David Fincher is a renowned director of psychological thrillers. His films utilize fluid camera movements, wide shots, and silhouettes to build mystery and tension. Regarding my own project, I plan to incorporate similar camera techniques to engage audiences. Guillermo Del Toro also directs thrillers and uses unsettling characters and locations to invoke human fears and create an anxious atmosphere. Thomas Hodge is a filmographer known for his painted film posters that emphasize key characters through a collage-like style. While his techniques suit action films, I do not think they are best suited for my thriller intentions.

1. Contextual
Research
Jake Whattam-Smith

2. RESEARCH INTENTIONS

3. In regard to my contextual research, I desire to look at an assortment of directors that are in some way related to
thriller films, whether having created them or formed a technique/s that are used amongst the thriller genre, I
want to look at a variety so that I can both accumulate different effective processes that are used daily in film,
but also because each director tends to have their own personal approach/style towards different genres,
something I want to analyse, possibly incorporate in my own work, but eventually find my own pathway/style
amongst the film industry.
I would like to look at a brief background history of the director, as this gives more of a clearer representation
and hints at why certain processes are taken place in their work, possibly due to experiences or the way they'd
been brought up, this can help make it more relatable and understanding for myself. It's also worth considering
that by looking at the directors past I could find existing products for myself to review and pick external
information from that may be more subtle.
Then considering their own trademark techniques and methods during the production of films, I might be able to
link things across my own work or find new procedures that could influence my project for the better; whether
its camera work, lighting, the scenes, narrative, sound effects, and or even script, there's so much experience
that professional directors bring to a film that I could represent similarly to improve both the project and my own
ability to produce things.
And finally, with most things, I want to look over everything I have gathered for this particular director, reviewing
its contents, and determining what makes him good at his job, and the directors influence on my own project
and personnels.
When considering the theory research aspects of my project, I would really like to look at both film theory,
theory behind the thriller genres, and theory around film promotion. It's important to grasp that I intend on
creating a bunch of promotional material for a new feature thriller film that I'll make up, so looking at film theory
for the creation of this film is equally as important to tehory behind promotion of these films being made; and
separate to the obvious, I want to target the thriller genre specifically, making the promotion and film itself
around the thriller suspense and tension, so observing this genre is uniformly as imperative to a film and
promotion understanding.
More specifically I want to round up all the information necessary around the three mentioned theories, clarify
what they each mean in more detail so that I can then infer its connection to the project looking at the

4. CONTEXTUAL ROLES

5. David Fincher (Director)
Born August 28th 1962, David Fincher is
a world-renowned film director whose had a
passion in filmmaking from an early stage.
Known for his psychological thriller films, he's
famous for directing films like 'Seven' (1995),
'Fight Club' (1999), 'Gone Girl' (2014), and
'Zodiac' (2014). Researching him for the
success he's had on producing thriller
feature films, he's undergone many practices
that establish what makes a good thriller
genre across the film industry in the hopes
that I may be able to analyse and use them in
my own work.
Operating fluid tracking cameras so that many
shot angles and good camera movement is
achievable, he ends up using a lot of wide
shots, low angles, stationary shots, and POVs
to express the film more and create
the tension/suspense needed in a lot of his
feature thriller films.
Commonly addressing very sensitive and
disturbing topics of such with suicidal
intentions/downbeat endings, this is usually
exhibited with backstories and flashbacks, and
frequently used silhouettes in the shadows for
added mystery and giving off or building up
that thrill factor amongst the audience when
recognizing his usually very confusing and
psychological impressions on storylines.

6. David Fincher (Director)
Regarding my own project, I definitely think
some uses of camera movement and angles,
similar to what is mentioned, could be
reflected in the creation of my own film;
considering that this is an incredibly budget
friendly way of merging a film together
through camera skill and ability to handle, I
think this is feasible with some of the
equipment available (prior to production) and
past experience I've had with other filming
scenarios (hobbies and work). Not only do I
think this would make it much more visually
attentive with the cinematography, but I think
it would also benefit getting across the
different moods and characteristics needed
for a thriller film (which are mainly
anxiousness and nervous attitudes in the
audience).

