Thriller Conventions

1. Media Thriller
Conventions
Ft. Editing + Camera Shots/Angles/Movements

2. Fast editing is used to create
interest in the scene and keep
the audience hooked in, often
by using close cutting editing to
quickly jump from scene to
scene.
FAST EDITING

3. Cross Cutting
You can edit back and forth between the
character and the subject as many times as you
want to build tension. The audience won't get
bored. This is the most powerful form of cinema,
even more important than acting. To take it even
further have the actor walk toward the subject.
Switch to a tracking shot to show his changing
perspective as he walks. The audience will
believe they are sharing something personal with
the character. This is what Hitchcock calls "pure
cinema."

4. FLASHBACKS
Flashbacks are often used in an
important, or particularly thrilling
scene. They allow us to gain an
insight on how the character feels
about a certain event that is
occurring. They create a feeling of
space and time disorientation.
https://www.youtube.
com/watch?v=snKXo2S-lRg

5. Tracking and Pan shots are used more
often than not used in the beginning of
thriller films. It does this to keep the
interest on a particular individual or
group. It may also do this to create
excitement and hook the audience in.
Tracking shots are used to keep
excitement and thrill during scenes that
move a lot
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxqHVoZ0fzc
Tracking and Pan shots

6. In this instance it allows us to see through
eyes of the killer which gives us sense of
suspense, as you are helpless to what is
going to happen. It gives the audience a
clear view of Clarisse’s reactions. This
helpless feeling that the audience
experiences heightens the suspense and
creates tension as anything could happen,
and it lets you see things that you wouldn’t
usually see, like the frightening things
around his room.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=OQZYz7qR0Fo
POV shots

7. Establishing shot: in terms of camera work the establishing shot is integral: not only
does it give the audience an idea of the setting of the film, but it can be used to
establish the tone of the entire film. For example, if within the establishing shot you
see a skyscraper: you can expect that the film will contain themes and topics relating
to wealth and success, and more likely than not corruption as the power equals
corruption concept seems to be a common message to be had from thriller films. In
short, the establishing shot is a way of easing the audience into the other world.
Establishing shots

8. A head and shoulders shot often used to show expressions/emotions of a character.
Also can be a shot of an object, filmed from close to the object or zoomed in to it, that
reveals detail.
Close up

9. Birds eye view/aerial shots are can be used for a few different reasons. One could be
to establish where the character/s are. Another reason could be to show how small the
characters are, giving the idea of weakness. This is important in thriller films as it is
often used to show when a character is weak or losing. This can be seen in the
opening scene from The Shining. The birds eye view is used to show how isolated the
characters are, and how small and weak they are in their new world, a theme that is
often repeated throughout the film.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-tzC9kTH8s
Birds Eye View/Aerial Shot

10. By Will, Bianca and Zali
Thanks for
listening/watching