Genre and Preparation

   During my classes introduction to the CCR or Creative Review focuses on the genre is very important as well as its conventions and how you are going to break them. I'm eager to represent the thriller genre because it is overlooked or misinterpreted as horror when thrillers are known to play a viewer's interest and anticipation. 

    To prepare for the CCR and just to make the concept easier to look at I organized to help me organize my thoughts. Again using a favorite tool of mine as a genre-organizer: Canva.

Research on the Openings Pt 2

Continuation from my last post; on the samples for the genres I was looking for.

Genre	Case Studies
Drama/Coming of age	Moonlight (2016) By Barry Jenkins Observations: Rather than a piece from a score there is a radio quality sound:” Every N*gger is a Star,” appearing before the first shot is taken and within the first 2 min there are no opening credits Shot Composition: The scene starts with the shot of a car where a man steps out follows him as he walks to two other men. This is a master shot that doesn’t stop until he sees some kids run through the street; then it cuts to a handheld-tracking shot of a boy being chased. Analysis: The very beginning of the film starts with a black screen where there is some asynchronous beach water sounds that slowly overlap with the song with radio quality sets the scene. The master shot with the sporadic movements not only keeps the audience focused on who’s in front of the camera. Through the scene, we are shown the community as well as the conditions of their neighborhood that set the scene for the story. I think the lack of credits, in the beginning, makes this artistic decision force the audience to focus on what is being shown.
Drama series	13 Reasons Why (2017) By Brian Yorkey Observation: Music with vocals, and close-ups on characters to catch emotion; no opening credits Shot Composition: Starts with a close-up of a picture of Hannah Baker that zooms out to an out-of-focus shot to focus on a boy. Cut to a shot of Hannah Baker before transition that shows that she's not there. Over the shoulder shot of him looking at people’s reactions to Hannah Baker’s memorial. Medium to another over the shoulder of him looking at the memorial as he moves closer. Then we have multiple medium shots that follow the conversation between the two boys, before ending on a close-up on the first boy’s face. Analysis: This is different from a movie but the way that they go about preparing the story for the viewer. The use of slow-motion for everyone else but the first boy calls attention to him and the difference in attitude between the normal students and him. As well as starting the story from the end in a sense; the ending of something else. As well as the interactions that can’t be deduced by context clues and force the viewer to keep watching.
Drama	Akeelah and the Bee (2006) By Doug Atchison Observation: There are a lot of panning shots that usually go in the order of left consequentially and then right. The title screen coincides with the beat of the music. Shot Composition: A pan to the right, a pan to the left, then two still shots, followed by more left and right pans of the suburbs and the environment. Cut to a closeup of Akeelah, fade into more pans to the right showing the school before going to an over-the-shoulder shot of the teacher handing out tests. Before beginning a shot to shot featuring different angles during the conversation between Akeelah and her teacher. Analysis: The editing of the title to match up with the music makes for an engaging and fun introduction. The voiceover done by Akeelah helps set the stage for her goals and her situation.

Research on the Openings Pt 1

I mentioned some of these thriller movies in my last post; I watched them and compiled a quick observation analysis and focus on technique.

Genre	Case Studies
Thriller/horror	Psycho (1960)  by Alfred Hitchcock Observations: The score for the opening is intense and suspenseful, the opening credits the stand-alone majority of them having transitions that have to do with lines before the following shot composition begins Shot composition: There is an establishing shot of a city that eventually cuts to a shot that zooms into an open window then panning to the right to reveal a laying woman on a bed being stood over by a man. Cut to a nightstand that shows an unfinished lunch cut to a medium shot of the man standing straight up and the woman lifting her shoulders and face to fit into the lower bars of the shot followed by the shot tilting to follow the man who sits down on the bed to face the weapon. Analysis: The majority of the opening is done without footage from any characters but is carried by the fantastic score that not only foreshadows the suspense later on in the film. I also noticed that the linear transitions for the credits and the title are fast-paced matching the heightened tone of the score. Additionally once the credits have rolled and actual footage is played there are also easier texts that establish time, date, and where the story is taking place (that's over the establishing shot). There is an awkward cut during the attempt to zoom into the window where it becomes a different window.
Thriller/Horror	The silence of the Lambs (1990) By Jonathan Demme Observations: The score begins before the first shot which is soon followed by the asynchronous sound of the panting of a woman coming up on the horizon; when the title/credits start to roll they are a bold font  Shot Composition: Begins with a medium shot on a tree before panning/tilting  down towards the trail and the horizon of a woman climbing up Shots follow her with close-ups and medium shots at different angles Analysis: The score is ominous but more subtle than Psycho. The text placement, at a first glance, is odd but inherently forces viewers to be more engaged in what the character is doing because of the limited view.
Thriller/ mystery	Gone Girl (2014) By David Fincher Observations: The score beginning before the credits are accompanied by a voice-over; meanwhile the quick fade-ins/outs of the title and credits contribute to the ominous feeling that the music is giving.  Shot Composition: The first shot consists of a closeup of a woman with a hand brushing over her head black screen showing white texts fades into a long shot of a beach long shot of a house. A shot from a lower angle of a sign. More long shots of this town some at a lower angle a pan of a large backyard a long shot of a house that is reduced in price another long shot of the house at a different angle a shot of a sewer grate shot of an alleyway more shots of miscellaneous objects in the suburbs medium shot of a man standing by a trash can from a different angle the shot of him looking a different way medium shot to a long shot of him turning around and then heading into the house Analysis: If the voice-over wasn’t enough to make an eerie tone but the seemingly random shots that set the scene for the story along with this similar strategy with the credits.