7. Guillermo Del Toro (Director)
After having developed an interest in
filmmaking which has lead to winning oscar
awards, nominations and producing big feature
films, Guillermo Del Toro, born October 9th
1964, is a Mexican film director, screenwriter,
producer and novelist in the world of film.
Directing or involved in the making of films
with his numerous other abilities, expect him
to appear in the making of films like 'the shape
of water', 'hellboy', 'pacific rim', and thrillers
like 'scary stories to tell in the dark' and 'Julia's
Eyes' which have remained well-know across
the genre.
With a good background experience in creating
feature movies across a vast range of genres,
some of his most popular releases adhere to
the thriller type. Successful around this
subject, Guillermo has imported some of his
own personal trademarks to establish a sense
of thrill, tension and anxiousness.
Reflective of insects and creatures, he often
resembles these interpretations with humans
to create quite disturbing and horrorfying
characters; and to support these roles, they're
usaully defined amoungst disturbing places like
a morgue, church, subway systems, and even
sewers. In addition to the characters and
places, religion has infleunced a lot of the work
he produces, from teh items, props or location,
religion in some matter will be present almost

8. Guillermo Del Toro (Director)
all of the time; and not so obvious to the naked
eye, often the characters or protagonists are
infleunced strongly by their father figures,
commonly adressing themselves to have sinister
or outright evil intentions, which may be a suttle
link to the religious studies mentioned already
with the 'father' and 'holy spirit' that evenmore
creates an eerie and creepy atmosphere given its
always present in the surroundings or props like I
had already observed.
I definitely think the consideration of natural
human fears is used a lot in his work, from
clastrophobia to insects and religion, and he
twists these fears to create unsetteling situations
and most importantly a tense atmosphere
because it's almost guaranteed in some way the
audience watching will encounter something
they're scared of; and because of how effective a
processes like this is, I will in some way consider
doing something simular in my own work when I
get closer to planning or production itself.
Having recognised in previous projects how
important and influential filming loactions can be
on an audience when wanting to get perticualr
emotions, feelings or moods in the atmosphere,
combining my own experaince with what
Guillermo does, im sure places like churches,
graveyards, generally isolated locations will be
sure to work extremely well in conveying a
message or tone.

9. Thomas Hodge (Filmographer)
Working in an expertise for producing film
posters, Thomas Hodge is know for the
filmography he produces for bid screening films
across the world. Based in the art department
and credited for 37 differatn films from 2010 –
2017, expect to see some of his work for
screenings like 'Victor Frankenstein' (2015), 'Spy'
(2015), 'Hobo with a shotgun' (2011), and 'The
heat' (2013). Known mianly for the posters he
produces in films, he also has a background in
advertising for books, logos for company's, video
games, and standees for some of the films he
works in collaboration with.
Because theres a significant lack in information
about this particular person across the internet, I
had to observe and determine myself some
features that make him distinct and unique
against others. Otherthan the fact that he seems
to take on action films a lot of the time, theyre
almost always made from painting and or
drawings which is perculiar considering that these
methods were comonly used in the 1960s and
that technology nowadays I so advanced that its
rarely looked over and not used like in this
situation. In addition to this, its without a doubt
that Hodge likes to emphasise the main character
amongst other things that happen in the film in a
montage, almost collage style with a numerous
amount of images and small features in the
foreground that refelct and infer the storyline;
this is used in pretty much all posters hes ever

