Research into the Thriller GenreWe will research the conventions of the thriller genre and how they have been conformed to, developed and challenged.

We will also conduct primary and secondary research into the audiences for thriller films in order to understand the appeal of thrillers and taylor the film to our target audience.

MARKS = 20 (INCLUDING PRE-PRODUCTION MATERIALS)

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The final production will be evaluated by recording an audio commentary which explores various aspects of the production, including:

•Genre

•Representation

•Institutions

•Audience

•Technology

•Progression

Evaluation

RESEARCH INTO GENREResearch into conventions of the thriller genre including posters, scenes and title sequences.

AUDIENCE CONSUMPTION Conduct primary and secondary research into your target market.

EVALUATION Create a director’s audio commentary which evaluates your thriller production.

G321 FOUNDATIONPORTFOLIO

REEPHAM COLLEGE MEDIA STUDIES: SEPTEMBER 2012 - DECEMBER 2012

Students are expected to begin entering this research into their individual blogs from September 2012 and tutors will monitor this.

Task 1: Thriller posters w/c 17th SeptemberTask 2: Thriller title sequences w/c 24th SeptemberTask 3: Thriller scene analysis w/c 1st October

Task 1: Thriller Posters

You must analyse a minimum of three film posters by answering the question:

“How conventional of the thriller genre is the poster?”

Comment upon how conventional the poster is by explaining to what degree the poster conforms to, develops and challenges thriller genre conventions.

To help you analyse the posters, you may wish to consider and comment upon the following:

•Representation•Composition•Colour•Font•Settings•Locations•Themes / potential narratives

Use the list of thriller genre conventions to guide your explanation.

If possible, make links between two ideas to expand your answer. For example, in the ‘Leon’ poster above, the building is reflected in his glasses. You could therefore make a link between the building and the representation of the character, a possible plot, theme or enigma.

Keywords (media language):

Semiology Representation mise-en-scene camera angle / shot engima balance contrast voyeurism

Research into Aspects of the Thriller Genre

Task 2: Thriller Title Sequences

All students will analyse three different thriller title sequences.

The difference between the title sequences and posters is the introduction of moving image rather than static. So, be prepared to comment upon how the scenes have been edited and pay particular attention to the usage of fonts as they are a key component of a title sequence. The second difference is the usage of sound, which must also be commented upon.

Answer the question:

“How conventional is the title sequence?”

Comment upon how conventional the title sequence is by explaining to what degree the sequence conforms to, develops and challenges thriller genre conventions.

You may wish to comment upon these factors in addition to the ones outlined in the poster section:

•Camera angles and movement•Lighting•Sound (diegetic and non-

diegetic)•Soundtrack•Special effects / CGI•Representation•Costume•Make-up•Props•Intertextual references•How the title sequence establishes the narrative, genre and/or engima to follow.

http://www.artofthetitle.com/

Keywords (media language):

non-diegetic sound diegetic sound mise-en-scene semiology editing camera movement pan tilt fade match cut smash cut pull focus

Find more at:http://www.movieoutline.com/articles/a-glossary-of-screenwriting-terms-and-filmmaking-definitions.html

Research into Aspects ofthe Thriller Genre

Deadline

w/c 24th September, 2012

Task 3: Thriller Scenes

Advice: To achieve higher marks students are advised to engage with critical reviews of films referenced in their analysis of thriller scenes.

Research must engage with five key concepts: do not regurgitate the plot.

Firstly, include the following institutional information :

i) Institutions: Name of thriller film, director, production company, release date to include country where it was made, box office returns.

ii) Audience: Brief notes on intended target audience with information from IMDB re audience reception. Quote user ratings, and appropriate user comments .

iii) Then, answer thee questions from this bank of questions:

“How are women represented in the scene? Consider stereotypical representations of the thriller genre such as the femme fatale and the victim.”

“How is the antagonist and/or protagonist represented in the scene?”

“How conventional is the costume of the protagonist and antagonist in the scene?”

“How has the director used claustrophobic spaces to create a sense of menace?”

“How does the location and use of light and dark depict the emotional landscape of a character?”

“How is editing used to drive the narrative in the scene?”

“How is sound used to create suspense and other effects in the scene?”

You may also create a question of your own after consultation with a tutor.

You must choose a different thriller for each question.

Research into Aspects of the Thriller Genre

Deadline

w/c 1st October 2012

“Your job is to get your audience to care about your obsessions.”

Martin Scorsese• • •

Secondary Research

Visit the British Film Industry’s (BFI) website and download the Industry Statistical Yearbook to discover the popularity of thrillers in the British marketplace.