Brainstorming Genre and Ideas for a story Pt ll

I made a chart to help plan out the props needed to create the scene; this isn’t including the tools needed to make the set, actors needed, or the costume design:

Idea	Prop(s) or Necessary equipment	Ingredients	Costs	Motivation
The dying protagonist	Fake blood 3 shirts	Corn Syrup Red, Blue, and Green dye 3 shirts for multiple takes	$5 Time to make the blood Separate plans for the different takes	This idea is enjoyable, and I’m hoping I can get the green light to do this idea.
Grieving protagonist w/ imaginary friend	Stuffed Animal Tombstone Fake Will	Stuffed Animal Styrofoam Paper	$7 Time to make the fake tombstone	I think this idea is fun and I can make artistic traits more prevalent with the grieving mind of the main character.
Cookie Cutter  Coming of Age	Book  Backpack Journal pen & paper	Book Backpack Journal pen & paper	None	I’m not as thrilled about this idea as the others but I believe I can still put my artistic spin on it.

From the chart above I’ve put down some of the ideas and repercussions to think about when making props. I’m still open to new ideas but I wanted to mark down what I might need for the future. 

I also wanted to make a note of movies, shows, and openings that might be of assistance. For the thriller genre: Pyscho, The Silence of the Lambs, and Gone Girl. I’ll be taking notes and analyzing the openings. When I do, I’ll report back to this blog so that not only will others see and but it’ll also be on record for what I feel and noticed then. 

For the coming of age genre or more accurately the drama genre, I’ve selected Akeelah and the Bee, Moonlight, and 13 Reasons Why. I realize the coming of age-genre is probably closer to the overarching genre of drama; therefore instead of “coming of age” I’ll just say drama. Until next time! 

Brainstorming Genre and Ideas for a Story Pt I

When the Portfolio project was mentioned at the beginning of the course I was enthused to create something with my own story; I still am. Although I have experience with camera techniques and writing stories to create a narrative for my TV class, I rarely get the creative freedom to write my own story; like a cinematic opening. Needless to say, I’m thrilled to create something that lets viewers into my mind.

In a previous post, I shared a case study I did on the thriller genre which talks about the importance of suspense and the capability of a piece being scary but not a horror. Because I have prior knowledge of this genre this is an excellent possibility for this opening; it also allows me to incorporate abstract or horrific elements that don’t turn into horror. Another genre in the running is the science/supernatural fiction; I haven’t done a case study on them yet but I have plenty of resources and time to explore. This can allow the techniques learned in class to create a specific tone that complements a story of adventure and/or mystery. The only exception is the backup idea with a typical teenage coming of age genre; I’m not particularly fond of this idea but I’ll consider it an option.

