In Depth Interviews

Interviews

Name: Najma Nurudin

Age: 18

What do you like about thrillers?

 I like the fact that most of the thrillers are different to other movie’s .thrillers bring fear and anticipation in us in a different way than other movies. I also like the fact that most thrillers have twists in the end which i really look forward to seeing in movies because if it’s the same old ending the movie’s become predictable and really boring. I also like the fact that thrillers are not only horrors like others think there are psychological thrillers which are my favourite because they make you think about what happens.

What is your favourite thriller and why?

My favourite thriller at the moment is ‘’Saw’’. The first one was by far the best as it really made me evaluate my life after watching it. I do not think that the sequels lived up to the first one as they tried to make them similar but different to the first one but did not succeed in doing so. Also the publicity and the hype about the last movie caused them to make more and more which were then not as good as the first. The reason i like ‘’saw ‘’ in particular because there was gruesome murders that were not expected and also tension and anticipation in most of the film especially at the end when you don’t know whether they would live or die.

What do you find particularly scary or thrilling in a thriller?

Well I seem to be more scared of the unusual things in the thrillers. While most people will find gruesome and untimely deaths in thrillers scary I find them funny. I was more afraid of the little doll on the bike in ‘’saw’’ as its eyes seems to stare into my soul. The reason being so is that because you try to remind yourself that it is just a movie you still get captivated and think that is reality. Another movie which scared me senseless was ‘’chucky’’ it especially creped me out as I had a doll which was about the same size as chucky at the time and every time I went to sleep I used to think it would come to life and kill me *laughs* I think that if the thriller is realistic and can happen in everyday life especially if it relates to you it will scare you more.

If you were to make a thriller who/what would you star as the monster/bad person?

Hhhhmmmmm, I think most thrillers are middle age men killing people, but if i was to make a thriller I would make it completely different like add something really unexpected as the killer like a spoon or some sort of animal like a horse. I think that the spoon would defiantly surprise viewers and if done properly can really make the audience fear there cutlery *laughs* but on a serious note something unusual and scary that has never been done before.

Do you prefer thrillers to have a happy ending?

No way, happy ending are boring especially if it’s a thriller/ horror their needs to be excitement and death or a twist at the end. Otherwise thrillers will not give a thrill as they will be predictable.

Name: André Williams

Age: 16

What do you like about thrillers?

I used to be a big fan of thrillers when I was a little boy but now I’m  older they don’t thrill me and scare me so you could say that I don’t like thrillers . If I had to pick something I would say I like all the killings.

Anything else?

I like the fact that all the girls die first and all the guys live and kill everyone.

What is your favourite thriller and why?

My favourite thriller is the godfather. I love all that kind of stuff like gangster mafia killings and that and how the guy put a horse’s head in the other guys bed to teach him a lesson. If all thriller movies were like that I would watch them more. I especially hate all the confusing thrillers like ‘’inception’’ it made no sense and was really boring the only good bit was the bit in the car when they all got shot at.

What do you find particularly scary or thrilling in a thriller?

I’m a grown boy now so I don’t really find a lot of things scary especially movie’s because I know there not real. The only one that kind of scared me was paranormal activity because apparently it was based on a true story and there were really jumpy bits in it like at the end when the boyfriend’s body is chucked at the screen. I totally didn’t expect that. We went to watch it in the dark as well so by the time we got out the cinema it was like past midnight totally dark and we had to walk all the way home because the busses and trains weren’t working it was only like a half hour walk but there was like 5 boys all together and we were all scared.

If you were to make a thriller who/what would you star as the monster/bad person?

I would star myself because I am a young black man it would be totally stereotypical and everyone would expect that which  I guess would get rid of the element of surprise. But I would like film it in the ghetto with like all the gangs and stuff because no one has done that before and I think loads of people like me like people from my generation would come and watch it because it can relate to them. The ghetto is a scary place so why not film a thriller there right, like all the thrillers are like in haunted castles and places like that which are already really scary like the ghetto. I think that it would be a really good film and loads of people will come and watch it.

Do you prefer thrillers to have a happy ending?

Naaaahhh happy endings are like for comedy’s and romance movies and stuff why would you have a happy ending in a thriller that’s just so dead. If I made a thriller in my ending everyone die’s, the good person, the bad person, people walking by they all die. That would be the best ending to a movie I think.

