about to kill an innocent girl. This is conventional to the thriller genre as a knife is a common murder weapon as well as the hidden identity which is also commonly used in thriller films. Both of these conventions create tension and suspense as we are waiting to see who the killer is and we are waiting for thr murder weapon to be used. 
Finally the last piece of cinematography used is at the end of the opening scene when the camera zooms out from a close up of the mysterious house into a long shot of the house. This creates an emotional distance as we can see the shock on the young boys face as he has just realised he's murdered his older sister. The zooming out then creates unknown and uncertainty as the audience questions whether the young boy is the killer or not.
Sound
Sound is key in an opening scene as it creates tension and makes the scene more dramatic and interesting. We first hear the films soundtrack playing over the top of the credits, this is non-diegetic as it is added in the editing stage of the production of the film. This creates suspense as we can hear some young children chanting and makes the audience more uptight and scared about what is going to happen next. This also creates tension as the audience may think the film is going to be about little children being harmed which is something nobody enjoys watching. This also adds to the drama of the opening scene as we do not know who is walking into and around the house. This is conventional to the thriller genre as many thriller films tend to use an upbeat and dramatic soundtrack to scare the audience from the start.
We then hear off-screen sound, the clock in the background chiming. This is off-screen as we can hear the clock but we cannot see the source although this is not non-diegetic as it isnt added in the editing stage and is there when the scene is being filmed. This could signify the end of the scene and/or the end of the girls life. This creates suspense as we are waiting for something to happen because of the chiming and also creates tension as the audience are on edge waiting for something bad to happen.
Lastly we hear some parallel sound when the 'killer' is walking up the stairs, the piano is being played in time of the killers footsteps which creates emphasis on the killer going up the stairs. This creates suspense as we do not know what is going to happen but we know something serious will happen because of the way the piano is in time. this also creates a lot of tension as the audience now start to focus onto the murderer which makes them feel more on edge and nervous about what is to happen next. It also makes the audience feel as though they are part of the film and puts them into the killers shoes which puts the audience on the edge of their seat and are then thrown into the back of their seat when the girl is murdered. This is conventional to the thriller genre as the sounds make the villain out to be more terrifying and intimidating than he would without the sounds.
Narrative
The narrative of a film is very important as it is the core of the film and other things like camera shots are focused around the narrative and what the director wants to portray throughout the film. The narrative of this film is based around the night of Halloween hense the reason the film is called 'Halloween'.
We first see a detached house in which a boy and a girl are kissing and watching tv, this makes the audience feel as though this scenario could happen in an everyday situation like theirs and scares them more than it would have in a forrest as it is expected. In addition we then see the inside of the house from the point of view of the killer which again engages us into the narrative and makes us feel part of the story. We then watch as he walks up the stairs and into the girls bedroom where he picks up the clown mask, which is the main piece of iconography used, along with the knife. It is then revealed to us that the killer was the little boy, which creates an enigma which is misleading as we do not believe it was him.
This story line is very conventional to the thriller genre as many thriller films consist of an enigma, a villain, a victim and an every day setting. In addition many thriller films narrative are about a serial killer who kills unexpected victims.
Wednesday, 9 October 2013
Research into sound - Miss Miller
In this blog i will be talking about how Steven Spielberg uses sound in his 1995 film, Jaws. Directors use sound in thrillers to create suspense and tension throughout their film. Sound is key to understanding the picture on the screen and the message that the director is trying to put across to the audience. It is also uses to add emotion and feelings behind the scenes and the characters themselves.
We first see some on-screen sound of when the man is on the boat with his friend and they are talking to each other. This is on-screen sound as we can see and hear the source of where the sound is coming from. This is effective as it sets the scene in a normal tone and as if the two men are just out on a boat trip together. This is conventional to the thriller genre as many thriller films start of a scene with dialogue to create that normal everyday atmosphere which is then ruined by a villain or in this case, a huge great white shark. This creates a relationship between the characters and the audience as they can put themselves into the mans position. This will lead them into a full sense of security. We then hear some diegetic sounds, this is when the shark emerges out of the water we can hear the water moving which shocks the audience as they do not expect the shark to come out of the water.
We then hear non-diegetic sound of which is the soundtrack, this happens when the shark emerges from the water and gets close to the man on the edge of the boat. This is non-diegetic as its not off-screen because the soundtrack is added on in the editing stage. The sound used happens from the moment the shark emerges and shocks the audience as they did not expect the shark to come out. It also creates tension as we do not know whether the shark is going to kill the man on the boat or attack the boat. This creates a relationship between the character and the audience as the sound creates tension for the audience which makes them realise how bad the situation is and makes them empathise with the character.
