Code of a Thriller

Camera –
CU - This shot focuses on someone’s face or something, showing very little background.
ECU - Very specific showing a specific detail like an eye. There is no background in these shots, which makes the shot more dramatic.
MS - Most commonly featured in a dialogue scene where half of a characters body is visible.
LS - This shot captures all of a characters body . Quite a lot of background is seen, generally used to set the scene.
Pov – This is used as if we are seeing that the actor would be seeing, making the scene or action a lot more dramatic and grabs the audiences attention.
CU and MS are the most used camera types in thrillers because they offer more detail making it seem more dramatic to the audience.

Camera Angles –
Low Angle - Camera positioned low down, which increases the size of the character/object as it takes up the screen, conoting power.
High Angle - Camera positioned high up, so it is lookin down on a character/object making it seem smaller and less significant.
We generally fine that protagonist's are show by a low angle, making them seem strong and powerful.

Camera Movement –
Panning - When the camera follows a moving object. This is generally done slowly to create a mysterious atmosphere.
Surveying Pan - Shows the audience the setting/scene.
Tilt - Vertically moving the camera up or down.
Zoom - Magnifying the camera to focus on something, generally to create empathies.
We find all of these generally in a thriller this is because we generally need to see the setting, zooming also helps to add empathies on a certain character or object.



Editing –
Cut - Sudden change of shot from one viewpoint.
Jump Cut - Sharply switches from one scene to another.
Matched Cut - Change in shot where the large shot was similar to the next making it seem smooth.
Cutting rate - When cuts are made frequently to interrupt action.
Cross Cut -Switches from one action scene to another.
Cutaway - intercutting shot between same scene or subject to shorten time.
Fade and dissolve - a gradual transition between a shot. In a fade, picture appears (comes in) or disapears (goes out).
Jump cuts and fast pace cut are generally used in Thriller this is because it add th tension of the film. However we find fades and dissolves as this creates suspense and builds up the tension.

Sound –
Diegetic sound - Dialogue between characters (on screen), also it noises that happen on screen.
Non diegetic sound - Music in the background (off screen) which are used to add empathies.
Studio sound - Recorded sound the improve its quality.
Sound Bridge - Adding a continuity, by running sound from one shot to another doing the same as a matched cut.
Music - Helps the establish the films rhythm and pace.

We find a combination diegetic and Non diegetic sounds in a thriller the variety makes the film flow. Sound bridges are also widely used, so action seems fluent.

Mise-en-scene –
This is all the props/objects.
Props in thriller include: guns, knives, cars, boats etc
Mise-en-scene is the most important aspect of a thriller. It shows meaning, also makes the film seem more real and more believable.


Lighting –
Soft/ Harsh Lighting – This can be artificial or real lighting. It is used to make a setting seem more real. It is used in a thriller to make the scene more realistic and adds empathies.
Text – This is generally used at the start and end of the film giving you a brief amount on information about the film. There is text used in the film as well for added emphasis.
Lighting is very important as it allows the audience to see key points of the scene, this is important as the director will use lighting to accent certain character’s or object’s.

I have found the codes that are used to create a film, and then I have chosen the key codes, which are used to create a thriller film. Further more I have written how they are used in a thriller also what makes them important. I have added this because I will use this information I have gathered in my thriller opening, I will try to add as many of the codes as possible to create a exciting thriller that does not give away the plot or ability to follow of the film.