Final Thriller - The Unknown Truth

Thriller Comparison

I believe that I have created a successful thriller as it matches the typical conventional thriller genre, however I do not believe it is to best of standards as it could have been. I believe that it may have needed extra touch up for the sound and mainly the editing section, as it needed to look more consistent with the other shots used within the sequence.

Furthermore, I believe that the main micro-element that expressed my creativity and understanding of the thriller conventions the most, was mise-en-scene and editing. Mise-en-scene because within my opening scene the lighting, iconography and costumes reflected my ability of a good standard to be produced. Especially with the male character dressed as a normal person – which enables the audience to relate easily whilst watching. Once the filming was complete only the editing process would make the thriller sequence look best, which I believed it made a huge and positive difference.

Moreover, comparing my opening sequence to a successful thriller – “Insidious”. Through my analysis I believe that the enigmatic narrative was seen to be conventional as the story at the beginning of their being an unknown antagonist relates to my opening thriller. Also the use of low-key lighting helps to keep the tension within the scene. We used a shadow to show the presence of the ghost, however some people did not recognise that there was a shadow – which could seem meaningless to them whilst watching with no antagonist.

Also the representation of the characters were not seen to be similar as there was and older and younger generation where my thriller lied with the youth acting. We decided as a group to do something similar, however alter it around a bit giving a unique touch.

Once we had completed that sound was seen to be similar as usually enigmatic narratives have similar sounds. The sounds used were a mixture of diegectic and non-diegetic sound – such as the main character talking (dialogue) “Who’s there?”. Mainly non-diegectic sound was used to create an impact on the audience as nothing was mainly happening.

Insidious uses many types of editing, such as jump cut, fast and slow paced editing. In my thriller I mainly used jump and fast cuts when there was tension built up, this was to reinforce the feeling being made. The mise-en-scene was seen to be similar as it was a middle classes house in the UK whereas in America they a usually bigger for their standard. However, the setting, iconography was similar in a way.

Overall, by comparing my thriller to a successful thriller, definitely makes it look amateur, however similar techniques were used.  Also, allowing my thriller to be seen as a conventional thriller genre opening sequence.

Audience Feedback

Audience feedback is important as it allows the production team to see their work from their audience’s perspective. This therefore allows the team to focus and concentrate on areas to adjust and to make improvements– from what my potential target audience thinks is best. I had created a questionnaire in order to receive feedback from my potential audiences. Throughout the research I found the information most useful, allowing me and my group to understand what to put and not put in our opening thriller. From the results we as a group incorporated a house where there is an alone male victim. Also, our aim of the opening scene is to grab and engage the audience’s attentions straightaway, making them eager to know what’s going to happen next. Likewise, if I was to do my research again I would ask more questions going into detail in what exact feature they think is suspenseful and I would also ask my potential target audience what type of narrative they would like to be produced.

Three Positive Comments:

1.    Low-key lighting} through the use of low-key lighting it helped to create an eerie feel as well as making the audience on edge whilst watching the scenes taking place in the house.

2.    Variety use of cinematography} there were close-ups, long shots. Wide variety which allowed the setting to be established to the audience.

3.    Steadiness of the camera positions when needed} for example when the male character is walking into the house, the use of a panning shot is used – used smoothly with recognising a major move.

Three Constructive Comments:

1.    Sound} when our rough opening thriller was shown, it was believed that the sound in a particular places were vital as it would help to create an impact.

2.    Confusing Narrative} at the beginning it was relatable to the audience, however once we filmed that he was actually dead on the floor they were a bit confuse so we had to change the camera angles/movements and position slightly.

3.    Different Lighting} the use of the low-key was good however it had changed – as whilst we were filming different days the lighting had always changes slightly. Also when we were filming the shadow of the ghost – we needed a lamp to create the shadow – to enable this to work more light was used within the same sequence.

Overall, I believe that I followed the aims of the brief by create a two minute thriller opening sequence, however it was slightly over. We used everything that was needed – such as copyright sound. I had carried out the planning of each role and micro-element of the production – which allowed me to focus on the brief further. 

