LO2 : Following the Style and Conventions of the Thriller Genre

The footage in my short film treasure follows the conventions of the genre, short shots help to intensify the scenes and make the viewer feel on edge. The use of different camera angles also helps to portray the characters positions at that time, with a variety of shots being used during tense scenes. The amount of clips in the scene also convey the genre by creating different time periods to which the characters might be at ease, or in a tense scene. Close ups and medium close ups were my main go to shot types due to the detail that can be created in certain shots, a vital component of making any thriller film. 

I used a different variety of shots to put the viewer in an all seeing position, for example when the students pick up the trophy, they do not notice the shadow figure behind them, however the audience does. This use of a long shot here allows further scenes to become more tense, as the audience does not know when the Shadow figure will next appear.

Static shots played an important part in following the convention of the genre, as the students walk off the shot and it cuts to the next, it puts the audience on edge as at any point something could happen. It also keeps the audience excited to continue viewing the short film. During these shots it was important to use a tripod to maintain stability and create a nice looking shot.

Finally in some scenes, the use of no tripod was beneficial. For example in the scene in which the students are chasing the shadow figure makes good use of a handheld camera. The bob of the camera emulated a real person running with it, and as this was following the students it can make the audience feel like they are in the film. This is vital as part of a thriller genre, as involving the audience leads to a more intensive scene.

Audio

Audio in my short film was in the style of a thriller. Short pulses of character speech were vital in order to fit with the footage correctly. The voice over in certain areas also helped to capture the actors voices which makes the scene more intense. 

The use of different sound effects, including heavy breathing from the actors helped to portray mood and the genre perfectly. These effects mixed with the choice of music will bring the whole film together to fit the genre almost perfectly.