Brief - Lighting, Editing and Thrillers

Lighting –
Lighting is an important element of any film scene, and this was emphasised to us when the Year 13’s offered their advice. Taking into account the cameras that are available to us, we knew that avoiding dark rooms or filming at night would provide poor quality on the film, and so decided that filming would take place during the day. After location hunting and finding a suitable location, we decided to use a room with a skylight that provides excellent natural light, solving the problem of poor natural light. Much of our opening is also going to be a flashback, and we decided that the colours would be black and white. Filming would take place during the day though, thus not affecting again the issue of bad lighting.

Editing –
As our opening will keep reverting to flashback scenes, editing would feature prominently in our opening. We decided to use a white fade, taking the advice of our teachers not to use a black fade or dissolve at these moments. We also decided to include many elements of editing such as match cuts, shot reverse shot and if necessary sticking to the 180 degree rule. In terms of the titles for the film, we decided to have these at the end of the opening, as it will end on a cliff-hanger.

What makes it a Thriller? –
We drew a lot of inspiration for our Thriller from the films Se7en and The Strangers. In terms of the genre of these films, they are sub genres, including aspects of the thriller genre, and the detective/murder genre. The inclusion of a murder enquiry and a murderer in each film categorises the films as Thrillers as the concept of murder, death and violence are thrilling for audiences. The iconography of our particular film, such as the abandoned house setting, and props such as knives, blood and rope again enforces the idea of murder/violence and the thriller genre. We also included a hint at a physiological antagonist, with his costume, and the inclusion of make up and petrol hint at a mentally unstable antagonist, again which suits the thriller genre.

Laurence Ruthven

Character Influence – Meg Altman

Meg Altman played by Jodie Foster is the main female protagonist of the 2002 thriller film Panic Room, directed by David Fincher. In it, Meg must battle to try and save her daughters life after she is trapped in a panic room during a robbery of her house.
During this particular film, Jodie Foster’s character has to go through an emotional and physical battle as she fights to ensure her daughter does not die from her medical condition. This particular element of the film forms a large part of Megs struggle, as she is throughout trying to convince her armed robbers to save her daughters life.
This film also places Meg at the mercy of the robbers, seemingly unable to attempt anything successfully that will overcome the antagonists of the film, and this is something we feel our female protagonist will also face during our film.
We felt that the costume worn by Foster in this film is successful as it has simple connations of fear and anxiety, and is in keeping with the films simple premise and setting. We decided that costume for our female protagonsit would play an important part in the overall storyline of the film.

Jodie Foster in fact has played the lead role in many thriller films, such as The Silence of the Lambs and Flightplan. Due to this, we felt it would be wise to look at these films, and drew many ideas from the costumes, characters and iconography that Foster presents in her films. We also drew encouragement in using a female protagonist because of the success that Foster brought to her characters in her thriller films.

Laurence Ruthven

Focus Group

Conventions/Expectations of a thriller

Questionaire to focus group - We asked the following questions to a focus group made up of our agreed target audience, which is 15-19 year olds. The focus group was made of a 50/50 split to students who took media and those who didnt, allowing a range of answers from people with experience of filming a thrillers and those who simply watch them as audiences.

1. What is your favourite thriller film?

2. How do you feel towards a male protagonist?

3. How do you feel towards a female protagonist?

4. What kind of atmosphere do you feel low key lighting sets?

5. Do you feel that on screen violence is necessary for a good thriller?

6. Do you feel that flash backs should be in black and white?

7. Should music be used in a thriller, if so what type?

8. Is there a certain type of setting that should be used for a thriller, if so what type?




One of the intresting points to come from the feedback was the idea of having a female as the central protagonist. Thr group felt that mainly a female should be used as a victim and not someone who is acting as the heroine. They also agreed that on screen vviolence was not necessary to make a good thriller, an idea that we had agreed with beforehand as a group. The idea of flashbacks was met with a mixed reception as some said that it would become confusing for the audience, while others saying that they are effective in mapping out the narrative of the film. Our focus group agreed that the setting of an abandoned house was perfect iconography for a thriller, as well as an overgrown garden.

