Fondation production

Codes and conventions of a typical thriller

Camera:
.Camera should take on human qualities.
.High angles for victims , low angles for power (killer).
.Point of view shots.

Editing:
.Point of view shot sequence.
.Montages
.Camera tells story of whats happening rather than the actor.

Sound:
.Violins, piano, bass.
.Classical music, no vocals.
.Voice overs (explaining plot).
.Hear the voice before seeing the person/creature, creates surprise.

Narrative: plot over character development.
.surprise or twist
.MacGuffin
.Throw audience of scent.
.Based around philosophical issues

Characters:
.Break cliche
.Making evil characters seem charming or stupid, so they seem less threatening.

Themes:
.Physical action over character psyche (reverse for psychological thrillers)
.Reality
.Perception
.Mind
.Existence
.Death

Suspense:
.Two or more characters preying upon eachother's minds.
.Use humor to break built up tension


Philosophical issues
(what all psychological films are based)

Metaphysics:
tries to define reality (Donnie Darko)

Existentialism:
humans free of control world becomes bleak, only rely on themselves (Pulp fiction)

Determinism:
Every event in which character is involved in is casually determined by an unbroken chain of prior occurrences

Fatalism:
whatever will be will be. Characters fight losing battle with fate (Final destination, Donnie Darko)

Ontology:
Tries to determine what truly exists. Characters find answers more confusing than question. (Fight Club)

Dualism:
The view that the world surrounding us is divided into two separate entities, mind and matter. Characters cant separate the two. (Fight Club)

Morality:
What is right and wrong. Listen to own conscience or social standards. (Saw I-V)

Moral skepticism:
Morals are always false. (Silence of the lambs)

Existentialism:
Man makes his own determinations of what is morality.

Nihilism:
World. human existence is without objective, meaning or purpose.



Notes on films:

Pathology
.Main colours. white, blue, grey, and black.
.white or bright blue lights, to create a sickly effect
. Music, violins, piano, bass.
. Intense lighting on face.

House of fears
.Teenagers
.Main colours. red, black, and yellow.
.Mirrors

The Room
.Teenagers
.Trapped in house
.Murderer hunts them down
.No motive
.Naturalistic
.Strange yet friendly occupants
.Masks
.Intense lighting on face.


Opening Sequence of scream
. Blond teenager
.Phone (gruff voice)
.Mirror
.Glass doors, reflective
.Phone rings (common scenario)
.Talks about scary movies (funny self reference)
.Home/safety, danger
.Corridors
.Hand on doors
.Running (violins, drums)
.Switching on and off lights