RESEARCH-list the conventions of a thriller you have watched

The Departed-2006

The Departed is a thriller I thoroughly enjoy, however is also quite a challenge to grip the storyline.

-Its set in Boston where an undercover cop (costigan) is assigned to gain the confidence of a head gang member (costello) .Also another character (sullivan), has been working with another agency to pass information to the law enforcement also about costello. Both men become largely consumed by their double lives with the amount of double plans they are making, however Sullivan informs multiple cops their may be a rat even though it turned out to him, this then means both men have to try and expose the identity of the other to save themselves to get out of the risk of being exposed and captured by the enemy. The film finishes by Costigan  trying to persuade the cops that sullivan is the one working with the criminal costello (and he was) and a cop shoots costigan.  Dignam who worked with costigan seeks revenge and kills sullivan.

The Thriller codes and conventions used are:

• The actors and film company name is the first in the titles
• extreme close ups to show emotion and actors facial expressions
• Loud non diegetic music played throughout most action scenes to create a sound bridge for a curtain atmosphere.
•  facial expressions and body language also builds up mystery and tension, 
• Low angle shots to show fear and high angle shots to show who is superior and in control.
• The Antagonist lies 
• The main characters are the protagonist and the Antagonist 
• location well known
• tracking and pan camera movements are used, due to the speed of the action and music it implys something is about to happen which makes the viewer nervous and tense
• Fast cuts are used create more drama 
• dark lighting and shadows used for the action scenes as this sets the scene
• Guns are used and the sound of the trigger to create suspension and uncertainty 

RESEARCH - structures of film openings

There are 3 main types of film openings ,

- Narrative structure is when the opening titles are  super imposed or inter cut into a scene making it look like its actually part of the movie , The movie 'Panic room' is a prime example of this .



- Discrete sequence is when the titles include random images or footage which are from random part in the movie . It is not part of the narrative and does not give much away . The film 'se7en' is an example as the opening credits run over the top of random images .



-Titles over a blank screen is when the opening tiles stand alone and run over a blank screen which is then folllowed by the narrative .This will have no relation what so ever to the storyline. 'Donnie Darko ' is an example of this .



Stylised Editing is when there are many different uses of media techniques . Its very time cocnsuming but creates an effective opening. Its begins descrete then leading into an narrative opening .'The taking of Pelham 123 ' begins in New York where the credits are super imposed then continue to a narrative opening.

RESEARCH- structures of film openings

There are 3 types of Structure which a film opening could follow.

The first opening structure is a narrative opening.
A narrative opening is when the titles run throughout and are either super imposed or inter cut to the scene. The film 'The Shining' is an example of a narrative opening as the credits scroll from the bottom of the screen to the top.

The second opening structure is a discrete title sequence.
A discrete title sequence includes separate segments which are from random points within the film, but does not indicate the plot or give to much away and is not part of the narrative. 'Seven' is an example of this as the credits run over random segments.

The third opening structure is titles over a blank screen, followed by the narrative opening.
This means the credits stand alone and run generally over a black screen, they have no relation with the narrative  which then leads to the opening of the film. An example of this is 'Donnie Darko'

Stylized Editing 
Stylized Editing begins discrete but continues slowly and eventually into the opening narrative of the film. An example of this is The taking of Pelham 1 2 3. The credits begin super imposed onto the scenes of skylines of New York then continue to the opening narrative.

RESEARCH- Intertextuality

Interextuality is when the shaping of a media texts (films,novels,songs) have similar properties to another by referencing another text.
Remakes of films generally refer directly to a specific text which the audience can interpret due to their prior knowledge of others. For example films may re create a similar scene from others using  similar editing styles, camera techniques and by using similar diegectic/non diegetic sound.

Alfred Hitchcocks film 'Physco' includes the famous shower scene which has had aspects and techniques borrowed on countless occasions. These include the films 'Fatal attraction', 'The Stepfather' and 'What Lies Beneath'.

We can see the Intertextuality which has been used in Fatal attraction from the original film physco. The most obvious similarity is the ending of the scenes when both victims of murder have become weaker and lean against the bath tiles and fall. The water from the tap continues through to the ending of the scene in fatal attraction which is similar to the constant flow of the shower in physco. The sound in fatal attraction is also similar as it has a steady tone throughout until the women is dying and the non diegetic sound fades to silence, this is like in physco when the non diegetic sound also fades out and their is nothing but running water to show the women is dead. The two have fast paced editing when the action is present and extreme close ups of the women when they are dying.

