Thriller Actors

What makes a good thriller actor? To be a good thriller actor you have to be able to keep your audience tense and make sure your acting on the screen is obviously above all thrilling to watch. Most thriller films have a 'villain' trying to undermine a 'hero'. The hero needs to be strong and be able to connect with his or her audience, this is vital in giving a good performance in a thriller film. If there is no connection between themselves and the audience when the hero comes into trouble if the audience has a strong emotional connection with him or her then it will be more thrilling. Here are some examples of well known and resppected thriller actors:

Matt Damon - Matt appeared in his famous trilogy of the 'Bourne' films. In all three playing a trained assassin, who is trained to kill and protect. Matt has been nominated for several awards for his acting in the trilogy.

Also not forgetting 'The Departed' (2006) playing a young cop undercover in a crime gang. Matt has developed himself now as a hard thriller actor with his dedication to four consecutive Thriller films.

John Travolta - I chose john as one of my favourite thriller actors because of two fantastic performances in to great tense and entertaining thriller films:

The first, 'Pulp Fiction' (1994), this film is one of m favourites and John gives a fantastic performance as a gang employee of Marcellus Wallace. John really drew his audience in and gave a thrilling performance as he stabs the syringe into Uma Thurman's heart.

Second, 'The Taking of Pelham 123' (2009), When I went to see this film in the cinema I was captured my John's performance as the 'villain' holding passengers hostage on the subway for ransom. I loved how he played the character as quick witted but also a vile unlikeable character at the same time, it was like he had two sides to him, one minute he would smiling and be very witty and the next angry and over powering. This really drew me and kept me on the edge of my seat, I felt his character was unpredictable which made it so thrilling to watch.

Rachel McAdams - Rachel has a great performance in the movie 'Red Eye' (2005). Rachel plays the young organised hotel manager who has booked a flight back after a family funeral. Rachel gives a great performance as she battles the master mind terrorist Cillian Murphy, she really connects with her audience as she gives a very emotional performance. Aslo Rachel gives a good performance in 'State of play' (2003).

180 Degree Rule

Here is a picture explaining the 180 degrree rule. The green area where the cameras are looking is following the rule of 180. In the top right hand corner we see where the actors are placed on screen, if we croos the 180 degree line to the red section and film from there we see in left hand corner the characters change there position on screen. That is why it is important to follow the rule.

Evaluation and Final Edit of Prelim Task (2nd)

Looking over our video I thought as a group we did really well. The continuity was smooth and I feel our video is to a reassembly good standard, however there is lots of room to improve.

We opened up on a two shot of Will and CJ sitting on the ground talking, this was good and I liked how we panned up to follow Will as he began his journey, however the next shot that follows is very dull and next time I would look at different ways of making the journey more interesting. Next the POV from the stairs, this shot I thought was one of our best it was interesting and saved the journey from being completely dull, going in to the high angle shot which I thought was a good way of showing the actors surroundings. The POV getting into the lift lasted to long and I don't think was necessary either, I think if I were to film that section again I would have a mid shot from inside the lift as will enters. The pan coming out of the lift was nice and smooth but once again was to long, maybe a upward angle shot would have been nice to use instead. Finally when he gets to the room we had the POV as our actor is instructed to push not pull the door, I think personally this was our best shot, it was interesting and wasn't to shaky either. Our conversation between our actors was good, with over the shoulder shots. Also what was good about it was it was pasty and didn't drag on for to long . Finally our the end shot as will exits, the zoom on to the pens was not the best.

Overall comments: There are quite a thew bits I would do differently if given the chance. The transactions needed to quicker and more interesting. I think especially if we are making the thriller the need to make shots more interesting and the whole think a lot quicker paste is a necessity.

Introduction to Editting (2nd Prelim task)

This was really interesting for me as I had only edited before on a Microsoft software already installed on the computer. The software we used was really interesting, also I didn't find it to complicated to use.



When we started to edit our footage we firstly watched back what we had and then edited the shots we were going to use, this was a long process of having to keep rewinding and watching back the clip and making sure that our continuity was perfect. Also making sure that we didn't edit the clips wrong and have poor continuity with the transition between the shots.



