Genre research

My Genre Research

The genre which I will making my opening about is a psychological thriller. some of the thing which I have found out about a psychological thriller was...

The typical stock settings

-In a place close to home i.e. home/work environment

-Abandoned house

-Place where none would visit i.e.- in a grave yard, a creepy house

-Outside, middle of nowhere

-Council estate

-School

Stock Characters

-Typical characters are as followed
-Convicts
-Criminals:-one hour photo’ by mark Romanek 
-Stalkers:-phone booth’
-Assassins
-Prison inmates:-green mile’ by frank Darabont
-Cops or police
-Fugitives
-Drifters
-People in relationships
-Two people who are in love


Themes
Psychological thrillers tend to follow certain themes which are the centre of the story. Some of them as follows are:
-Death
-Reality
-Identity
-Existence
-Purpose


Narrative
THE SET - UP
The main problem is set up within the first 5-6 minutes

 THE COMPLICATIONS

A series of small problems or test have to be overcome by the Law Enforces. Problems should become progressively harder and seemingly push the LE further form the moment of victory.

 THE CLIMAX

Just before the end, the law breaker is caught. There trend to be car chases, brawls or intense confrontations.


THE WRAP - UP
All loose narrative/plot ends must be resolved to the satisfaction of the audience. Clues found by the Law Enforcer are explained, usually channelled through the sidekick. These clues are referred to as foreshadowing


Iconography
-Dark Skies
-SHADOWS
-CONFINED SPACES
-RUNNING WATER
-STREET LAMPS
-BARS/COVERS ON WINDOWS AND FENCES
-Open space
 

Here is a mind map with different features of a psychological thriller, including Mise En Scene, Camera Shots and other factors.

Silence of the lambs

Creation of enigma.

 Well it starts off in a woods which then makes the audience then think, Why is the film set here?, so the setting creates a lot of enigma, because initially you don’t aspect to see the opening in a woods. the props also created enigma, at the start a long shot is used to create the setting, but a woman is climbing up a rope, the 'rope almost creates this enigma 'why is she using the rope'. also the lighting is low key so it creates tension and makes the audience feel uncomfortable.

narrative, which creates Enigma

1. Enigma code- why is the setting set there? So to start with its set in the woods, it seems quite calm

2. Action code of a man climbing up the rope, so then the tension starts to rise.

3. Then there is a triple action shot of a woman running through the woods climbing over a net.

4. Then a problem is presented when a the male characters says ‘starling, Crawford want to see you in his office’.

5. Then an action code is used by using a shot of a hat which says FBI, which then the picture stars to become clear.

6. Basically throughout the opening we are left with lots of enigma codes.

Introduction to characters

 Well initially we are introduced to a woman by a triple action shot of a woman running through the woods and she climbs over a net. We can tell this is the main character because the camera is always on her. plus she is in the centre of the camera.

Setting up Plot

  an action code is used by using a shot of a hat which says FBI, which then we can judge that the story is going to be about mystery and judgement.

Pace and rhythm

Editing/mise en scene/camera shots

 The pace to start with is quite quick straight cuts of the main character running through the woods is quick so this almost creates tension.

Mood and tone (non diegetic music)

 Panic and almost tension is building because of pace, camera shots and camera movement,

The transactions between Hannibal Lecter and Starling also reflect a continuing concern of Harris, the creation of sympathetic and psychologically complex characters of all sorts. Although Lecter originally greets Clarice Starling with malevolent civility, from their first scene meeting, Starling treats Lecter...With the character of Clarice Starling, Harris moves away from his usual emphasis on the similarities between the hunters and the hunted. Unlike Will Graham in Red Dragon, who had a strange identification with those he hunted, Clarice's empathy works differently; she does not see things through the eyes of the serial killer who objectifies his victims. Her connection, instead, is to the victims. She goes through the rooms and possessions of the victims to learn more about the women Bill took, to see things through their eyes, and her ability to see through their eyes proves to be the decisive element in locating Buffalo Bill.

Se7en

Creation of enigma.

 A sense of mystery or tension is created with the use of camera shots on the props like the books and photos as they are all close ups so we do not see the person who is using the props or where they are in terms of location or setting. The clips are arranged in a montage format so they are not chronological and show that the person is creating some kind of file, however we do not directly see who or what the file is about. Low key lighting is used throughout the opening which connotes danger and mystery. There is also red lighting used at certain points through the opening which could also connote danger however we know it is just for developing the photos. At the beginning of the sequence we see the person with a razor blade cutting at the skin on their fingertips which implies that the person could have some kind of mental illness as that is not an average thing to do.  Props – books, developed and developing photographs, newspaper articles, handwritten notes, letters, razor blades
Low key lighting and dark red lighting
Close ups on objects, ands and props.

Introduction to characters
 There are no introductions to characters in the opening of Se7en however, from analysing the opening we can assume that the person who is creating some kind of file throughout the title sequence is involved in the main plot and could be the antagonist Props and lack of variety of camera shots

Setting up Plot
 There is also no setting up of the plot during the opening titles of Se7en. However, we are given small hints and clues as to what the film could be about with the person cutting things out and writing things down signifying the creation of a police investigation, repot or file so we can assume that the police will be involved in the story.  Props, camera shots, movement and gestures

Pace and rhythm

Editing/mise en scene/camera shots The format of editing used is a montage format so the clips are not in any chronological order. Various transitions are used with the titles but mostly straight cuts, dissolves and fading to black. There are also animations of flickering used on the titles throughout the sequence which gives it an eerie tone. The font of the titles resembles handwriting which reinforces the idea that the person on the opening is making a file of some kind. The colours and lighting used are very dark, adding to the eerie, mysterious feel and connote that the film is quite serious and dark.  Editing – dissolves, straight cuts and fading to black, animations
 Low key lighting and dark colouring.