10. Thomas Hodge (Filmographer)
developed, often resembeling the main character
centre of the page with everything else goin on
around them to signify the main focus intended
here, but to similarly refelct the genre that the films
headed towards - action most of the time which
hinders at the fact that this technique is heavily
used in his work because of this reason and how
well it illustrates the genre because a lot is going on.
Aside from the layout, most of the time he uses a
lot of bright and vibrant colors to grab the attention
of the public, this could be down to the fact that he
mainly did action movies and so this was effective
at getting the idea across, but I think its also
somewhat down to these posters being produced in
drawings/paintings because likewise to this which
was a common feature in the 1960s, also was bright
color schemes when resembling the decade of 'fun'.
Besides creating the posters out of drawings or
paintings, I am definitely more capable at getting
across this style over on software, and if I was to
include this it would be very beneficial to attracting
an auidence whose intrested in the action genre,
but regarding that im investing time to create
products for a thriller film, I don’t think this
particular technique may work as well with the
intentions I desire; but following brighter
contrasting colour schemes may work in my favor to
emphasise certain things, people or props whilst
remaining suttle to make the auidence take action
and find out for themselves, so this aspect is
definitely something to consider for my own
project.

11. THEORY RESEARCH

12. Film theory is not to be confused or associated with the industry's history, but the ways in which films are broken down into so
that they can be analyzed in more depth and then related to certain characteristics you see in film and society. The more you can
get out of a film in this theory, the better you'll understand its terms and meanings being made through some of its key elements
that make up films. Film theory is made as a way of creating something unique or building on from what others have made to
make something unique of your own. This is made up of the 8 main components that make up film theory: Types of film, shots,
angles, lighting, color, sound, editing, and mis-en-scene. Its important to understand that it would be impossible to go into every
meaning associated to each factor making up film theory, but knowing what make up a film and the ways in which it is done can
help judge some of the intentions being made from directors when using your own knowledge and awareness to the industry.
Types of film: (realism) Non-professional, no special effects, on location sets and props, minimal editing, natural lighting,
documentary style; (classical) Professional, Minimal or no special effects, on location or studio, edits used for time lapse, lighting
and sound used for mood; (Formalism) Professional, Relies on special effects a lot of the time, Editing speeds or slows down time,
Lighting and sound exaggerates things, breaks the illusion of reality.
Shots: Extreme/close up, medium/full, long/wide, extreme long/wide, deep focus, over the shoulder, and POV shot.
Angles: Eye level, high/low angle, oblique angle shot.
Lighting: High/low key, chiaroscuro, and silhouette/black lighting.
Color: (saturated) Conveys happiness, fantasies, romance, or some idyllic scenery; (de-saturated) Conveys the past, struggle,
depression, or some other dystopian scenery.
Sound: (diegetic) Voices of characters, the sound made by props, and music coming from instruments in film; (non-diegetic)
Narrators commentary, sound effects that have been added, and mood music.
Editing: Continuity, classical, radical subjective continuity, thematic, associative, and dialectic.
Film Theory

13. Often a form of fiction, the thriller genre is associated strongly with giving the viewers a sense of excitement or in
most scenarios heightening their feelings of anticipation, anxiety and suspense in what are tense environments with
an extensive use of plot twists, climax's and cliffhangers to enlighten these feelings even more. Usually villain-driven
plots, the protagonist must overcome the numerous obstacles they are presented with, either succeeding or
sometimes failing as the covering-up of important information is a common element as these films become very
psychological with often overlapping subgenres, involving the audience on a near constant basis as they place
themselves into the scheme.
A key part of the genre comes from the feeling of suspense and pleasurable fascination, anticipation,
apprehension and tension. It's said if a film ''thrills'' the audience then it's a thriller, because the way in which the
narrative is developed, through commonly mysterious and unpredictable events, makes these reactions in the
audience stand out as you begin the judge 'what happens next'. What builds up throughout the film, these
impressions keep the audience hooked until the climax where its most impactful, often relieving a sense of
satisfaction and relief until once again something unpredictable occurs, catching out the members watching and
starting up the process again of keeping them engaged and interested until the end. These factors make it
incredibly memorable and more-the-less enjoyable even though you're in a constant state of anticipation, because
you as the audience know something is going to happen but your powerless to prevent it from happening and yet
you know this in the back of your mind.
Using a lot of the time very serious scenarios, the characters common in these cases are usually serial killers,
assassins, terrorists, cops, and general murders, whilst themes surround twisted relationships, kidnappings,
captivities, investigations, paranoia, romantic triangles and accusations with a plentiful amount of plot twists around
it.
Taking place a lot of the time in ordinary cities and rarely in exotic locations like deserts or polar regions, the
narratives in thriller genre films commonly arise when a cahracter is placed in a dangerous situation or trap; the
chances of surviving are slim having unsuspectantly been involved in a fatel position where the hero is determined to
go against the odds of dying, taking many chances and sacrifices to challenge the main dilemma that’s aroused.
Thriller (Genre) Theory

