Initial Planning- Costume

The Thriller genre normally follows a form of general conventions but the main one is that actors will be wearing dark colours to represent the protagonist’s ambiguity. Wearing a colour like black is obviously much better than a bright colour like orange in a thriller as the costume is all part of the Mise-En-Scene which sets the feel and tone of the film. The costume also suggests what kind of person they are, good or bad, and also whether they are wealthy or poor. Not only this, but it can suggest what kind of job they might have too or where they might be going.

Since police are used in most thriller films, a police or detective costume is important. The costume must look realistic to take the film seriously, often for a police officer this is a blue shirt or polo shirt with a navy blue vest and navy trousers. It is important that anyone with the same role all have matching costumes in order to maintain the set look of this character. For detectives on the other hand, most of these characters wear casual clothes and do not have to wear a uniform. However the costume must still suit the character. In the case of detectives, often a shirt and jeans is used under a long coat or jacket, this makes the character look smart but at the same time aware of the stereotypical detective look so that the audience are aware of whom the character is through the use of the costume.

Other characters, such as government agents, hit men, or spy’s typically wear black suits to show their status, but at the same it is clear that they are not everyday business men. The black expensive suits are all worn by all the characters associated with the government or assassin job so the audience is always clear who the character works for, without them talking. This saves a lot of time in thriller films because the director does not need to explain the job they do, as the audience can immediately tell through the costume.

In the case of the assassin/ hit man themselves, their costume should usually involve something that they can move easily in, and that can help them "disappear" into the shadows. Also, it should be something that they can cover up easily with normal clothes as to blend into society and the general public around them and therefore should not be bulky and heavy.

In conclusion the costume that a character wears can tell an audience a lot about the character or the setting they are in without any dialogue or explanation. It is because of this that costume and making sure a character is wearing the right costume is a vital part of making a thriller film. Because if the costume does not suit the characters role it could confuse the audience or ruin the atmosphere of the film, alternatively if the costume does not look good or if it looks cheap and tacky the production value of the film can look very low, giving the entire film a very amateur feel. However, if a characters costume is planned well and suits the role the film will be even more enjoyable to the audience and set the correct tone and feel for the entire film.

Thriller Opening Synopsis

The opening of the thriller starts with a file of the notorious assassin / hitman, an A4 type-up of him, his bio, and a picture of him.
There are two detectives in a room, Stephen will be playing the first detective with higher authority. He proceeds to talk about the assassin and who he is, and then explains that an anonymous client has gathered intelligence about the hitman, and directs the second detective to meet him at a given location.


The next scene features the second detective getting into his car and starting the car. As the car moves, there is a cut to the next scene, of a Land Rover entering a car park near the given location of the client, the next shot shows the back door being opened and a bag being removed.
The next shot is back to the detective in the car, on his way to the location.
After that, there is a shot of the bag being thrown up to the roof of a building, and then a shot of the assassin climbing up the building.
There is then a cut back to the detective, still in the car. This is to build suspense.


The next shot shows the client exiting some double doors with a briefcase, he looks around before walking out of the doors properly.


There is then a cut of the assassin removing his gun and aiming it at the client.
Then there is a cut back to the detective in the car again.
The shot then quickly cuts back to the client checking his watch.
A match on action shot is then shown as the client is still checking his watch, but this time through the scope of the assassin's gun.
The next shot shows the assassin pulling the trigger, and a cut back to the scope, showing the client being hit in the chest and dying.


There is then a fade to the detective's car entering the car park, followed by him getting out and heading to the alleyway to find the client's body.
The client's phone then begins to ring, the detective answers it to find the assassin is on the other end of the phone.
The detective states that he is going to catch the assassin, only for the assassin to reply with a statement about not being to catch him on one leg.
There is then a cut to the detective's leg as a gunshot is heard and he is hit in the knee, he falls to the ground and looks up to see the assassin on the top of another building, only his silhouette is seen as he runs away.
The detective then removes his own phone and contacts his superior, reporting that the client has been killed, and that the assassin had got away, he then demands a pickup.

Research into Thriller openings - Stephen Potter 4

Research into thriller openings – Shutter Island

This thriller opens with a 7 second shot of mist, almost mimicking a fade to white editing technique. This is interesting as fade to white can represent dream sequences, therefore this may have been chosen to suggest to the spectators that this film may be a sort of dream sequence or must have some uncertainty to it. There is also dead silence, this lack of sound ads to the strangeness of this shot. This shot leaves spectators questioning what is happening, due to its length, and leaves then asking themselves many questions. This first shot has created enigma and mystery for the rest of the film. 

 A ship emerges from the mist shortly after, this too creates enigma as we do not know where this is located or where the ship has come from nor where it is going, it also carries that uncertainty as to whether this is current a dream sequence or not. As it is centered in the middle of the frame it is highlighted as a point of interest and that we should pay attention to it.

The next shot is of the first time we see the protagonist, in the frame chains are rattling and as they are focused in the frame it may be something the spectators should pay attention to. Enigma is also carried into this shot as you wonder why they are needed, the director may have put them in the frame as symbolism, it could symbolise being trapped as the ship is alone in mist, effectively isolating it. It is also forshadowing the prison setting of the film. There is also a lack of colour and vibrancy within these shots, this desaturation of colour could also be a way of symbolising the films dark setting and dark story.

We see the protagonist shaking in front of a mirror, he is also wearing a suit, hinting towards him being of a higher social class, important role within society, and is also wet, the creates enigma as you wonder why this is. The fact he is talking to himself in the mirror questions his mental state. The lighting is utilised by the director to show only one half of him being light, this too may symbolise this protagonist having a morally “light” and “dark” side. Within the first 30 seconds, a lot of mystery is created for the spectators as well as tension as there is absolutely no context.

Research into thriller openings - Stephen Potter - 3

Research into thriller openings – Pulp Fiction

Pulp fiction is one of Quentin Tarantinos most famous films, I find it surprising that this film is considered a thriller due to its almost comedic look and as it is a film that is not as serious and a tense as other films in this Genre.

The first shot we are presented with is what seems to be a couple within a diner, the male says “we can’t it’s too risky”. From this piece of dialogue we can tell or at least safely assume that they are planning to do something illegal, due to the body language of the female character, she comes across to the spectators as jittery and could therefore be unstable, whereas the male comes across as calm due to him lighting a cigarette. The conversation between these two characters is based on robbing places, they speak in such a calm way that these characters come across as seasoned criminals if they can freely talk about it. The use of body language and dialogue to establish characters mood are all parts of mise en scene, and have deliberately been utilised by Quentin Tarantino. Although the themes of the film are very mature, they are presented and handled in a way which makes them more realistic, hence why a couple in a diner attempting/contemplating to rob it is slightly more believable, Although this does not bring much enigma to the introduction, apart from leaving us questioning why they are criminals and who they are.

 After their conversation, and it is agreed they hold up the diner, the male gets a pistol out and says “same as last time”, confirming the thought they are seasoned criminals. The pistol is also shown directly in a Medium Close Up, the director has chosen to use this shot size to highlight the pistol as an important item.

This introduction is different than the other thrillers in the way that this s comprised of mostly dialogue, whereas the others are not, because the less that is revealed, the more enigma and mystery there is.