AS Thriller Evaluation

For our thriller sequence, we as a group which consisted of me, Lucy and James had to carry out important research and planning before we started to produce our opening sequence. This was so we all had knowledge of what's typical within a thriller genre, which therefore our sequence related with a thriller rather than a different genre.

For our production to take place smoothly, we as a three separated our roles individually between these roles:

Producer - responsible for the financial and marketing side of the sequence

Director - controls the steps towards the making of the sequence

Actors - individuals playing a character within the sequence

Director of photography - controller of the camerawork and shots taken

Screenplay writer - writer of the sequence

Sound technicians - control of which sounds are to be included within the sequence

Editors - completes the film by editing - one of the last steps to completion of sequence

Mise-en-scene coordinators - controls the lighting, iconography and hair & make-up


For the following production roles above, I was appointed as the director, editor, actor, and one of the director of photography and I we all as a group contributed in created a screenplay for our sequence. Through filming some of our shots within the opening sequence I believe that I had learnt to be prepared beforehand, and also that everything planned does not always work - so patience is needed and responsibility as to what to do next, such as when I was the director. Also once I started to get used to filming I soon started to film faster without having any faults with the first shot taken. Moreover, the editing process I learnt how to use Final Cut Pro X - as at first it was challenging however once I kept editing I soon got used to the transitions needed to be made. As the actor I only enacted a shadow for the ghost within the house, what was difficult was how to portray the ghost as we needed more light - this was challenging. Finally, taking part in the screenplay I believed it would be a quick process, however I had to think twice as I had to understand what each movement or step would be portrayed as to the audience.

Furthermore, I believe that my group well as a group as we all had our inputs put it. This allowed our group to smoothly work through our planning and making of the opening sequence. This is mainly because we were all given our individual roles - which were to be completed on time. However, one of the group members did have difficulty to complete the work set on time, this did take longer - however it was all completed on time.

In addition, we all as a group helped each other in anything needed to be completed or if we were stuck on a point. The support we all gave each other was motivating for us all to complete our work, but also to create a successful thriller. To create a successful film, the first idea is not always necessarily kept the same - we had always altered ours to make sure it fitted with the conventional thriller genre, such as the sequence consisting of an antagonist, unknown location, night time, knife etc.

AS Evaluation - Question 1

In what way does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

Thriller is an extensive genre of literature, film and television programming that uses suspense, tension and excitement as the essential elements. Thriller ponderously encourage the audience’s moods giving them a high level of anticipation, uncertainty, surprise anxiety and terror. A thriller provides an immediate rush of emotions, excitement, and enlivenment that drive the narrative. It keeps the audience engaged with the film/ scene, keeping them at the ‘edge of their seats’ as the narrative builds towards the climax. A thriller usually consists of a villain-driven plot, where he/she presents obstacles that the protagonist must overcome. Common sub-genres of thrillers are psychological, crime, erotic, mystery and of spy genre which deals with fictional espionage. Successful examples of thriller are the films of Alfred Hitchcock – ‘The Lodger: A Story of the London Fog’ and ‘Psycho’.

The main generic conventions of a thriller is that there is usually a young blonde female, seen to be the victim, however within my thriller the main character and victim is a young, blonde male teenager -this seems to break the codes and conventions within a typical thriller genre. However, as a group we decided that breaking the codes and conventions may draw the audience further into the film – making them curious as to why the male character whom is usually seen to be the protagonist/hero of the film is being victimised.

In addition the antagonist within a thriller is usually a foreigner or another being from a different dimension. Such as in my thriller the antagonist is a ghost. The audience do not see the ghost however it is implied through the use of camera angles and a shadow used towards the middle of the sequence. Shadows are closely related with low key lighting and are used to represent the inner obscurity within beings, and can also add to tension and eeriness that is created.

Moreover, my opening thriller defines the thriller genre in a successful way, as many elements used even micro elements all help my opening thriller become suspenseful. Firstly, the setting is of a house in which the audience would easily be able to relate with and as it is set at night time the young male character is seen to be walking home alone, which could create a sense of insecurity and fright for the audience. More likely the location is usually unknown as the director may want the sequence to come across as enigmatic, allowing the audience to be further engaged with the character within the scene. Most dangerous scenes usually take place at night because the bewilderedness at night time and dark areas increase the feeling of danger and suspense.

