Portfolio Project Genre #1

    The first genre I would like to propose to be a part of our portfolio project is Psychological Thriller. I believe that this would be a good genre because of how they rely on atmosphere, mystery and tensions to introduce audiences to a film instead of giving cut and dry answers or a full plot resolution which describes how the rest of the film goes. The unknown element of the genre is what questions audience into what could happen next instead of giving a structured timeline of events which might seem boring to some people. 

    Most people who watch this genre are usually from their mid teens to their mid adulthoods and often enjoy suspense, mystery and overall darker themes. Content and technique wise, what would fit this genre would be elements of paranoia, isolation, and fear, as they further add on to the mystery narrative going on. Low key lighting along with uncomfortable elements such as close ups, slow pacing and non diegetic sound would make this genre even more of a good use case for the project.

    The institutions that are responsible for making these films are often independent or mid size indie studios. The institutions often prioritize mystery and psychological tension rather than action and anything from promotional material like posters and trailers will avoid revealing too much of the plot and narrative in order to protect the element of mystery. Two examples of films that demonstrate this genre are Black Swan (2010) and Shutter Island (2010).

    Sources: 

British Film Institute. (n.d.). 100 essential thrillers. British Film Institute. https://www.bfi.org.uk/lists/100-essential-thrillers

Goodman, J. (2021, April 15). 31 cinematography techniques every filmmaker should know. StudioBinder. https://www.studiobinder.com/blog/cinematography-techniques-no-film-school/

IMDb. (n.d.). IMDb. https://www.imdb.com/