We then hear a diegetic of which is the hammock in the cabin which is swaying in the wind. This is diegetic as we can see the source of which the sound is coming from. This creates suspense, tension and shock. it creates suspense as we have just seen a shark appear from the water and the man is backing away from it which shows his terror, we are waiting for the shark to attack and shows the silence of the other crew members on the boat. It also creates tension as the men on the boat are tense and it allows the audience to put themselves in their shoes. This is because they are about to be attacked by a shark. This creates a relationship with the audience and the characters as the audience can see how scared the men are and can feel sorry for them.
The last sound we hear is when the three men turn their attention to the shark slowly swimming towards their boat. The soundtrack then fades out and another starts, although this soundtrack is more dramatic and creates suspense as we are led to believe that the shark is about to attack the boat. As Jaws gets closer and closer the soundtrack gets louder and louder, this is used to climax the point when the shark is next to the boat and may attack it and kill the men. This creates a relationship between the audience and the characters as the audience can sympathise with the fact that they are millimeters away from a 25ft deadly shark.
Having researched into the use of sound in thriller films, I have learnt of the different ways it can be used to create an effect. I believe that sound is the most effective method of creating suspesne, shock and surpirse as if there was no sound we wouldn't have a clue what was going on and when to expect the unexpected. I will also use this clip as the sound in this sets the mood and creates an eerie atmosphere and that is exactly what i would like to do in my thriller clip. It helps the audience to connect with certain characters by putting them into the mindset of that character, which helps the audience to respond emotionally. Finally from this clip I have learnt that characters can be portryed in differant ways, for example a shark is frowned upon as its very dangerous but is only killing people as its hungry whereas the men in the clip are portrayed as good guys although they are the ones trying to kill an animal. This is something I will look at in further detail when deciding on how to portray my characters when creating my own thriller clip.
Wednesday, 2 October 2013
Research into history of thriller films - Miss Gerogiou
Thriller Film is a genre that revolves around anticipation and suspense. The aim for Thrillers is to keep the audience alert and on the edge of their seats. >> thescriptlab.com
An early thriller film is "The Third Man" which is directed by Carol Reed in 1949. This film is about an out of work pulp fiction novelist, Holly Martins, who arrives in a post war Vienna divided into sectors by the victorious allies, and where a shortage of supplies has lead to a flourishing black market. He arrives at the invitation of an ex-school friend, Harry Lime, who has offered him a job, only to discover that Lime has recently died in a peculiar traffic accident. From talking to Lime's friends and associates Martins soon notices that some of the stories are inconsistent, and determines to discover what really happened to Harry Lime. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0041959/?ref_=nv_sr_1
Another film called "Psycho" which is directed by Alfred Hitchcock was released 11 years after in 1960. This film is about a phoenix office worker Marion Crane who is fed up with the way her life has treated her. She has to meet her lover Sam in lunch breaks and they cannot get married because Sam has to give most of his money away in alimony. One Friday Marion is trusted to bank $40,000 by her employer. Seeing the opportunity to take the money and start a new life, Marion leaves town and heads towards Sam's California store. Tired after the long drive and caught in a storm, she gets off the main highway and pulls into The Bates Motel. The motel is managed by a quiet young man called Norman who seems to be dominated by his mother. This film contains many conventions of thriller films, the director of the film does break the 180 rule which isn't conventional but does use iconography, the knife, and does use low key lighting to create suspense. Although the film does not involve violent scenes to a gruesome extent, for example when the women is in the shower we do not see the women actually being stabbed or come in contact with the knife.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0054215/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1
A later film, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, which is directed by Tobe Hooper was released in 1974. En route to visit their grandfather's grave, five teenagers drive past a slaughterhouse, pick up a sinister hitch-hiker, eat some delicious home-cured meat at a roadside gas station, before ending up at the old family home... where they're plunged into a never-ending nightmare as they meet a family of cannibals who more than make up in power tools what they lack in social skills. This film also uses many conventions throughout the film, the film is different to the previous films as we see the man killing the people and looks as though they are in contact with the weapon. In addition this film also includes lots of editing which is similar to the previous films I have spoken about. This film also uses Low key lighting to create shadows and thus create tension and suspense for the viewers.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0072271/?ref_=nv_sr_4
Final Destination, a film made in 2000, is directed by James Wong and is about a boy named Alex who is boarding his plane to France on a school trip, when he suddenly gets a premonition that the plane will explode. When Alex and a group of students are thrown off the plane, to their horror, the plane does in fact explode. Alex must now work out Death's plan, as each of the surviving students falls victim. Whilst preventing the worst from happening, Alex must also dodge the FBI, which believes Alex caused the explosion. This film uses many different conventions throughout the film. It mostly uses Low key lighting to create suspense and tension for the audience. It also uses many different camera angles and editing styles to show different characters perspective and to create suspense.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0195714/?ref_=nv_sr_2
