RESEARCH ANALYSIS

GENRE:

Genre is a way of organizing creative works, like books, movies, or music, based on their style, theme, or content. It helps us understand what kind of story or art we can expect. Genre is a way to group things like books, movies, or music based on what they're like. It helps us know what kind of story or art we're getting into. For instance, action movies have lots of excitement and stunts, while romance books focus on love stories. It's like sorting things into categories so we are interested in watching. 

MY GENRE: 

 The genre I have chosen for my short film is Psychological Thriller.

PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER:

Psychological thriller is a genre known for keeping you on the edge of your seat. It often plays into the human mind, creating suspense and tension through psychological twists and turns.  psychological thrillers, often leaves you questioning what's real and what's not. it  creates a sense of unease or suspense through psychological twists, and suspenseful situations.it often leaves u  you feeling tense or anxious. you're not sure who to trust, and the characters might be dealing with their own inner struggles, It's all about getting into people's minds and keeping you guessing and on the edge of your seat. it often blurs the lines between hero and villain. It's less about action and more about psychological tension and manipulation, which creates a  suspenseful atmosphere. 

WHY I CHOSE PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER FOR MY SHORT FILM:

I've chosen psychological thriller for my short film because it has always interested me From my childhood, I've found these stories full of suspense, tension, incredibly exciting. The thrill of not knowing what happens next has always fascinated me. These stories often blur the line between reality and illusion making me question the characters' motives and my own understanding of the plot. unpredictable nature of psychological thrillers keeps me interested, as they challenge my assumptions and offer unexpected twists. Additionally, this genre doesn't really show gore or violence but rather focuses on creating a sense of fear and unease.it makes you double minded and hard for you to fully trust anyone in that movie or book. I really look up to these kind of  movies because they give me a sense of fear and confusion at the same time and I'm really passionate about this genre and I want my short film to fall in the same category as this that is why I have chose this genre for my short film

 NARRATIVE:

LINEAR NARRATIVE:

I chose  a linear narrative in my short film because it builds tension naturally, allowing the audience to experience the protagonist's emotions as she experiences it. Her frustration, guilt, and growing fear. It keeps the story clear, showing how each event leads to the next, making the final twist more impactful. The slow unraveling of the truth feels more organic this way, letting the mystery deepen without revealing too much too soon. Plus, in a short film, a straightforward structure ensures the psychological elements stay gripping without confusing the audience 

EXAMPLE OF LINEAR NARRATIVE:

The Machinist (2004) is a strong example of linear narrative similar to my short film. It follows Trevor Reznik, an insomniac factory worker who believes external forces are manipulating his life. As the  story progresses, he slowly realizes that his own mind has been repressing a dark truth. Like my protagonist, he initially doesn't recognize his role in the horrors unfolding around him. The film's linear structure builds suspense step by step, making the final revelation feel natural and impactful.

REPRESENTATION:

These movies gave me inspiration to make my short film psychological\thriller

SHUTTER ISLAND: 

In "Shutter Island," I liked the  it's camera movements which helps make the movie feel suspenseful. Dark shadows and sudden bright lights add tension, which is something that i want to do in my short film. The costumes fit with the surrounding  for the movie and make the characters look real in their roles.

FINAL DESTINATION 5:

In "Final Destination 5," the places where the story happens look scary and suspenseful. What I liked about final destination was it's story line because it makes u feel uneasy and its unpredictable which is what keeps the audience on the edge of their seats. I also want my short film' story line to be inspired by a thrilling story that many people can enjoy.

HUSH (2016):

 I liked the setting of this movie because it makes u feel trapped and scared ,which adds suspense to the movie. The camera often shows how trapped the main character is, which adds to the tension .The killer in mask in the movie adds a sense of fear and mystery to the movie.

YOU: 

In the TV series YOU, camera movements during stalking scenes are carefully adapted to create a sense of tension and to put viewers in the perspective of the stalker, Joe Goldberg. The camera may follow Joe as he moves around, giving viewers a sense of being right there with him. This can create a feeling of intimacy and make the viewers feel convincing of his actions.

INSPIRATION AND  EXAMPLE FOR THE CAMERA WORK:

I was really inspired by 'Joker's' train scene. It's a turning and rising point  in the movie, showing the Joker's mental struggles through clever camera work, like medium and close-up shots, which really portrays what the main character was feeling and helped us connect with his character and showed that he was mentally disturbed, I also really liked the lighting which was bright and dark with time to time showing that he was travelling in a train .The lighting showed a sense of  tension, and darkness, which aligns perfectly with the film's tone, I also really liked the setting of this scene because it showed how the other characters were trapped in. I wanna use the same shots as these in my short film so my audience feels connected with the main character.

