Media Nationals Unit 23: AO1 - Thriller & Movie Research

Definition of a Thriller

A thriller is a type/genre of film and television that primarily uses suspense and tension as elements of drawing the attention of the audience. A thriller typically keeps the audience on the "edge of their seats", providing thrills and a tense atmosphere as it builds towards a climax.

The main setting for thrillers is usually in cities or sub-urban areas as it provides a gritty backdrop and scenario for the films, with a semantic of criminality, ie, people being followed, silhouettes of figures.

Subgenres include; crime thrillers, medical thrillers, conspiracy thrillers. Thrillers are known for setting up an enigma early in the film.

Well-known Thrillers

Some well known thriller movies include:

Jobs in the Film Industry
There are many jobs in the film industry, and there descriptions follow:

Producer - The producer creates the conditions for the movie, whilst the executive producers are not usually involved in the technical aspects. They're more in charge of legal and business issus.
Director - The director is in charge of creating the film. Directors bring the movie to life, working in all aspects of the movie. The director is usually the highest authority on set.
First Assistant Director - The 1st assistant is responsible for making sure the film comes in on time on set. The first Assistant Director may be responsible for directing background action or a full minor, small scene under the director's discretion.
Second Assistant Director - The second assistant director is the chief assistant of the first assistant director. The second assistant director may also organise background action, call sheets, and let the crew know about important sections of the day.
Camera Operator - A camera operator manages the cameras on set and location, working with many different types of cameras - including video and stills. They are usually familiar in working with film and digital cameras and work hard to produce the shots the director requires.
Focus Puller - A focus puller is responsible for making sure the images captured are sharp and crisp.
Sound Technician - The sound technicians are there to capture, edit and input sound in the movie. They are responsible for filtering outside noises and background sound to make the film sound crisp and clear. The sound technicians are also responsible for over-dubbing sounds that may not have been captured efficiently in the recording. The sound technician's job is to manage everything to do with sound.
Boom Operator - The boom operator manages the large over-head microphone that's never seen on screen to capture speech, the most important sound of the movie.
Foley Editor - Also an important role in sound, the foley editor is responsible for re-creating natural sounds and mixing them into the film so it's un-noticed by the audience.
Lighting Director - The director of lighting is responsible for making sure the light in each scene is suited to the image the film is trying to convey. For example, if it was a shot inside a house at daytime, with a window open, the lighting director is responsible for making the light in the house seem natural, whilst being careful not to cast shadows and cause reflections of equipment.
Director of Photography - This job is the chief of the camera operators and still imaging in the movies.
Production Designer - The production designer is responsible for the visual look of the film, and mainly liaises with the art director.
Art Director - The art director reports to the production designer, and more directly oversees the work and crafts people. The art director also works closely with the set designer and set illustrator.
Set Staff - The set director is in charge of the whole decoration of the set, with the second in command being the buyer. The buyer is responsible for purchasing, renting and organising props.
Special Effects Supervisor - The person in this position is responsible for managing images digitally, such as objects that should explode, burn, move or break, etc.
Make-Up Artists - The make-up artist is responsible for the look of those who will be acting on set and location.
Hairdresser - The hairdresser is responsible for the actors and actress's hair styles.
Costume Designer - The costume designer designs the costumes and outfits for the play.

Shots Used In Thrillers

1) Close Up
Close up shots can be used for objects and people. When they are used for objects, they can set up an action code and an enigma code.

2) Big Close Up

Big close ups are much closer than a normal close up. The shot is taken very close to the subject, revealing extreme detail. If it is used on a person, it allows us to see how people feel.

3) Extreme Close Up

Usually, these close ups would be of a feature on a human face, such as an eye. It can set up an enigma code if it's of an object.

4) Medium Close Up

A medium close up is used when it's taken from some sort of distance away from a subject. If it's of a human, it'll usually reveal the head, neck and shoulders.

5) Mid Shot

A mid shot is taken when the subject of the caption is taken from a medium distance, usually revealing one particular object.

6) Long Shot

A long shot usually reveals a whole figure/subject and a small amount of it/his/her surroundings.

7) Two Shot

In a two shot, there is usually two subjects or two people.

8) Over the Shoulder Shot

This shot is most commonly used in soaps and films. When two, or more, characters are having a conversation, when the other is speaking, the shot/frame will be taken from just behind the other character's shoulder.

9) Point of View Shot

Usually, this is a caption of what the subject/character is seeing.

10) Establishing Shot

An establishing shot usually sets the scene. If the play/film/program is set within a high class family at a country estate, the establishing shot will be of the large house they live in with some of their grounds in-shot.