RESEARCH - Don't Look Now (1973)

One very well known Thriller film is 'Don't Look Now'. I have chosen to analyse this particular film because it exemplifies the classic conventions on Thriller openings. I think that this has a lot to do with the fact that it is an older film, it was amongst the generation in which Thriller films were becoming very popular. The trends set in that period of time are so effective that the exact techniques are still being used to open modern Thriller films.

The first thing we see is the calm looking scene of a field, this gives the impression that the atmosphere is idyllic and tranquil, which couldn't be more wrong. A sinister tone is created when a young girl playing by herself is shown in the field alongside the eerie piano music that starts to play. The use of mis-en-scene and non-digetic sound suddenly creates tension showing the viewer that the peacefulness is about to be shattered by danger. This technique of tranquillity versus immanent danger is a commonly used introduction to Thriller films.

Another common convention of Thriller openings that the film uses is made use of when the scene of the field cuts to one of the man and woman. This is used in many Thriller films - when there is a suspense building opening which then cuts to the main storyline. This tension is sustained by flicking between these two scenes, panic and tension is created in both, until they eventually meet. In the field scene the child starts to run and another boy enters and then falls off his bike, and in the other scene the man is finding clues (picture in a church of somebody in a red jacket like the girl). Moreover we get the impression that the child is going to be the source of drama and suspense.

RESEARCH - Health and Safety tutorial

In today's lesson we were given a chance to work with the specialist media equipment. It was an exciting experience because we were able to start applying the skills we have learned in to our own work.

However, before we could get stuck in to working with the cameras we had to go over the theory... didn't want to risk damaging anything!

We were given a professional video camera (which cost over £2000) and a full-size tripod. when it was all set up it looked similar to this...

We have learned:

• how to fit the camera in place properly on to the tripod so that it doesn't fall off when we are filming
• how to use all of the buttons properly (well most of them)
• how to zoom in and out
• how to focus the lens
• what shooting modes are best for different settings and lighting

So, although it was tricky to get the hang of at first, we are now all feeling confident about using the video camera to our best ability thanks to the tutorial. 

RESEARCH: Conventions of Film Openings.

Research

What are the conventions of film openings? use images/clips from class illustrate.

During our media lesson, we having been looking at ways a film in the genre of thrillers are presented. we looked at thriller openings and how they create tension within the audiences.

As a class we came together to understand that the point of a thriller is to allow the audience to relate and be aware of the genre of the film but not so much information in the openings to where the audience can understand and predict the plot. So in other words the opening of the thriller films are like an taster into the film and how the rest of the film is going to presented.

We also looked at the ways the thriller openings start and the speed of the transition from scene to scene. we discovered that the openings are usually fast or slow paced, this is to create uncertainly or maybe to shock the audience.

This was mainly apparent in such films like:

We discussed about how the credits of a film can make up and reveal the genre of the film in its opening. we looked at the different types of presenting the credits, e.g scrolling.

For example in the thriller opening of Panic room. the credits are clear and easy to read in the background of a city and a normal environment, the name of the film its self is eerie as the word panic connotes that something will go wrong in the calm working populated city. this sis and immediate example of credits being cut into the film, making them a vital part of the film.

RESEARCH - Thriller openings

In our media lesson today we were introduced to the concept of how Thriller openings are constructed in different ways. We watched a number of clips from different films and in this proces I realised that there are many similarities however also a lot of differences.

All of the clips included the credits, it appeared to be a trend that many of them were shown in white font on a black background. Other clips had the credits cut in to the film or over the film sometimes as the characters and events are shown, helping to give an insight in to what the film is about and adding to the setting an atmosphere.

I realised that there are two contrasting approaches to the construction of the thriller openings. One style is the calm opening which is shown in the 'Donnie Darko', we see something strange - him sitting in the middle of the road however the atmosphere is calm, as if this is normality. I really like this technique as it interests the viewer by making them wonder what is going on and building the suspense.

The contrasting opening style is to go straight in to the action, letting the viewer know from the start that there is going to be action and drama unfolding. One example of this is from the film 'Seven' The nature of the fast and messy editing as well as the misen-scene shows us straight away that there will be danger. 

RESEARCH: Conventions of Film Openings.

Research

Conventions of film openings

Todays lesson involved us watching a variety of thriller openings and making notes to work out what factors contribute to the creation of a good thriller scene which creates suspense.

Thriller film openings tend to be either really fast or slow paced;

Fast paced scenes are full of action and have many things going on at once, this helps the audience wonder what  


The music created contributed greatly to the whole opening scene by helping it build tension

the video above demonstrates the opening scene for seven, this is a prime example of creating a very suspense atmosphere to which the audience is eager to learn more about. this is done through unique editing and the soundtrack added on top, all the shots are fast and snappy, however  

RESEARCH: Conventions of film openings

In the first half of our lesson we concentrated on the different features of an opening of a thriller. We looked particularly at the different elements that provides particular feelings to the audience and also helps them indicate the genre of the movie. The music, camera work and editing all work together to create suspense and also helps to introduce key characters and themes.

After looking at various different openings we saw a trend starting to appear. Most of the openings included tense music. Even though there are similarities, there are also differences. Some of the openings we looked at were action packed with fast editing and fast, tense music. We also had a look at openings were the camera work and editing was fairly relaxed, but the music was still tense. The music is definitely one of the main aspects when trying to understand the genre of a movie.

We also looked at the order of the titles, how the titles appear and how much of an effect it has on the audience. The order will usually be started off by the production company, leading onto the directors and then the actors. In the thriller opening I looked at (Seven), there was a black background with white titles. This for me created tension and gave me a hint of what the genre might be.

We analysed how the credits of a film can reveal the genre of a movie and also at the different ways you can present credits e.g. scrolling etc.

There were also clips where the credits were cut into the film or over the film as characters and events are shown.