Research into convention - Miss Miller

Conventions

A conventions are elements that are common throughout different film genres. Thriller films contain various specific conventions such as; shock suspense death or an enigma. The clip I have chosen is from 'Scream' Reasons for this is that it is a highly successful thriller and shows typical conventions that are clear to the audience.

Firstly the film shows a younger girl as the victim and a mans voice for the antagonist. This is a typical convention of a thriller set from back in the 1940s when Alfred Hitchcock was prominent. The reason this is done is so that we can easily feel sorry for the more vulnerable, younger girl; however, we feel more scared of the powerful dangerous man. Therefore the audience support the young girl and the effect of the suspense and shock element in increased. A way this powerfulness of the man is emphasised is through various camera shots. A low angle is often used on the antagonist; by doing this it seems as though the villain is towering over the victim, therefore presenting him as menacing and powerful. The effect this has on the audience is that it inflicts pain upon us and we feel tension and suspense about the situation. The use of high and low angles are vital for the thriller as they help with the relationships built between characters and the audience and help way the audience into feeling tension as the victim is under threat.

Another a conventional form of cinematography often consists of the changes in tempo's within the thriller genre. This is clearly shown in this clip. There is an example of fasted paced editing from the start of this clip as the camera switches quickly from shot to shot, increasing the overall speed of the clip. The fast paced shots is generally used to present key moments within a film; the viewers get excited by the action and tension builds as we want to see the younger female survive. The fast tempo is often juxtaposed with slow tempo in various thriller works to emphasise a the suspense leading up to a shocking event; generally being a death. All being key to the entertaining factors of a thriller film.

Within the clip there is also a use of a plot twist towards the end of the video. The killer is seen to be linked with the victims friend. By doing this the producers build up an enigmatic theme to the film as the audience is left thinking about the plot and the outcomes. It is generally seen in most thriller films as it is what creates and develops the plot within a film. It creates a storyline of which the audience must slowly uncover what the outcome may be. An enigma is one of the best ways to create widespread suspense that builds up as the plot develops, this is why it is so important to a thriller film as suspense increases the fear factor and the overall entertainment of the piece of work. 

The iconography used in this clip furthermore presents the enigmatic conventions typically seen in a thriller film. Throughout the clip we see a mask used on the antagonist, this provides the killer with a hidden identity. Demonstrated in various thriller works, this creates an enigma. The audience are eager to discover the identity of the killer, therefore suspense is established as we build up towards finding out. A hidden identity is used throughout many thriller films. It is so highly orthodox to a thriller as it portrays the few emotions that are very conventional to a thriller. By leaving us thinking it creates a sense of mystery for the audience, as we are desperate to see the killer revealed it creates tension and suspense, also it can emphasise the shock and surprise element of further events in the film such as the death or the revelation of the hidden character. These emotions inflicted upon the audience are key to providing entertainment for a thriller.

 

Through these various techniques this film is made to be very conventional. It shows the senses of surprise, shock and suspense inflicted upon the audience. Surprise is conveyed through the plot twist shown, shock is shown by the quick change of shots as the antagonists springs up upon the victim and suspense and tension is built through the use of fast tempo, action packed filming. The main aspect of the clip I will take away and could use for myself is the use of an enigma. In my opinion this is the best way of engaging whilst creating a great amount of suspense and surprise. This sequence shows a clear view of how an enigma is used to great effect.