Genre research

As a group we decided to base our continuity exercise on the genre; thriller, and our main project on horror. As both horrors and thrillers share similar conventions (depending on the film/TV programme) we wanted the continuity and main project to also share similar features. Although the basics, such as; camera, sound, mise en scene, the actual characters and the editing were different, we wanted both the continuity and main project to share the same atmosphere. We wanted both to feel tense and to have the characters convey suspense to the audience. One of the ways in which we knew this could happen was if their was not alot of dialogue as the ideas focused on how the cameras portrayed tension through facial expressions

However there was one slight difference that we wanted to be clear between the two projects. Both the continuity and the main project were about 2 minutes long but the actual project had more dialogue in it. This was because the story was more complex whereas the continuity exercise was a very simple story line. The continuity only had 10 words in it split between the two characters. We wanted this because the story of the continuity follows a typical crime thriller system. I was playing police officer and Chloe was playing an anonymous drug dealer/user. The story is that I have caught her but she attempts to bribe me. I refuse to take the money and the whole thing ends with cross cuts with Chloe pointing a gun at me before the screen fades to black.

Another key element to alot of thrillers is the type of music used and when/where to use it. Music is a great way to create suspense without using alot of dialogue over the top. It all depends on the situation going on in the scene and who is actually involved. We found out that the audience's captivation, opinions and general feel of the film can change because of the music. This can be through a sudden 'high-pitched' noise to indicate danger or a slow drone like sound to portray someone being followed. A lot of thrillers have a climax or a twist and the music can also clearly show to the audience when the climax is or is about to take place.

This is our completed continuity exercise (by Eddie, Adeline, Abby P, Chloe B):