Thriller story board

Our first shot is an extreme long shot of our main protagonist running across a field with air raid sirens and gun shots going of in the back ground. He will run from right to left across the whole screen. This is just after our title opening. Our next shot shows him in a street in Paris (Stamford) where we can first use the lighting to create atmosphere where we will use various shots (Medium, long and close ups). Following that our protoaganist first encouters the two German guards in the street. For this encounter we will use over the shoulder shots and close ups to build tension.

Our protaganist will then proceed to walk past the German guards as if to keep his head down as one of the german guards turns to look at him. For this we will use a medium shot with lighting shon across one side of the guards face. After this our protaganist will walk towards his car which we will use a 1950's moriss minor for to keep our continuity. For this, we will use a variety of long to medium of the car and the protaganist. He will this get into his car. For this we will use close ups of the car door handle and some POV shots.

After he gets in, he will get strangled by someone from the backseat. for this we will use a variation of noddy shots, close ups and outside shots of the car. This will help to create a sense of chaos. After the main protaganist has been killed we will use a close up to show he is dead. Then for the credits we are going to use a close up of some old newspapars with all of our names on including a picture of each of us.

Pitch feedback

Thriller locations & lighting

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang

 

This shot is a close up shot showing Robert Downey Jr. on the right and Val Kilmer on the left. We can tell from both of their facial language and how close they both are to each other that they are in a serious conversation and that this is an important point in the film. In this scene the camera makes a number of ECU’s on both characters. Again showing the dramatization of the situation. From the shot we can see it looks as though Val Kilmer on the left is more in control at this point, He is confronting Harry and telling him something serious and important. From the background we can also tell that they are on the roof of a building, the previous shot showed them at an important event or party. The buildings In the background show the importance and seriousness of the situation and also links questions to the viewer, what has just happened that meant they ended up there? Etc

For the first time shows on Harrys face and his body language shows that he is inexperienced and never killed anyone.  After this shot Harry slumps to his knees and puts his head in his hands, again convincing the viewer of how little he knows about his situation and how he came about to actually kill someone

In this scene Harry has just witnessed a murder and takes revenge on the murderer, despite having no connection with the victim in the film. As Harry becomes an actor by mistake after failing to robbing a store and accidently running into a movie audition, He is not a trained killer like most of the cast in the film, He then becomes wrapped up in a murder case after  working with a private detective to improve his acting (Val Kilmer). The shock of killing someone

 

In this scene the comical side of the film is noticeable. Downey and Kilmer have a man on his knees with a gun to his head in which they need information from. Despite this, Kilmer looks as though he is fairly relaxed and unconcerned with the situation, Similarly Downey Jr. looks more relaxed and calm. This is due to the fact that the scene is a comical one and this is clear by the body language and facial expressions of both characters. Again kilmer looks like the one in control in the situation and the one with experience over Downey Jr.

This scene is from one of the very early scenes in the film and tells the story of how Harry (Robert Downey Jr.) accidently became an actor after failing to rob a liquor store, We can see that this is an action scene and a close up shot. The clothing of both characters and the gun that Harrys partner is holding suggests that they are criminals, as Harry has his hands in the air and an afraid look on his face. His partner has the opposite attitude and has an aggressive look to him. The scene following has Harry’s partner shot and injured and Harry fleeing the scene whilst being shot at and then attempting to evade the police. (As the shooter they are looking at is not Police). This scene attempts to grab the audience within the first few minutes and is a good opening scene to start with.

 

This scene shows our two heroes captured buy the men who are attempting the cover up the murder of the victim in the case they are investigating. We can get a sense of the chemistry between Val and Robert Downey. Most of the humour comes from the brilliant chemistry between these two and the smiling face of Val even in such a situation can tell us this. The scene contains Val sneaking out a small gun to kill their captors after Harry is being interrogated. The previous screen is intense and includes some un expected surprises.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Thriller genre

The Thriller genre is a genre often containg excitement, suspense and of course thrills. The thriller genre has many sub genre’s compared to other film genres. Such as Crime, comedy, adventure, political, paranormal and Religious. A thriller will most likely always contain certain key characteristics, they often include a small number of ‘good guys’ who are up against a far superior enemy. A thriller will also often have the feeling of life and death present throughout the film and usually contain plot twists and surprises.

 

The thriller genre aims to captivate the audience, contain scenes of tragedy and narrow escapes as well as keeping the audience engaged and interested throughout the film duration. A thriller will often contain an ordinary hero to allow the audience to sympathise with the character as it puts it in their perspective, ‘what if this could happen to me?’ ‘this could possibly happen’ This is what keeps the thriller genre from other genres. Sometimes the character could also be a detective or a spy who used to be an ordinary person and the transformation came about in the film ( The Bourne Identity, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang).

 

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is fast paced, comedy, noir thriller starring Robert Downey Jr, Val Kilmer and Michelle Monaghan. It was written and directed by Shane Black ( writer of the Lethal weapon films ). It features many plot twists and surprise’s whilst also keeping the audience absorbed with the funny and clever dialogue. The story features Harry (Rober Downey Jr) accidentally becomes an actor, after failing to rob a store and accidently running into a movie audition, He is not a trained killer like most of the cast in the film, He then becomes wrapped up in a murder case after  working with a private detective to improve his acting (Val Kilmer). From then on the film becomes excited and un predictable to watch. There’s well screen played action scenes and some laugh out loud moments in the film. At the same time it stays within the Thriller genre by creating an ever present feeling of killing and corruption in a serious and believable manner.

