Portfolio Project Genre #2

Type of Genre                           

I've decided to do a film opening with the thriller genre. I chose this genre because it seems like a very interesting genre to try and make a film opening of.

Characteristics of Genre

Films in the thriller genre tend to use the colors red, black, and deep blue to represent and evoke a sense of danger, fear, and coldness within the mise-en-scene to make it feel unsettling within the films to make people be aware of the "high-stakes" of the situation. The usual types of lighting and visual techniques used in thrillers include low-key lighting and high-contrast lighting which work together to create a dramatic and sinister effect, dark shadows/silhouettes to hide a character's facial features to create a feeling of anonymity, mystery, and danger, and spotlighting and motivated lighting to make the frame feel claustrophobic to make the audience feel trapped, increasing their tension. Most films in the thriller genre are focused around a race against time, a feeling of suspense and anticipation, and mostly feature a protagonist overcoming threats and obstacles placed or sent by the antagonist which follows Vladmir Propp's Character Theory where there are 7 types of characters two of them being the hero who is the protagonist and the villain being the antagonist who obstructs the hero and works against them.

  

Typical Target Audience

The typical audiences of films in the thriller genre had ages range from as young as 15 to around 50 although the core demographic consisted mostly of people who are between 15 and 35 years old. Movies in the thriller genre tend to appeal to people who are drawn to suspense, psychological tension, or in other cases violent or intellectual content. The different sub-genres have different demographic with more mature audiences viewing more psychological or romantic thrillers, while younger (mostly male) audiences view more action/crime thrillers.

Friends(1994-2004)

Genre Conventions with Content

The content usually shown in thriller movies tend to consist of a serious threat whether it would be a killer, or a conspiracy, or just a ticking clock which will often put the protagonist in danger and put them
in situations that are high-stakes with the protagonist fighting for their safety and survival. Films also tend to have a fast-moving plot with a constant stream of obstacles either by the antagonist or for other reasons. They typically show themes of fear, survival, power and control, and psychological instability

Genre Conventions with Techniques

Techniques that are often used in the mystery genre include some visual techniques like having dark color palettes and the use of handheld shots to heighten the emotional stakes and make it seem more realistic. Some sound techniques like the use of loud and suspenseful music to "amp the stakes" and make a scene more climatic and sudden sound cues like jump scares to spike the audience's adrenaline and increase engagement. Some editing techniques like having a fast pacing and rapid cuts during action scenes to heighten the tension, accelerate the pacing, and to mask the limitations of actors or stunts. Some narrative techniques like cliff-hangers to keep the audience wondering, red herrings to distract the audience and protagonist, and flashbacks to reveal the truth behind certain events.

Insidious(2010)

Institutional Conventions

Some techniques that are used for the marketing of films in the thriller genres are the showing of trailers that emphasize danger and urgency on social media with media convergence on platforms like Youtube or others like X, TikTok, and Instagram alongside posters in places like theaters, bus-stops, or billboards that show things that give off an intense and dark narrative image alongside symbolic items or objects. Some techniques that are used for the distribution of films in the thriller genre such as playing it in theaters and following that up with a rapid and wide-reaching upload to digital streaming platforms so people can access it freely.

Shutter Island(2010)

Films in Genre

Now You See Me(2013)

Movie about an FBI agent and Interpol detective tracking down and attempting to bring to justice a team of magicians who pull off bank heists and robberies.

Adam Project(2022)

Movie about a time-traveling fighter Pilot that teams up with his 12-year-old self for a mission to save the future after unintentionally crash landing in 2022.

The Dark Knight(2008)

Movie about Batman alongside allies like Lt. Jim Gordon and DA Harvey Dent fighting a new criminal who calls himself the Joker who forces Batman to tread the line between heroism and vigilantism.