2. The Brief
• Creation of the titles and
opening of a new thriller.
• Last a maximum of 2 minutes.
• Should include original
material.
• Students should create all
audio and visual material.
3. Project Process
• Research and Planning – to
learn and understand the
conventions of the thriller
genre and to plan how to
engage with the genre.
• Filming and Editing – to
demonstrate your
understanding and to
create your own example of
the genre.
• Evaluation – to reflect on
how successful you were at
the above.
4. Research – starts now!
• Vital to have a clear understanding of conventions.
• Essential to demonstrate that understanding to
examiners.
• Achieved through analysis and creation of your
opening sequence.
• No limit as to how many you can analyse
• Structure by micro-elements and refer to how those
micro-elements are used to exemplify the
conventions.
5. Thriller Conventions.
• The following is a list of thriller conventions. Use it to both to create your own
sequence and analyse existing ones, remembering that different films will use
different conventions in different ways.
• A crime at the core of the narrative (often murder, but not necessarily).
• A complex narrative structure, with false paths, clues and resolutions.
• A narrative pattern of establishing enigmas which the viewer expects to be resolved.
• A protagonist who is systematically dis-empowered and drawn into a complex web of
intrigue by the antagonist until the protagonist feels isolated and helpless. The title of the
thriller may relate to this weakness eg Vertigo and Insomnia.
• Themes of identity, mistaken identity, doubling and doppelgangers, amnesia.
• Themes of mirroring, reflection and seeing.
• Themes of voyeurism, with The audience of a thriller being placed in the ambiguous position
of voyeur.
• Manipulation of perspectives and optical illusions are common.
• Titles often reflect an aspect of the pro/antagonist’s psychological state.
• There are often frequent scenes in the film in which the protagonist is in peril.
• Mise en scene which echoes/ mirrors the protagonist’s plight.
• The narrative presents ordinary situations in which extraordinary things happen.
• Micro elements combine in a build up of suspense, music and lighting are particularly
important in the creation of suspense.
6. Alfred Hitchcock – Master of Suspense
• A British producer and director who moved to
Hollywood and made a number of very successful
films from the mid 1920’s to the mid 1970’s. He is
considered to be the creator of the thriller genre
and the Master of Suspense.
• He pioneered the use of a camera made to move in
a way that mimics a person's gaze, forcing viewers
to engage in a form of voyeurism.
• He framed shots to maximise anxiety, fear, or
empathy, and used innovative film editing. His
stories frequently feature fugitives on the run from
the law alongside "icy blonde" female characters.
• Many of Hitchcock's films have twist endings and
thrilling plots featuring depictions of violence,
murder, and crime, although many of the mysteries
function as decoys or "MacGuffins" meant only to
serve thematic elements in the film and the
extremely complex psychological examinations of
the characters.
7. Analysis of Classic Thrillers
• In your groups:
• Watch the opening of a classic
thriller
• Make notes on the micro-elements
and conventions
• Do some research into the film, i.e.
find the original film poster, can you
find a trailer for it, can you find any
reviews, how was the director,
principal actors etc. Include images
and any links.
8. Classic Thrillers
• Read this article on how the thriller genre was
established.
• http://www.timeout.com/film/features/show-feat
• Blog notes on the history of the genre –
include images and youtube clips.
9. Rear Window (1954)
The opening shots show the credits coming over a
large three paned window as the blinds rise up one
by one.
The camera moves through the windows and
outside, it follows a cat walking up some stairs and
then pans around an inner courtyard and then back
inside the window to show the main character
asleep, sweating, then it focuses on the thermometer
to illustrate the heat. Then the camera takes the
viewer on a voyeuristic journey to all the neighbour’s
houses.
Then back to the main characters house to quickly
introduce his flaw and set up some of the enigmas.
Main themes:
•Voyeurism
•Mistaken identity
•A protagonist with a flaw
•A crime at the core of the narrative
•Ordinary things in which something extraordinary
happens.
10. Catch Me If You Can
(2002)
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gaLDyrun_Cc
• An animated title sequence
that gives an overview of the
whole film but also establishes
some key thriller conventions:
• Identity – the creation of
multiple false identities.
• A series of crimes within the
narrative.
• The protagonist is frequently in
peril.
11. Se7en (1995)
A more abstract title sequence, this uses disturbing imagery as well
as images that can’t always be recognised to unsettle the viewer.
The opening and the film as a whole covers some of the following
themes:
•A complex narrative
•A series of crimes
•Voyeurism
•Identity
•A flawed protagonist
12. Initial Analysis
• Lesson 1:
Analyse a classic thriller
opening
• Lesson 2:
Analyse a contemporary
thriller opening
• Lesson 3:
Analyse a student thriller
opening
Homework: Make a list of
the thriller conventions
you want to include in
your opening sequence.