The last film i will be talking about is a film which was release in 2013, The Purge, which is directed by James DeMonaco. In an America wracked by crime and overcrowded prisons, the government has sanctioned an annual 12-hour period in which any and all criminal activity-including murder-becomes legal. The podsxlice can't be called. Hospitals suspend help. It's one night when the citizenry regulates itself without thought of punishment. On this night plagued by violence and an epidemic of crime, one family wrestles with the decision of who they will become when a stranger comes knocking. When an intruder breaks into James Sandin's (Ethan Hawke) gated community during the yearly lock down, he begins a sequence of events that threatens to tear a family apart. Now, it is up to James, his wife, Mary (Lena Headey), and their kids to make it through the night without turning into the monsters from whom they hide. This film uses a huge amount of things conventional to the thriller genre, for example there are many knifes used (iconography) and there is also lots of low key lighting to make the audience unable to see whats in the scene and gets them scared. It also includes many different camera angles to represent how inferior or superior the character is.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2184339/?ref_=nv_sr_1
Lastly we can see that Psycho II which was released on the 6th of March 1983 didn't make that much money on its opening weekend, $8,310,244, but did make more money afterwards and gaining a total gross of $34,725,00. This thriller is about a Now declared legally sane, Norman Bates is released from a mental institution after spending 22 years in confinement over the protests of Marion Crane's sister Lila Loomis, who insists that he's still a killer and that the court's indifference to his victims by releasing him is a gross miscarriage of justice. Norman returns to his motel and the old Victorian mansion where his troubles started, and history predictably begins to repeat itself. (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0086154/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1) This film didn't make as much money in its first weekend as many other films as it was created a good 20 years ago and wasn't very realistic and didn't allow the audience to create a relationship with the characters. This was because the director didnt use that many conventions to make the film realistic and relatable for the audience.
An early thriller film is "The Third Man" which is directed by Carol Reed in 1949. This film is about an out of work pulp fiction novelist, Holly Martins, who arrives in a post war Vienna divided into sectors by the victorious allies, and where a shortage of supplies has lead to a flourishing black market. He arrives at the invitation of an ex-school friend, Harry Lime, who has offered him a job, only to discover that Lime has recently died in a peculiar traffic accident. From talking to Lime's friends and associates Martins soon notices that some of the stories are inconsistent, and determines to discover what really happened to Harry Lime. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0041959/?ref_=nv_sr_1
Another film called "Psycho" which is directed by Alfred Hitchcock was released 11 years after in 1960. This film is about a phoenix office worker Marion Crane who is fed up with the way her life has treated her. She has to meet her lover Sam in lunch breaks and they cannot get married because Sam has to give most of his money away in alimony. One Friday Marion is trusted to bank $40,000 by her employer. Seeing the opportunity to take the money and start a new life, Marion leaves town and heads towards Sam's California store. Tired after the long drive and caught in a storm, she gets off the main highway and pulls into The Bates Motel. The motel is managed by a quiet young man called Norman who seems to be dominated by his mother. This film contains many conventions of thriller films, the director of the film does break the 180 rule which isn't conventional but does use iconography, the knife, and does use low key lighting to create suspense. Although the film does not involve violent scenes to a gruesome extent, for example when the women is in the shower we do not see the women actually being stabbed or come in contact with the knife.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0054215/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1
A later film, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, which is directed by Tobe Hooper was released in 1974. En route to visit their grandfather's grave, five teenagers drive past a slaughterhouse, pick up a sinister hitch-hiker, eat some delicious home-cured meat at a roadside gas station, before ending up at the old family home... where they're plunged into a never-ending nightmare as they meet a family of cannibals who more than make up in power tools what they lack in social skills. This film also uses many conventions throughout the film, the film is different to the previous films as we see the man killing the people and looks as though they are in contact with the weapon. In addition this film also includes lots of editing which is similar to the previous films I have spoken about. This film also uses Low key lighting to create shadows and thus create tension and suspense for the viewers.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0072271/?ref_=nv_sr_4
