Questionaire

1) Are you a male or female? (please circle)

Male                          Female

2) Whats your age? (please circle)

12 or under                13-15                  16-18                  19-21                   22-25                  20 or over

3) What do you expect from a thriller film? (please circle)

Crime             Suspicion              Investigation              Comedy               Death              Romance

Fast Pace              Adventure              Drama               Other

4) How would you define a thriller film? (please specify)

______________________________________________________________________________

5.a) Do you watch thriller films? (please circle)

Yes                           No

5.b) If yes, name the latest thriller film you have watch? (please specify)

_______________________________________________________________________________

6) What sub-genre thriller do you prefer? (please circle)

Action Thriller                 Conspiracy Thriller                       Crime Thriller                      Disaster Thriller

Psychological Thriller                  Political Thriller                  Spy Thriller                      Supernatural Thriller

7) Do you enjoy going to the cinema? (please circle)

Yes                        No

Certificate Rating Research

BBFC - British Board of Film Classification

All films have a certificate rating which is publish by the BBFC. At least 2 examiners in the company look at all films which are distributed to the public and give them an age classification based on these following issues:

- Discrimination

- Drugs

- Horror

- Imitable Behaviour

- Language

- Nudity

- Sex

- Sexual Violence

- Theme

- Violence

The examiners also consider other issues such as:

- Context

- Tone

- Impact (how the audience might feel)

- Release Format (DVDs viewed at home - underage viewing)

Film Certificates:

Suitable For All

It is impossible to predict what might upset any particular child. But a ‘U’ film should be suitable for audiences aged four years and over. ‘U’ films should be set within a positive moral framework and should offer reassuring counterbalances to any violence, threat or horror. If a work is particularly suitable for a pre-school child to view alone, this will be indicated in the Consumer Advice.

Parental Guidance

General viewing, but some scenes may be unsuitable for young children. Unaccompanied children of any age may watch. A ‘PG’ film should not disturb a child aged around eight or older. However, parents are advised to consider whether the content may upset younger or more sensitive children.

Suitable For 12yrs and Over

Exactly the same criteria are used to classify works at ‘12A’ and ‘12’. These categories are awarded where the material is suitable, in general, only for those aged 12 and over. Works classified at these categories may upset children under 12 or contain material which many parents will find unsuitable for them. The ‘12A’ category exists only for cinema films. No one younger than 12 may see a ‘12A’ film in a cinema unless accompanied by an adult, and films classified ‘12A’ are not recommended for a child below 12. An adult may take a younger child if, in their judgement, the film is suitable for that particular child. In such circumstances, responsibility for allowing a child under 12 to view lies with the accompanying adult. The ‘12’ category exists only for video works. No one younger than 12 may rent or buy a ‘12’ rated video work.

Suitable For 15 years or Over

No-one younger than 15 may see a ‘15’ film in a cinema. No-one younger than 15 may rent or buy a ‘15’ rated video work. This may be because of violence, language, imitable behaviour etc...

Suitable For Adults Only

No-one younger than 18 may see an ‘18’ film in a cinema. No-one younger than 18 may rent or buy an ‘18’ rated video work. This may be because of sex, language, discrimination, nudity and sexual violence.

To be shown only in specially licensed cinemas, or supplied only in licensed sex shops, and to adults of not less than 18 years.

The ‘R18’ category is a special and legally restricted classification primarily for explicit works of consenting sex or strong fetish material involving adults. Films may only be shown to adults in specially licensed cinemas, and video works may be supplied to adults only in licensed sex shops. ‘R18’ videos may not be supplied by mail order.

All information from the BBFC website - http://www.bbfc.co.uk/ 

Audience Research

"The Audience!"
All media texts are made with an audience in mind. Generally, but not always, the producers make money out of that audience.

The Importance of Audience Research
Media audience research is important for advertising agencies which are aimed to target the right audiences. As all of the media messages are produces by keeping the target audience in mind, therefore, through media audience research it is assumed that you are fulfilling the aim to produce the right message. If audience does not take interest in any advertising message then it is of no value and it gets a sunk cost for the company. Therefore, before making a media message to go through a media audience, research is very necessary.

Thriller Genre's

What is a Genre?
Genre is a French word meaning "type". It is the category of literature of any form of art or entertainment. For example; Adventure, Thriller, Documentary, Romance, Horror, Western, Talk Show, Reality etc...

What is a Hybrid Genre?
A Hybrid Genre is a crossed genre. A genre which consists of two types. For example; Period Sitcom, Rom Com,  Crime Drama, Sci-Fi etc...

What is a Sub-Genre?
A Sub-Genre is a subcategory of that genre. For example; Black Comedy, Erotic Thriller, Comedy Thriller etc...


Types of Sub-Genre Thrillers:
- Conspiracy Thriller
These are known as 'paranoid thrillers' and these are generally about journalists or amateur investigators who get themselves mixed up in conspiracies which go all the way to the top. These are often to 'recreate' what might have happened during a historical event. Examples; From Hell (2001), The Ghost (2010), Shutter Island (2010)
- Crime Thriller
These have more action-adventure and suspense in them. they may involve spying, frequent killings and other non-criminal conflicts. These could be conflicts between the characters. Most crime thrillers will often involve fast pace, suspense, action suspense and violence. Examples; Pulp Fiction (1994), Untraceable (2008), Se7en (1998), The Departed (2006)
- Political Thriller
These are usually about a political power struggle and might also include the elements of political corruption, warfare and terrorism. The most recent political thrillers refer to terrorism or the 9|11 attacks or both. Examples; The Interpreter (2005) - Zimbabwe banned the film in their country after the release because of strong parallels between the story and the regime of the director Robert Mugabe.
- Action Thriller
Examples; Inception (2010), Die Hard (1988), Children Of Men (2006), The Professional (1994)
- Disaster Thriller
Examples; I Am Legend (2007), The Road (2009), 2012 (2009), The Day After Tomorrow (2004)
- Psychological Thriller
Examples; Black Swan (2010), Silence of the Lambs (1991), The Sixth Sense (1999), Vertigo (1958)
- Supernatural Thriller
Examples; Shutter Island (2010), The Others (2001), The Devils Backbone (2001), The Dead Zone (1983)
- Erotic Thriller
Examples; Fatal Attraction (1987), Body Heat (1981), Swimming Pool (2003), Femme Fatale (2002)
- Comedy Thriller
Examples; Fright Night (1985), Sneakers (1992), The Guard (2011), The Matador (2005)


Conventions of a Thriller Film:
- Complex Narrative Structure
- Clues and false paths
- Murder and killings/deaths
- A crime at the core of the narrative
- Investigations
- Extraordinary events happening in ordinary situations
- Themes of identity and voyeurism
- Enigmas are established
- Secrets
- Fast pace
- Protagonists
- Antagonists
- Suspensions
- Cliffhangers


Collage of Thriller Representations

My AS Media class and I cooperated in creating this mood board of thriller representations. We all had to bring in one picture of a photograph which we thought symbolised a 'Thriller Genre'. All of the pictures which are shown in the photo above fit in with the conventions of a thriller. Examples of these would be weapons, blood, Police, scared/shocked facial expressions, hand prints etc... My group are going to try and include some of these conventions in our main task (2:00 minute thriller opening). we have thought about including a knife and possible some blood and facial expressions.

Video For Preliminary Task

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VaLck355c8I&feature=relmfu