Thank you for your time.

Technical Skills Development, Sound

A sound film is a motion picture with synchronized sound, or sound technologically coupled to image, as opposed to a silent film. Reliable synchronization was difficult to achieve with the early sound-on-disc systems, and amplification and recording quality were also inadequate. Innovations in sound-on-film led to the first commercial screening of short motion pictures using the technology, which took place in New York City in April 1923. Sound plays a vital role in film and helps shape the way the viewer reacts and watches a motion picture. Sound influences and enhances what we see on the screen.

Use of Sound

Direct sound. Live sound. This may have a sense of freshness, spontaneity and 'authentic' atmosphere, but it may not be acoustically ideal.

Studio sound. Sound recorded in the studio to improve the sound quality, eliminating unwanted background noise ('ambient sound'), e.g. dubbed dialogue. This may be then mixed with live environmental sound.

Selective sound. The removal of some sounds and the retention of others to make significant sounds more recognizable, or for dramatic effect - to create atmosphere, meaning and emotional nuance. Selective sound (and amplification) may make us aware of a watch or a bomb ticking. This can sometimes be a subjective device, leading us to identify with a character: to hear what he or she hears. Sound may be so selective that the lack of ambient sound can make it seem artificial or expressionistic.

Sound perspective/aural perspective. The impression of distance in sound, usually created through the use of selective sound. Note that even in live television a microphone is deliberately positioned, just as the camera is, and therefore may privilege certain participants.

Sound bridge. Adding to continuity through sound, by running sound (narration, dialogue or music) from one shot across a cut to another shot to make the action seem uninterrupted.

Dubbed dialogue. Post-recording the voice-track in the studio, the actors matching their words to the on-screen lip movements. Not confined to foreign-language dubbing.

Wildtrack (asynchronous sound). Sound which was self-evidently recorded separately from the visuals with which it is shown. For example, a studio voice-over added to a visual sequence later.

Parallel (synchronous) sound. Sound 'caused' by some event on screen, and which matches the action.

Commentary/voice-over narration. Commentary spoken off-screen over the shots shown. The voice-over can be used to:

·         introduce particular parts of a programme;

·         to add extra information not evident from the picture;

·         to interpret the images for the audience from a particular point of view;

·         to link parts of a sequence or programme together.

The commentary confers authority on a particular interpretation, particularly if the tone is moderate, assured and reasoned. In dramatic films, it may be the voice of one of the characters, unheard by the others.

Sound effects (SFX). Any sound from any source other than synchronised dialogue, narration or music. Dubbed-in sound effects can add to the illusion of reality: a stage- set door may gain from the addition of the sound of a heavy door slamming or creaking.

Music. Music helps to establish a sense of the pace of the accompanying scene. The rhythm of music usually dictates the rhythm of the cuts. The emotional colouring of the music also reinforces the mood of the scene. Background music is asynchronous music which accompanies a film. It is not normally intended to be noticeable. Conventionally, background music accelerates for a chase sequence, becomes louder to underscore a dramatically important action. Through repetition it can also link shots, scenes and sequences. Foreground music is often synchronous music which finds its source within the screen events (e.g. from a radio, TV, stereo or musicians in the scene). It may be a more credible and dramatically plausible way of bringing music into a programme than background music (a string orchestra sometimes seems bizarre in a Western).

Silence. The juxtaposition of an image and silence can frustrate expectations, provoke odd, self-conscious responses, intensify our attention, make us apprehensive, or make us feel dissociated from reality.

The sound that we are using in our thriller is just dialogue from the actors, a voiceover at the end of the scene and the thriller soundtrack at the beginning and the end.

Lighting

Lighting

View more documents from irfaah.

Questionaire Results

Questionnaire results

View more documents from irfaah.

Subject Matter

Subject Matter

View more documents from irfaah.

Research, Funding and Distrubution

Funding and Distribution

Film finance is an aspect of film production that occurs before pre-production, and is concerned with determining the potential value of a proposed film. Film finance is a subset of project finance, meaning the film project's generated cash flows are used to repay investors, and generally not from external sources. This however has been met with new ways to protect principal, and insure against loss of investor's assets.