When we had edited all of our footage and had put it all together and looking over our final video there was something not quite right with it. After we looked over it again we could see that some of our shots were not interesting enough or went on for to long, It wasn't the conversation part of the video that was boring it was some parts of the journey. As the journey wasn't the most important part of the video we decided to cut around the problem and fuse some shots together, after we done this our video looked better and more interesting. This was a good lesson we learnt, and I'd rather make the mistakes now than when we come to making our thriller film.



I was over all pleased with how the editing session went, now I think I have a better understanding of how the editing software works. Next time I would like to learn how music is added to the film.

Prelim Task (2nd)

The task: In this task we had to get into groups of three again, this time I went with James and Nicola. We had to film a conversation between two people at a location, we had to make as interesting as possible but including the 180 degree rule.

Choosing our location(s) and conversation: We had to write down our shots in order before we wet off to film, we could also plan where we going to film.

Filming the conversation: My group decided to show a tiny journey before our actor got to the room where he will have the conversation, we used mid shots and long shots to show how he started the journey, then two POV shots; one from the bottom of the step and the other from our actors eyes getting into the lift. We then tried to use another POV in which the actor was spoke to directly, the camera lens being his eyes. This shot I thought was our best shot as it worked really well. Then we finished with our conversation using over the shoulder shots and a two shot.

We had to make sure that the conversation we filmed had good continuity, as this was our first try at perfect continuity we wanted to make sure that it was perfect. However we had to have several attempts at certain shots because after watching it back we could see where it was poor and would impossible to fix in editing. This was a good learning curve as now we have had some practice at it so when we come to make our thriller films we should be able to better at keeping smooth continuity.

Introduction to Prelim Task (1st)

The task:

We had to film a journey of our choice. The journey could be what ever we wanted it to be, we had to as creative as possible with our shot range. The whole point of the task was to get comfortable with the cameras so when it comes round to filming our horror films we have a bit of experience.

Setting up camera: When we first got the camera we learnt the basic of how to set it up: putting in the tape, making sure the sound was on, how to play back, how to put it on to the tripod and how to make the camera level.

Choosing a journey: We decided as a group as we didn't have a lot of time to film the prelim task as we had to account for human error to choose the journey quickly. So we chose to start on the school field and show a journey to the toilet.

Filming the journey: When we started to film the journey on the field we wanted a interesting way of showing the location where we starting our journey. So we decided to open up with a pan of our area ending up at myself who would be making the journey, i thought the shot was effective and more interesting than a mid shot or a close up. The next part of the journey we tried to make interesting by using variety of different shots, using a POV, high angle shots and close ups. However when we watched the play back at the end when we finally got finished it wasn't as entertaining as we thought it would be, I think it was because even though we used good shot variation each frame lasted for to long, it felt like when watching it back you were waiting for each shot to end.

Over all comments: Next time I would like to improve on the shot times making sure they don't go on for to long. If my ending thriller film has good variation of shots and suitable time limits on each one then it will make my opening more interesting.

Independent Reaserch - Red eye opening sequence

Red eye (2005)

Tittle sequence: Very quick, no longer than 15 seconds, this maybe to settle the audiences brain as the movie in self will be just the same; quick and snappy. With the tittle in bold red this is really effective to make the tittle really stand out, also links in with tittle but not the film however, after watching the film I don't think it has real connection to the events other than the plain they go on is nick named "Red eye" as it is the latest flight. But because of the film and its nature the heroin is not able to feel tired as she has to much on her mind and has total energy the complete opposite to the tittle of "Red eye".

Shots and opening sequence order: We open up on a pan of happy photos, a complete contrast to the music which adds a tension, which gets us asking questions in our head, why is the music like that?
We then see a unknown person drop a wallet on the side, the camera zooms in to the initials, we now know as the audience they will be important later on in the movie.
The next sequence opens up with a repeat of the Pan of the surroundings, from this shot we are drawn to a large box in the middle of the screen, just like the zoom in the on initials the camera zooms in on the box, just as before we know this box is of great importance.
The next sequence is a shot of a table as the camera pans along, and close ups on different blue prints and pictures, with quick jumps cuts used and transactions to different shots. This sequence of shots is used to show the 'Villains' are very clever and a lot of planning has gone into it, so the organisation must be very big.
On the table we see the wallet again with the initials 'JR', it zooms once again we are seeing a pattern remaining, I feel this is a good idea as it helps the audience to identify important information.
We then cut to another sequence involving the box, we see inside the box a powerful weapon. The 'zoom' was correct.

