Typically, thriller films focus around multiple aspects, such as:• The storyline revolving around one case

that has to be solved• The law being bent or broken by multiple

characters• A plot twist that occurs midway which

will affect the protagonist• Characters facing conflict that will be

difficult to overcome• The antagonist eventually is caught and

will serve time for the crime that they committed

STORYLINE FOCUSED AROUND ONE CASE – USEDThroughout the opening of our film the audience are introduced to the case of Daisy Walker’s murder. Despite being a victim of a serial killer’s rampage, the opening of the film focuses specifically on Daisy Walker and her connection with DCI Banks. The film then continues with DCI Walker working solo on the case and through several problems

BREAKING OF THE LAW – UsedOur film definitely uses the convention of law breaking. In our opening we immediately reveal a murder case and later show 3 suspects on the evidence board. We felt this aspect was important as it suggests characteristics about the suspects shown and allows the audience to figure out who committed the crime.

THE PLOT TWIST - ChallengedIn our film, the plot twist occurs in the opening 2 minutes, where the protagonist (DCI Walker) is informed with the closing of the case, which ultimately encourages him to take it on himself. Whereas in most thriller films, the plot twist is revealed midway.

CHARACTERS FACING CONFLICT – Used and Developed

We used the idea of characters facing conflict throughout our film opening – at the beginning when DCI Walker is introduced we instantly see this connection between himself and the girl shown in the photographs. Later on when DCI Walker is informed about the closing of the case, we instantly can sympathise with him as he is facing this problem. We developed the idea of conflict by creating a emotional and mental conflict shown through the disappointment and agony that DCI Walker faces when he realises that he is on his own to discover who killed Daisy Walker.

STOCK CHARACTERS

• Criminals• Stalkers• Assassins• Innocent victims• Police

Protagonist- Hero- Often police

officer

Antagonist- Villain- Criminal

Mr Clark played the character of DCI Walker, who is also the protagonist and hero in our storyline. This is a

convention of the thriller/crime genre that we have followed and represented in our opening.

Conor Sawenko and Edgar Walker played the other police detectives in the film, who are less important than

DCI Walker. However, this was another convention that was

replicated in our film opening.

We created three suspects that were featured on the evidence board. You don’t actually see the characters in

person in the opening, however they would be present later on as the film progresses. We took photos of 3 classmates and asked them to pose like criminals. Although, they are

aren’t present in person in the opening they are a huge part of it, as that’s what DCI Walker is trying to discover – Who

killed Daisy Walker?

We looked into the film ‘Hot Fuzz’ which is set in a rural town. We wanted to move away from this idea and set our film in a city similar to ‘Se7en’ which is set in a big city. We wanted to set it in a city to follow the stock setting idea that big cities makes it harder to find criminals. We wanted the case to appear on a big scale and being in the centre of a city would force the case to be maximised.

CAMERA• We used a variety of

close up, medium and few long shots throughout.

• We focused mainly on the characters and not on the background as they were the most important part of the shot.

EDITING• We edited shots so

they were fast-paced which created a feeling of tension and suspension.

• We used intercutting between the evidence board and DCI Walker and the two detectives and DCI Walker.

SOUND• We used sound to accompany the panning shots of the

evidence board as well as near the end of the opening when DCI Walker exits his office in anger.

• We also used minimal dialogue. Next time I would change it so that there was a bit more dialogue to enhance the content.

• One of our tracks we created on garage band which was used on our opening.

MISE EN SCENE• We used some props such as the evidence board and the

mug of coffee that DCI Walker drinks from. However, I would have liked to include more such as a phone or a weapon to make the film appear more crime orientated and it would emphasise the settings a bit more.

• We used lighting for the DCI Walkers office to focus on him a bit more and a sense of mystery in the room.

• DCI Walker is presented wearing a full suit which you would expect from a detective. The other two officers (PC Hunt and PC Clark) did not wear a suit which I would change next time as it would be more believable for the audience.

• Body language was used to create reactions and moods from characters. For example, DCI Walker appeared furious when he left his office which emphasised the importance of the case for him.

Traditional iconography shown in thriller films follow the lines of:- Police stations and

evidence- Urban cities- Minimal range of

colours- Weapons- Shadows- Confined spaces

The first thing we wanted to replicate from several crime/thriller movies is an evidence board which we recreated. This was our main prop throughout the film as it was featured for the majority of the opening and stimulated the conversation.

• Weapons are usually used in thriller films, however, we didn’t use a weapon as it wasn’t featured in our storyline.