A teenage/young adult audience is most commonly drawn to the thriller genre, as most thrillers contain many elements of action, suspense and a climax that are always popular in films. There are many different types of thriller films that would appeal to different audiences, for example 'Gladiator' would appeal to a more mature audience as is filled with many aspects of historical content and films such as the 'Bourne" trilogy and "Mission Impossible" would have the younger generation holding onto their seats due to the suspense and thrills the film has to offer. Also I believe thrillers such as urban/crime thrillers, or urban drama thriller would be popular in the younger audiences as it would be something they could relate to, even just living in a city where a film is set would let the audience relate to the film.
The BBFC guidelines state that:
18+ Certification
LANGUAGE: There may be frequent use of strong language (eg 'fuck'). But the strongest terms (e.g. 'cunt') will be acceptable only where justified by the context. Continued aggressive use of the strongest language is unlikely to be acceptable.
IMITABLE TECHNIQUES: Dangerous techniques (eg combat, hanging, suicide and self-harming) should not dwell on imitable detail. Easily accessible weapons should not be glamorised.
DRUGS: Drug taking may be shown but the film as a whole must not promote or encourage drug misuse
12+ Certification
Films certified 12 often have mild restrictions to strong language (eg 'fuck') therefore such words have a tendency to be used infrequently and racist remarks are a great cause for concern. These films are very strict on the violence presented in them. There should be no emphasis on injuries or blood, and any misuse of drugs must be limited and should not be promoted or instructional.
15+ Certification
In such films any detailed portrayal of violent or dangerous acts, use of illegal drugs or any other activity likely to encourage bad behaviour are permitted however they have to be exceptionally justified by the content of the film.
I am aiming to target an audience of young adults at the ages of 15+. In such films we often see an interpretation of youth today, therefore allowing the aimed audience to relate to the film. These films represent teenage life and therefore attracting them to be interested in the film.
My production will instigate briefly issues of language, drugs and street life and in urban London. I did not want to class my production as neither a 12 or 18, as some issues are too harsh for a certified 12 film and I did not class it as an 18 because I believe that a 15 audience will be able to respond with issues raised in a positive manner in an attempt to raise awareness. Also the fact that the opening sequence would be based in London would give the youth something to relate to creating appeal. The theme and content will be urban; youth crime related that some of the audience would be able to directly relate to in their behaviour and its urban theme. I believe my production will be classified suitable for audiences above the age of 15 as there will be no explicit detail of the theme and the content will be appropriate for the thriller genre.
Monday 26 January 2009
Wednesday 14 January 2009
Research of the Thriller Genre
Analyses of relevant opening sequences
Key Texts: I have studied a number of openings to films of the thriller genre, these include; "Psycho" (Shower scene), "From Russia with Love", "28 days later" in the form of a textual analysis. The majority of thrillers that we have analysed consist of an enigma being formed soon after the start of the film. This enigma is rarely a good guy verses bad guy dilemma, the more the plot twists and creates suspense in this genre the better. This means an opening sequence has to propose lots of information about its mis-en-scene, and create an enigma or problem to be solved, commonly introduced by the protagonist or the antagonist. The directors also use cinematic techniques and sound conventions to introduce pace and tension and control it when it is needed.
This is the opening sequence to 'James Bond From Russia with love'
One characteristic that i will try to incorporate in my production is the suspense fullness of this opening sequence, after all the famous James Bond starting credits and theme tune we see what looks like James Bond sneaking around a garden, we soon find out that this is not the case and the audience have been deceived which is common in espionage thrillers. I will try to recreate this by keeping the theme unidentifiable in an attempt to create suspense and anticipation by introducing the mis-en-scene first and then the plot slowly. Another technique i will incorporate into my opening sequence is the purposeful lack of score until it is introduced quietly and slowly for the build up of the climax towards the plot being reveled.
This second opening sequence is the hybrid genre, social realist thriller 'From London to Brighton'
In this opening sequence i believe its thriller genre is clearly identifiable by the kinetic camera movements, grainy picture and realistic look. This film will influence my final product due to its original use of sound, the opening sequence starts with quick cutting of a graffiti filled toilet, the thriller element in this scene is that all the diagetic sound is unnaturally loud and shrill creating uneasiness. This is supported by the unappealing image we see of a beaten woman with a crying child. Another method used by the director is the immediate introduction of a situation, in this case a beaten woman with a child hiding from someone, this makes the audience automatically interested by making them think what is going on, or how did events lead up to that scene creating anticipation.
These two opening sequences are examples of thrillers that i have studied and that will influence my production, both of these opening sequences have a different approach to their opening sequences and have different effects. The 'James Bond' opening sequence has its slow building score and introductory narrative ending in a mini-climax when the audience find out that 'James Bond' is someone else wearing a mask, this results in firstly lots of suspense and tension and secondly anticipation to build up the plots puzzle in the audiences mind. On the other hand in 'From London to Brighton' there is no score, only high pitched diagetic sound and its grainy image and realistic kinetic camera movements combined with its abstract use of shot types make the audience feel uneasy. But similarly to the first opening sequence the film makes the audience want to know more about the story with anticipation.
Key Texts: I have studied a number of openings to films of the thriller genre, these include; "Psycho" (Shower scene), "From Russia with Love", "28 days later" in the form of a textual analysis. The majority of thrillers that we have analysed consist of an enigma being formed soon after the start of the film. This enigma is rarely a good guy verses bad guy dilemma, the more the plot twists and creates suspense in this genre the better. This means an opening sequence has to propose lots of information about its mis-en-scene, and create an enigma or problem to be solved, commonly introduced by the protagonist or the antagonist. The directors also use cinematic techniques and sound conventions to introduce pace and tension and control it when it is needed.
This is the opening sequence to 'James Bond From Russia with love'
One characteristic that i will try to incorporate in my production is the suspense fullness of this opening sequence, after all the famous James Bond starting credits and theme tune we see what looks like James Bond sneaking around a garden, we soon find out that this is not the case and the audience have been deceived which is common in espionage thrillers. I will try to recreate this by keeping the theme unidentifiable in an attempt to create suspense and anticipation by introducing the mis-en-scene first and then the plot slowly. Another technique i will incorporate into my opening sequence is the purposeful lack of score until it is introduced quietly and slowly for the build up of the climax towards the plot being reveled.
This second opening sequence is the hybrid genre, social realist thriller 'From London to Brighton'
In this opening sequence i believe its thriller genre is clearly identifiable by the kinetic camera movements, grainy picture and realistic look. This film will influence my final product due to its original use of sound, the opening sequence starts with quick cutting of a graffiti filled toilet, the thriller element in this scene is that all the diagetic sound is unnaturally loud and shrill creating uneasiness. This is supported by the unappealing image we see of a beaten woman with a crying child. Another method used by the director is the immediate introduction of a situation, in this case a beaten woman with a child hiding from someone, this makes the audience automatically interested by making them think what is going on, or how did events lead up to that scene creating anticipation.
These two opening sequences are examples of thrillers that i have studied and that will influence my production, both of these opening sequences have a different approach to their opening sequences and have different effects. The 'James Bond' opening sequence has its slow building score and introductory narrative ending in a mini-climax when the audience find out that 'James Bond' is someone else wearing a mask, this results in firstly lots of suspense and tension and secondly anticipation to build up the plots puzzle in the audiences mind. On the other hand in 'From London to Brighton' there is no score, only high pitched diagetic sound and its grainy image and realistic kinetic camera movements combined with its abstract use of shot types make the audience feel uneasy. But similarly to the first opening sequence the film makes the audience want to know more about the story with anticipation.
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