Character Profiles

Character Profiles:
Written by Laura.

The Stalker: We wanted the stalker to be really creepy. Someone which would raise the hairs on the back of your neck. We also didn't want him to be stereotypically creepy though, we decided that he'd have a job, dress well and always be neat. But perhaps, a little too neat. We knew straight away that we wanted him to be very OCD. This would become obvious within our thriller opening as you see him straighten and clean things. We wanted him to always be calm and collected. When you hear the girl re-enter her home, his face stays the same. He doesn't panic, or rush, or run. He always has a plan in his head and can think extremely quickly. This would add to the creepy feeling that he was always one step ahead of you. We wanted him to be tall and in his thirties.

The Girl: We wanted her to be/look about twenty. We imagined her to be pretty, slim and completely normal. This is so that the beginning of our opening with just her would put the audience at ease, and create more tension when we introduced the stalker. We wanted her to be quite the opposite of him; messy, bubbly and cheerful. We definitely wanted her to seem sweet and nice so that the audience would like her character, and therefore feel threatened and worried for her safety when she came back into the house and nearly found the stalker.

Shot list

SHOT LIST- THRILLER FILM OPENING SEQUENCE

We worked on this altogether as a group.

1. CU radio (hear static noise at first, fades to music playing)

2. MS young woman drying her hair

3. MS of the dressing table, pan to show her putting on lipstick

4. Multiple on-screen shot-
*left half of screen~ woman standing in front of her wardrobe, opens it
*top right of screen~ CU of glass of wine
*bottom right of screen~ MS of her makeup scattered on the table

5. Bird's eye shot- woman getting her shoes on

6. Worm's eye shot- of her feet, leaving the room from the gap in her door (she goes out of shot, light turns off, door slams)

7. CU of clock ticking

8. ECU of scattered makeup

9. LS of kitchen, hear the tap dripping, see the flash of car lights going past window

10. Low angle shot from the banister at bottom of stairs (hear scratching, the door opens, shadow of man is seen)

11. ECU light switch, light comes on

12. MS (from doorway, looking at the man's back) man walks to kitchen

13. LS establishing the kitchen

14. MCU him putting gloves on

15. CU of him dragging his finger along the worktop

16. POV checking his fingers for dirt

17. MS (side on) opens fridge, slowly reaches in

18. (cut to) Over the shoulder shot, him reaching into the drawer for knife

19. MS (side on) him lifting up the knife- it shines slightly in the light

20. Bird's eye shot of the knife cutting grapefruit, he puts his fingers in the juice, lifts hand to mouth

21. ECU (slow motion) wiping the juice from his mouth

22. MS he throws the gloves into the bin

23. Low angle MLS- his legs are seen as he goes up the stairs

24. MS from the gap in her bedroom door, stillness and silence, his face suddenly appears in the gap

25. Worm's eye shot- door slowly opening and he comes into the room (see his feet)

26. LS from behind photo frame. He is out of focus. His head turns, he comes into focus. He rushes towards the photo

27. POV, he lifts up the photo

28. ECU of his eyes, he stares intensely

29. Over the shoulder shot (but slightly further away than the shoulder) he puts the picture down gently. Sudden turn of his head, half of his face is seen

30. Low angle MS slowly reaches for the hairbrush on the table, holds it still and pulls a hair from it. begins to wrap it around his little finger lovingly. Hear her come in, see his reaction. Stillness as he waits for her, we hear her coming up the stairs on the phone, getting nearer. He looks up at the door

31. LS of door from the bed where her purse is, door swings open, she enters the room. Moment of stillness, grabs the purse, turns to go and notices ensuite light is on. She goes to the door

32. CU of her hand on the door handle

33. Two Shot- the door splits the screen, he is stood hidden behind the door and she is on the other side, she reaches for the light switch

34. black screen END SCENE

Our thriller idea

Originally, Holly, Joe and I wanted to start with a man running through London, possibly Chinatown. We really liked the idea of just him being in colour, and everything else around him being black and white. We began working a story line around this idea, and thought of having a girl murdered in her flat. We thought it would be interesting if the sequence switched from past to present throughout, going back to when the girl is alive then forward to the murderer running away.

