technical conventions of thriller films
TRANSCRIPT
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Technical Conventions
of Thriller Films
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Camerawork
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CameraworkUse of tracking – follows the action and
creates a sense of pace and danger
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CameraworkPOV – shows from the point-of-view of
the character and involves the audience
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CameraworkECUs / CUs (close ups) – clearly shows
the expressions of the characters
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CameraworkReveals (track in/zoom in) – create a
sense of tension and suspense
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CameraworkDramatic angles – create a dramatic
ambience
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Sound
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SoundSilence – creates real tension and
suspense
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SoundExaggerated sound – pinpoints key
sounds to the audience and makes the sounds overly dramatic
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SoundEerie, tense music – creates suspense
and an eerie atmosphere
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SoundOff screen sounds – creates an aura of
mystery
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SoundDiegetic – sound heard by both the
characters and the audience (e.g. dialogue)
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SoundNon-diegetic – sound heard only by the
audience (e.g. background music)
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Mise-en-scene
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Mise-en-sceneLow key lighting – creates an
atmosphere of suspense, mystery and spookiness
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Mise-en-sceneChiaroscuro – when a strong contrast is
created between light and dark colours
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Mise-en-sceneStrong directional lighting – used to
highlight a key prop or character, and often contrasts a lot with darker, low key lighting
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Mise-en-sceneOver exposed or colour manipulation –
creates a feeling of unrealism, making things seem disjointed and confusing
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Editing
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EditingFast paced editing –
used especially in chase scenes, create a sense of danger, action and pace
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EditingJump cuts – create a sense of
confusion and nervousness
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EditingParallel editing – seeing two scenes at
once, one after the other, consecutively – forcing the audience to link the two scenes together
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EditingObtrusive editing – this is when the
editing is done so that the audience are aware and reminded of the fact that they are watching something that has been filmed and edited