Overview of Thriller Planning: "Divided"

(This was planning for our original thriller film, before we decided to change due to inadequate footage, and our original cast being unavailable for a second shoot).

Planning Thriller Film:

Camera angles and movement:

Shot 1: Close up of the two immigrants, a reaction shot to see their expressions.
Shot 2: Two immigrants standing on the dock, extra long shot-can’t see their expressions.
Shot 3: Cut to another extra long shot, can’t see faces/facial expressions of the three new people that are in this shot-mysterious.
Shot 4: Cut to Close up shot of “mystery” people, reaction shot of “boss man” can see his expression, no reaction shot of other two men, not completely clear of their faces.
Shot 5: Cut to extra long shot of a struggle. Distance the audience from the violence.
Shot 6: Cut to Close up shot of immigrant woman and “boss man,” reaction shot of immigrant woman, “boss man” in shadow.
Shot 7: Cut to Close up shot of immigrant woman in car (behind window), can only see her outline, no reaction shot, as can’t see her expression.
Shot 8: Cut to extra long shot of car driving away in the distance.
Shot 9: (Two Part) First Part: Extra close up of immigrant man’s face, then Zoom Out to establishing shot and extra long shot of the man’s body.

Lighting:

Shot 1: Chiaroscuro lighting, light on their faces and dark background, to bring focus on their expression.
Shot 2: dark non-ambient lighting, to keep effect of fear and tension, light enough to see people, no features.
Shot 3: ambient lighting, shadowy, gives sense of uncertainty.
Shot 4: Chiaroscuro, light on “boss man’s” face, the “cronies” in shadow, dark.
Shot 5: Dark non-ambient can see the struggle, still gives feeling of tension.
Shot 6: Chiaroscuro, light on immigrant women’s face, “boss man” in shadow, dark, gives “boss man” oppressive present behind woman.
Shot 7: Ambient lighting, can’t really see people, just outline, sense of elusiveness.
Shot 8: Ambient lighting, can just see the headlights, distance themselves from the audience, far away from everything that happened.
Shot 9: Ambient lighting, early morning, sense of a new day that won’t carry on for immigrant man.

Casting:

Immigrant Man: Andy Drane
Immigrant Woman: Sara Novak

Beefy Guys:
ס Matthew Tyrrell
ס Richard Jordan
Boss Man: Ben Howard
Witness: Lauren Jordan

Characters with a back story:

ס Sarinka and Rapheal are brother and sister, they are from Eastern Europe, they have come over for a better life, and more money. Sarinka and Rapheal have a deal with Ben to provide illegal documents.

Costume-Generic reflects characters:

Immigrant woman:
 Head Scarf
 Jeans
 Kaftan Top/Tunic
 Silver/Gold pumps/shoes

Immigrant man:
 White T-shirt
 Light denim jeans
 White trainers

Beefy Guys:
 Dark jeans
 White T-shirt
 Suit jacket
 Trainers? Black informal shoes?

Boss Man:
 Informal trousers
 White T-shirt (tighter than beefy guys?)
 Suit jacket
 Informal shoes



Brief Synopsis of Plot:

 Opening scene of immigrants-scared expression on woman.
 Immigrants walking down dock
 Meet with 2 beefy guys, and guy in charge.
 Struggle between immigrants and beefy guys-gestures
 Three guys walk off with immigrant woman, forced into car.
 Guy thrown into water (not seen)
 Car drives off with woman, into the distance.
 Body of guy on beach, early morning.

Locations:

Great Yarmouth:
 Unglamorous
 Fits with plot, immigrants and docks.
 Generic due to unglamorous location.
 Docks threatening and oppressive at night.

Props:

 Rapheal has a rucksack.
 Sarinka has an over the shoulder bag (both are overnight size).
 Car-BMW, dark blue.

Objects:

 Boats.
 Crates.
 Number plate (it has BEN on it).

Sound/Soundtrack:

 Splash in the water.
 Woman screaming after splash in the water.

Title of the Film:
We decided on the film name Divided, as it gives the audience some idea of what happens in the film, however doesn't give too much away.

