2. Types of genre
• Fiction
• Mystery
• Thriller
• Horror
• Historical
• Romance
• Western
• Bildungsroman
• Speculative fiction
• Science fiction
• Fantasy
• Dystopian
• Magical realism
• Realistic literature
3. Thriller genre
Thriller is a genre of fiction, having numerous, often overlapping sub-genres. Thrillers
are characterised and defined by the moods they elicit, giving viewers heightened
feelings of suspense, excitement, surprise, anticipation and anxiety. Successful
examples of thriller are the films of Alfred Hitchcock.
Thrillers are characterised by suspense—a feeling of pleasurable fascination and excitement
over what is to come next, mixed in with apprehension, anticipation, and sometimes even,
fear.These feelings develop throughout a narrative from unpredictable events that make the
reader or viewer think about the consequences of certain characters’ actions.The suspenseful
feelings build towards a climax that is sure to be memorable.
With suspense and crime, with conspiracies and revenge, the thriller genre has been keeping
audiences on their toes with tension and excitement for centuries.When it comes to thrillers,
many think of Alfred Hitchcock and his movies, like Psycho (1960) and Frenzy(1972), that
contain storylines of embezzlement, murder, wrong accusations, and more. However, the
thriller genre began much before these movies ever hit the big screen. Let's take a look at a
brief history of the thriller genre.
4. History of thriller genre
Discovering thrillers in ancient epic poems
Thought to be one of the earliest prototypes of the thriller genre, Homer’s
Oddesy uses similar techniques as today’s modern thrillers. The hero of this epic
poem, Odysseus, voyages home to be with his wife, Penelope, through
extraordinary hardships and trials. He contends with Cyclops, a one-eyed giant,
and the Sirens, who sing sailors to their death, all while battling the sea on his
journey home from the Trojan War. These encounters contain anticipatory
suspense and leave the reader wondering if Odysseus will ever make it home,
and if so, how he will do it.
5. History of thriller genre
Into the 20th century with modern day thrillers
With the 20th century came modern day thrillers. The Riddle of the Sands: A Record of Secret
Service (1903) by Robert Erskine Childers is an early example of spy fiction and an espionage
espionage novel.
The Bourne Identity (1980) by Robert Ludlum tells the story of Jason Bourne, a man who
man who suffers from retrograde amnesia and must seek to discover his true identity. The book
book starts with a scene of Bourne floating unconscious with gunshot wounds in the
Mediterranean Sea—it doesn't get much more “ thriller-esque " than that. It is quite the
dilemma for readers and viewers alike to figure out.
In recent years, we have seen titles from Vince Flynn, well known for writing political thriller
novels, and Dan Brown, an American author of thriller fiction who wrote the 2003 bestselling
novel The Da Vinci code.
Thrillers fit into many different sub genres and categories, and here, we've only scratched the
surface. The genre has developed over the years in many different places and stories.
6. Codes and conventions
Characters
Themes of a thriller
Low key lighting
Quick cuts
shadows
Tension music
Black and white shots
Montage editing
Camera movement and angels
7. Details of codes and conventions
Characters:- The protagonist is often a brave male who seeks to restore the
equilibrium
The antagonist will have a hidden identify that the audience will uncover as the
film progress. Often the antagonist goes out for revenge from a past event.
Acting:- Acting is one of the most important roles in film, if everything in a film,
if everything in the film goes perfectly well and then it comes to the acting in the
film and it is bad it will ruin the whole film.This means that actors/actresses have
huge amounts of responsibility to transform the storyline and what the director
wants from them has to be done exactly right to make the narrative clear to the
audience, actors have to include all of the emotions in the film to relay to the
audience and to make them see the narrative and storyline.
8. Details of codes and conventions
Themes of a thriller:-The themes of a thriller are usuallyAction thriller,Crime
thriller, Psychological,Science Fiction and Religious.
Low key lighting:-Low key lighting is a lighting effect that uses a hard light
source enhance shadows in a scene. Low key lighting is all about shadows and
different contrast which creates a dark mysterious atmosphere which suits the
genre thriller.This atmosphere can create tension as the audience are unaware
of what could be happening around a character or even in the scene.
Camera movement and angles:-Camera movement are useful within thriller
films as they can help the audience identify the atmosphere and power of a
character. Close ups are used to show emotion of the characters.Low angle shots
can be used to show how little/how much power of the character.
9. Details of codes and conventions
Mise en scene:-
The location is important for the film because it help the audience establish the
theme
Lighting is often low key
Costumes- antagonist will be in dark clothes if you see them. Protagonist will be
in ordinary everyday clothes
Composition
Makeup and hair styles
Acting
Film stock (Black and white, or colour, fine grain or grainy )
10. Editing
Montage editing:-Montage editing consists of editing short shots into a
sequence in order to condense the amount of information, time and space.Two-
three or more shots are played at the same time.This is used in order to make
the audience feel uneasy and on the edge of their seats eager to see what will
happen next.
Overlapping Editing:- OverlappingCuts that repeat part or all of an action, this
expands the plot duration and viewing time.
Invisible Editing:-Editing that is so smooth that viewers become engrossed in
the movie and don't notice the individual cuts also referred to as seamless
editing
11. Sounds
Synchronous sound:-Synchronous sound is sound that is matched to certain
movements occurring in the scene e.g when footsteps correspond to feet
walking. Synchronous sound: Synchronous sound can be recorded on a tape or
magnetic film.
Non-diegetic:-Non- diegetic sound is any sound that the audience can hear but
the characters on screen cannot.Any appearance of background music is a prime
example of non-diegetic sound. Non - diegetic would normally be narrator's
commentary sound effects which is added for the dramatic effect or music.
Tone:-The tone is the mood or atmosphere of a film scene. So for example
it could be serious, humorous, amusing etc..
12. Camera angles
Medium close up:-A medium close up is half between a mid shot and close up. For
a shot of a person, an medium close up will include the head and shoulders. The
focus will be on the subject for this shot as it only shows a little bit of the
surroundings.You can still see the facial expressions of the subject.
Close up:-A Close up shot, is a certain feature or part of the subjects takes up most
of the frame. For example a close up of someone usually means a close up of their
face. Close ups are very useful for showing detail and also be used as a cut in. A close
up of a person's face can show their emotion of the character and it can draw the
audience into the subjects personal space and their feelings.
Extreme close up:-The extreme close ups shows all the extreme details in the
subject.The extreme close up though is too close to show general reactions or
emotion. Filmmakers use extreme close ups for many reasons like lack of room on
the set when a wider shot is not possible.An extreme close up is often used in crucial
points as the pace of the action quickens and scenes jump quickly from one to the
next.
13. Camera angles
High angle:-For a high angle the camera is elevated above the action using a
crane to give a overview of the action in the scene. High angels make objects or
even characters seem smaller and less significant.The object or characters often
get swallowed up by their setting - they become part of the wider picture.
Low angle:-A low angle increases height and give a scene of speeded motion.
The low angles help give a sense of confusion to a viewer, creating a
powerlessness sense within the action of the scene.
Pedestal:-A pedestal shot is moving the camera vertically with respect to the
subject.The term comes from the type of camera support know as pedestals.
They are used in studios as unlike tripods pedestals have the ability to move the
camera in any direction.