-Stanley Kubricks 'The shining' used this image which was captured by Diana Arbus as inspiration for one of his most famous scenes within the film. The twins in the film look very similar to those in the photograph, the matching hairstyles and clothing. The camera angle used is also similar and creates uncertainty as although they appear as harmless little girls the manner and tone of their voices say otherwise.

By using Intertextuality for our own film opening should mean it would be a realistic thriller opening and would include all the codes and conventions needed for a successful opening.

RESEARCH-Film Audiences/target audiences

Films have a specific target audience to appeal to a curtain audience and give a more prominent idea on what the content of the film will include.

The general certificate for Thrillers today is a 15, although the main age years ago was an 18 it shows that standards within society are dropping on what is acceptable to be shown. The girl with the dragon tattoo is a 15,    even though she gets brutally raped. However Blue valentine is an 18 due to one scene where a man is orally pleasuring a women, as society would see this as unusual it was rated an 18.

The average Thriller includes violence and psychological issues which can be disturbing, the main target audience for a thriller depends on the content and sub genre of it, Passion thrillers appeal to a more feminine older audience, action thrillers appeal to a younger audience and crime thrillers appeal to an older audience. 

The Dark Knight Rises would appeal to a wide audience due to the fact it is a trilogy of batman and the first batman comic was released in 1940. However generally the main audience would be young adults/older teenagers, this is due to the action and thrill the movie includes. Also the audience may be able to relate with the characters in some way, whether they aspire to be a hero like batman or one of the other characters, the movie would be relateable too most viewers.

Other Genres attract other target audiences;
Animated- younger audiences 
sci-fi- male young adults
Comedy- wide range
Romance- mid-older women

However this is just my general opinion, sub-genres also play apart in the target audience of a specific film.

RESEARCH - Intertextuality .

The meaning of Intertextuality means describing a visual referencing between films, when films have similar properties to each other.
Some films tend to 'borrow' from other films, such as camera angles ,aspects of mise en scene or sounds and editing .



In Alfred Hitchcock's film  'Psycho'  , There is a famous shower scene which many movies have borrows aspects from , such as 'The stepfather'. In 'The stepfather' a man has been stabbed in the bathroom and falls leading to the shower curtains coming down . In psycho as the lady is being stabbed she falls into the shower curtains and the curtains come of the hook .  In 'Pyscho' there is also a close up of the ladies feet once she is dead , that the film 'Fatal attraction' borrowed as there is also a close up of the feet .Also when Alexander is struggling to breathe she runs to the kitchen sink and turns on the tap . Non- digestic sound clips are used to add emphasis within the clip and has been taken from psycho .Other intertexuality elements are the shiny knife, white lighting , close up of facial expressions and the fast music. In one of the students remake called 'succubus ' The whole shower scene , the stabbing repeatedly and the close up of the feet have all been borrowed from ' Psycho '.

As the majority of these films have been a success , the use of intertexuality could be a great benifit as it would be a more realistic thriller .We will be able to use some key conventions to make it the best opening possible.

RESEARCH-Film Audiences - target audiences

All films are composed specifically to a certain type of audience it's targeting . This is important as it will identify what sort of content , an advantage to targeting a specific audience would be the fact that it can be tailor made , meaning the producers do not need to worry about a wider target audience .However a disadvantage in this would be that it wouldn't make as much money .

Different genres attract different audiences , eg :

• comedy would have a wide range
• sci-fie would be aimed at young male adults
• Romance would targetteenage girls and women in general
• Animated would be set for children

The target audience for a generic thriller movie would be the ages of 15 - 25 , However the standards of what is allowed to be seen by a certain age group has dropped as before , thrillers would be an 18. On the other hand most thriller audiences depend on the sub genres , For example thrillers border lining horrors such as ' the sixth sense ' and 'the village' would be aimed at teenager girls ,  younger and more female based ,where as thrillers such as 'se7en ' and ' memento ' are targeted at more mature audiences

The movie Se7en is rated 15 due to the fact it contains strong language , hardcore violence (murders ) and sex & nudity.

Most target audience for thrillers would be people who are intrigued in mystery ,crime ,  twists and turns .They want to be able to work things out for themselves . Never the less sub-genres play a massive part in the type of audience .