14. Suspense -
Mainly through the feelings of: Mystery, unpredictability, tension, awareness, apprehension, anticipation, rousing
suspicions, suspense, hope, anxiety, depression, fear, anger, expectation, and judgement.
Themes –
Crime and action: Ransoms, captivities, heists, revenge, kidnappings.
Mystery: Investigations, Detective style
Dramatic and Psychological: Plot twists, psychology, obsession, mind games.
Science-fiction: Robots, machines and or aliens, mad scientists, experiments.
Horror: Serial killers, stalking, deathtraps, horror-of-personality
Paranoia: Fringe theory (different viewpoint), false accusations, paranoia itself.
Spy: Threats to countries, spies, espionage, conspiracies, assassins, surveillance.
Characters -
Both protagonists and antagonists: Criminals, stalkers, assassins, innocent victims, menaced women, psychotic
individuals, spree killers, sociopaths, agents, terrorists, cops/escaped cons, private eyes, people in twisted
relationships, world-weary individuals, psycho-fiends, etc.
Story -
When life is threatened and the character is in a dangerous and unpredictable situation or trap. Usually faced against
low odds of surviving in tough conditions that seems almost impossible to come out of.
Setting -
Often in ordinary suburbs, cities, villages, towns, and foreign places, with on the rare occasions deserts, polar
regions, high seas.
Thriller (Genre) Theory – Listed Elements

15. Separated into two separate divisions when collecting audience data, primary and secondary, the research is often
gathered by yourself and can be mostly both expensive and time consuming (primary), whereas 'desk research'
(secondary) involves looking at pre-existing data that is summarized to benefit the research you had gathered
already. Look at it as a cake, the primary research consists of making the cake sponge as the main base to everything,
whilst the secondary research is the extra decorations and flavors as it complements the main cake or research you
had gathered in this situation, often making it more appetizing or trustworthy to your peers having gathered and
looked at existing methods which work in the industry.
These can include interviews, focus groups, self-administrated surveys, field observations and experiments (primary),
or reports, online sites, books, articles, archives, and even schools (secondary) as only a few.
Research theory is also strongly based off of both 'qualitative' and 'quantitative' data that is gathered in the
processes of getting primary and secondary research. Where 'qualitative' data isn't necessary measured using
numbers but focusses on the attributes, properties and labels which make up the research, 'quantitative' data is
contrary to 'qualitative' data given its more rigid and detailed using both numbers and values to process and analyze
the information, making it much more concise and 'close-ended' in comparison to something more investigated and
'open-ended' as 'qualitative' data is much more theorized around the meaning 'why'
Generated through texts/documents, audio/video recordings, images/symbols, interview transcripts/focus groups,
and observations/notes, 'quantitative' data in comparison is often formed through tests, experiments, surveys,
market reports, and metrics.
Research Theory

