Film Trailer Planning

Thriller Films - History

One of cinema's biggest names, Alfred Hitchcock, was said to be a pioneer of the thriller genre. This was due to the way in which
he used new techniques such as obscure camera angles and cuts to create tension. He has produced many successful works
including Psycho, Rear Window and The Birds. The reason these films in particular became popular was due to the stories they
told and the macabre characters that he brought to life. In short, Hitchcock was ahead of his time, this is clear by the fact his film
Psycho has even inspired a prequel in the form of a television series titled Bates Motel.

Later novelists were also inspired to write in the thriller genre. For example, John le Carrs Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and Ian
Fleming's James Bond books were all of the same nature but they had developed the traditional thriller stories and based them
around the secret services of the British government. The ideas behind such stories would have been new concepts and the very
theme of the stories would be enticing enough to thrill a reader.
More modern thrillers works include the Hannibal Lecter trilogy of films which tell the story of a murderous
cannibal who works with several FBI officers in order to apprehend serial killers before they kill again. Due to
the thriller genre being of a fast paced nature, the deadlines to solve each case become the perfect obstacles
to overcome. These films also inspired a thriller spin off television series that follows the FBI agent, Will
Graham, and his battle with being a sociopath and a journey to prove Dr. Lecter is a murderer and a Cannibal.
This television series shows that thrillers always grab the audience's imagination but keep the setting of the
story familiar to trick the audience into thinking that the events could possibly happen to them.

Modern-day incarnations of the thriller genre include films such as Inception, Gravity and The Cabin in the
Woods, which are examples of films belonging to the hybrid genre as they are inspired by more than one
genre.
This genre dates back as far as ancient Greece due to the fact that epic poems, such as Homer's
Odessy, contain traits of the modern thriller genre. These include; a sense of adventure/journey, a
monster and/or villainous character and a series of obstacles for the hero to overcome.
Another early incarnation of the thriller genre are the collected Grimm's Fairy Tales. For example, Little Red
Riding Hood essentially belongs to the thriller genre as the storys focus is on a young girl who must escape
from the grasp of the obsessive stalker, the wolf. Little Red Riding Hood (the hero) has an aim of reaching her
grandmother's house but must avoid the obstacles, which are any of the problems that are caused by the
wolf in order to deter the hero from her goal, e.g. getting her to pick flowers with him. Such early stories then
went on to inspire later platforms of media such as books, films and television shows.
Initial Ideas
1. A long shot of the man sitting at train station as part of his daily routine, reading a
newspaper.
2. Train comes by and he disappears behind it, and only coffee cup remains on floor.
3. The action cuts to inside the train, observing the character. Various cuts to create a
montage of journey.
4. Train stops, he gets out. Camera cuts to close up of feet stepping off train and onto
platform.
5. More shorter cuts as he exits the station.
6. P.O.V As he steps out, camera pans from feet to his view of London Eye
7. P.O.V We see him looking at a bench near to him with a briefcase on the floor just in
front of it.
8. P.O.V He picks up briefcase.
9. Cuts to his face and briefcase in a mid shot.
10. Close up of code to unlock the case.
11. Back to his face and we hear echoes of important events of the film (e.g. gun shots, car
crashes, shouting and violent dialogue).

The action will be broken up with quotes, actor names and from the makers of to
conform to the conventional trailer.
Profile of Protagonist
Young male
Office job
Tired of routine
Mysterious
Interests: Politics, current affairs
Traditional
Intellectual



Film Synopsis
An everyday London commuter suddenly becomes
entangled in a life of crime when he inadvertently plays a
role in a transaction between Londons most famous
criminal network. The man is forced to decide whether to
fight to escape either his criminal or corporate bonds.
Ultimately, the film gives an insight into the human
condition and looks at the extent at which a man will go
in order to free himself from a life doomed for never-
ending boredom.
Estimated Production Costs
Travel train fair to Waterloo and back
Props Starbucks cup, broadsheet
newspaper (roughly 10 for both) and
briefcase (supplied)
Clothing a suit/smart dress (supplied by
actor)

Locations
Worcester Park train station
Train interior
Waterloo train station
London Eye and surrounding area
Potential Title Fonts
How Film Trailer Follows
Conventions of Thriller Genre
My trailer conforms to the conventions of the thriller genre as it is
mysterious and the ending leaves the audience guessing as to what may
happen next. The ending will entice my audience into watching the film
because of the sense of intrigue and suspense that they will be left with.
The synopsis of my film sets the audience up with a film filled with crime,
violence, constant action and the fact that the main character must
overcome obstacles and perilous situations set by the antagonist, in order to
survive. Elements such as these are inherent to the thriller genre.
I will also include quick, short cuts when following the protagonist in the
trailer in order to create a fast-paced feel to the film, again conforming to the
genre.
During the trailer, there will be close-ups and extreme close-ups of
important objects and also of the characters face. These will help tell the
narrative and give clues as to what may happen in the film by emphasising
the objects importance. Also, close-ups of the protagonists face will help
show his serious facial expressions to show his reaction to the dangerous
circumstances he finds himself in, which reflect the intense nature of a
typical thriller film.