Thriller Conventions

Thriller Conventions

Thriller conventions are the elements what make up a thriller. Without the right conventions a film may fall into a different genre.

Some coventions of a thriller:

Films have a narriative at the core of the narriative could be a crime. The crime carried out is most commonly a murder but not always as other crimes can be commited such as theft.

Comple narrative structure, this consists of fase paths clues and resolutions.

The Hypnotist title font

At the end the final shot with our film title, "The Hypnotist" in the chosen

typewriter text, will appear.

The font we chose was called, lucky typewriter, the website used to find this was, www.dafont.com 

Treatment

Group Roles

Cinematography: Saana, Conor

Mise-en-scene: Rebecca

Sound: Rebecca, George

Editing: Conor, Saana

The title chosen for our film was "The Hypnotist"

Synopsis:

Dr J. Smith specialises in hypnotism and provides treatment for patients who have previously suffered trauma. Rupert Jones is one of his patients who attends a session after suffering from increasingly violent and obsessive visions of an unknown girl. In attempt to unravel his issues the doctor heavily influences his patient to confront the issue by finding this girl. Rupert, who remains disorientated, is offered hypnotism and without consent, a strange injection to follow. Rupert’s visions repeatedly reveal him carrying a torn photograph of his victim which matches the complete photograph on his doctor’s desk. The complete copy shows that Dr. J. Smith is in the previously missing half of the photograph. Is the hypnotist really who he appears to be?

Key Genre Conventions:

“Fast-paced and frequent action”:

There are frequent shots of Rupert’s visions which creates a non-linear narrative that jumps from the visions back to the session taking place in the doctor’s office.

“Resourceful heroes who must thwart the actions of more powerful and better equipped villains”

The remainder of "The Hypnotist" would follow up on more individual cases of the “serial killings” that have been occurring. The audience will also discover that Dr. J Smith is behind each and every murder that will result in his victims (the patients) fighting back for justice. 

“Ordinary citizens accidentally drawn to danger”

All of Dr. J. Smith’s patients are ordinary and helpless. They believe that they are in safe hands, however by chance, by being advised to choose his services, they fall victim and become murderers through mental influence.

“Primary mood: ‘fearful excitement’”

“There is one thing that I get to offer you, and that is hypnotherapy” is the line that will commence the following action. This aims to leave the viewer anticipating what is to follow. It is also meant to create a feeling that leaves the viewers on edge due to the previous shots.

“Characters who switch sides or who cannot be trusted

Dr. j Smith cannot an trusted and at the same time, his patient, Rupert. Although it isn’t made explicit, there are hints that alert the audience that Dr. J. Smith is not genuine and may be the cause of Rupert’s aggressive visions. Equally so, Rupert’s character is split; while he is victimised we cannot trust him entirely because his visions suggest that he is capable of murder.

“The use of a staircase as a motif for impending danger or suspense”

Alfred Hitchcock was one of the best director and producers of film. He has helped progress the thriller genre with the way he makes thrillers and the devises he includes. We included some of these devises in our film.

The Hitchcockian convention of a staircase is used at the beginning to create suspense as the character’s identity is not given away.  

Thriller devices:

Red herrings: misleads or distracts the audience from the central issue. In one or two shots there will be more than one person in the shot, particularly in the early visions. This will be included to distract and confuse the audience from the central character.

The Hypnotist, finding music

The websites we used to find appropriate music were:

http://www.freesfx.co.uk/sfx/Calm+Mysterious+Droning+Texture

This website was used to find a track named "calm mysterious droning texture" and was used in the calmer shots and conversations.

http://www.jewelbeat.com/free/free-music/JewelBeat%20-%20Monster%20Attack.wav

This soundtrack was chosen for our opening sequence to our thriller "The Hypnotist." The track name is "monster attack."

The Hypnotist studio ident

Helios Studios was the chosen name for our groups studio ident. George and Conor took on the role to create the studio ident. The idea was inspired by Greek gods. In Greek mythology, Helios was the Titan god of the sun. The name and title therefore link making our studio ident simple and easily recognisable. 

Location Sheet, Robert Clack Lower School Car Park

Production Schedule Location Visit Sheet Programme Title: The Hypnotist Client: Writer: Producer: Director: Date:

Rough Sketch/Explanation of location and key points to note Car park, located inside Robert Clack Lower School  Access to location via: Busses, 175/173 from Heathway and 5 from Barking, 128 from Ilford  Name and number of location contact: Robert Clack Lower School 0208 8270 4222

Health and Safety Issues to note: Filming in a car park, can be dangerous as cars enter and exit the car park

Potential Filming Problems : Weather problems

Additional Notes:  (map of area/weather forecast etc) Robert Clack Lower School, Car Park

Location Sheet, Central Park Dagenham

Production Schedule Location Visit Sheet Programme Title: The Hypnotist Client: Writer: Producer: Director: Date:

Rough Sketch/Explanation of location and key points to note Central park, Dagenham, we used this location to film one of the flashbacks  Access to location via: Busses, 175/173 from Heathway and 5 from Barking, 128 from Ilford  Name and number of location contact: Robert Clack Lower School 0208 8270 4222

Health and Safety Issues to note: Potential weather problems

Potential Filming Problems : Weather problems

Additional Notes:  (map of area/weather forecast etc) Central Park, Dagenham

Location sheet Alley way near Robert Clack and Golf Course

Production Schedule Location Visit Sheet Programme Title: The Hypnotist Client: Writer: Producer: Director: Date:

Rough Sketch/Explanation of location and key points to note The alley way near Robert Clack and Crowlands Golf course, this location was chosen for the final scene. Access to location via: Busses, 175/173 from Heathway and 5 from Barking, 128 from Ilford  Name and number of location contact: Robert Clack Lower School 0208 8270 4222

Health and Safety Issues to note: Dangerous objects in alley way  Rain may cause filming problems

Potential Filming Problems : Weather problems, rain could cause filming problems

Additional Notes:  (map of area/weather forecast etc) Crowlands Heath Golf Club