16. Based off of the academic literary theory and cultural studies, audience theory is reflected in the study of nature,
history, moral philospohys, social regards, cultural and political analysis, and themes that make up each audience.
With a strong foucus on rhetoric and rhetorical situations that imply the construct of an audience, one way of
advocating a group is through demographics and psychographics which helps your understanding when looking at
their age, gender, ethnicity, region, religion, sexuality and class (demographic elements), and their personality,
values, attitudes, interests, and lifestlyes (psychographic elements) which are considered to be the main values
which makes up an auidence.
Traditionally your job and way of gaining an income differentiatied yourself against others in a social-economic
demographic class chart, this established any importance to certain individuals in comparison to others as its
determined the higher income you earn, the higher the possability of being more competent. This was more
popularised up untill the later 1900s, but its still commonly used when determining a defined target audience as
such:
A – High ranking proffesionals; lawyers, doctors etc.
B – Middle ranking proffessionals; middle managers in business, teachers etc.
C1 – Office workers, clerks, semi and nurses etc.
C2 – Skilled manual workers; carpenters, electricians etc.
D – Semi and unskilled manual workers; drivers, labourers, cleaners etc.
E – People on state benefits, the unemployed, pensioners etc.
In addition to demographics, psychographics, and the social classes, the 'VALs Audience Groups' individualises
people as its used to predict an individuals behaviour based on their beliefs, practical and intellectual curiosity
among other things. These include:
Innovators – Like change in the world; have the highest incomes; high self-esteem and resources to indulge in any or
all self-orientations; their image is as important to their expression, independence, and cahracter; focused on the
finer things in life.
Audience Theory

17. Thinkers - Motiveted by ideals; they're mature, responsible and well-educated; things centre around their
home mostly; observent about what goes on in the world; open to new ideas and change; high incomes but decisive.
Believers – Low reosurce group; motivated by ideals; conservative and predictable; centered on family, community,
and their nation; modest incomes.
Achievers - High reosurce group; motivated by acheivements; succesful-work orientated people; centered around
the satisfaction from wokring and their family; politacally conservative whome respoect authority and status; favour
established products to show successful lifestyle.
Strivers - Low reosurce group; motivated by acheivements; values simualr to acheivers but less economic, social, and
psyhcological reosurces; centered around style to reflect like their admired ones.
Experiances - High erosurce group; motivated by self-expression; youngest out of the bunch; lots of energy into
physical and social activities; avid consumers for new better products and services.
Makers - Low reosurce group; motivated by self-expression; practical people; value self-sufficiency; centered on
family, work, and physical exercise; little interest in world; appreciate practical functioning products.
Survivors - Lowest income; very few resources; oldest group here; brand-loyal consumers.
Audience Theory (continued)

18. BIBLIOGRAPHY

19. Bibliography
1. Anonymous. (2020). David Fincher Biography.
Available: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000399/bio?ref_=nm_ov_bio_sm. Last accessed 08/01/2021.
2. Anonymous. (2021). David Fincher Article.
Available: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Fincher. Last accessed 08/01/2021.
3. Anonymous. (2021). Thriller (genre).
Available: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thriller_(genre)#:~:text=Thriller%20is%20a%20genre%20of,the%20films%20of%20Alfred%20Hitchcock.. Last accessed 08/01/2021
4. Anonymous. (2021). VALS.
Available: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VALS. Last accessed 18/02/2021.
5. Anonymous. (2019). Audience Theory.
Available: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audience_theory. Last accessed 18/02/2021.
6. Devin Pickell. (2019). Qualitative vs Quantitative Data – What’s the Difference?.
Available: https://learn.g2.com/qualitative-vs-quantitative-data. Last accessed 18/02/2021.
7. Jason Hellerman. (2019). Understanding Film Theory: An Essential Guide.
Available: https://nofilmschool.com/Film-theory-basic-terms. Last accessed 01/02/2021.

20. 8. Pedro Borges & deltorofilms. (2021). Guillermo del Toro Biography.
Available: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0868219/bio. Last accessed 08/01/2021
9. ppermaul. (2015). Audience, Theory and Film Marketing.
Available: https://www.slideshare.net/ppermaul/audience-theory-and-film-marketing. Last accessed 18/02/2021.
10. Tom Hodge. (2008). N/A.
Available: https://thedudedesigns.com/?v=79cba1185463. Last accessed 12/01/2021.
11. Unknown. (Unknown). Qualitative Data – Definition, Types, Analysis and Examples.
Available: https://www.questionpro.com/blog/qualitative-data/. Last accessed 18/02/2021.
12. Unknown. (Unknown). Thomas Hodge.
Available: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm7606059/. Last accessed 12/01/2021.
Bibliography - Continued