Government grants

A number of governments run programs to subsidize the cost of producing films. For instance, in the United Kingdom the UK Film Council provides funding to producers provided certain conditions are met. Governments are willing to provide these subsidies as they hope it will attract creative individuals to their territory and stimulate employment. Also, a film shot in a particular location can have the benefit of advertising that location to an international audience. Government subsidies are often pure grants, where the government expects no financial return.

Tax schemes

A number of countries have introduced legislation that has the effect of generating enhanced tax deductions for producers or owners of films. Schemes are created which effectively sell the enhanced tax deductions to wealthy individuals with large tax liabilities. The individuals pay the producer a fee in order to obtain the tax deductions. The individual will often become the legal owner of the film or certain rights relating to the film, but the producer will in substance continue as the real owner of the economic rights to exploit the film. Governments are beginning to recognize that enhanced tax deductions are an inefficient way of supporting the film industry.

Elements

• Story rights: The right to produce a film based on a play, novel, video game or as a remake or sequel can cost anything from a couple of thousand to over £10 million. An original screenplay by a
• Screenplay: An A-list screenwriter can be paid £1 million to write the first three drafts of a script, with a further £1 to £12 million sole credit bonus. Once the story has been agreed upon and the script locked. Typically the development of a script consumes 5 percent of a film's budget.
• Producers: Film producers and executive producers are often well-paid, with a top producer earning a seven-figure salary upfront as well as bonuses and a share of the profits.
• Director: The DGA minimum is about £14,000 a week, for a minimum of ten weeks' work. An A-list director can command £5 to £10 million a film.
• Cast: An A-list actor can ask for anything from £10 million to £30 million, plus £3 million in perks (trailer, entourage, etc.) and 10-20 percent of the gross profits. Sometimes an actor will accept a minimal fee in exchange for a more lucrative share of the profits. Union extras are paid around £130 per day (plus extra for overtime or if they provide their own wardrobe) but on a low-budget film non-union extras are paid less, sometimes nothing at all.
• Production costs: The cost of actually shooting the film including sets, wardrobe, location filming, hotels and transportation. Shooting costs could easily amount to £500,000 a day for 100 days.
• Visual effects: Employing a hundred employees of Industrial Light and Magic for over a year can turn a big-budget film into a mega-budget film. Computer-generated imagery (CGI) work in post-production can be expensive.
• Music: The top film composers can ask for a seven-figure salary to compose an hour or so of original music. (In addition, the artist may wish to see a screening of the film to see if it meets their approval.). Sometimes a film will turn to unknown or little-known artists willing to sell the rights to their song for a small fee in exchange for the publicity. Typically, the music budget of a major motion picture is about 8 percent of the final total.

Film distribution

The distribution of a film is the process through which a movie is made available to watch for an audience. This task may be accomplished in a variety of ways; for example, with a theatrical release, a home entertainment release (in which the movie is made available on DVD-video or Blu-Ray disc) or a TV broadcast.

Standard release

The standard release routine for a movie is regulated by a business model called "release windows". The release windows system was first conceived in the early '80s, on the brink of the home entertainment market, as a strategy to keep different instances of a movie from competing with each other, allowing the movie to take advantage of different markets (cinema, home video, TV, etc.) at different times.
In the standard drill, a movie is first released through movie theaters (theatrical window), then, after approximately 16 and a half week, it is released to DVD (entering its video window).

Simultaneous release

A simultaneous release takes place when a movie is made available on many media (cinema, DVD, internet...) at the same time or with very little difference in timing.
Simultaneous releases bear great advantages to both consumers, who can chose the medium that most suits their needs, and production studios that only have to run marketing campaign for all releases.

Our Thriller

Our thriller is a british film therefore its independent and the funding we get to produce the film comes from the government and some of the money we have saved up.



