Research into Thrillers

  Tuesday 27th September 2011

Research Topic

We were put into our coursework group to create the first 2 minutes (with title) of a Thriller film. We first considered what we would need to do and research before starting even before the plot line. This was pretty simple as we created a film idea the week before and learnt from the mistakes that we made.  [Updates] The mistakes we make where that we did not do enough in-depth research, giving up the ability to understand the action on good and informed information. Also our survey did not let the audience rank the hence they most watch or ask question on location, characters, plot or miss-en-sence.   


We now knew what we would have to do in researching into our coursework genre.  We need to research into Thriller, the conventions and code of it. Analyse past thriller openings (feature films and past students films). Research in to BBFC 15 and 18 age ratings. We also decided ,after we researched into those areas, we then need to decide if it would be a hybrid or sud-genre of thriller, then research that, undertake a survey into what the audience would prefer,(asking a broad range of questions) and after that brainstorm ideas for our film.


I feel that this process was very easy to come around to and that everyone has a fair and equals role of research to undertake.


Research Findings into BBFC Classification of "15" and "18" Certificate.


I have learned that for a 15 to be clasified as a 15:


• There must be NO discrimination
• Drugs may be shown BUT not promoted or encouraged
• Horror is permitted HOWEVER if it is sadistic or sexualised then it is not
• Imitable Behaviour should NOT dwell on detail, weapons should not be be shown in a positive light. 
• Frequent use of the word F*** is allowed HOWEVER C*** is only allowed if the context justified the use. Repeated use of this language is NOT allowed.
• Nudity without strong detail is allowed 
• Sex is allowed without strong detail, verbal language may be permitted if the context justifies. Sex works (Sexual arousal or stimulation) is unlikely to be accepted.
• All themes are excepted.
• Violence, if not dwelt on pain or injury is allow.


An 18 allows all that is not permitted at a 15, however they still think that somethings should not be shown and these are:


• Breach of the criminal law
• Risk of harm to individuals
• Illegal drug use
• Sexual or sexualised violence
• Sexual activity which can't be justified by the context
• Sex Work of sexual arousal or stimulation and real sex, strong fetish material, sexually explicit animated images should be only accepted at an R18.


For me this was very easy to find the required information on the BBFC website and the information was very comprehensive to understand.  


Thursday 29th September 2011


Today we assembled in to our group and fed back to each other all the things that we have learnt. Amy informed us that the main elements of thriller are, suspense, tension and excitement. The main sub-genre is psychological thriller. Themes of a thriller are things like terrorism, political conspiracy, pursuit, romantic triangles leading to murder. Other types of thriller are: conspiracy thriller, crime thriller, erotic thriller, legal thriller and political thriller ect.
Alice researched past thriller intros and reported that they all had black, white or red text, all start with a figure in a black coat and most of them are in a wood or alleyway. [Update] Alice also told us that the title sequences often for tells what is going to happen in the story, there is music that fit the type of genre and build the ambients of the film. The titles that are shown are the names of key actors that are in the film and the key crew members with there titles e.g. editor or director. 


After we fed back to each other we decided that we need to develop our understanding
 of what genre is and what thriller genre is. So we set some tasks for us to do over the next couple of weeks (see above). We are to work on "What is genre?", What is a thriller?, and evaluation questions to make sure that we know what we are doing and need to do.


I chose to undertake the research into genre below are my findings. I feel that the team is working well together and getting on with one another. Also I feel that the roles have been handed out fairly and that there is no one not pulling their weight or with an uneven amount of work to do. 


Research Findings into Films Genres.





At first I did not know what or how to undertake the research task. Do I research all genre in depth or just the one that I think went well with the thriller. After a conversation with my teacher who explained the task. I decide to research all genre but go in-depth to ones that I thought would work well with thrillers.