The next sequence is with a young under pressure hotel employee, her emotions and the unhappy customers are shown via lots of close ups and a two shot for the customers. We then see a shot of our heroin as her phones rings, a mid-shot is used. It is the Young hotel lady calling for help, during the phone call we see our heroin is multi tasking and via lots of jump cuts back and forth and close ups on our confident heroin we see she copes well under pressure. Will she cope well when she comes into contact with the 'villain' ?
Even though this is only a phone conversation the director keeps its fast and tense by using lots of close ups and quick transitions form the cab where our heroin is and the hotel desk, this helps to build the climax to the soon to be battle between our heroin and 'villain'.
It is also very ironic that the phone conversation is used as an example to show how she copes under pressure as later on in the movie she comes under pressure twice more when on the phone and both times change the course of the movie.


Sound: The music Throughout is fast and mimics the sound of a heart beat, this helps to add to the scene and makes it more exciting and tense. Also lots of natural sounds are used, such as: rain, cars, manic people at the airport and mobile phones.The diegetic sounds which are used really well to create a panicky fast atmosphere, also all the sounds off the plain are like our our heroins life manic and always busy as we know from the phone conversation and later on in the movie she is a workaholic. However the sound when she gets on the plane later its all gone, she has none of that busy life style to worry about just the 'villain'.

Movement: Fixed and steady. Helps to capture all the action going on, instead of using complex movement which would distract the audience from what is going on on the screen.

Mise-en-scene: Everything about our heroin's appearence is perfect, she is dressed to perfection, which is the complete opposite to the film. The contrats between the character and the sotuation she is put in is interesting to watch.

Se7ven opening scene

Se7en (1995)

Titles: Se7ven tittles are amazing, they build tension and are really creepy and eerie to watch. They do seem like they are meant to go with a horror film, but after watching the film I feel they are appropriate. The tittles are inspiring to everyone trying to make the opening sequence of a thriller movie, they capture the audience from the very start so we don't loose interest and give an idea to what we can expect from the movie. With the different pictures and actions going all happening its hard to takes your eyes off, by using some quite disturbing pictures it raised my interest level. Using a red light effect three times towards the end of the tittles this tells the audience that we are going to see some gory images to go along with the intensive planning of the killer which we see in the opening tittles. There is a really intriguing part of the tittle sequence towards the end where we see a boys face and the killer rubs out his face with a thick black pen, I thought this was really effective in showing what kind of person the killer is, and was really scary how someone has a sick and twisted mind to sit there and do that.



Shots: We have a thew POV shots in the first par of the opening scene, This is like as if we are looking upon the scene.
Lots of POV shots from Morgan Freeman help to show us how organised his character is when we see his keys and his badge and other items perfectly lined up on the table.
The crime scene opens with a shot of the dead body and blood spillage around it, The camera slowly pans up around to the room to show how vile and horrifying the murder was. This shot was really effective in capturing the audience and creating tension.
As Brad and Morgan's characters first meet we have lots of close ups and two shots to help show there emotions to the crime scene and each other.
As Brad and Morgan walk talking down the street the camera pans along with them, looking at a upwards angle. I loved this shot as it is interesting and as it can include both of them shows both of their reactions to the first time of them meeting each other which is very important to the story line.

Movement: The camera is always fixed and steady. The pans and tracks are very smooth and finish softly. This a complete contrast to the dialogue in the scene which is edgy and of course the murder which is horrific and sloppy with blood up the walls. However you could make a link between the organisation of the camera to Morgan Freeman's character where they are both very organised and run smoothly, that Morgan's character is just like the camera runs smooth and fixed and presentable but what it sees is completely the opposite.

Generic Themes: During the dialogue in which Morgan and Brad share when they are walking down the busy street of New york, we are made to subside with Morgan over Brad as when Morgan walks down the street and it is raining he is not bothered by the rain and as he walks on the outside he also avoids the busy crowds flooding the opposite way. Where as Brad Pitt does the complete opposite by trying to duck and wive to be covered by the rain and by doing this gets knocked and pushed by the crowd, showing him to be inferior to Morgan Freeman. Morgan's character has experience and power where as Brad Pitt's character from a small quiet town doesn't. By doing this as the audience we are made to subside with Morgan Freeman, as he walks powerfully striding through and Brad not so powerful.