Similar Textual Analysis

The Day After Tomorrow Opening Sequence

Sub-genre: Sci-Fi, Adventure and Action

Rating: 15

Written and Directed by:  Roland Emmerich

With respect to camera work and sound the first thing we see in the beginning of the clip is the Metro Goldwyn Mayer (MGM) trademark lion. This connotes power and authority as well as giving validity to the film. Following this the title sequence starts properly. Fading up from black, white san-serif text appears fading in and out with the credits giving us information about who made the film. This effect makes it look very ghostly and puts fear to the viewer and adds tension to the movie. Whilst the titles are rolling we can hear a non-diagetic sound of a girl chiming and we can also hear violins in the background. The girl chiming makes us get goose bumps because it’s very quiet and all you can hear is her and her voice is hitting really high notes. The fact that the music is so calm makes you feel very peaceful relaxed and forget about everything. The black background then gradually fades and we get a CGI tracking shot of blue water with ice. This is a CGI shot because Antarctica couldn’t be tracked that well. During the opening sequence we get an Ariel view of Antarctica giving us our setting for the movie. We see large ice burgs and the blue water. Blue signifies serenity and peace as it is a very tranquil colour the blue also tells us that were at sea somewhere. Over the water we can see the name of the film appear but what the director has done is make it seem like the title is actually there floating on top of the ice and creating a shadow instead of just adding it normally. He did this in my opinion to make it seem as if the name is very important and very big and bold that it creates a shadow. This could also connote that ‘The Day After Tomorrow’ will cast a shadow upon the world and the fact that it’s over the ice suggests that the future actions could relate to the cold and ice.

As the camera continues to look over the icy land a caravan appears and we get a 360 look of the convoy. This is done so that we can see the setting fully and it connotes that the convoy is the only thing around for miles. As we get the 360 'Larsen b ice shelf Antarctica' appears on the bottom of the screen so we now have a destination that we can identify. From the 360 we cut to a close up of the American flag. This tells us that the camp is held by the Americans. We then get a shot of two characters. We instantly get a conventional scene with an old man teaching a younger man how to work the drill. 'You see how it's done?' shows that the older man is trying to teach the younger one something. The younger man then responds 'yeah I think I got it' shows he's not too sure he understood and his language connotes that he's very laid back and has lack of experience. 'Boss will chew my head off if these chords get messed up' shows that the older man is not the one in charge and that someone else controls him. This is shown by the way the older man speaks about him. We then track the older man who goes to a pile of metal canisters with cylinders of ice inside them and picks up 3. From that we then cut to the inside of the convoy and we get a mid shot of the old man opening the door from the inside. We then track the old man to go further inside the convoy which introduces us to the third character which must be the boss. The camera then tilts up so we see both men’s faces. 'You let Jason operate the drill?' this connotes that the boss has no trust in Jason and that he cares about his work. We then cut outside and we see a mid shot of Jason working on the drill. We then cut again to a close up of the floor and a crack appearing which starts go get bigger and the camera starts to tilt up so we can see how long the crack is. We then cut back to Jason and a close up if the drill going straight through to the ground and Jason trying to pull it up. As the crack circles him and the drill we can see fear in his face which connotes that he is very scared and doesn't know what’s going on. We then cut back to the convoy where we get a mid shot of both the old man and the bosses face. They don’t say anything they stand in silence as they are listening to what's going on outside. The effect of the silence is vital as it builds suspense and Showa that they too are confused as to what's happening. We then get a high angle mid shot of Jason circled by the crack and the boss and the old man are being tracked outside. Once they get

All three characters were dressed in yellow snow outfits. This connotes that it was very cold and they are quiet open and happy as they have chosen yellow out of all possible colours. This scene was set in Antarctica and we could hear wind blowing throughout the whole scene which showed it was very cold and abandoned. The fact that the convoy was the only thing around for miles connotes that these three men must be there for work as no one would live there or go for a holiday. They had a waving American flag at the beginning of the scene this connotes that they are very proud Americans and that they might be the first ones to ever step foot on that certain area of Antarctica. The convoy was very simple on the outside, normal and looked a bit like a tin can. Despite how the outside looks the inside was the total opposite. The inside of the convoy was full of information and high technology which connotes that they are there for work and might be researchers.
 In conclusion what I have gained from watching a clip from a sci-fi movie is that to gain the viewers attention and to build suspense one technique to use is silence. Silence can build a very tense atmosphere and make the viewer think what's going to happen next and want to keep watching. Silence in this scene was used when jack was about to jump across the divide. Another main technique which I think is good to build suspense is close ups of people’s faces at very intense moments. So for example re close up of jacks face when he saw how big the gap has gotten showed that he was surprised and might have been scared. By using a close up we can gain the upper hand of making the viewer have different opinions on how the character might feel.