Storyboards:

Mise-en-scene: Sleeping with the Enemy

How the utilises the generic codes and conventions of the thriller film Sleeping with the Enemy, 1991, USA:

Front Page: Sleeping with the Enemy

Name: Sleeping with the Enemy
Director: Joseph Ruben
Release Date: 12th April 1991
Country Made: USA
Awards: Nominated for 4 Saturn awards, Won 1 BMI Film Music Award.
Genre: Drama Thriller
Production Company: Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Males	6,095	5.6
Females	2,455	6.3

Even though more men voted compared to women, more women preferred the film. I think this is because the film is about domestic violence and this issue predominately affects women. I also think that more women preferred this film, as it shows a weak woman becoming strong, and the women watching admire this.

Males Aged 30-44	2,781	5.5
Females Aged 30-44	909	6.3

Many of the women that preferred this film were in the age range of 30-44years old, i think this is because they are a similar age to the main character and therefore can relate to her issues. This similarity in age between character and audience also gets the audience more involved, as they can relate to her age and the problems that people have in marriage, because many people in the age range of 30-44years are either married or in a serious relationship.

"I think most people tend to overlook how well-done the first 20 minutes of this movie really are. Martin carefully builds a creepy atmosphere, relying on brief glances, moments of silence and quietly expressive performances (especially by Julia Roberts) to help the viewer understand that, behind the image of a perfect couple, something is really wrong." written by G (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0102945/usercomments)

Sleeping with the Enemy is a movie that has all the generic codes and conventions of a typical thriller film, although there is different take on the codes and conventions. I agree with what G says "I think most people tend to overlook how well-done the first 20 minutes of this movie really are. Ruben carefully builds a creepy atmosphere, relying on brief glances, moments of silence and quietly expressive performances (especially by Julia Roberts)" this does help the audience realise that the marriage isn't perfect, even if it does look this on the outside. The small glances and touches that Martin (Patrick Bergin) gives Laura (Julia Roberts) build up the uncomfortable and tense atmosphere that the audience feels when watching the film. Also the use of close ups on Laura's expression involve the audience and make them feel what she is feeling at the time.
There is continuous use of establishing shots, this shows a different side to thriller films because even though, locations are normally unglamorous and dingy, in this film the locations (the coastal house and the Iowa house) are glamorous and bright, but with a unglamorous and dark atmosphere that is created by the constant tension that Laura feels. I think this different use of locations creates unpredictability within the film, as it's not an obvious way of showing an unglamorous situation. The sense of claustrophobia is shown differently as well, as the beach house is bright and very open with large windows, however the location is isolated and is very open and barren, and shows that it is just Laura and her abusive husband Martin in that area this shows the audience that even though it isn't instantly obvious, Laura is in a claustrophobic, trapped situation.
The main theme's running through the film are dominance, power, and control these are shown through the music and again what G says "the brief glances, moments of silence." When Martin walks into the scene, the atmosphere and the music drops and becomes more sinister, this suggests that he doesn't just control his wife Laura, but also everything else-the music in the scene, the lighting, the mood. Another way power, control and dominance is shown is where Laura and Martin are positioned and the costume that they wear, for example: In one part of the film, Martin is shown close up and on the right third of the screen in focus, and Laura is shown behind him on the left third of the screen out of focus, this suggests that he thinks he more important and more worthy to be seen by the audience than Laura.
The costumes that Laura and Martin wear, also show the power that Martin has over Laura, because when they are attending a dinner party, they are both wearing black, but when Laura was getting ready she was wearing white and Martin asked her to change into black, and then the next scene they were both wearing black. Another way that Martin controls Laura is through humiliation, because in one scene he undresses her in front of the large windows, and her body language clearly shows discomfort, but Martin suggests to the audience that he doesn't care and that his wants are more important than Laura's dignity. However, at the end of the film there is a power switch, and this is shown through the positions of people, throughout the film Martin has been in the front and Laura has been behind him, showing his power, however in the last chapter Laura and Ben are shown before you see Martin's body, and this shows that the focus has been changed from Martin to Laura and that she now has control of her life back.
As well as costumes, names are important in this film because Laura and Martins names aren't out of the ordinary, they are everyday names there isn't anything special about them, which is exactly what makes them special. People can relate to Laura's situation with Martin due to their names because they are so everyday and mundane, the audience will know someone by the name of Martin or Laura and therefore can link the characters issues to their life, which involves the audience and keeps them watching.
In this film, there are use of flash backs, however i think that there is one particular piece of dialogue that is a flash forward "can't conquer our fears by running away" this is where Martin is talking about Laura not wanting to go on a boat, but it could been seen by the audience as a flash forward for what Laura's plan for the future is, running away? escaping?
There aren't many intertextual references that i noticed, however there was a scene that was similar to the shower scene in Psycho, this shows female weakness in situations, especially when they're alone and that they always need someone to look after them or protect them. There is also a reference to West Side Story, when Ben is dancing and singing about the Jets from the play West Side Story, this suggests that Laura has moved to a more cultural area and upperclass area as the people know about theatre.
During the film most of the music is similar to or the same piece from the opening title, this gives the audience the impression that maybe nothing changes, maybe Laura is always stuck with Martin, she doesn't actually get away even though she attempts it? The music from the beginning matches the first scene, as the music is almost calming and serene and the first scene is outside with nature, this gives the audience a false sense of freedom and happiness as you assume this is location is in tandem with Laura and Martin's relationship. This same piece of music, from the beginning, is also played at the end of the film and suggests a sense of closure and finality, because Martin has been killed by Laura, and she can been seen embracing Ben in the background, this implies that it is his end and her beginning, and that he's end had to come for her beginning to start.

