Thriller OTS Planning and Research

I want to base my work loosely around the themes of 'Die Hard: With A Vengeance' starring Bruce Willis and Samuel. L Jackson. It is about an anonymous bomber who keeps ringing the detective via pay phones in New York claiming that he has a bomb in one of 3 big business buildings and that he has several hostages. Willis has to stop the madman before it's too late and destruction is brought to the city.

As I don't have a budget of around $2,000,000 I cannot set up enormous backdrops and sets so I will have to use local environments to create similar effects to those in the movies.

I would like for there to be a crooked policeman that turns out is/works for the bomber just to add a twist to the storyline. Thrillers are based around twists and things that you wouldn't expect, so this would fit in perfectly.

Tzvetan Todorov's Narrative Theory - Lord Of The Rings

Tzvetan Todorov is a Franco-Bulgarian philosoper born on 1st March, 1939 in Sofia. Todorov came up with the theory that a story will follow a set structure to keep the reader intrigued and want to continue reading to discover what happens in the end, and to see if there are any odd twists in the plotline.

His theory is set out like so:
(I am using the Lord Of The Rings as my example to explain this theory)

Equalibrium
Bilbo Baggins hands down the 'One Ring' which he found in a cave, home to the creature Gollum, who found the ring after Sauron had lost in the Battle for Middle Earth many years before. Frodo accepts and Bilbo's good friend and wise wizard Gandalf explains the quest to him

Distruption
Frodo sets out from his homeland of the Shire with his best friend Sam, and his two good friends Merri & Pippin, not knowing the power of the ring that he carries with him. Meanwhile, 9 riders of the night, or 'Ringwraiths' are released by Sauron in search of the ring.

Recognition Of Distruption
The people of Rohan move to Helms Deep when they are overun by an Orc army, sent from the evil Saruman who is working for Lord Sauron, in search of the ring that Frodo carries.

Attempt to Repair Distruption
Aragorn, Legolas, Gimmlie, Boromir & Gandalf set out to battle the Orcs and Wraiths, to help Frodo and Sam reach Mount Doom so they can cuss the ring into it, destroying Sauron's evil power and bringing peace to Middle Earth

Reinstatement Of Equilibrium
Frodo manages to get to the peak of Mount Doom and destroys the ring, destroying Sauron and bringing peace back to Middle Earth. Aragorn marries the beautiful elf princess Arwen and becomes King of Rohan. All lands are returned to their former glory. Gandalf, Frodo and Arwen set sail to the lands of the Demi Gods.

I have decided to adopt the method of Todorov's Theory in my own piece of practical work because it is a solid structure that is easily recognisable, easy to mould into ways that are comfortable for the genre of you piece, and the style in which you film it can be played around with too.

The Uses Of Sound In Thrillers & How I Intend To Use Sound In My Work...

Sound plays a large role in any film, no matter what the genre. It is used to emphasise a certain feeling or emotion in accordance to what is being shown on the screen at that particular moment. For instance, if a superhero character had just saved the world from an apocalypse or an evil villain, the music would be upbeat with a lot of instruments. This shows an achievement and relief.


In the case of thrillers, being that they are meant to keep you on edge, slow orchestral music will be in the background. When a climax of terror or vulnerability arises, the music becomes high pitch and change rhythm to increase the viewers heart rate.


Music in thrillers is used to portray:

• Tension
• Vulnerability
• Fear
• Lonliness
• Victims being chased
• Stabbing (music will play in a rhythm in synchronisation with the blows)
• Death
• Running away / hiding
• Create a sense of the unknown
• Sets the mood

Here is an example of this, taken from Alfred Hitchcock's 1960's thriller 'Psyco'

This works brilliantly as it shows the lady in the shower, unaware that somebody has just walked in, and so fear is felt as you just want to shout to her 'there is someone behind you!' Her vulnerability in the situation creates tension as you know there is no way of making her aware of the danger she is in.


I intend to have the same effect in my piece of work, just at a lesser level. By using dark and contrasting music, i intend to make the viewer know that something bad is going to happen, but i don't want them to instantly be aware of when it may occur. Slow but high notes and chords are an ideal way to do this as it constantly makes the brain think that something is bound to happen soon, and you get agitated. This is how i plan to have the viewer on the edge of their seat and with the video i have shot, i think it should do just that.

Conventions of the Genre (Thriller)

Here are some typical conventions of the thriller genre:

• Quick Cuts - Quick cuts are used typically to build up tension, and keep the viewers brain constantly having to follow the action on screen. This works very well as when the action happens (stabbing, screaming, grabbing, tripping etc.) this triggers the viewers into feeling sympathetic and occassionally making them jump.
• Discordant music - Discordent music is used to add a deep sense of eeriness and mystery to the actions on screen. Helps create tension and vulnerability
• Close Ups - By using close ups, it becomes easy to show fear or hate in the actor's face, making it clearer to the viewers that sympathy or fear is what they should be feeling. It is a clear way of expressing emotions.
• Dim Lighting / Shadows - Dim lighting is commonly used to make it hard to see what could be lurking around the corner, creating a sense of possible doom and intense vulnerability. In turn, this triggers sympathetic feelings towards the victim(s).
• Places in the middle of nowhere - This occurs in almost every thriller film or production as it emphasises the victims vulnerability by not knowing their surroundings, leading on to them having no way of escaping or getting to saftey.
• Fast Pace Tracking - An excellent method of portraying the victim(s) trying to run away from danger, or to show determination in whatever it is that is hunting the victim(s). Increases the viewer's heart rate which will eventually (when the main action takes place, aided by sudden bursts of loud sounds or screaming) make the viewer jump or get goosebumps.