21. CONTEXTUAL STATEMENT

22. Contextual Roles Research - Looking at the more specific trademark techniques, processes and methods each of the
directors and filmgrapher show in their work, whilst understanding these practises and why they're important for
each of these individuals, has influenced myslef a lot because its evident where their different passions and desires
lye in the film industry amongst all other things; this only sparks more of a creative ambition given some of these
appraoches could be reflected in my own work for their high level of ability, different messages some of them convey
in the feelings and tones offered, and overall engagement in the auidences watching or percieving their products.
Some of these processes include: a focus on serious/sensative topics that are generally disturbing against a series of
flashbacks or backstories for added tension and suspense in thrillers which are commonly mysterious, captivating,
and phychological (David Fincher Director); a strong consideration of human fears that are equally as adressed across
the location, characters, and themes given off (Guillermo del Toro Director); and high regard to contrasting vibrant,
popping-out colors to help emphasize certain sources of information that may be of importance, whilst catching the
eye of the audiencein the first place (Thomas Hodge Filmographer).
What makes these trademark features standout is their consideration for the audience above all other things, of
course the aesthetic and audio will be considered at all times, but the auidences effects are what makes these
aspects powerful because they create the differant emotions, feelings, actions, desires, interest, and attention to
drive their viewers into either watching the film or enjoying it after having started watching the source of
entertianment already.
Contextual Theories Research - Having already shown my intentions and desires to what my FMP will consist of,
creating a range of promotional material for a new thriller film, it seemed necessary and obligated to address film
theory, the thriller genre, film marketing theory, and film audience theory because of its strong relatability to the
project and having considered that these are the main subject areas to make up film distribution and marketing for a
thriller piece. Whilst film theory outlines the general practise's and sub-information around films as a whole, film
marketing, audience, and thriller theories are much more detailed and profound in their area, offering the
information I need to start creating my project and start developing ideas into my work so that I can address all
aspects in the industry that need to be referred – including things like audience appeal, typical situations and
feelings in the thriller genre, and how marketing and distribution processes persuade and impact an audience etc.

23. Film - I’ve always had a strong drive and passion creating moving image entertainment pieces, whether as a hobby or
through schoolwork I’ve always opted for a desire to create films and used every opportunity available to create
videos with the background knowledge and interest I have on this subject, and this is no exception. Recognising the
freedom and vast opportunity available given its entirely my own choice, I really want to express my full ability
creating not only moving image where my passions lye, but to also demonstrate my extensive skills and ability in
print and audio. Film had always seemed the obvious option where I can strive to show these skills because of
the extensive possibilities and pathways to follow, creating trailers, posters or teasers, the different forms of media,
video, audio and print, can be expressed thoroughly.
Covid - Regarding covid-19, which is on the uprise to be getting worse by each month, I would have hoped by
production time it'll have passed or setteled down acknowledging the fact that we're all in lockdown as of writing
this, but because of its unpredictability, it could well and truly come about during production time; in the case of this
happening, it would: significantly slow down production moving forwards in the project, having to work from home
and living in a busy household where everyone is working majority of the time similarly to myself; impact the quality
of my final product, given that I can't access the proper equipment or software to produce something of a very high-
end quality, which I intend on demonstrating; and limit the amount of options available to myself given I can't access
certain location, personnel's, and or objects that may be required of use.
As a result of these implications, I would have to resort back to using my phone a lot of the time for gathering
footage, origional sound recordings that I may require, and possibly to creating the physical products and video
editing if nothing appears to be beneficial on my laptop, like with free websites or in the occasions my laptop breaks
because of over-use; however challanging and difficult it would be to go into a fourth nationwide lockdown, in all
circumstances I would like to avoid using my phone, especially for editing creation of the products given I could live
with getting the footage using it, because I believe it would drastically drop down in quality and my overall grade
would become reasonably damaged.