Scottish Widow Production Report

Scottish Widow Production Report

BRIEF: to produce the opening of a new thriller, including titles,

aimed at a 15 or 18 certificate audiences. Mainstream audiences are

still characteristically thought of (by Hollywood mainstream

producers) as 18-25 and male, but recently there has been some

evidence of lowering the age to 15 and recognising that a mainstream

audience includes women.

The use of mise-en-scene in thrillers to create suspense is approached

in many different ways. In American Psycho for example the locations

are used to reflect the protagonist's contrasting civil behaviour with

his nasty, and psychotic personality. This is demonstrated by locating

the character's first, in a very posh and expensive-looking

restaurant, and then in a modern nightclub were we gather not all of

this man's peers consist of suit and tie; the music changes

accordingly and is also a huge reinforcement. Lighting is a powerful

technique, perfect for demonstrating the contrasts between good and

bad. Darkness becomes associated with terror, and the audience can

expect something terrifying to happen.

The use of reflection helps to make the audience feel more vulnerable.

American Psycho uses this technique when the main character introduces

us to his disturbed side; he becomes more powerful as his reflection

haunts the shot. Close ups help demonstrate particular feelings that

certain characters have and also highlight key elements within the

shot. Zooming in does the same, and almost always in thrillers the

camera slowly zooms in to intensify the situation. POV shots can be

used to get closer to the emotional action, and changing the point of

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...rs, the editing cuts too early or too late; creating a lacked

a sense of completion to it. Also, the framing of shots could have

been bettered like in the final two in which a transition merges them

together; if the shots were both framed evenly the effect would have

seemed greater and more professional. Finally the music in the first

location wasn't totally perfect. Although the track itself is very

powerful in evoking character, it was only a thirty second long sample

so we had to repeat it in order to fit the length of the first scene

which is quite a noticeable error.

The finished production turned out to be a lot better than we thought

it would, and considering the problems and errors we were faced with,

the production has been effective at creating meaning and generating

response and is suitable for a thriller.