Jade Smith, Elliott Joyner, Matt Simmons, Laurence Ruthven

Initial Ideas

Our initial ideas revolved around a hostage situation whereby a hostage is being held and questioned. In it the hostage has flashbacks involving an object she has hidden and is being quizzed about. We decided that we would use a setting of an empty room, possibly in an abandoned house, with the flashbacks taking place in a forest. After watching the opening sequence of The Strangers we also had the idea of using a flashback to shots of a girl being tortured and the house being discovered and explored in the modern day. We also had the idea of detectives inspecting the house and picking up evidence with flashbacks to the torture/murder.

We also had several initial ideas of shots/scenes –
- Shot of car pulling up
- Close ups of face
- Pan of people walking across towards house
- Wide shot of person in woods
- Black and White shots in Flashback
- Point of view shot from outside the house
- Telephone conversation over film
- Iconography including knife, rope, chair, etc

We wanted to include a flashback in the opening that would be in black and white, as this showed that audience the events were taking place in the past. This was partly inspired by Cape Fear opening and the opening to Casino Royale.
We also had the idea of using contrapuntal music during the flashback, with songs such as ‘wouldn’t It be nice’ playing while the negative images were being shown on screen. We also discussed the possibility of using a voiceover as a way of introducing events and summarising the opening.

Laurence Ruthven

Deciding the rating for our thriller

We as group decided after looking at the details of the U.K rating system that our thriller would come under the '15' bracket.
We though this was best mostly due to the constraints put on the '12a' horror. Our thriller would have some more disturbing and sadistic scenes involving the antagonist than what is deemed acceptable under the '12a' bracket of rating. Also the '12a' bracket does not allow any great detail on the level of injury or a great deal of blood in terms of this injury. The '15' bracket allows more freedom in these fields. As a group we did not see our piece as being extreme in any way to be deemed as in the '18 bracket as these thrillers would have extended sequances of disturbing horror and gore filled and exageratted violence.

Details of the film rating system

As mentioned in an earlier post thrillers are typically rated between 12a and 18. I will describe the features of these ratings and any in between.


12a. Discrimination- Langauge or actions that appear discriminatory can not be endorsed by the peice of work, agressive discriminatory langauge in unlikely to be condoned by characters so to have such behaviour the acts must be clearly condemmed.

Drugs- Any use or sale of drugs cannot be glamourised or supported by the bulk of characters.

Horror- A moderate ammount of physical or psychological threat is allowed, this is provided that disturbing sequances are not frequant or lengthy

Langauge- Moderate langauge is permitted, any strong langauge (e.g f**k) must not be regular

Nudity- Nudity is allowed but in a sexual context must be discreet and must be brief

Sex-Sexual activity may be briefly and discreetly portrayed.Sex references should not go beyond what is suitable for young teenagers. Frequent crude references are unlikely
to be acceptable.

Theme-Mature themes are acceptable, but their treatment must be suitable for young teenagers.

Violence- Moderate violence is allowed but should not dwell on detail. There should be no emphasis on injuries or blood, but occasional gory moments may be permitted if
justified by the context. Sexual violence may only be implied or briefly and
discreetly indicated, and must have a strong contextual

15.

Discrimination- The work as a whole must not endorse discriminatory language or behaviour.

Drugs-Drug taking may be shown but the film as a whole must not promote or encourage drug misuse. The misuse of easily accessible and highly dangerous substances (for example,
aerosols or solvents) is unlikely to be acceptable.

Horror-Strong threat and menace are permitted unless sadistic or sexualised.

Imitable behaviour- Dangerous behaviour (for example, hanging, suicide and self-harming) should not dwell on detail which could be copied. Easily accessible weapons should not be glamorised.