Furthermore, within my own thriller I followed the generic conventions by setting the opening sequence at night using low key lighting portraying a sense of enigma and suspense. Also the use of low-key lighting is used in and around the house to enhance the feeling of the character being alone and helpless. Also the main type of iconography used within thrillers are weapons such as guns and knives. The use of the knife that has been shown to the audience several times is vital as it signifies the importance of the iconography within the film. It defines that whatever event takes place later on, the knife would have had something to do with the situation - as it has been shown in the hands of the main character (victim) many times. 

As well, the use of the sound is very helpful to create specific sounds, such as if the editing is really fast and something strange or creepy is happening then the sound is able to match the speed. For example when the male character is walking upstairs slowly with the knife in his hand the sound emphasises on his footsteps and creates curiosity for the audience as he runs downstairs once the doors start to bang. To create suspense, enigma and uncertainty it can all be enhanced through the use of sound as well as editing and cinematography. The editing within the sequence is very sharp and quick, however some camera shots were lengthily which helped to create a sense of suspense, inquisitiveness and ambiguity for the audience.  Also through the use of cinematography the main camera shot which portrayed the antagonist was through the point-of-view shot of the ghost keeping an eye on the male victim. For example, when the ghost goes outside the house and is looking through window, following every movement of the victims. 

The Black Swan is a thriller film which begins just showing the credit titles of the films – with a calming but suspenseful music in the background. Whereas in my thriller in the first two minutes the audience is shown acting and the background of a young male character – such as who he is, also the use of the sound used is very different from the ‘Black Swan’ as it varies from what the audience is shown and if I want it to be suspenseful or not.

AS Evaluation - Question 2

How does your media product represent particular social groups?

The main characters within my film is the antagonist which is seen to be a ghost from a different dimensional world, and is only shown by shadows in the first two minutes of the opening sequence – this gives the film a supernatural side to it – keeping the audience further engaged as to what’s going to happen next. The antagonist is usually represented as powerful and clever compared to the other characters within the film, however there is always one or two characters within a film that would solve the mystery and defeat the antagonist. My opening sequence, however only shows two minutes of action of what happens to a young male character, the antagonist is seen to be stronger and more powerful compared to the male character as it manages to frighten him and possess him. Another main character within my opening sequence is the young male victim, this could be seen stereotypical as every thriller film there is at least one if not more victims. However, the male seems to break the stereotype of not being represented as vulnerable as he is not a female, although he does represent young blonde males which could be seen conventional.

In addition, young blonde females are portrayed as being vulnerable and innocent. All genders are represented in stereotypical ways, for example a male is usually portrayed as the protagonist/ hero in the eyes of the audience, also the young blonde females are usually visualised to be victims within thriller films. Within my own opening thriller, my two main characters the victim and antagonist would appeal to the audience, as the young blonde male would be shown throughout the two minute scene, the use of low-key lighting and especially him being alone at home shows that he is weak compared to the ghost. The ghost is shown once by a shadow and the victim has witnessed strange events taking place in his house. Throughout the two-minute sequence the audience would be fully engaged to the scene as they would be curious and would want to find out who’s there, what is actually happening and what's going to happen next?

Furthermore, within my opening sequence the male gender is represented as a normal everyday person, who does activities that most individuals do on a day-to-day basis. Through the use of clothing those of the audience who go to the gym, do dancing or are coming from school would easily be able to relate to the characters situation of coming home late at night. His clothing implies that he had done some fitness and is coming home whilst listening to music, which is generally what young people do whilst walking home. Within typical films males are seen as strong, powerful and dominant characters, however this male character seems to subvert the conventional characteristics of a male as he is the victim and is portrayed to be weaker character compared to the antagonist within the sequence. Through the use of these representations and connotations this could further engage the audience into the sequence as it is something different to what they typically watch, categorising into a different social group.

AS Evaluation - Question 3

What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?

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