Western:
Camera angles, movements, and shots: Many Westerns use panoramic shots to establish a scene. Tracking shots are also used to emphasize action happening during the plot. Westerns also try to use camera angles that will still show as much of the background as possible. Quentin Tarantino uses quick flashes and cuts between characters to show action and reaction. Many directors use zoom-ins on faces to show reactions to developing plots.
CLAMPS: Dark lighting is common in the natural and scenic areas. Lighting is also used to convey drama and suspense for the upcoming confrontation and gunfight. There are often old outhouses, shacks, saloons, and banks all there to represent the American frontier as part of the intricate scenery. Props can include bandanas, guns, horse gear, and other things found in a dusty ghost town. Props build characters as stereotypes like the sheriff, bandit, and the classic cowboy.
Common Editing: Westerns have many two-shots when characters are dueling or talking. In addition, they feature extreme close-ups on eyes, mouth, and sometimes a gun strapped to their hip to show emotion or specific attributes of a certain character. Cross cut-ins are also common during fights and general action in the West.
Common Sound: Diegetic sounds like the wind whistling on the sand set the setting of the scene. Instrumental scores with high bravado are used to indicate the harshness of the wild west. Sound motifs used include the rattling of a rattlesnake, the crackling of a whip, and the click and clang of saddles and spurs. In some westerns, you can somewhat hear the abandonment of the scene as it depicts the wilderness of the west.
Elements of the Genre: Revenge stories are prevalent in classic westerns. The story of a lone cowboy seeking revenge for their loved being killed is quite common. Escaping urban expansion and industrialization and the development of populous cities is seen as the enemy in many westerns. The fight between the lawfulness and unlawfulness are common themes of westerns as it furthers the motif of “civilized” society versus the perceived “uncivilized” society. Lawmen, bandits, cowboys, and prospectors are common characters in westerns.
Elements I like: The Western genre encompasses the pure will to be free. The American frontier has long been an escape, a new life for those who seek to escape the hustle and bustle of the cities. The Western genre also comprises of suspenseful action sequences that bring the audience closer to the aims of the protagonist.
Elements I don't like: Some negatives of the genre are the less than stellar character development or character evolution. Many of the characters stay the same, they have the same directives throughout the film and very little changes in their resolve.
Example Movies: True Grit, The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, Unforgiven, High Noon
Thriller:
Camera angles, movements, and shots: High angles and birds eye shots are used to make the characters look vulnerable. Fast pans add suspense during action shots. POV shots can put you in the character's shoes as they go through their dilemma at the moment. Close-ups show emotion, vulnerability, and reactions of characters.
CLAMPS: Costumes usually fit the time period usually either present time or could be adapted based on location (ex. Space). Lighting is very contrasted. Some scenes may be shot with bright lighting to make sure the audience has a full understanding of everything that is happening or the scene while, other scenes may be filmed in darker more moody lighting to add drama and suspense to the unknown, the situation, or the antagonist. Makeup is usually done pretty natural for characters. In addition, some scenes require special effects for injuries and gore illustrated on film. Props usually are survival gear, new technology to defeat the antagonist thing, and everyday objects. The scenery is usually a type of post-apocalyptic abandoned scene. This can include empty houses, stores, shacks, etc. Actors are usually method actors, performers who can invoke a believable and emotional experience to the audience. Thrillers hinge on suspense, so the mis-en scene of the film has to focus on building anticipation.
Common Editing: All thriller films use fast and slow-paced editing in their films. This is very good at creating suspense, tension and also conveying emotions and/or representing characters. Most commonly, thrillers use fast and slow-paced editing specifically to create suspense and tension within a scene. Jump cuts, for example, can be seen in the thriller genre due to their disorientating effect on a character or scene. Shot reverse-shot is another editing technique used especially to show the audience something that the characters do not know. Another editing technique used is parallel editing; where the audience is shown what two characters are doing at the same time. One-shot usually has an effect on the other in these types of shots.
Common Sound: Thrillers have eerie scores to direct the narrative of the story. The aim of the music is to keep the audience on their toes. Silence is widely used to create tension in a certain scene. The non-diegetic music in thrillers is fairly repetitive, creating anxiety and agitation for the audience. The non-diegetic sound used to increase the tension and create a sense of pessimism, desperation, and paranoia. Sound bridges are used to cut to another shot, without the action being interrupted, this is very important in a thriller as it allows the audience to still feel the tension even when the action is no longer viewable. Finally, Dialogue is diegetic, and often the dialogue creates a very tense atmosphere.
Elements of a Thriller: The main element of a thriller is suspense; putting the audience on edge through impactful storytelling. Alfred Hitchcock was a master of suspense as if one simply shows the audience a room full of people and it explodes, the only shock is felt. However, when an audience is shown of a room full of people and a ticking time bomb is about to go off then, suspense is built. Thrillers are meant to heavily stimulate the viewer's moods giving them a high level of anticipation, ultra- heightened expectation, uncertainty, surprise, anxiety, and even terror.
Elements I like: The suspense keeps the audience engaged. The themes of the story are usually interesting. The story usually develops pretty quickly with fast-cut editing. The story is self-contained and is not reliant on a series or sequel. They use visuals and audio to invoke suspense.
Elements I don't like: The genre is not accepted by all as it is not as mainstream as action/adventure films. Sometimes the storyline can be too complex to reveal itself all in one movie. Actors have to be skilled to truly connect with the audience to evoke a sense of tension or suspense.
Example Films: Get Out, Ma, Bird Box, Gone Girl, The Silence of the Lambs, Glass
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