Aspects of the thriller- Alfred Hitchcocks Biography..

Alfred Hitchcock is known to be one of the most famous film directors of all time and he himself was as mysterious as the plots of his movies. Hitchcock was born to a catolic family in the year 1899. He endured many narrowing experiences throughout his lifetime that may have helped to fuel his fascination with the macabre. His father died when Hithcock was just forteen years of age and as he result of this terrible event, Alfred Hitchcock had to quit school but however, continued to study and read on his own. He took evening classes, attended theatre and cinema perfomances regularly, and he got his feet wet in the talent pool of art and writing. In 1920, Hithchcock became aware of an American film company called Famous players- Lasky that was opening a studio in london.  He was offered a position as a title designer, which he accepted and developed a love for the art of filmaking from there.

Thrillers

The 'Rules'

• The Road runner cannot harm the cayobe by saying ' Meep Meep'
• That is one example of a 'Rule' for a genre

Do films follow 'Rules'?

• Some film makers will claim that 'there are no rules' or that ' rules are there to be broken'
• However, most would agree that there are certain conventions that mainstream films observe in order for them to be acceptable to the mass audience

Thriller 'Features'

• Usually in big cities , like in the ' Bourne series
• Usually follows a Hitman, type character
• Sneaky sections where the main character is trying to avoid people
• ' Evil' characters that the main character is trying to kill or catch
• Fast, ' Jumpy' edits to show tension and action
• Sometimes a sneaky woman who betrays the main character is involved
• Darker areas are used in filming to show a shadowy, sneaky look
• Always a fight scene
• Always a chase
• Cliffhangers
• Prolongonist and antagonist
• Death
• A problem that needs to be solved ( Enigmas)
• A kidnapping
• ' Walking away shot', slow motion shot  as they walk away from an explosion, without clinching
• Mind games
• Plot 'twists'
• Dramatic music'
• Always a trade between two parties
• Ticking lock

Possible films

• Disturbia 
• Burried
• Panic room
• Phone booth
• Hostage                                     
• Kill bill
• Vantage point
• Fatal attraction
• 12 rounds
• No country for old men
• The strangers
• Taken
• Law abiding citizen              

Camera Movement

 The camera always moves from a fixed position.

• Pan-The camera rotates from right to left
• Tilt- The camera tilts up and down
• Dutch tilt- The camera tilts on an angle to give a disorientating effect.

Zoom- The camera remains still but the focus is adjusted to move either forwards or away from the objects.

Reverse zoom/Contra Zoom- When the focus zooms in whilst the camera moves out. (Not a movement from a fixed position)

    The camera is free to move around the set/ location

• Track- The camera moves fluildly on a set of tracks in a certain direction
• Dolly- The camera is on wheels so can be moved in any direction
• Crane- The camera is placed on a large crane arm that enables it to move around the set with ease. It allows the camera to move quickly between different heights
• Rolling-n The camera moves diagonally making the image  askew( often used to suggest that a character is ill or drugged)
• Handheld- The camera is held in a hand and can therefore move around in any direction. The result is usually a shaky picture
• Steadicam-  The camera is worn on a weighted harness to keep it still and balanced, whilst allowing the freedom of handheld filming