Specific Film/technique research

For this section of pre-production, I continued with my research of thriller, this time looking at some titles we studies within our media classes, as well as finding some other clips that may be useful resources to use when making our own thriller.


In this opening title of 'Dawn of the Dead' (2004), I am looking closely at the animation of the titles, rather than the footage itself because I feel a montage would be an innapropriate way of introducing the plot to our thriller. In terms of the text, I really like the way the colour and animation fits the on screen footage; red connoting the colour of blood and it animates of the screen much like blood dripping down a wall. For our thriller, I would like to base the text of the titles around our theme of social networking and digital technology. For this I will animate the text the in After Effects so I can create the look I'm going for.







In this clip, 'Se7en' (1995) I really like the way in which the footage, coupled with the text creates a schizophrenic, unnerving feeling. The use of quick cuts and Extreme close-ups definitely helps enhance the feeling of mystery and suspense, and perhaps something I would look to include in our thriller film. Like with 'Dawn of the Dead', the text matches the on-screen action as it jitters around the screen, which is also something I can implement when animating the text titles. Finally I really like the sound used in this clip, the persistent screeching adds an additional layer of suspense to the opening.





In this short film, 'TELL' (2012), I am focusing mainly on the opening but also the film as whole. The elements of this film that I am looking at in particular are the use of cinematograhphy and sound, two features which are absolutely essential for a thriller. The excepetional use of both these techniques used in this film create an enhanced sense of realism, thus heightening the feeling of suspense. I like the way the film begins in Media Res, immediately capturing our attention, and this is something to consider for our film. Following the two character's argument, we follow the protagonist back into the house where he kills his girlfriend and This is my favourite part of the cinematography. I think the way the camera slowly follows the protagonist into the house whilst we hear the faint screams of the girl is particularly scary and shows that in order to create suspense, you do not need to show the violence, but instead let the audience use their imagination. This particular 'on the shoulder' shot is something that I will almost definitely be implemening somewhere in our film because I think it is extremely effective.
        I also think the musical score in this film is incredible, especially considering the film was produced on a low-budget; it sounds extremely professional and on top of this, the composer has given permission for people to use the music in this film, provided it has been payed for and credited appropriately; it is likely we will be using some of the music featured in this film.






In analysing this short film, I am focusing particularly on the excellent use of the mise-en-scene. The location used in this clip, is something that as a group we are looking at a similar one to use for our film.   An abandoned warehouse does a great job in adding suspense as it makes the character seem small and insignificant. Also we are trying to be original with our location and I think a warehouse is as such. The use of props such as blood and the knife are also used to good effect, creating added realism. Another aspect of this film that I like is the narrative. Although there is no dialogue, you can see the director is clearly trying to evoke a true sense of dark humour, particularly with the fact that the janitor ends up being the vicious murderer, who ends up having to 'clean' up his mess. This sense of dark humour is further emphasized through the use of contrapuntal music at the end of the clip, which creates an eerie and psychotic ending.