There are a number of aspects that need to be taken into consideration when making an effective thriller,as i intend to do. Below are the aspects i need to look at, and how i can use them appropriately in my film, as well as examples of how they have been used in thrillers previously.
- Lighting (in terms of a thriller)
There are a number of different ways that lighting is used, in all genres of films, to create different effects, whether it is a glamorous look, or a distorting one. Under lighting is what is used to create a distoring effect, as shown in image 1. Also, in thriller movies, back lighting is used, which creates silhouettes, meaning that the viewer cannot see the characters face, creating an ominous and mysterious effect, building suspense. This can be seen in image 2. A further type of lighting format used to create an atmosphere most suiting to a thriller is low key lighting (images 3 and 4). This is when key lights and back lights are used, but no filler lights, meaning there is a sharp contrast between light and dark areas, and deep distinctive shadows are created, known as chiaroscuro. This type of lighting were primarily used in film noirs.
- Colour
In any instance, colours used can be percieved in two ways; through its denotation, or its connotation. A denotation is a literal description of a colour, and a connotation is the assosiations and the ideas that it carries with it. For example the denotation of the colour red is that it is the first colour in the colour spectrum. It's connotation is such things as danger, love, and anger. In thrillers in particular, dark colours are used, as well as red, to suggest or foreshadow certain things, or to create a particular mood.
- Sound
Sound in films is used to create a certain mood, build tension and express feelings of characters. There are two types of sound; diegetic and nondiegetic. Diegetic sound is sound which is part of the film world for example, radio, dialogue or music, from a duke box or CD player etc. This may be on screen or off screen. Nondiegetic sound is sound that is not in the film world, and only the viewer can here. This can be in the form of background music or narrative.
Sound can also be parrallel or contrapuntual. Parallel sound is when the images on screen match the music or sound being played with it, building suspence and tension. In contrast, contrpunctual sound is when the images and sound do not match, creating a sense of false pretence.
- Camera framingSound in films is used to create a certain mood, build tension and express feelings of characters. There are two types of sound; diegetic and nondiegetic. Diegetic sound is sound which is part of the film world for example, radio, dialogue or music, from a duke box or CD player etc. This may be on screen or off screen. Nondiegetic sound is sound that is not in the film world, and only the viewer can here. This can be in the form of background music or narrative.
Sound can also be parrallel or contrapuntual. Parallel sound is when the images on screen match the music or sound being played with it, building suspence and tension. In contrast, contrpunctual sound is when the images and sound do not match, creating a sense of false pretence.
This is what can be seen within the frame of the screen, concerntrating on how far the camera is from the subject, and from what angle the shot is taken. The closer the camera is to the subject, the more emphasis there is on detail. An example of an ECU (extreme close up) is shown in image 5, and a mid shot is shown in image 6. When looking at angles, a low angle shot is when a camera is placed below eye level (image 7) making the subject look powerful, whereas in contrast a high angle shot is when the camera is placed above eye level (image 8) making the subject look weak and vunerable. Another type of shot is a point of view shot, where the camera shows whats going on, through the eyes of a character.
- Camera movement
The movement of the camera can be used to enhance our involvement in the film action, by directing our attention or emphisising a particular viewpoint. Camera movement can include:
A PANNING SHOT- where the camera moves from side to side on a fixed axis.
A TILT SHOT - where the camera moves up and down on a fixed axis.
A CRANE SHOT- where filming is done, mounted on a crane, or from a helicopter.
A TRAKING SHOT- where the camera follows the action on tracks laid out.
A ROLLING SHOT- where the camera moves diagonally , creating an askew image, often suggesting a character is ill or drugged
- Speed of editingA PANNING SHOT- where the camera moves from side to side on a fixed axis.
A TILT SHOT - where the camera moves up and down on a fixed axis.
A CRANE SHOT- where filming is done, mounted on a crane, or from a helicopter.
A TRAKING SHOT- where the camera follows the action on tracks laid out.
A ROLLING SHOT- where the camera moves diagonally , creating an askew image, often suggesting a character is ill or drugged
The speed of editing helps determine the mood of what is taking place. If the audience is to feel anxiety and suspence, the editing will be quick, as it would also be in an action sequence. If the a relaxed mood is desired the speed of editing will be slower.
- Style of editing
To make a continous piece of film which is fluent, the style of editing must create smooth transitions between scenes and shots. There are various methods used to do this. Amongst the several ways, those that myself, Tom and Dan will use in our thriller are a straight cut, a fade-out (where the screen fades to black- usually showing time passing) and a dissolve (where one imageis slowly brought in beneath another one).
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