Evaluation- Thriller Opening Production

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Creating characters through composition, shots and audience interpretation

As our protagonist, we aimed to create Grace ( portrayed by Charlotte) as a likeable character to the audience for her noticeably cautious traits and innocence. Firstly, her composure supports the idea of trustworthiness towards her surroundings; unfortunately a influencing factor into her fate. This included:


- Little consideration given to the route through the marshes she decides to follow, indicating confidence in her general sense of direction and also suggests that she regularly uses the environment for photography purposes. This shows good independence abilities.

- Her professional camera gives attention to her age- possibility, in her late teens as Charlotte's face was natural in the shots and she generally holds a youthful appearance. It may be presumed that if she were to be interpreted as an older character, perhaps in her early twenties, photography is her profession.

-In relation to her body language, she seems to analyse her photographs carefully, demonstrated through the slight creasing of her eyes and what appears to be some repetitive shots.

However, these features are challenged nearing the end of our film opening with Grace's evident shock over discovering the corpse of Fred. Her hand falling slowly to her side ( edited for effect) makes insinuations towards the realization she isn't alone as she expected, immediately proposing fear.


To effectively convey our antagonist figure, Lizzy ( played by Ellie) features less on screen but still possesses threatening, secretive qualities. The physical differences between the pair also brings attention to gender representation in thrillers, proposing either kindness or aggression.

- Lizzy's clothing is purely black with only red hints of nail varnish and lipstick-this proposes classical film noir conventions whilst summarizing the character as a cold and unloving individual.

- As she stands over Fred's body, a shadowing effect could show that the killer hasn't yet finished, imposing harm towards the victim. She also seems alarmingly casual over her actions, to the extent where moral standards are not applicable.

- A shot of Lizzy tensely clenching her hands supports the idea of a physiological defect. This single action captures the storyline effectively in regard to the physical damage she is willing to impose on strangers. In conjunction, it hints towards the possibility she was witnessing the whole scene of Grace's discovery from the beginning.



Although he is only viewed purely as a visual aspect and there is no scene of resilience to Lizzy's attack, Fred ( Joe's character) is presented as the victim of a crime by the use of high and low angles in the production.

- A drawn out, dramatic fall in almost a broken up lighting effect emphasizes the weakness Fred suddenly experiences due to an unknown physical injury ( most likely, a stabbing infliction), making him all the more vulnerable. In relation, it is surprising how easily Lizzy is able to drag Fred's corpse, considering their gender differences. This may again present the character as redundant of all previous strength.

- Fred's perspective from he ground as he views Lizzy from his position creates a sense of mercy in which the killer will almost certainly not show, adding to the fear of attacks from others.

Lighting effects and camera movements

Our group varied our camera shots in order to maintain interest and show a development within the film opening, working  to develop of the first event. In conjunction, lighting alteration was essential to show transitions between characters.

Low shots were key to determining Lizzy's capability of inflicting harm onto anyone who may have become aware of her crime. To show vulnerability, a shot of her hand ( our first scene) clenching in anger or defense suggests the possibility she is aware of Grace's presence-immediately putting the main character's life at risk in addition to transferring fear towards the audience. Also, Grace drops the sheet slowly after discovering Fred's body, indicating overwhelming shock. These details of physical composure lead to the cliffhanger, in which Grace's fate is uncertain. We deliberately placed the two scenes as both the beginning and ending shots to emphasize this.

A long shot allowed us to demonstrate the significance of one introducing themselves to danger with Grace making her way into the marshes ( an effective purpose of a tracking shot). Likewise, the bright sunlight contrasted against the looming shadow of her silhouette; we achieved this by filming from behind her route. This allowed us to define the character's significance as key to the murder, in respect of her personality combined with the dark, unsettling scenario. In relation, it is noticeable that during all of Lizzy's appearances, the lighting is generally darker in opposition to Grace's bright

Close ups were a consistent feature in the film opening. In particular, the scene of Grace standing directly over Fred's corpse demonstrates, through a quick shot of her footwear, ignorance of reality. The shot also introduces a human aspect to the scene, in consideration of the zoom shot of Fred's trainers- this may identify both individuals as victims, whether living or dead.

Using props in our thriller film- creating significance

To further establish the cold, isolated setting in which 'Flashpoint' takes place, we used props that signify either comfort ( for instance, from the perspective of Grace) or the dismissal of sympathy or understanding of loss ( what could be interpreted as a  representation of Lizzy's mind set).

Following his murder, Fred's character is wrapped hastily in an open, plastic tent liner. The material is cheap and thin, showing Lizzy's lack of concern over how she deposits the body. In some cases of murder depicted in thriller films, a body is treated without respect due to the need to leave the site immediately  ( for example, 'Sorority Row', a horror/thriller production, shows a group of friends dispose of their friend's corpse in a mineshaft out of panic instead of guilt). Also, this submits the antagonist's differentiation to the grass and trees that surround the scenes; natural, purposeful features. The prop creates a  contrast between the characters in regard to how the event has left a physiological, permanent mark- black against the greenery of the trees and grass.

