Todorov Theory
- Equilibrium
- Disruption
- Resolution
This is the order that most Thriller's follow, and so therefore usually they start a film with a sense of equilibrium. For example, one Thriller that uses this is Johnny English Reborn. This starts with English at an abbey where monks live, learning how to fight like them. This represents the life that he is living now.
However, some Thriller's manipulate this chronology in order to create variety, as this moves away from a stereoptypical setting of a Thriller, thus providing more entertainment for the audience. An example of this is Salt. This uses two disruptions as we start by seeing that the protagonist has been taken hostage; clearly a disruption. This intrigues the audience, and then we see an equilibrium back in her life and her job. However, then there is another disruption when she is accused of being a spy; raising lots of questions as to why there are so many disruptions in her life and what they mean. Another example of a film that manipualtes the chronolgy is Inception. This clearly starts with the disruption as we see the protagonist is in an unknown location, surrounded by men with guns. However, after this scene we do not see an equilibrium; it does not have a clear order. This intrigues the audience and gives an idea as to what the plot is about: as the lack of order shows the way he jumps between dreams.
We are going to start our opening with a disruption, where the woman is frantically looking through her photo albums. This jumps right into the action, and allows the audience to ask lots of questions as to what she is doing. The next scene is not an equilibrium either, rather a man standing on the edge of a cliff. This is also a disruption, and puts the audience on edge, wondering if he will jump. Therefore jumping right into the disruption allows the audience to be more entertained and intrigued.
Roland Barthe - 5 Codes
One of these codes is the Enigma Code. This means that the audience are constantly asking questions. This is extremely important within the opening, as this is what intrigues the audience into watching the rest of the film. For example, we can see this within the film 44 Inch Chest. Lots of questions are raised, as we see a modern looking apartment that has been burgled: Who burgled it? Why? We then see a man lying on the floor: Is he dead? However, then we see a close-up and he is breathing, but lookd injured: Is he alright? Who did this to him? He is quite sweaty, was there a fight? Then we see that the door is open: did the burglars jsut escape? Then a new scene introduces a new setting, where there is quite old fashioned furniture, contrasting to the modern apartment: what relation do these characters have to the man in the previous shot?
We must raise questions within our opening in order to keep the audience entertained and intrigued. Some of these questions that we pre-meditate that the audience will ask are: What relation do the two characters have with each other? Why is the photo so significant? How is the photo related to the charcters?
Vladimir Propp Character Theory
This sets out the stereotpyical characters within the Thriller's so the audience then know what their relation is to the plot.
- The villain (struggles against the hero)
- The donor (prepares the hero or gives the hero some magical object)
- The (magical) helper (helps the hero in the quest)
- The princess (person the hero marries, often sought for during the narrative)
- Her father
- The dispatcher (character who makes the lack known and sends the hero off)
- The hero or victim/seeker hero, reacts to the donor, weds the princess
Though not all of these characters usually appear, they do have main stock characters. I can relate this to Johnny English Reborn. We know that Johnny is the hero, as he is the one that figures out the last assasin within Vortex. Tucker is the assistant as he helps figure this out and helps the hero fight the villains. The villain is Ambrose, as he is a secret agent within MI7, except he is really the last assasin within Vortex. Kate Summer is the Princess as she goes out with the hero at the end. The dispatcher is Pegasus, as she is the one that sends Johnny off on a mission.
Within our opening, we are not following the stereotypical characters. We are using symmetry within shots, for example the similar over the shouldher shot that is used with the photo is used for the woman and man. This conveys a connection between the characters, but does not distinguish which character types they are. This again raises questions in the audience's mind as to how they are connected, and how they relate to the forthcoming plot.
Active Theory
It is stated within this theory that the audience put themselves in the role of the hero when watching this film. This enables them to achieve the aim of the Thriller, as it puts them on edge being involved within the hero's plot.
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