Professional Job Roles

Types of producers

Producer

Responsibilities

Producers have overall control of a film’s production, bringing together the screenwriters, director, cast, finances and production team. Their primary responsibility is to foster an environment in which the creative talents of the cast and crew can flourish- Producers are therefore ultimately accountable for the success of the finished film. The producer’s responsibilities span all four phases of production.

 Research and Development- Producers are often responsible for coming up with the underlying premise of a production, or for selecting the screenplay. Producers secure the necessary rights, select the screenwriter and story editing team, and raise the development financing, and supervise the development process.

Pre-production- Producers typically bring together the key members of the creative team, including the Director, cinematographer and principal cast. They assist the executive producers to raise finance for the production. Once this is in place, they select other key personnel, such as the Line Producer, associate producer and production manager, as well as the remaining heads of departments, such as production designer, editor and composer. Producers also participate in location scouting, and approve the final shooting script, production schedule and budget.

Production- Producers are responsible for the day to day operations of the producing team, though many practical functions are delegated to the line producer and any associate producers. Producers are also in constant communication with the Director and with other key creative personnel, on/off set.

Skills

They must be good businesswomen/men with the ability to spot and deal with potential problems before they materialize and the drive to do whatever it takes to get the film made. The Producer's primary role is to oversee and deliver a film project to all relevant parties while preserving the integrity, voice and vision of the film. A film producer or movie producer begins by attaining the rights to, creating or co-creating a feature-length screenplay, thus initiating the role of producer in the process of narrative feature film making. The producer oversees the process, which includes coordinating, supervising and controlling major aspects of the project. These areas include fundraising, hiring key above-the-line roles (such as the casting director, film director), influencing the hiring of some of the below-the-line personnel (such as the UPM or line producer, accountant, etc.) and arranging for distribution. From inception through development to the completion and delivery of a film project, the producer is often actively involved throughout all major phases of the filmmaking process.

BBFC Guidlines

Bbfc guidelines

View more documents from irfaah.

Professional Job Roles

Professional job roles

View more documents from irfaah.

Similar Textual Analysis

Film title - shutter Island
Genre - crime/ physiological thriller
Target audience - 16 +