This later on evolved into the idea of having the girls clips running backwards to create a more psychologically messed up effect. When we thought about this in more detail we realised that this wouldn't really make sense at all, and that we needed her clips to end with her opening the door to the murderer. We couldn't do this if she was going backwards. We then decided that the idea was relatively basic and wouldn't create enough tension for the sort of thriller we wanted.

We re-looked at our ideas, and decided to make it about a stalker. We got a lot of inspiration from the film 'One Hour Photograph', particularly Robin Williams' character. We thought of having the stalker looking at photographs of the girl. This would look normal at first, but then you'd realise that it wasn't him in the photos with her, it was another man. We decided this would be a bit boring and not tense enough.

Instead of having the girl and the stalker in two separate time lines, we decided to make one continuous piece of footage. We thought of the idea of the girl getting ready to go out, loud music blaring, creating a really energetic and good atmosphere. Then as she'd leave she'd switch the music and lights off, so that when the stalker entered her home, it would be completely silent and dark. We wanted to have him sniffing her clothes, and pulling hair out of her hairbrush, doing genuinely creepy things that would make the audience shudder. When we presented the idea, the class seemed to like it which boosted our confidence.

2nd Prelim task: Editing

Editing our piece was reasonably simple, with the exception that we realised we'd made several big mistakes when filming. The room we'd chosen to film in turned out to have really dodgy lighting, as we'd filmed facing a window. This took all of the brightness out of the shots and made them dark and hard to make out. To solve this, we experimented with colours, changing the footage into black and white so that we could then add a glow effect and lighten the shots. This worked quite well, and also suited the genre of a our piece and made the overall sequence more effective.

We had a problem with continuity at one point (which was my fault). When filming, I'd put my hand down on the table when I said the line 'You got the stuff?' However, the over the shoulder shot of Percy nodding showed me putting my hand down as well. We hadn't realised this when we were filming, but agreed that it was a good learning experience for our thriller openings. Other than that, our continuity editing was quite good - The footage of me pushing down the door handle and then the clip of me walking through the door was smooth and believable.

Before we started, once again me and Paige had some basic skills when editing with Final Cut Pro due to GCSE. This task definitely enhanced our skills as a group and got us comfortable with loading footage and experimenting with colours and music. We decided not to add music because it took away from what was going on in the clip. The overall prelim project was really useful, giving us a taste of who we wanted to work with and how to use the cameras and editing equipment. Here is the finished product:

2nd prelim task: Filming

There were several difficulties using the cameras. We began filming without the correct equipment, because the tripod we'd chosen had a piece missing which meant the camera would not click onto it. However, instead of fixing this we decided to do it hand held as we'd already spent a lot of time looking for a location and were behind schedule.

The location we'd chosen was a quiet music room, which was ideal for the gangster feel of our video. However, we found that the piano got in the way a lot and that the smallness of the room was a definite disadvantage. Paige decided to film whilst Percy and me acted in the piece. There were a lot of takes taken because the door kept sticking, or we'd sit on the piano and it'd make a loud noise. However lots of takes meant we had a lot of footage to choose from when editing, which was a positive.

We also discovered that our microphone wasn't plugged in properly, and that only one channel was working. This meant the sound would only come through one earphone when editing. However, we discovered this once we had nearly finished filming and decided to continue using the camera anyway. Before the task, me and Paige were already quite good at using the cameras from previous media GCSE experience. This was definitely a bonus and sped the process of filming up, as well as Paige's extremely accurate eye for a shot and reasonably steady hands.

The shots used were almost exactly as we had planned, with a few embellishments here and there as we came up with fresh ideas on the spot. We chose the shots we did because we thought they were appropriate to the genre of a our piece, and meant that we would achieve the 180 degree rule, match on match action and a shot reverse shot conversation. We kept it quite simple because it was our second experience of filming and we didn't want to bite off more than we could chew. We also agreed that sometimes less is more.