 

Film Noir Mood Board

Thriller Shot list

Soundtrack ideas

What makes a good thriller soundtrack

·      Minor = sad

·      Major = happy

·      Strings section used a lot (often high pitched)

·      Percussive heart beat sound (usually in the bass)

·      Increasing in speed and volume

·      Nursery rhyme themes work well for the creepy factor

·      No lyrics

Metro LAST LIGHT  

1.no one walks here

2. Sundown

3. the bridge of kazhad doom
4. (edit) Tick of the clock - chromatics

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smxcn3u410M&hd=1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTnN6SeFDIM&hd=1http://www.youtube.com/watch?annotation_id=annotation_273264&feature=iv&src_vid=H843gBkzY8w&v=z06AH8i12A0&hd=1

Editing example video

Analysis of psycho shower scene

 

This shot is a Medium close up (MCU) shot of the killer. The lighting effects are the main things to note as we cannot make out the killers face, giving this shot more of a creepy and unnerving feel for the audience. The use of shadows has also cleverly been used to highlight the hand of the killer, which is holding the knife, which is the main focus point for the audience if they saw this shot in normal lighting.  This shot is only very brief as the editing speeds up during the attack giving a sense of chaos and confusion to the audience to try and share the victim’s feelings. This is also a key sound moment for the scene as it is designed to shock the audience and the again get a sense of how the victim is feeling.  After this shot there are a number of dutch angle shots and quick editing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Analysis of psycho shower scene

 

The shower scene in Psycho uses a lot of different lighting, sound, framing, composition and camera effects in only a small space of time. As the victim walks into the shower the camera is using close up affects. As she is un-expecting the attack, this is to share with the audience her feelings (to show she is calm and not nervous at all) it also shows the audience her emotional state, again to make it clear she is not expecting the attack at all. As she steps into the shower the camera is still using close ups to again emphasize the fact she is un-expecting the attack. It is only when the camera uses shots like a POV shot of the shower head, and a third person view of the shower curtain, that the tension begins to rise. We also notice how quick the editing is compared to previously. The shots are changing quicker, again adding to the tension. This is an effective camera technique to use for creating tension for the audience. As the killer appears very slowly, the audience only first see her behind the shower curtain getting closer and closer to its victim. One effective camera method used here, is that the camera uses a medium shot of the victim in the shower and the killer approaching from behind the shower curtain in the same shot. The victim hasn’t seen the killer yet so the audience see it before the victim does, this again is a very effective camera method of creating tension. Another thing to take note of should be the framing of the shots throughout. The camera focuses on her mainly throughout, excluding most of the objects in the bathroom. This again, gives the audience a sense that something may be about to happen.  As the killer pulls back the curtain, the camera uses close ups of the victim as she screams and the killer itself. During the attack angles such as dutch shots, extreme close ups (ECU) and a birds eye shot. The framing is very important of each shot as we only see very brief parts of; the killer, the victim, the knife and the shower. The editing is also sped up very quickly as the attack happens.

 

The lighting in this scene is very important. The scene is well lit as she walks into the shower and as she is in the shower. It is only when the attack happens that the lighting is used very effectively to create shadows on key areas. As is the sound. The sound gives a feeling of horror to the audience throughout the attack.

Composition and framing is also used very well used.

 

Trainspotting

 

Trainspotting has a brilliant and unique thriller opening. It is fast paced and grabs you straight away. The scene starts with two of the 4 main characters running from police which is actually a scene later in the film. The use of non-diegetic sound is used well here as its also mixed with diegetic sound. The non-diegetic sound is the Main character, who is also the narrator, talking about the luxurys that normal people and not drug addicts (himself) are able to afford. The script actually became very famous and was used in a pop song that went to number one during the time of the film (early 2000’s). The camera angles used are close ups,  medium close ups, noddy shots, long shots and still shots (to introduce the characters soon after the chase seen ends)   

 

 

 

 

Drive

 

Drive uses a tense opening which also grabs the audience straight away. It starts with our main character doing a job for some criminals who have just robbed a warehouse. He obviously is the driver and we get an impression of the type of character he is in the film from this opening scene. The shots used are a lot of close ups on the three in the car but mainly our main character. This is to show the moods and emotions of each of them and to build suspense and create tension. There is no non-diegetic sound used in this scene, I think this is to create the feeling that the scene is important and the job could go completely wrong at any time. The main character does not speak at all throughout the whole scene which again tell us that he is a reserved and mysterious character in the film. The uses of limited dialogue and the fact that no non-diegetic sound is used creates the feeling that something big could be about to happen. The scene is shot at night to create the feeling of crime and the police sirens are used a lot as diegtic sound again to emphasise the crime feel of the scene. The opening is longer than most (10 minutes) and this works well as the whole scene drags the audience in and encourages the audience to carry on watching.