Final Destination, a film made in 2000, is directed by James Wong and is about a boy named Alex who is boarding his plane to France on a school trip, when he suddenly gets a premonition that the plane will explode. When Alex and a group of students are thrown off the plane, to their horror, the plane does in fact explode. Alex must now work out Death's plan, as each of the surviving students falls victim. Whilst preventing the worst from happening, Alex must also dodge the FBI, which believes Alex caused the explosion. This film uses many different conventions throughout the film. It mostly uses Low key lighting to create suspense and tension for the audience. It also uses many different camera angles and editing styles to show different characters perspective and to create suspense.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0195714/?ref_=nv_sr_2
The last film i will be talking about is a film which was release in 2013, The Purge, which is directed by James DeMonaco. In an America wracked by crime and overcrowded prisons, the government has sanctioned an annual 12-hour period in which any and all criminal activity-including murder-becomes legal. The podsxlice can't be called. Hospitals suspend help. It's one night when the citizenry regulates itself without thought of punishment. On this night plagued by violence and an epidemic of crime, one family wrestles with the decision of who they will become when a stranger comes knocking. When an intruder breaks into James Sandin's (Ethan Hawke) gated community during the yearly lock down, he begins a sequence of events that threatens to tear a family apart. Now, it is up to James, his wife, Mary (Lena Headey), and their kids to make it through the night without turning into the monsters from whom they hide. This film uses a huge amount of things conventional to the thriller genre, for example there are many knifes used (iconography) and there is also lots of low key lighting to make the audience unable to see whats in the scene and gets them scared. It also includes many different camera angles to represent how inferior or superior the character is.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2184339/?ref_=nv_sr_1
From this table below we can see how much money the top 17 thrillers made overall and also the amount of money they earned in the first weekend. It also shows the studio it was produced by, whether its a sequel and the date of the release. From this table I can analyse why films mad the amount of money it did and how well it did in the first weekend.
From this we can see that Hannibal, which was released on the 2nd of September 2001, made $58,003,121 in the first weekend and $165,092,268 as a total gross. I believe this is because of the story line used and also the conventions used. The thriller is about the continuing saga of Hannibal Lecter, the murdering cannibal. He is presently in Italy and works as a curator at a museum. Clarice Starling, the FBI agent whom he aided to apprehend a serial killer, was placed in charge of an operation but when one of her men botches it, she's called to the mat by the Bureau. One high ranking official, Paul Krendler has it in for her. But she gets a reprieve because Mason Verger, one of Lecter's victims who is looking to get back at Lecter for what Lecter did to him, wants to use Starling to lure him out. When Lecter sends her a note she learns that he's in Italy so she asks the police to keep an eye out for him. But a corrupt policeman who wants to get the reward that Verger placed on him, tells Verger where he is. But they fail to get him. Later Verger decides to frame Starling which makes Lecter return to the States. And the race to get Lecter begins. (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0212985/?ref_=nv_sr_6) I believe this story line is very appealing to people as it is a little bit realistic but isnt realistic enough to frighten people to think it may happen to them.
We can also see that Saw IV is ranked 9 and made 31,756,764 in the first weekend and a total gross of 63,300,095. Jigsaw and his apprentice Amanda are dead. Now, upon the news of Detective Kerry's murder, two seasoned FBI profilers, Agent Strahm and Agent Perez, arrive in the terrified community to assist the veteran Detective Hoffman in sifting through Jigsaw's latest grisly remains and piecing together the puzzle. However, when SWAT Commander Rigg is abducted and thrust into a game, the last officer untouched by Jigsaw has but ninety minutes to overcome a series of demented traps and save an old friend or face the deadly consequences. (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0890870/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1) I believe this film made this much money as it includes a lot of conventions and has a good story line which the audience can relate to. Although I believe it didn't make as much as the previous Saw's as they were brilliant films which were hard to match up to as they ay have run out of ideas. Another reason it didn't make as much as films like Hannibal as its story line wasn't that realistic and doesn't allow the audience to create relationships with the characters as the narrative isn't realistic.
Lastly we can see that Psycho II which was released on the 6th of March 1983 didn't make that much money on its opening weekend, $8,310,244, but did make more money afterwards and gaining a total gross of $34,725,00. This thriller is about a Now declared legally sane, Norman Bates is released from a mental institution after spending 22 years in confinement over the protests of Marion Crane's sister Lila Loomis, who insists that he's still a killer and that the court's indifference to his victims by releasing him is a gross miscarriage of justice. Norman returns to his motel and the old Victorian mansion where his troubles started, and history predictably begins to repeat itself. (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0086154/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1) This film didn't make as much money in its first weekend as many other films as it was created a good 20 years ago and wasn't very realistic and didn't allow the audience to create a relationship with the characters. This was because the director didnt use that many conventions to make the film realistic and relatable for the audience.
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