Overall, filming was a reasonably positive experience which taught us a lot for our thriller openings. If we could film it again, we'd make sure both audio channels were working, bother to go get the missing piece to our tripod, and perhaps choose a bigger room for the location of our piece.

2nd prelim task: Planning

Note for the examiner, I've previously done this post and it was either deleted by someone in the class, or by a fault on the website. Therefore if this post is a bit rubbish it's because I can't really remember what we did during the prelim task, as it was weeks ago.

For our second prelim task, we had to film a two people meeting, sitting down and having a conversation. I worked with Paige and Percelle, and we decided to film an exchange of chocolate between two characters. We were told to remember the 180 degree rule, and include match on match action. Match on match action should be ensured in relation to filming because otherwise the audience can become confused. For example, if an actress has red lipstick on in one shot, and in then next shot she has pink lipstick on, it shows a lack of continuity which does not make for a professional piece of footage.

We drew up a shot list to help us film successfully:

- Medium long shot of Laura walking down a corridor.
- Medium shot of Laura entering the room and sitting down.
- Eye level medium shot of Percy across the table.
- Over the shoulder medium shot of Laura across the table, "You got the stuff?"
- Over the shoulder medium shot of Percy nodding.
- Over the shoulder medium shot of Laura "Let me see it then."
- POV mid shot of Percy getting an envelope.
- Worms eye view of the table, the envelope is passed.
- POV shot of Laura opening the envelope, revealing the chocolate.
- Over the shoulder shot of Laura sniffing the chocolate.
- Mid shot of Laura leaving the room.
- High angle medium shot of Percy crossing his arms and nodding.

Costume and props

Costumes

Costumes can range from normal clothes to much more complex outfits. They can also be reliant on to set the scene of a film, such an Changeling and Sin City. They can also completely transform a character, such as Batman or The Joker. Without their costumes, their characters would be a lot less effective. Costumes can also be used for useful purposes. Sweeney Todd is a horror, but is a good example of this. The directer attached tubes to Sweeney Todd's blade, and ran the tubes inside Johnny Depp's costume so that they were hidden.

Props

Props such as the famous kitchen knife from Psycho can often make a film even more memorable combined with everything else. Props are always needed, especially if the film is naturalistic. They can be used to keep a storyline going, for example if someone drops a gun in a river, and the police find the gun, it leaves the film open to go into a full investigation.

Production companies

Film production companies are very important in the creation and developing of films. Some famous production companies are:

Touchstone Pictures
Touchstone Pictures is one of the many branches of The Walt Disney Company. It enables Disney to release more mature films than those typically shown under the Disney company name. It was established in 1984, and has produced many successful films, such as:

- Dark Water
- Step Up
- Signs
- Coyote Ugly
- Armageddon

Warner Bros Pictures

A fully integrated, broad-based entertainment company – is a global leader in the creation, production, distribution, licensing and marketing of all forms of creative content and their related businesses, across all current and emerging media and platforms. The company stands at the forefront of every aspect of the entertainment industry from feature film, TV and home entertainment production and worldwide distribution to DVD, digital distribution, animation, comic books, licensing, international cinemas and broadcasting.
Famous films include:

- The Harry Potter films
- Batman Forever
- The Dark Knight
- Slumdog Millionaire
- Sweeney Todd
- Oceans Twelve



Universal Pictures

The second oldest movie production company, founded in 1912.
Successful films:
- Bruno
- The Strangers
- Meet the Fockers
- The 40 year old virgin
- Hulk
- Notting Hill
- The Mummy

Music

The music chosen to be featured in a thriller film is very important because it can add to the tension of a scene, and tell the audience that either something scary is about to happen. It can also become a trademark of a film, such as the music from Jaws or Psycho. A range of music is used within thriller films, from classical to rock, and all of these portray the type of sub genre the film is and have a different impact on the audience. Examples of music being used effectively in thriller films include:

Psycho

The music within 'Psycho' is classic, using strings to create tension during the film. The most memorable scene with music being the shower scene, in which the shrieking strings motif effectively raise the hairs on the back of the neck of the audience. The use of music and the screams of Janet Leigh combined creates the feeling of chaos and fear. The sharp shrieks of the string instruments used imitates the stabbing motion of the knife, and makes the listener feel uneasy like someone scratching their nails down a chalkboard. It is said that Hitchcock originally wanted to do the scene without music, and later admitted that '33 per cent of the effect of Psycho was due to the music'.