Sound: The sound used is all natural sounds: rain, police sirens, traffic and people. At the start of the movie when Morgan Freeman is getting ready for work we hear the sounds of sirens, traffic rain and people outside. This mixed with his television and all the noises he is making getting ready it makes a massive jumble of mixed noises creating a busy and frantic atmosphere. This could symbolise Morgan's characters life style in the way he is always busy and working and never has a moments piece.

Mise-en-scene:
Throughout out the film it rains constantly till the end scene of the film. Rain symbolises cleansing, just like cleansing of the crime scene and cleaning up the city as Moragn and Brad try to do throughout.
We see Morgan Freeman's bed sheets grey and boring with no personality, we see him as the Portaganist of themovie, stereotypically alone to fight against the killer and the world (etc).

Evaluation: I love the movie se7en, and its opening is brilliantly captivating epsecially its opneing credits. The directing of the film is really interesting in how he represents the differnt characters, especially the killer at the end however I won't spoil it for people who havn't seen it! But its a interesting root he went down when deciding how the audience should feel about the chracters, with mixed emotions for Bradd Pitt and the killer at the end.

Opening Sequence to Memento

Memento (2002) -


Titles: Blue writing on a black back ground, this emits a cold feeling to its viewers when watching, I believe Christopher Nolan (Director) chose this because the colour blue symbolises cold.

Shots: Over the shoulder extreme close up shot of Guy Pearce holding a photo of a crime scene, where the picture is so horrific we are drawn to it it as the audience and asking questions, how this crime was committed? Who is the person holding the photo graph?


Movement: The camera is very steady through out, this is very effective as it is like we are watching what he is doing. If this were done in hand held and was not fixed I don't think it would have been as effective, It would have made us feel we were meant to be a POV of someone else who is watching instead of ourselves watching the scene. This is a lot more creepy and tense as we are watching with our own intentions.

Generic Themes: The character of Guy Pearce as we see throughout the opening sequence is trying to remember things constantly, we don't know whats wrong with him but we know he has a form of amnesia. No voice over at the start of the opening of the movie just dialogue, however as Guy gets more vulnerable and is trying to recapture memory we hear a voice over of Guy's thoughts, this is effective as it tells the audience what is going through his head so we feel connected to Guy.

Sound: Always low, adds a eerie atmosphere in background. The music is at its peak as the tittles come on.

Mise-en-scene:

Camera is established as a key object in the scene, with his memory and comes in to play later in the film.

Black and white is used to show the character's confusion and where he can't create new memories his unorganised of his life having to write notes for him self. Using black and white you could also say the colour has gone from his life having to live a disadvantaged life.

Where he is in a motel it says something about his life style, this could mean he has a unstable (not having a home), lonely, has a steady income or has generated money from somewhere.

Evaluation: I really liked the opening of Momento, I felt the use of the voice over was very effective by building connection between the audience and Guy Pearce. The music I thought was effetcive as it helped to build tensioon in the opening credit to capture the audience from the start. I also loved the structure of the opening slowly revealing the very complexed character of Guy Pearce, this is very interesting and inspiring to watch, it was a clever and exciting way to tell the story of this percific character.

Thriller Independent research - Phone booth

When i first watched phone booth I was thoroughly entertained through out. This i feel was because even though the setting of the phone booth is only in one spot it still managed to remain tense, the directed uses effective music and lots of creative camera shots. For a hostage situation this would be a perfect example of how to keep your audience entertained and keep the movie exciting.

Also looking at the opening its smooth quick and tense with quick titles and fast paste music. With the scenery being new york city there is always something going which makes the hostage situation much more exciting. The director (Joel Schumacher)was really clever by directing the surroundings of the phone booth, by having lots of extras and tall buildings surrounding it creating a manic atmosphere leaving us the audience clueless to where the gun man is. My favorite shot on the movie is a POV from the eyes of the trapped Colin Farrell where he manically looks up at the buildings, using handheld it helps to show his panic and creates more tension.