Saturday 7 November 2009

Conventions & Technical Aspects Of A Thriller

In thriller movies, there are many conventions and technical aspects that are incorporated in the planning of the film. For example, there are particular uses of camera angles and movement that are used to create tension. Similarly, there are many technical effects included, such as CGI and use of a blue screen or 'chroma key'.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chroma_key

In many thriller films, there are conventions that create tension. For example, the music is often tension building up to the point of action, where the music reaches a dramatic climax, keeping the audience on edge. Cliff hangers are often used to keep the audience engaged, and often red herrings created to distract the audiences attention and create a diversion in the plot. The director often creates psychological confusion in the form of mind games to confuse the viewers and shock them later in the course of the movie.

Stereotypically, the protagonist is an isolated character, or one that is used to dangerous situations. The hero is often responsible for saving lives and protecting people. Many common story lines revolve around harassment, rape, stalking, blackmail and hostage situations. Generally, the audience see a situation where an everyday occurrence goes horribly wrong. The narrative is intentionally gripping to thrill the audience and keep them engaged.

Camera movement in thrillers is vital. Hand held cameras are often used to create tension, especially when a character is shown to be running away from the action to safety. This techinque is used in films such as "The Blair Witch Project", where hand held cameras are used to create extreme tension and create a deeper sense of panic, engaging the audience more and giving a greater 'thrill'.



180 degree rule is often important in thriller movies and is used to almost pan the action and establish the scene. The use of camera shots is also vital. Shot reverse shots are used to show different areas of the action, and close ups are often used to zoom in on the action and finer points that could later be important to the plot line. Point of view shots are used to display the action from a different perspective, a lot of the time from the protagonist's viewpoint.


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