In Sleeping with the Enemy women are represented as quite strong characters, because even though Laura is a subject to domestic abuse, she breaks free of this and the director uses Laura to show other women, that they can escape their abusive husbands, however Ruben does make the end of abusive husband Martin somewhat cliche, as Martin is shot by a desperate, scared, and hurt woman. Ruben also dismisses the idea of a strong man protecting a weak woman, because in the last scene Laura is protecting an unconscious Ben from Martin, so there is a huge role reversal from the typical man saves woman, therefore in this film woman are represented quite positively.

Front Page: Psycho

Name: Psycho
Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Release Date: 16th June 1960
Country Made: USA
Awards: Nominated for 4 Oscars, DGA, Satellite Award, WGA Award (screen) and won Edgar, Golden Globe, and achieved 2nd and 3rd place in Golden Laurel Awards.
Genre: Horror Thriller
Production Company: Shamley Productions

Males	71,978	8.7
Females	14,582	8.6

This film predominately appeals to the male population compared with the female population, although only by 0.1%. I think this because the women in the film are perceived as weak, because in the first scene Marion is on her back which is a submissive position, and have a tendency to rely on men. This type of film appeals to the men more, especially as Hitchcock uses voyeurism and close ups which really involve the audience with the characters emotions and what they are thinking, for example: when Norman is looking through the hole in the wall at Marion undressing, this plays on their sense of masculinity and their urge to protect women. Whereas women may see this a rather derogatory, however they don't completely dismiss the film, as many women realise that the time it was written and released women were seen as inferior, and female viewers see the film in context.

Males under 18	2,001	9.2
Females under 18	577	9.2

However, the female age group you would assume would see the way woman are treated in the film as derogatory have the same average as the male age group. The under 18's women have been brought up in a society where men and women are perceived as equal, and therefore you would assume they would be the age group to not understand the context of when the film made, and would be more likely to argue against it. However the female under 18's population appear to understand, possibly because they have never had to live through it, and therefore feel unattached, compared with the female population 45+ years.

Males Aged 45+	7,009	8.9
Females Aged 45+	1,602	8.7

The female population of the age group 45+years have a 0.2% lower average than the men, and 0.5% lower than the females under 18. This could be because of again how Marion Crane and Norma Bates are seen as weak, and many women 45+ have probably have seen their mothers treated like this, and therefore feel more attached to this issue than the under 18's.