Upload your findings to the blog and answer the question:

“How can I make my thriller appealing to my audience?”

http://www.bfi.org.uk/education-research/film-industry-statistics-research/statistical-yearbook

Supplement your answer by looking at reviews made by film critics on RottenTomatoes.com and see if you can comment upon their likes and dislikes

Primary Research

Conduct primary research by developing a questionnaire and by briefing a potential audience about your thriller. Review your results and answer the same question above: “How can I make my thriller appealing to my audience?”

AUDIENCE RESEARCH

Investigate research from the BFI and Cinema Exhibitors’ Association to discover audience profiles and trends.

Conduct primary research by developing a questionnaire and polling a large group of people from various ages and backgrounds.

TAG: G321 THRILLER AUDIENCE RESEARCH

“It's fun for about 15 minutes seeing Neeson do James Bond as Daddy Dangerous. But the surprise wears off quickly.”Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

“With some suspension of disbelief and a strong stomach, it's possible to get taken in, or at least absorbed, by this adrenaline-pumping action thriller.” Claudia Puig, USA Today

Rotten Tomatoes %

Taken 58%

Shutter Island 69%

Leon 79%

Alien 97%

Total Recall (2012) 29%

The Dark Knight 94%

EvaluationADVICE

Answer ALL the questions

Be prepared by watching your thriller numerous times so that you can fit your commentary into the thriller

Be prepared to pause your film as you talk so that you have time to explain your idea fully. You should not quickly finish a point because a new scene has started.

Use scenes as ‘spring boards’ which will allow you to start a conversation about one of the questions.

Be very detailed with your answer

Have conversations with potential audience members to discuss their preferences and if your thriller is appealing

Have a dialogue with other members of the cast to expand your answer, including actors and other members of your production.

The evaluation should be presented as a director’s commentary: an audio recording of you and others answering the following questions whilst the film plays.

In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products? (This question asks how your research into specific thriller texts has informed your production. Think about costume, location, soundtrack, camera angles, character types, narrative structure, lighting, soundtrack, plot, title. You can’t discuss all these but identify the most profound influence.)

How does your media product represent particular social groups? (This question asks how you have represented for example: Women? The villain? Race? Social Class? The hero? The femme fatale? Region? The victim (here gender is important).

What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why? (It is best that students identify new media outlets to exhibit their opening to a thriller film. For example websites such as You-tube, social network sites, MP3 players, games consoles. If the film is innovative or challenging (students need to identify these features in their thriller opening) then funding could be possible from Working Title Films or Warp films so that the film could be developed as a feature film. Thus the following cinema outlets could be possible. For example a multiplex (if main stream thriller), art house if complex/subversive thriller. T.V. outlets are possible

(scheduled time and channel must be appropriate), straight to internet and why? Straight onto DVD is another possibility). Students must explain the reasons for their choice of institution/s.)

Deadline20th December, 2012

REEPHAM COLLEGE MEDIA STUDIES DEPT.G321 Research Into Aspects of Thrillers

2012-2013

Contact details:jwebb@reephamhigh.comsstiles@reephamhigh.com

http://reephamcollegemedia.blogspot.co.uk

Who would be the audience for your media product? (Students need to reference audience research and justify in detail why a particular demographic would find the production appealing. What real thriller films or TV crime dramas would this audience watch?).

How did you attract/address your audience? (Student productions are viewed by other students who complete questionnaires regarding the technical quality and appeal of the productions. You may quote from the results of this research; you may discuss elements of the mise-en-scene (technical, character, location, action, diegetic and non diegetic sound) that you consider appealing and should hook audiences who would want to watch the rest of the story. For example: Did you address your audience through a 1st person voice over thus encouraging audiences to identify with this character? )

What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product? (Explain what you’ve learned about digital cameras, camera angles, movement and shot types. Explain what you’ve learned about editing, particularly importance of sequencing shots (narrative structure) and using effects if you have utilised this feature; adding sound and titles.)

Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the full product? (Think about how the performing, shooting and editing of your preliminary task lead to your ability to plan, shoot and edit your film production. Explain what you’ve learned about working constructively in a group with regard to planning, the shoot, identifying an appropriate sound track and title, and the edit. Explain your individual contributions/ideas and responsibilities. Explain how you’ve coped with audience feedback ,is it better or worse than expected; has it offended you; have the audience understood your intentions and been able to read your film? What are the strengths and weaknesses of your production? Explain what the most important thing you’ve learned about film making that you didn’t know before?)

Evaluation Continued