Film Production of a Thriller

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Film Production of a Thriller

The opening sequence of a new thriller, including the titles, aimed at

a 15 or 18 certificate audience (approximately two minutes duration).

SECTION ONE.

We began the ball rolling, by researching into target audiences . To

begin with we got information from the BFI (British Board of Film

Classification), on the two film certificates 15 and 18. We finally

chose the certificate that would allow us to manipulate audiences in

the best possible way. In the end the final decision went with the 18

certificate , It allowed us more freedom of speech and we agreed it

allowed us to use more conventions that are expected in a thriller.

The 18 certificate allowed us to play to a more sophisticated audience

where spoon feeding them is not acceptable. They have to think for

themselves. Overall, we settled for an 18 to 35 target audience; 18-35

is an age group that big blockbusters are mainly seen by. Next we

turned to the target audience for help, to learn their thoughts as to

what has affected them and fulfils their expectations of the thriller

genre; also, particularly, what makes them feel fear , what has played

on their psychological well-being. We gave out 40 questionnaires in

total. A number of questions were asked that focused on the main

conventions of a thriller. We analysed this research and it became

extremely useful, for example, we found that in the target audience

most people enjoyed the sub genre of the psychological. From this

information we could model our new psychological thriller and add

symbolic techniques that would surprise the audience, one possibility

was to induce the target audience ...

... middle of paper ...

...erring present, the audience are now lured

into this false sense of security, were everything is ok. As time goes

on a narration begins that again confuses the audience , into the idea

that everything seems ok, but what if the narrative voice over is

true. The narration ends with, ’his dreams are eating him away’. The

audience expects something to happen. But as a final psychological

reversal another red herring is used within the old women who joyfully

shouts morning to the main protagonist. The audience are then shocked

by the protagonist’s wrath and anger with the word ’FUCK OFF’. The

audience laugh in fear and discomfort . This is also a good example of

the alienation technique, associated with the theatre of the absurd,

to which I referred earlier. Overall the psychological thriller genre

is met. Destiny fulfilled !

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