"Director Hitchcock does a great job here, he keeps the camera right in people's faces which gives it a claustrophobic feel." written by Paul Andrews

Psycho is a classically made thriller, with all the typical codes and conventions. I agree with what Paul says about the claustrophobic feel, the continuous use of close ups does give the claustrophobic sense. This continuous use of close ups also engages the audience with the characters as you can see their expressions, and you can engage with the character's issues and situations.
The use of close ups are also used to link certain objects with the characters, especially Marion in the beginning. For example: the camera moves from Marion to the money which suggests to the audience that they are linked. There is another close up of Marion packing her bags, this is a visual connection and helps the audience realise what is going on, as they can link the money, Marion and the bag packing altogether, due to the visual aid. During the shower scene there are continuous use of close ups and extra close ups, this again engages the audience with the action. Close ups on the neck, suggest the vulnerability of Marion and the extra close ups of the murder give the impression of intimacy as you never see the body fully, just parts of it.
Hitchcock uses aerial shots and lots of point of view shots to engage the audience and involve them into the action, this also links to what the cinema experience should be which is voyeuristic, you should be able to really engage and feel involved with the character and their situation, and this is one thing that Hitchcock does superbly in Psycho.
In many generic thriller films, dates and times are seen as important as the location and the character, because again it is about audience engagement. In the first scene, as well as having establishing shots to involve the audience, the date and time is included, this suggests that there isn't much time left until something terrible happens, the audience especially get this sense when they see a different time and/or date and they can work out and link this to past events, which keeps them on the edge of their seats.
Another generic feature that is used in Psycho are the locations, and similarly to 'Sleeping with the Enemy' the first location is glamorous, however it is what happens there that makes the location appear unglamorous. In the case of Psycho, Marion is having an affair with a man, which is secretive and perceived as dirty, unglamorous. However the second main location is the Bate's Motel, which is unglamorous due to the situations that happen there and the outward appearance of the motel.
The costumes in Psycho play a large part in deciphering characters change in personality, especially with Marion in the beginning of the film. In the first scene she is wearing white underwear this implies that Marion is pure, similar to a dove this links to her last name which is Crane and part of the bird family-like the dove; however in the sequence before she leaves town Marion is wearing black underwear, this represents her fall into crime.
Within this film names of people are important, compared with the names in 'Sleeping with the Enemy' which suggest no deeper meaning and are there to involve the audience and make the situations more personal, in Psycho the names have a deeper meaning particularly with Marion Crane, who's name relates to Norman's hobby, which is the stuffing of birds (taxidermy). Marion appears in the first scene as weak and submissive due to the fact she is on her back. And when she is eating with Norman he says "birds are passive things" this ties in with her as her last name is Crane, and his hobby is killing and stuffing dead animals, this suggests to the audience that this could be Marion's anticipated fate.
In the shower scene, you don't see Marion actually close the curtain, you just hear her do it, again in this film sound plays a large part in setting the atmosphere and mood. Even though you don't see Marion close the curtain, the sound of it gives the feeling of tension and apprehension, because it suggests to the audience that Marion is closing a door, trapping herself in the bath and because she is naked this makes her appear vulnerable. Marion 'trapping' herself in the bath is another generic thriller convention, because it's a claustrophobic space, this adds tension to her situation. The sequence where Marion is having a shower, as well as the running water there is rain outside, this gives the impression of her washing away her sins, her crime because water is pure and clean.

Mise-en-scene: Psycho

How the director Alfred Hitchcock utilises the generic codes and conventions of the thriller film Psycho, 1960, USA:

Expectations of the Thriller Genre

The majority of the people that watch Thriller films are in the age range of 13-18years old, many of them said it was because it was a chance to spend time with mates. Many people said that they liked to be made jump and be scared, also that they are exhilarating and interesting to watch as they keep you on the edge of your seat.

From the people that I asked, more males preferred watching thrillers than females, also more men preferred action and horror thrillers whereas women preferred watching psychological and conspiracy thrillers, I think this is because men are more visual whereas as women think emotionally.

Most women said they preferred psychological and conspiracy thrillers, because they keep you thinking right to the end, and you become more emotionally involved with the character, therefore making it more realistic. Whereas men said that they preferred action and horror thrillers because the stunts are good and they normally have a good, but unrealistic, plot line they give them an andreline rush.

This research has helped with my film planning as I now know what the most popular genre for thriller films is. This is helping us decide what sub-genre to make our film in order to appeal to a wider audience. Also I found out not only what sub-genre to work with, but what age range to appeal more to, and what gender, as more men preferred thrillers, and more people aged 13-18 preferred watching thrillers, compared with other ages.