The Da Vinci Code

The music from 'The Da Vinci Code' is also classical, but in a different sense. It is choral/opera music which sounds religious, giving us an insight into the subject matter of the film. The music sounds tragic and sad, creating a melancholy feeling which adds to the tension of the film. The tense and dramatic feeling the music creates also gives us an insight into what sort of sub genre it is. The beautiful music draws us in as we listen to it, and is sung in a different language, giving us a taste culture and making us feel intelligent and inspired by listening to it.



Sin City

The soundtrack to 'Sin City' suits the film amazingly well. The movie is a mix of action, crime and thriller, and you can really hear this in the music. The different paces can suggest changes in plot, as well as many different styles of music being mixed into the track to appeal to the listener. The most common sound within the track is a jazzy sort of sound, bringing us into the time period and location of the film. There are three main changes within the soundtrack, which represents the film as there are three main different characters within the plot, whose story we follow. The beginning of the song starts with the jazzy, distorted saxophone in the background, and then transitions into a tension building orchestral sound. The song then changes into a heavy and chaotic ending with quiet remnants of saxophone playing again, and climaxes into a loud and sudden ending.

Locations and set design

Locations for a Thriller

A location for a thriller film can be pretty much anything. Traditionally, things such as haunted houses, caves, old hospitals and castles are used. However, because thrillers can often have twists and turns, locations could be things such as Islands, schools or other places which aren't as stereotypically associated. One present theme among the many thriller films I've watched is for the setting to be the city. For example, The Dark Knight, Dark Water, Sin City, Changeling.

Set Design

Set design within a film can add more scary and tense elements. For example, Dark Water takes place mostly within a block of flats. The flat we see in particular is very dark, dingy and damp. This makes us feel on edge and expectant that something bad is going to take place. Films like The Sixth Sense are also set within a flat which is quite poor and rundown, which sets the scene and mood of the film.

Independent Thriller Research: Changeling

Changeling was directed by Clint Eastwood. In Changeling, Christine played by Angelina Jolie, has her son kidnapped when she goes to work one morning. Months later the police claim to have found her son, but she is convinced that the boy isn't him.

I think Changeling is a thriller film because it is filled with intelligent twists and turns, and is based on a true story. For a while you're not sure as the audience if Christine is purely mad and the boy is her son, until it turns out she was right all along. The period thriller keeps you on the edge of your seat as you follow her journey and later on her sons. You see him escape from his kidnappers but never find out if he made it out alive or not. The film ends with the conclusion that Christine never found her son again, and this leaves you wondering what happened to him and caught up in the film.

The opening scene:

The film begins with slow jazz music, which sets the scene as the movie is set in 1928. The credits are plain, white writing on a black background which fades on slowly to the music. The music and pace makes the audience feel quite melancholy, and the fact that 'A true story' appears after the title of the movie sets you up for the rest of the film. This also introduces a thriller aspect straight away, as thrillers tend to have more naturalistic subject matters in them than horror films do.

Piano music begins as a black and white picture fades onto the screen of Los Angeles. The black and white reminds us of the time period and also continues with the grainy, dark and melancholy feeling the film has so far created. You can hear birds singing and see an old fashioned milk truck drive past, once again reinforcing the historical matter. This also suggests that it is morning time, and the next image on Christine asleep in bed confirms this. The music is less melancholy, the piano now sounds relaxing and classy. Christine has her hair in a traditional 1920's haircut and is sleeping alone, suggesting she is a single. Her alarm goes off and she goes into the next room and wakes up a young boy, calling him 'Honey' affectionately which suggests the relationship of mother and son between them immediately. It also suggests that Christine is a single mother in the 1920s, which is unusual.

