TV Drama Case Study (EastEnders)

TV Drama Case Study (EastEnders) from El_Lester

Textual Analysis

Initial Ideas For Thriller

Preliminary Task Evaluation

AS Media Preliminary Evaluation from El_Lester

Conventions Of A Thriller

What is a thriller?

A thriller is a genre of literature, film and television programming that uses suspense, tension and excitement as it's main elements. A thriller often includes fast-paced, frequent action and resourceful heroes who must thwart the plans of more-powerful and better-equipped villains. Literary devices such as suspense, red-herrings and cliff hangers are used extensively.

Conventions of a thriller film (typical features)

1. Low key lighting.
2. Quick cut.
3. Shadows.
4. Tension music.
5. Changes in camera angles.
6. Diegetic sounds (breathing).
7. Black and white shots.
8. Montages.
9. The protagonist will be at the mercy of the antagonist.
10. Binary oppositions (complete opposites) by Levi Strauss e.g. good vs. evil.
11. Cheap surprise (an easy shock generated by a sudden unexpected noise/action/movement).
12. Make it personal (protagonist's family is kidnapped).
13. Theatre of the mind (doesn't show the audience everything forcing them to imagine things). 

Types of thriller

1. Spy thrillers – e.g. James Bond
2. Political thrillers – e.g. Argo
3. Military thrillers – e.g. Saving Private Ryan
4. Conspiracy thrillers – e.g. The Insider
5. Medical thrillers – e.g. Coma
6. Forensic thrillers – e.g. The Bone Collector
7. Psychological thrillers – e.g. Seven
8. Horror thriller – e.g. The Silence of the Lambs
9. Legal thriller - e.g. The Pelican Brief
10. Crime thriller - e.g. No Country for Old Men
11. Supernatural thriller - e.g. Flatliners

Some key characteristics of a thriller

1. Often overlap with mystery stories but are distinguished by the structure of their plot
2. Thrillers often occur on a much grander scale: crimes are more serious
3. Standard plot elements include a sense of jeopardy.
4. Climax: when hero finally defeats villain, saving him and others.
5. Some thrillers are influenced by film noire and tragedy, the hero can get killed.
6. Often take place wholly or partly in exotic or dramatic settings e.g. cities, deserts, churches, airports, subways, Polar Regions, the woods or high seas.