Language- There may be frequent use of strong language (for example, ‘f**k’). The strongest terms (for example, ‘c**t’) may be acceptable if justified by the context. Aggressive or repeated
use of the strongest language is unlikely to be acceptable.

Nudity-Nudity may be allowed in a sexual context but withoutstrong detail. There are no constraints on nudity in a non-sexual or educational context.

Sex-Sexual activity may be portrayed without strong detail. There may be strong verbal references to sexual behaviour, but the strongest references are unlikely to be acceptable
unless justified by context. Works whose primary purpose is sexual arousal or stimulation are unlikely to be acceptable.

Theme- No theme is prohibited, provided the treatment is appropriate for 15 year olds.

Violence-Violence may be strong but should not dwell on the infliction of pain or injury. The strongest gory images are unlikely to be acceptable. Strong sadistic or sexualised violence is also
unlikely to be acceptable. There may be detailed verbal references to sexual violence but any portrayal of sexual violence must be discreet and have a strong contextual justification.

18

In line with the consistent findings of the BBFC’s publicconsultations and The Human Rights Act 1998, at ‘18’ the BBFC’s guideline concerns will not normally overridethe principle that adults should be free to choose their own entertainment. Exceptions are most likely in the
following areas:

• where the material is in breach of the criminal law,or has been created through the commission of a criminal offence
• where material or treatment appears to the BBFC to risk harm to individuals or, through their behaviour, to society – for example, any detailed portrayal of violent or dangerous acts, or of illegal drug use, which may cause harm to public health or morals.This may include portrayals of sexual or sexualised violence which might, for example, eroticise or
endorse sexual assault
• where there are more explicit images of sexual activity which cannot be justified by context. Such images may be appropriate in ‘R18’ works, and in ‘sex works’ (see below) would normally be confined to that category. In the case of video works (including video games),which may be more accessible to younger viewers, intervention may be more frequent than for cinema films.

Sex education at ‘18’
Where sex material genuinely seeks to inform and educate in matters such as human sexuality, safer sex and health, explicit images of sexual activity may
be permitted.

Sex works at ‘18’
Sex works are works whose primary purpose is sexual arousal or stimulation. Sex works containing only material which may be simulated are generally passed ‘18’. Sex works containing clear images of real sex, strong fetish material, sexually explicit animated images, or other
very strong sexual images will be confined to the ‘R18’category. Material which is unacceptable in a sex workat ‘R18’ is also unacceptable in a sex work at ‘18’.

Information is from http://www.bbfc.co.uk/ Matt Simmons

U.K Film Ratings system

Universal All ages admitted, there is nothing unsuitable for children.


Parental Guidance General viewing, but certain scenes may be unsuitable for children under 8.

12A May be unsuitable for under 12s. Those aged under 12 are only admitted if accompanied by an adult at all times during the performance (cinema only).

12 Suitable only for those aged 12 and over.
No-one younger than 12 can rent or buy a 12 rated VHS, DVD, Blu-ray Disc, UMD or game.

15 Suitable only for those aged 15 and over.
Nobody younger than 15 can see a 15 film in a cinema. No-one younger than 15 can rent or buy a 15 rated VHS, DVD, Blu-ray Disc, UMD or game.

18
Suitable only for adults.
Nobody younger than 18 may see an 18 film in a cinema.
No-one younger than 18 can rent or buy an 18 rated VHS, DVD, Blu-ray Disc, UMD or game.

Restricted 18
For adults only.
May only be shown at licensed cinemas or sold at sex shops, and only to people aged 18 or over.

Certificate Name Definition




U.K Film Ratings system
We have researched ratings of films and certificates to help us make a decision about the certificate we would like to make our own thriller. Most thrillers fall into the ‘15’ or ‘18’ categories as they contain adult themes like violence and sex amongst other things in appropriate for children. This must be kept in mind when classifying our own thriller.

Information from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Board_of_Film_Classification

Matt Simmons