Another shot that inspired my short film is 'Shutter Island's light house scene, shots which I really liked  include a medium shot that connected me with the character, showing his hand movements as he holds a gun and threatens others. Also the over-the-shoulder shot  presents the conversation between characters from various perspectives, enhancing the scene. The use of low-key lighting in this shot adds   suspense. i really admire the setting of this scene which is the lighthouse and from the beginning they were showing suspense towards this setting.

ELEMENTS:

MICRO ELEMENTS IN PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER:

• Close-Up Shot and Extreme Close-Up Shots - used to highlight emotions and paranoia or curtail details like trembling hands or symbolic objects
  
  
• Low-key lighting & Shadows - Creates a dark, moody atmosphere with strong contrasts, emphasizing mystery, fear and psychological tension. 
  
  
• Editing in Psychological Thrillers - A mix of Jump Cuts, Rapid editing create a sense of disorientation, urgency and mental instability while Slow Paced, Extended Shots build tension, making unsettling moments linger.
  
  
• Sound design in psychological thrillers uses Eerie music, unsettling sounds ( whispers, flickering lights) and sudden silences heighten tension and mirror a characters paranoia or fractured mind
  
  
• The Mise-en-scene in psychological thrillers use dark, confined spaces and symbolic props (mirrors, diaries, knives) to mirror a character’s inner state, while costumes are meticulously chosen to reflect emotional transformations—subtle shifts in color, texture, and style that reveal hidden conflicts and foreshadow the character's descent into turmoil.
  
  
• The Dialogues in psychological thrillers are filled with subtext and ambiguity, where every word and often every silence reveals hidden conflicts, unspoken fears, heightening tension and leaving audience in tension and mystery
  
  
• Psychological thrillers use composition to subtly reflect inner conflicts and isolation by carefully arranging characters and objects, guiding the audience’s attention to details that build tension and mystery.

MACRO ELEMENTS IN PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER:

• Unexpected turns keep the audience guessing, often revealing hidden motives or altering perceptions of reality.
  
  
• The boundary between illusion and reality becomes unclear, leaving characters and the audience questioning what’s real or fake.
  
  
• Characters engage in deception, gaslighting, and mental manipulation, blurring the lines between reality and delusion.
  
  
• Themes of loneliness, distrust and claustrophobic settings heighten the sense of vulnerability.
  
  
• Events may unfold in chronological order, creating confusion and making the audience piece together the truth.
  
  
• Use of moody visuals, shadowy settings, and symbolic imagery to evoke fear and psychological unease.
  
  
• Environments like confined spaces, isolated houses, or urban mazes heighten tension and mirror the characters’ psychological entrapment.

THE MICRO AND MACRO ELEMENTS IN MY SHORT FILM:

In my short film, micro elements like cinematography, sound, mise-en-scène, and editing will play a crucial role in creating psychological tension. I'll use close-ups and over-the-shoulder shots to emphasize the protagonist's emotions, low-angle shots to add unease, and dim lighting to reflect her inner turmoil. The diary, a key prop, will symbolize her bottled-up anger, while the color palette and set design will enhance the eerie mood. Sound design, including whispers and ambient noise, will heighten suspense, while editing techniques like jump cuts and cross-dissolves will blur the line between reality and paranoia. On a macro level, my film explores themes of guilt, unintended consequences, and the power of intrusive thoughts, fitting within the psychological thriller genre. It also critiques the impact of bullying and isolation, making it socially relevant while adhering to narrative conventions of psychological thrillers, such as unreliable perception and a descent into obsession

SURVEY:

FORMAL SURVEY:

GOOGLE DOC:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeK4PD18USTnEct28b8ut0ZquPcYvRno6-lPRXtOt5BmHCOKw/viewform?usp=header

PIE CHART RESULT:

I used Google Docs to gather feedback from my target audience, and most of the responses came from people aged 15 to 19. The majority were male, while females made up 41% of the group. A lot of them were passionate about music, and reading was one of the most common hobbies they mentioned. Since most were still in school, it wasn’t surprising that the majority were unemployed. Their location was listed as school, and the region they were from was Asia, giving me a clearer idea of the demographic I’m working with.

INFORMAL SURVEY:

                                            

                                  

                                                         

I used Instagram as a voting platform because it’s a place commonly used by people my age. The majority of people chose psychological thriller as the best genre, and Netflix as their preferred streaming platform. Psychological thrillers keep you on the edge of your seat, which could be why so many people chose it. Netflix, being a widely used platform, offers a variety of psychological thriller movies, making it a natural choice for viewers.