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SUSPENSE

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WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SUSPENSE AND SURPRISE?

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“SUSPENSE IS A GREAT INGREDIENT IN ANY FILM.”�ALFRED HITCHCOCK

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What makes something suspenseful?

  • Jot down as many ideas as you can about what makes a film or TV Show suspenseful.
  • Consider things like lighting, time of day, setting, weather, character’s clothing, sounds, etc.

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Elements of Suspense

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Directors use….

SOUND

IMAGE

EDITING

… to create suspense.

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How to create suspense through film?

  • It is the job of the director to analyze a script and find ways to creatively visualize what is written.
  • Screenplays have minimal description leaving it up to the director to fill in the blanks.

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How do you turn this into a suspenseful moment?….

  • A woman walks down a hallway with a knife in her hand, waiting for the killer to jump out at any moment.

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  • Questions you ask yourself...

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    • How big is the knife?
    • Lighting: where do we see light or dark, and how are they used?
    • Explain where a director might use wide shots, close-ups, or a combination?
    • Sounds & music: how are these used, and where?

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ANALYSIS

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Listen to the Recording

  • Jot down the elements of the recording that help to build suspense. How do they create spookiness?

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  • What do you think is happening in the scene?

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Viewing #1

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Viewing #2

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Viewing #3

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Thoughts…

  • This is a commercial that aired in Britain in October 2017 for Burger King
  • What was the purpose of the commercial?
  • Who benefits from the campaign? Who might be negatively affected by the campaign?

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This was also an Ad Campaign

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SCARY CLOWN MEME

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  • What makes clowns scary?

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