As soon as the assignment was brought up ideas spring into my head; loud, ambitious, and each on the aforementioned genres. An idea that has recently come about is an opening scene that begins with a bloody battered protagonist fleeing to a tree from an unknown assailant. The protagonist would be on the verge of death-passing out the audience would see an interaction between seemingly the main character and another version of the main character but as the dialogue would continue we’d learn that one of the people talking is another entity with less than innocent intentions. This would probably be a hybrid genre: supernatural-thriller. This idea is inspired by a Japanese animated series where the protagonist, Itadori Yuuji, has a similar confrontation. With a limited budget and equipment, this idea isn’t too costly of course with the quality and quantity of the (fake) blood which would be something to keep in mind when choosing a final idea. The next idea I had would be something with a creepier aesthetic and would have the protagonist mourning over a death they witnessed with an imaginary friend. The opening scene would establish the protagonist’s dependency on this imaginary friend as they attempt to handle the grieving process. This idea can be developed more and the only problem is the location for this type of interaction; the imaginary friend would be a stuffed animal which I have plenty of. Another idea would be a more coming of age opening scene where a teenage protagonist begins to understand themselves, how the world sees them, and how they decide to create their self-image. This idea once again shouldn’t be too costly with a lighter tone and can take an alternative version of themselves speaking their inner feelings; the con to this idea would be to invite another character and in a pandemic finding actors will be tough. 

I plan to dedicate the weekend to conducting actual research on the types of genres I’m interested in as well as the ones I’m not-mostly to gain a wider perspective and offer up the possibility to be inspired to make something else. My research will probably be watching the openings of highly-acclaimed movies of that genre specifically so that I can analyze the techniques that are possible on a budget of $0.

The Genre Thriller Research

 The Power of Thriller

 

The easiest way to explain the fictional genre of a thriller is the ancient relative of horror that usually shows up to the family reunion with a few other subgenres. Very often similar to horror, thrillers elicit moods of anxiety and suspense to continually keep their viewers on the edge of their seats; another distinguished difference is the more focused storyline that doesn’t rely on the actual fear of the viewers but the fear for the characters. 

A director who encapsulated thriller consistently was non-other than Alfred Hitchcock; his thrillers usually were paired with the subgenres of horror and mystery. One of his works that featured the horror subgenre is the-now-classic- Psycho a film about a secretary, Marion Crane (Janet Leigh) who hides after embezzling money from her boss’ client in hopes of marrying and starting a new life. In hopes to avoid the police, she spends the night at the Bates motel where she meets Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins). Although this movie used to be controversial it has become a staple in film history for its style and horrifying twists; it also opened the door for horror as its own overarching genre. 

Hitchcock’s Psycho and many of his other movies were the introductions to thriller films that paved the way to new stories with the suspense of unpredictable endings, psychotic humans, and a narrative that shakes the humans that watch it. Another creator who has emulated the fear and the suspense of a thriller would be Steven Spielberg directing Jaws a story about a  police chief Martin Brody (Roy Scheider) as he tries to hunt and stop a shark who has a murderous appetite for human flesh; and producing the Poltergeist 1982, a story about a family as they discover the spiritual presence of a poltergeist at work in the house that eventually abducts the youngest daughter Carol Ann (Heather O'Rourke). 

Thrillers use suspense and the knowledge of the forthcoming danger that spirals the story into exciting and thoughtful films that have the ability to move the hearts of mature audiences. Thrillers always deal with heavy subjects, gory scenes, unsettling concepts, and anything considered gut-wrenching in any way shape, or form. Because of the contents of this genre its aimed at older audiences encouraged by character’s ages and stereotypes that match with an older generation’s views. 

Techniques & Conventions

Suspense is the backbone of a thriller, it’s what keeps the audience engaged and hungry for more. This tool is used in almost every genre in one way or another, the use of suspense in other movies may only last for a short time but in thrillers, the whole film is strategically built to create suspense. A popular way to display suspense is through dramatic irony: which is the literary technique of something being done by a character that isn’t aware of something while the audience has full knowledge of. An example of this is the thriller-horror Jaws’ opening scene the audience gets to see the shark’s viewpoint and we hear the iconic theme of the shark coming to attack whereas the swimmer blissfully unaware continues to keep swimming. That whole scene creates this uncomfortable feeling of dread that makes you want to jump into the screen and say, “Hey! Watch out!” But because you can’t do that thrillers continue to drag that feeling every time you hear that theme and that anxiety felt for the characters every time they go near that body of water is the power of suspense. As torturous as that sounds the thriller genre is known it’s for its constant twists and turns, unlike a typical action movie, there is no guarantee that your favorite character is going to survive, live, or become the murderer themselves. 