Grace's camera however shows an interest of personal field- we used a professional, more technical device to personify the character. Without this type of object, there would be little to indicate the age of the protagonist, their hobbies or explanation of why they found themselves in this threatening situation; a simple route through the marshes doesn't provide any significance to the first scene. In relation, a camera conveys effectively their innocence and possibly, a portal through to their unwilling involvement of crime and danger through being a witness alone. Additionally, The thriller 'Disturbia'  shows a young adult act as an eyewitness to serial murders whilst in house confinement, becoming deeply involved in the development of the thriller film.

Creating Labels

Independent case study on The Happening - the use of imagery and soundtracks in thrillers

Set in modern day American cities ( for example, New York's Central Park and Philadelphia), The Happening, directed by M.Night Shayamalan, 2008, documents the fear of an uncontrollable natural event and the possibility that humans are indefinitely a target of the environment itself. The film follows the attempts of a science teacher who, with his wife, best friend and his daughter, learn that what was a presumed terrorist attack in New York was in fact the result of the transmission of  a fatal neurotoxin from plants which causes any individual exposed to the chemical to commit suicide, especially in more rural areas where the event is inescapable. Whilst the production received incredibly poor ratings and was deemed ' incoherent' and 'unconvincing', I feel that the film was excellent in conveying a sense of terror within director M.Night Shyamalan's use of imagery, close ups and character development and progression through the acknowledgement that humanity could be destroyed through the horrifying concept of human intent to purposefully end one's life, without the wish to before the attacks.

An early scene which highlights the undeniable theme of overwhelming mass suicide occurs at a construction site in New York, showing various builders purposefully throwing themselves off the scaffolding. Because the shot is performed in slow motion, within the audience the image appears as tragic and surreal, almost as if the figures falling to their deaths represents a loss of rationality. Also,  as the faces of the builders cannot be seen from such a height, it contributes significantly to the disregard of what was their life, their family and the importance of human will. What makes the scene disturbing in this respect is that the motive seen through the high angle was so sudden, but so simple to cause an indefinite effect on the witnesses below- including the viewers.

In relation, more close ups emphasize the sudden realization that there is an endangerment of life, or that in this case, clear insinuation that a known character has met their fate. Elliot's friend, math teacher Jullion ( portrayed by John Leguizamo) has just emerged from the remains of a deliberately induced car crash, whilst the other four passengers have been killed. However, his escape only provokes an alternative method of bringing about his own death as he sits helplessly in the shards of glass, before using a piece to inflict wounds upon himself - it is apparent to the audience that whilst he hasn't been killed, he is infected with the virus and will soon die, which creates a contrast between the fast, violent car accident and his single death. This also emphasizes the loss the disaster would bring to the whole population, in particular his daughter, who would have lost both of her parents.

Additionally, other scenes that deceit the aftermath of suicide in The Happening aim to evoke a similar sense of terror that the characters feel upon understanding that mass suicide is occurring in the same cities and towns many people have fled to in an attempt for safety. An accomplice of the pair, the nursery owner's facial expression documents clearly fear and confusion as to why the army officer leading them away from the affected roads has started to walk backwards to his group and shout military orders. This brings about the awful assumption that the vast number of individuals ( shown below) have met their fate and consequently, even though such a scene is never shot, everyone in this area committed suicide using the officer's handgun.

 

As in the case of other thriller productions such as Seven and Signs ( also a Shyamalan film that presents the theme of threat towards humanity), the opening credits create a chilling, eerie atmosphere by using a soundtrack composition that compliments the imagery used to introduce the film. One shot of moving clouds across the sky appears innocent , but in respect of the themes, emerges as both moving and threatening. Also, James Newton Howard's instrumental score is disturbing for it's simplicity and fluency in contrast against the deadly, unsettling storyline. The simple rhythm motif gradually becomes heavier and increases in pace, potentially representing an inescapable situation.

 

                                       

 

Costume for the characters

Ideally, the character of Grace is going to wear clothing which may insinuate ignorance, but overall, normality. Charlotte ( our main actor) wears green slim fit trousers, a cream jacket and hiking boots, which are suitable for her photographer career ( it is apparent that this is her profession during the shots). Also, such practical items could suggest she intentionally ventured to the marshes in order to take new photographs. In addition, the jacket defines the season as winter which supports the idea of coldness and shock. Above all however, these pieces signify youth, as they are costume pieces a young adult would wear- adding to the fear of what Grace's outcome will be in relation to her age, and therefore, innocence.

 

In comparison, the antagonist ( Lizzie) will wear dark, haunting clothing pieces which emphasize danger. In fact, the items could be similar but only vary within their colour, which insinuates other storyline elements or as an act of dramatic symbolism between their differences. Using red lipstick would too introduce a subtle reference to Film Noir.