''Shutter island'' is about two marshal's getting sent to an island to find a missing patient at the institute but all goes wrong for one of the marshal as he finds out that all is not what it seems at Shutter Island. Shutter Island has a closed narrative as there is no sequel because you find out what happens at the end. It has a single strand narrative as it concentrates on one story line throughout the film. Also a Non-linear narrative as it jumps from flashbacks to reality, investigative narrative as the marshals are trying to find out where the patient escaped to and a realist narrative as the events that took place could happen in real life. The mode of address in shutter island is very formal as they are Federal Marshal's even though they seem rather friendly to each other they both are well spoken. During the first 5 minutes of the film I did not see any intersexuality.
The themes that showed in the opening sequence were mainly 1) fear as teddy Daniels was scared of water 2) loss as teddy lost his wife and work 3) authority as the Marshal's took their job very seriously. Water was the main motif they used as they begin with the sound of water before you sees anything, they zoom into the ocean and the tap running, Teddy mentions the word water several times when he's talking to himself in the bathroom and when he admits his fear of water. ''It’s just water'' he says '' A lot of water'' and '' I just can’t stomach the water ''. The fact that the other marshal calls Teddy ''boss'' and also says '' you're a legend'' tells the audience that teddy is well known and must be good at his job if everyone knows him also the fact that other Marshal calls him ''boss'' shows that he has higher authority even though Teddy talks to him as an equal which shows that he is a nice and genuine man.
The ideology in the sequence was when Teddy was sea sick most people think that if you have traumatising past experiences with something then it turns out you later on in life will be scared of the thing. The audience assumes that he has had a past experience with water as it really makes him sick that he cannot stand properly.
There were only males in the opening sequence. The two marshal's were represented as smart ''you must be the smartest out you’re bunch if they picked you for this'', tough as he was holding his emotions back when he was talking about his wife ''I'm so sorry''....''Its fine'' and also down to earth as they were joking about and telling each other about their life’s. The older man who looked like the Captain of the ship was rude as he told the marshal's to hurry up getting of the ship. I think that the Captain feels like he knows more about the Island that's why he is mean to the marshal's and also the fact that he has to drive the ship while the marshal's sit back and relax makes him angry as well. In this scene the Marshal's are shown to have more authority over the captain because they are always at the front of the frame and the Captain remains at the back. When they reach the island the authority is reversed as they had to be escorted by police .This shows that they are not trusted in this new environment or maybe it is for their safety. The stereotype of marshal's are sneaky and clever also very serious. The two men break this stereotype as they are very down to earth but also have their jobs as their first priority. The ''star'' of the film is Leonardo Dicaprio. He is the first face you see on camera, there are many close ups of his face and also the camera stays on him longer than the other characters. He is well known for other films like ''titanic'' and ''inception'' other than that he is also a very diverse actor.
The first shot is a long shot of a boat emerging from the distance .This shows that they are at the sea and the scene that we are about to see will have some reference to the boat. There then is a lot of close-up's of Leonardo Dicaprio and what he is doing the use of close up's is very effective as the audience have just been introduced to these characters which gives us a chance to see them close-up. Leonardo dicaprio is the only one in the sequence who has frames by himself all the other actors have to share frames this is because Leo has the main role in the film and by doing that it establishes his role in the film. There is a long establishing shot of the island. This shows how big the island is. Also the fact that it was far away makes it more menacing as it is there and are going towards it and it has two men standing there waiting for them when they arrive which makes the two marshal's nervous and anxious because they have just found out the history of the island.
The first sound you hear is the sound of water which immediately shows that that the sequence will have something to do with water. There are ambient sounds of birds in the background and also the sounds of waves crashing against the boat. Other than that there is Diagetic sound of the boat horn which was enhanced to make it louder this is alarming as it was silent. The music right at the beginning with the credits was a scratchy violin type of sound. This showed that the film was a thriller as the music was unnerving. When they go to a flashback there is incidental music to help the atmosphere of the scene. The music was very sad so it shows that this was a sad memory and part of his life. '' A mental hospital for the criminally insane'' this shows that this is no ordinary mental institute but for the criminally insane which then adds tension and suspicion to the scene it opens a lot of questions in the audience's head like why are the marshal's sent there ? Why is this institute separated from the rest of the world? ''The harbour is the only way in and out of the island''.'' I would appreciate if you would hurry getting off the boat'' these quotes show that the island is a secluded area which is hard to get to also an undesirable place to be.
There were no special effects in the opening sequence.
The beginning credits all faded to black to the next name. This showed it was a thriller because if you watch most thriller trailers all the clips fade to black. All of the transitions were cut from shot to shot this is to show that nothing out of the ordinary has happened yet. There was a flash back when Teddy was talking about to his wife which then cross-cuts to a close-up of the ocean which makes the audience assume that the wife died of drowning or something water related but we soon realise that she died from a fire. There was superimposition at the beginning where it says ''Boston Harbour Island 1954'' which establishes the scene and date as well.
The scene was set on a boat travelling to a deserted island in the middle of a large ocean. The only prop in the sequence were cigarettes which showed that they were both smokers. The handcuff’s hanging from the ship also shows that the ship is no ordinary ships but probably one were prisoners are taken. The marshal was dressed smartly in a suit hat and tie this showed that they were not on vacation but were on business and probably work related. Leo was the only one who was in a shot by himself which showed his importance. All the character's facial expressions were serious and Leo was hunched over to show that he was not feeling well. Lighting was dull and dreary which is convenient as they said there was a storm coming it was also ambient light no artificial light used. All of the characters were wearing dark and dull colours which complemented the mood well as it showed it was a dark depressing time and also gave the idea that the rest of the film will be like this as well.
The two marshal's outfits showed that we were not in the 21'st century as people do not wear that anymore also their accents showed that they were from Boston.
In the first opening five minute's we see two Marshal's on a boat heading towards an Island which we soon find out is a mental institute for the criminally insane. One of the Marshal is hunched over a toilet then splashes water over his face before joining the other marshal. They talk about their life's and find out about each other and what they are getting themselves into before they onboard the ship. We connote that the two marshal's are there for business as they are in uniform and that the marshal hunched over the toilet is being (sea) sick and has to splash water over his face to pull himself together. We connate that they are talking about their lives and introducing each other because they have not met before and to prepare themselves for the long journey they have ahead.
I feel that I have got the preferred reading as I am already captivated by the first 5 minutes and am eagerly waiting. Someone who found it boring would have gotten the oppositional reading.

