Crime Film Research

Mind map

Thriller Conventions

A thriller will usually consist of heroes and villains. In a typical thriller film, the hero will try to prevent the plans of the villain or enemy. In comparison with a detective crime film, the crime will not have already been committed, it will be in the process of being prevented. The hero in a film will more often than not be played by a male actor who is well adapted to danger.
The main topics of a thriller include: murders (serial/mass), robberies, chases and shootouts. Along with these topics, a thriller will also usually contain a loss or injury, and violent confrontations.
Most thrillers are influenced by horror or psychological experiences which heighten the tension throughout a film, leading up to a climax. The main climax in a thriller film is known to be when the hero defeats the villain in which he will save his own life amongst others.
As well as a climax, thrillers often include red herrings to mislead the audience, and cliff hangers.
The location of a thriller film also plays a big part. Locations such as: cities, deserts, and isolated villages usually are used for films. This means that in moments of high suspense, there is no one around for a victim to call, increasing the frequent action required for a thriller.
In conclusion the following conventions should be considered when creating a thriller film:
· Characters
-Heroes and Villains.
-Policemen and women.
-Spies
-Ordinary Citizens

· Location(s)
-Remote/Isolated
-Cities/Towns
-Deserts
-Villages

· The crime committed
- A serial or mass murder
- Terrorism
- Assassination
- Loss/Injury
- Danger/Peril
- Violent confrontations

· Climax
- Suspense/ tension
- Red Herrings
- Cliff-hangers
- Fast pacing climax
- Frequent action

Target Audience and Location Report

Target Audience

The target audience for my film is teenages, as I believe the genre of the film is more popular with the age range than adults and children. I do not think the film will appeal to a particular gender because it will not contain strong violence or gruesome scenes which are commonly disliked by a percentage of females.

Due to this, as the content is suitable, I would classify the film as a 15 to enable the target audience to watch it.

Location Report

Scene 1- Clown pictured painting his face

Scene 2- Phone rings

Scene 3- Walking across a field

Scene 4- Walking past the lake

Scene 5- Clown standing on a pavement outside house with balloons and briefcase.

(House in background decorated with balloons and banners).

Film Ideas Summary

Tears of a clown

The protagonist in my film is a man with psychological damage caused by his childhood. He was isolated and he was lonely as a child, avoiding other children. As he became more isolated and distant he grew hatred for children and pure jealousy of the friendships he saw building around him. The film is based around his profession, which is entertaining as a clown. However, his bad childhood has never left his conscience, therefore when he is booked as a clown for children's parties his party tricks are unpredictable.

At the beginning of the film he is booked for a children's party at which he abducts the parents of the child who is celebrating his 6th birthday, in hope to gain revenge on the child. His aims are to teach the child to appreciate what he has; mainly focussing on the fact that the child has so many friends at his party which infuriates the clown because he never had any friends at all. Throughout the film the clown holds the parents hostage during which time the viewers learn his background and the pain of his childhood. However, the abduction is reported, so the police are trying to track down the clown and where he has taken the parents. Eventually, the police find them and the clown is sent to court.

The opening sequence of the film will focus on the protagonist preparing foe his role and receiving a call requiring his services, The actor will be painting on his make up and collecting his belongings in his brief case, including: masking tape, rope, and alcohol. The scenes will be split, as titles such as the director, producer, and actors will be shown on a black screen to create a dark vibe for the viewers.

The genre of my film is a psychological thriller, with the involvement of crime. It follows the genre conventions as it includes a villain and victims, as well as a crime committed (the abduction). The opening sequence will show the actor preparing for his role, applying face paints, and handling alcohol which is typically featured in most crime films. The storyline highlights the life and actions of the criminal, commonly used as a central topic in this genre. Similarly, with most crime thrillers, the location featured in the opening sequence will be a dark room, where the clown lives, where his arrest will take place.

Crime Film Planning

Equipment

• Camera & Tripod
• Apple Mac for editing footage

Costume & Props

• Face paints
• Suit & Brief Case
• Balloons
• A large mirror

Cast List

The opening sequence to my film only features one character, this will be the protagonist. The protagonist is a clown therefore the cast list is only very short. My dad has agreed to play the role.