Marketing 

Thrillers for a long time weren’t a normal genre, Hitchcock made history and the format that most thrillers choose to market themselves with. Because no one else had done something as thriller-like before Psycho he was able to advertise his stories in their own way: one of the ways he does this is with his own theatrical trailer. Hitchcock would personally address the audience in these trailers making themes and motifs he wants the audience to see in the movie. For the thriller-horror Birds, Hitchcock makes the theme of revenge from none other than the birds as he ironically praises them for humanity torturing them. The scene ends with the appearance of the main character Melanie Daniels (Tippi Hedren) running onto the set saying “Their coming.” Aside from his theatrical trailer the usual trailers for his movies centered around a light narrative of a story that is followed by scenes from the movie explaining the rest. Modern-day thriller trailers are more or less the same with basically the skeletal structure already provided by Hitchcock. 

The audience for thrillers aims for an older middle-aged group because that's the only group that can legally be reached; some thrillers aren’t as vulgar and can pass for mature thirteen-year-olds. The majority of thrillers that target older, middle-aged, people with main characters that are around that age. This is shown in the R-rated Invisible Man where Cecilia Kass (Elizabeth Moss) is being terrorized by her sociopathic ex-boyfriend that has somehow become invisible, as she tries to prove her sanity to everyone around her. Although her age is never explicitly stated the audience can assume she is around middle-aged by her appearance and the R-rating that restricts younger viewers supports her connection to that group. Another way older audiences are targeted is by the use of stereotypes, more recently this has been frowned upon because of political correctness and the cliches that tire and annoy younger viewers. In the thriller-horror Ma, a bunch of teenagers befriends an older lady who calls herself Ma (Octavia Spencer) who aids them in their reckless endeavors only to discover she has a hidden agenda. This movie like many others targeted at older middle-aged people plays with the stereotypes of teenagers being completely reckless and actively doing illegal things rather than having a more realistic view of teenagers. Films targeted towards teenagers and young adults show less of this stereotype and more of the complex emotions that depict this age group more realistic. 

Thriller 

Thriller is a wonderful genre that I believe gets overshadowed by its much more popular branch: Horror. Suspense is a powerful and difficult tool to use in many different ways that haven’t been done before, even though it is easier to mirror one’s work to another it just has to be done in a way that makes it your own. I have hopes to maybe try my own at creating a suspenseful and tummy-turning script or piece of writing. I look forward to what other thrillers come up with.

Thrillers Mentioned and Not:

Psycho (1960)

Directed by: Alfred Hitchcock

Genre: Thriller/Horror

Synopsis: A film about a secretary, Marion Crane (Janet Leigh) who hides after embezzling money from her boss’ client in hopes of marrying and starting a new life. In hopes to avoid the police, she spends the night at the Bates motel where she meets Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins). 

Jaws 

Directed by: Steven Spielberg

Genre: Thriller/Horror

Synopsis: A story about a  police chief Martin Brody (Roy Scheider) as he tries to hunt and stop a shark who has a murderous appetite for human flesh

Poltergeist (1982)

Directed by: Tobe Hooper

Genre: Thriller/Horror

Synopsis: A story about a family as they discover the spiritual presence of a poltergeist at work in the house that eventually abducts the youngest daughter Carol Ann (Heather O'Rourke). 

The Birds (1963)

Directed by: Alfred Hitchcock

Genre: Thriller/Horror

Synopsis: Birds begin to attack humanity as if it were some kind of revenge.

The Invisible Man (2020)

Directed by: Leigh Whannel 

Genre: Thriller/Horror

Synopsis: Cecilia Kass (Elizabeth Moss) is being terrorized by her sociopathic ex-boyfriend that has somehow become invisible, as she tries to prove her sanity to everyone around her.

Ma(2019)

Directed by: Tate Taylor

Genre: Thriller/Psychological horror

Synopsis: A bunch of teenagers befriends an older lady who calls herself Ma (Octavia Spencer) who aids them in their reckless endeavors only to discover she has a hidden agenda.

Duel(1971)

Directed by: Steven Spielberg

Genre: Thriller/Action 

Synopsis: David Mann (Dennis Weaver), on a cross country trip for work is targeted by an old oil tanker truck that just won’t leave him alone.  

The Hunt(2020)

Directed by: Craig Zobel 

Genre: Thriller/Action

Synopsis: An elitist group gathers 12 normal people be hunted in hunting game for sport but one of the hunted has different plans.:

Vertigo(1958)

Directed by: Alfred Hitchcock

Genre: Thriller/Mystery

Synopsis: The story is about a pairing of a man who suffers from extreme heights, a woman with a dark desire to end herself, and the mystery that comes from their relationship.

Sources

https://www.scribd.com/document/331511836/Target-Audience

https://www.indiewire.com/feature/best-alfred-hitchcock-movies-films-ranked-184715/