To watch the clip clink on the link below
http://www.moviewatch.in/external.php?title=Shutter+Island&url=aHR0cDovL3d3dy5tZWdhdmlkZW8uY29tL3YvUElGU01OV1Y=&domain=bWVnYXZpZGVvLmNvbQ==&loggedin=0

Similiar Textual Analysis

The Sixth Sense Opening Sequence

The beginning of the film starts with the opening credits over a black screen. There is eerie music playing in the background, sharp, high pitched violin strokes.  This connotes that this is a spooky film and that it is scary. The font colour is blue giving a sense of coldness as the words fade in and out, adding to the sense of creepiness. As the credits end, the background illuminates as a light bulb slowly brightens to reveal a basement like setting, connoting that something sinister will happen in this scene. The camera then cuts to a figure walking down the stairs, still in darkness. The fact that this particular scene is set in darkness connotes that there’s a spooky atmosphere which adds to the disturbing ambience. The camera is then placed behind the wine cabinet to show a woman taking a wine bottle. Cutting back to a long shot, she shivers, looking around again adding to the creepy feeling.  You can tell that it’s a fancy occasion because of what she’s wearing. She’s wearing a purple dress and has her hair up in a bun.  She then runs back up the stairs leaving the audience alone, making the viewer feel scared, in the basement before cutting to a shot of thank you cards on the shelf.

You can then hear diagetic sound of the door creaking before the camera slowly tilts up to reveal the main character who is Bruce Willis who is carrying a bottle of beer which connotes that they’re celebrating something important because he is also dressed to impress. The camera then pans to show a two shot of both him and his wife who is throwing a jumper to him and they then both exchange some dialogue.  She starts by saying, “It’s getting chilly in here”, before he then says, “That is some fine frame”, before sitting himself down onto the sofa. She then sits down beside him which shows that she is loyal to her husband and would do anything for him. The camera then cuts to show the frame that Bruce Willis was talking about. The frame is brown with a sort of certificate inside. The frame is sitting in an armchair which shows that it means a lot and that it’s quite superior and really important towards his career. His wife then starts to read the words off his award plaque which shows that she’s devoted to him as a traditional housewife. After she’s finished reading his plaque, they share an intimate moment before heading upstairs to their bedroom. This shows that they have a happy and loving relationship.

As they get in the bedroom, which is quite fancy seeing as they are from an upper class because of the plaque and all the wine in the cellar, they start to undress while playing which shows that they are still playful and children at heart. Bruce and his wife then stop to look at shattered glass all over the floor and the broken window which connotes that there was a forced entry and that somebody is still in their house. They both look at each other shocked and in horror because someone has entered their house.  His wife then signals for him to come over to her side saying “Look, look”. The camera then cuts down so the audience can see the shattered glass and broken phone. The camera then tilts up to the window with only the sound of the phones beeping in the background. There is only diagetic sound throughout the film to increase tension and build suspense. A shadow then appears out of the blue into the bathroom and his wife then screams because she’s scared. The fact that it’s dark also makes it more terrifying because she could be intimidated by the dark and seeks help from her husband. As soon as he hears the scream from his wife, Bruce Willis turns around and goes to investigate the creepy shadow. This connotes that he’s very protecting of his wife and he wouldn’t let anything or anyone hurt her. He also feels that it’s his job as man of the house to look after her and protect her from any harm. As he steps towards his bathroom, he’s in close up and the music is now quite creepy and frightening in the background, the quickly cuts to the bathroom door to increase suspension and tension in the audience. The camera starts moving towards the bathroom door as if the audience were looking through Bruce Willis’s eyes.

