Conventions of a Thriller

For us to make a good thriller we had to follow the right conventions, so I searched the sound, editing, mise-en-scene and cinematography for a thriller film. Here is what I found out:

Cinematography - The art or technique of movie photography, including both the shooting and development of the film.

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/cinematography

Camera movement is a convention that helps to give a film its “thriller” genre, as different camera angles create different body language and emotions. Thriller films also use camera angles such as close up shots and mid shots.

Editing - To assemble the components of (a film or soundtrack, for example), as by cutting and splicing.

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/editing

Editing gives films things like quick cuts and cutting on action. These quick cuts can also be seen in films such a psycho, when the female character is in the shower and is getting stabbed there is a lot of fast editing, as it shows different angles of her being stabbed. This makes the film fast paced and makes it tenser. 

Sound - The narrow strip at one side of a movie film that carries the sound recording.

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/soundtrack

Sound is a very important convention in thriller openings as the different music themes produce a different mood and feel for the films. For example jumpy and and quite scary music which are played in each scene, create different atmosphere to a quiet more spooky set of music.  Another sound element which is very important is high pitched sounds/orchestral stabs such as screeches.

Mise-en-scene - A stage setting or the arrangement of performers and properties on a stage for a theatrical production or before the camera in a film.

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Mise-en-scene

Dark and dull lighting help give the film a gloomy mood and helps to make the audience feel more suspense towards the film. Another thing which also makes the opening off a thriller stick to its thrilling genre is props, as in thriller films there is a lot of sharp objects and weapons like glass, knives, guns etc….

This is the website where I got all the conventions for a thriller:

http://jadeandlaurablog.wordpress.com/2011/05/04/codes-and-conventions-of-the-begining-of-thriller-films/

From these I realise that to make a good thriller, you have to do the right things as shown above.