Actors

Actors are also a key element to the success of a thriller film. Their acting has to be convincing, because the trick to a thriller is to make the audience feel the actors fear and tension. If the believability isn't there, the audience won't find the film half as effective.

Jennifer Connelly

Examples of Thriller films: Dark Water, Reservation Road, Waking the dead, Dark city, Blood Diamond.

I chose Jennifer Connelly for her part in the film 'Dark Water'. Even though 'Dark Water' is sometimes classed as a horror, it isn't particularly gory and is filled with many nail biting, edge of seat moments, which is why I would personally class it as a thriller with a horror sub-genre. Jennifer Connelly plays the character very well in this film, and is a particular favourite actress of mine. She has great timing and facial expressions, particularly in one of the final scenes when she is attempting to save her daughter from being drowned.

Jack Nicholson

Examples of Thriller films : The Departed, The Pledge, Blood and Wine, A Few Good Men, Batman, The Postman Always Rings Twice, The Shining.

Jack Nicholson has the skills and flexibility to pull of most roles. Whether playing the Joker, or the axe wielding caretaker in The Shining, his charismatic presence on screen steals every scene. Despite The Shining being more classed as a horror, Nicholson creates atmosphere and tension as the audience follow him on the journey to insanity.

Janet Leigh

Some Thriller films include: Psycho, Touch of Evil, The Manchurian Candidate, Act of Violence

Most famous for her role in Psycho, Janet Leigh played a range of roles during her movie career, from musicals to westerns. She went for risky roles which paid off and showed off her skills in acting, establishing her as a well known actress. She played small, yet effective roles in a several thriller films. Some of these roles include Marion Crane in 'Psycho', Eugenie Rose Chaney in the period thriller 'The Manchurian Candidate' and Susan Vargas in 'Touch of Evil'.

Directors

The choice of director can make or break and thriller film. Some are well known for having particular styles, others famous for one particular movie.

Alfred Hitchcock
Hitchcock has been referred too as the 'Master of suspense', with famous films such as:
Pyscho
The Birds
Vertigo
North by Northwest

And many more. Hitchcock was one of the first thriller directors to define the genre, and has become a household name. His films contain many iconic scenes, such as the stabbing in the shower scene in 'Pyscho', which has since been on the recieving end of many spoofs and remakes. Hitchcock was a very intelligent director who knew exactly what the audience wanted and knew how to give it to them. He knew how to keep an audience on their edge of their seat, 'There is no terror in the bang, only in the anticipation of it.' He defined thriller films, making them more about the physocological effects of suspense and fear than the physical blood and gore that had been so present in films before. He had a very british, dry sense of humour, and wanted his films to be naturalistic instead of hollywood glamour, 'In films murders are always very clean. I show how difficult it is and what a messy thing it is to kill a man.' He was able to acknowledge the audience's worst fears and make them come to life on the screen.



Ridley Scott
Hannibal
Body of lies
Matchstick Men
Blade runner
Alien

Ridley Scott is best known for Alien, the thriller film with a horror hybrid. His innovative and original direction had led to films which have gone down in history, and have taken visual imagery to a new level. His ability to bring out the best in his actors, e.g. Harrison Ford in Blade Runner and Sigourney Weaber in Alien, has marked him as one of the all-time best directors ever.



Ron Howard
Angels and Demons
The Da Vinci Code
The Missing
Ransom
Back draft

A former actor, Ron Howard switched to directing. In total he's directed 28 films of all different genres, including most recently the Thriller/crime films The Da Vinci Code and Angels and Demons based on the best selling books by Dan Brown. These are thrillers because the audience goes on a journey of discovery with the lead character, played by Tom Hanks, and slowly unravels the mystery which keeps us on the edge of our seats.