Mood and tone (non-diegetic music)
 The music is unsettling, mysterious and eerie which connotes that this is definitely a thriller/horror film. It also starts off slow and builds as the pace gets faster and faster so the music is parallel to what is on screen. There is also a lot of screeching and unsettling noises that would put the audience on edge.  Background music and editing

Shutter island

Creation of enigma
 Mellow haunting music from the beginning – quite mysterious and connotes a mystery or enigma. The long shot of the boat emerging from the fog quickly creates enigma and poses questions in the audience’s mind like “where is the boat going?” and “why is the boat out here in the fog”.  Background music/soundtrack – mellow, haunting and crescendos at certain points.
Camera shots – long shot/ establishing shot of scenery and of boat emerging from fog

Introduction to characters

 We are introduced straight away to the main character of the story Teddy Daniels from the use of medium shots, over should shots and extreme close ups of Teddy’s face. We are introduced to his partner in a 2 shot when Teddy emerges from the inside of the boat, having thrown up several times in the bathroom. In a flashback we are also introduced to Teddy’s wife who died but we can assume that she could be part of the story if she is mentioned this early on in the story.  Camera shots – mid shot, over shoulder shot, close up and extreme close up of Teddy
2 shot of Teddy and partner
Editing – flashback sequence of wife when Teddy talks about her with narration over it.

Setting up Plot

 There is no setting up of the plot in the opening of Shutter Island however we are given a slight indication as to where they are going with the typography of “Boston Harbour Islands 1954”  Typography/text copy – “Boston Harbour Islands 1954” – giving audience hints and clues but not giving much away about the plot

Pace and rhythm

Editing/mise en scene/camera shots

 The pace of the opening is quite slow and steady which parallels with the boat being at sea and travelling at a steady speed. Straight cuts and jump cuts are used mostly to keep the pace steady and not too fast, not building much tension but creating an enigma as to why the two Marshals are at sea. This is coupled with the mellow slow music which only builds a little in places, which could parallel with the waves or with the noises or movement of the boat. Both characters we are officially introduced to are wearing similar stereotypical outfits for men of their age in the 1950s (the setting of the film). Both are also seen with cigarettes which, at the time were used to relieve stress so the use of props could connote that they have stressful jobs and are in a situation that is causing some kind of anxiety if they are smoking.
 Fade to black of typography and straight cuts used to keep pace of the opening slow and not revealing anything about the plot
Props and costume – archetypal of 1950s – cigarettes show stressful situations and work
Mood and tone (non-diegetic music)
 The non-diegetic music is quite mellow, soft and slow and creates a haunting atmosphere in the opening as the audience is still unsure of what is going on in the film for example why are they going to the Boston Harbour Islands and who exactly are they?
When Teddy speaks he sounds quite unsettled by the fact that he is on a boat in the sea which could show his weakness even though he is the boss (his partner addresses him as “Boss”) whereas his partner is unaffected by the sea and stands confidently against the railing.  Music – mellow, soft, haunting, quiet
Diegetic – contrast between 2 main characters weakness and vulnerability vs confidence and bravery

Trailer for Phone booth

Creation of enigma.

 The first is a shot of space with a phone satellite moving out. We then see ourselves tracking in towards Earth, and Manhattan, this creates the enigma ‘why is it set in this part of the world’. When we get up close to Manhattan we see that the island turns into a switchboard, and we are taken through the switch board, ending up at a man talking on his mobile phone, then we have the sudden realisation that Manhattan maybe the largest, area in new York which uses mobile phones.
the props, of a mobile phone, creates a sense of tension, because we can here the conversations, which people are having. This then could create the enigma ‘why are we listening into the calls?



introduction to characters

so we are introduced to a man on a cell phone, by his entire, we can see he is a professional character and that he is the main important character, due to his arrogant outlook on life. His suite connotes that he is a business man and that he plays an important roll in society. we are then introduced to a character, who we don't see his face, we just hear his voice. by his diegetic voice, we can tell that he is an evil character, due to his deep tone in his voice.

Setting up Plot

Stu Shepard is an arrogant publicist who believes he has the whole world in his hands, we can see this from the medium shots which are used. Every day he uses the same phone booth to call the woman he is cheating on his wife with, we can tell he is cheating from the close up which is used to show him taking off his wedding ring. But on the last day, before this particular phone booth is demolished, the phone, in the phone booth, rings. Stu naturally answers the phone, only to find the caller on the end is an invisible sniper who knows everything about Stu, including his relationships. The caller now has Stu as his hostage, who demands he comes clean with his wife.

Pace and rhythm

so the pace of the opening is quite fast straight cuts, jump cuts and dissolves are used, all of these factors effected the pace. when the opening sequence is finished and the camera is drawn to the main character Stu, the pace slows down slightly, causing us to be drawn in, and more interested.