As the camera gets nearer and nearer, the music increases slightly which makes the audience feel agitated and jumpy. The camera then does a shot reverse shot between the bathroom and Bruce Willis. As the camera then goes back to the bathroom door, it gets nearer until it turns the corner and you can see clothes on the floor and a man standing in just his underwear. This connotes that he’s probably got mental issues and wants something from Bruce Willis. Bruce Willis then says to his wife, “Hannah, don’t move. Don’t make a sound” before the camera goes into a mid close up of the man who’s standing in the bathroom. With Bruce Willis and the man still both in close up, they both exchange some dialogue and Bruce Willis is now trembling instead of acting sturdy. The man then makes his way out of the bathroom and into the bedroom with Bruce Willis’s wife taking in a breath as she sees this semi-naked man emerge from her bathroom. The man is now crying and the three of them engage in dialogue with the music playing in the background.

The music is orchestral music, mainly piano and strings. The music is getting stronger with every sentence exchanged and the camera is doing a shot reverse shot of Bruce Willis and the man who are both in close up. The music has now stopped and Bruce Willis is left talking while the man who is not fully in the bedroom is crying. This shows a contrast between the two men. Bruce Willis is the more fatherly figure trying to stop this young man from breaking into floods of tears and the man who is more child-like and is in need of help. The man then goes back into the bathroom with an angry look set about his face and pulls out a gun which he uses to shoot Bruce Willis before turning the gun on himself which the audience doesn’t see. The scene then ends with Bruce Willis lying in his bed, with his wife crying beside him. This connotes that even though he’s helpless she will always be there for him as a devoted wife should be.

I found this sequence quite suspenseful and intimidating due to the intense diagetic sound used throughout and the dark lighting used in the basement and bedroom. There is a contrast between the settings used as it goes from dark – light- dark. The only light used in the bedroom is the lighting from the bathroom and the only lighting in the basement is from the bulb.

http://www.novamov.com/video/flaozhga5kxup

Marcia Preciosa

Questionnaire

Questionnaires

What is your gender?

Male ||| (3)

Female |||||| (7)

How old are you?

10-15 (0)          

16-20 |||| (4)          

21-30 |||||| (6)         

30+ (0)

How many films do you watch per month?

 1-5 || (2)           

5-10 ||||| (5)        

 10+ ||| (3)

What is your preferred film genre?

Horror | (1)           Adventure (0)        Western (0)

 Sci-fi || (2)          Historical (0)          Comedy (0)

Crime ||| (3)      Romance (0)           War (0)

Thriller ||| (3)       Fairytale (0)          Action | (1)

What certificate films do you watch?

 U ||| (3)        12 | (1)         18 | (1)

PG |||| (4)        15 | (1)                  

Where do you prefer watching a film?

 At home ||||| (5)         

Cinema ||||| (5)

Which sub genre of thriller would you prefer to watch?

Disaster thriller ||| (3)             Psychological thriller || (2)

Crime thriller |||| (4)         Techno-thriller | (1)

Would you prefer children or adults in a thriller?

Children ||| (3)

Adult’s ||||||| (7)

Which do you prefer the most?

Classic thrillers |||| (4)        

Modern day thrillers |||||| (6)

Questionnaires

Questionnaire

1)      Which age range do you fit into?
 16-18           llll

 18-24           ll
24-40            llll
40-60
 60+

2)      What genre do you prefer?
 Horror                
Thriller   lll
 Romance
 Comedy  lll
 Action/Adventure
 Historical  l
 Sci-fi/Fantasy
 Documentary  lll
 Western

3)      What kind of thriller movie do you like?

Philological thriller  lllllll

Sci fi thriller

Horror thriller   l

Crime thriller   ll

Erotic thriller

4)      Where do you watch most of your thrillers?

Internet    ll

Cinema lll

TV     lll

DVD ll

5)      Who do you watch thrillers with?

Friend’s    lll

Family  

Alone      l

Boyfriend/girlfriend   lllllll

6)      What ethnicity are you?

Black    lllll

White   ll

Mixed    ll

Asian    l

American  

Other

7)      Where do you live?

Harrow

Uxbridge    llll

Northolt     l

Pinner      l

Brixton

Wembley

Tottenham

Staines    ll

Ickenham   ll

8)      Do you prefer thrillers from the UK or other?

UK    llll

Asia    llll

Africa

Other   ll

9)      How regularly do you watch thrillers?

Once a week   lll

Once a day    lll

Once a month lll

Never   

Other l

10)  Do you enjoy watching thrillers?

Yes llllllllll

No