Research for AS Practical task...

For our AS Practical task we was told to research 4 topics:

A) Films

B) The genre.

C) The industry.

D) The conventions of opening scenes.

I have chosen to do the genre, therefore I am researching the thriller (genre).

Thrillers are characterized by fast pacing, frequent action, and resourceful heroes who must thwart the plans of more-powerful and better-equipped villains.

source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thriller_(genre)

The thriller genre can include some of the following sub-genres, which may include elements of other genres: Action thriller, Crime thriller,Disaster thriller,Drama thriller, Horror thriller & Supernatural thriller.

source:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thriller_(genre)#Sub-genres

Most thrillers are formed in some combination of the above, with horror, conspiracy, and psychological tricks used most commonly to heighten tension. Combinations are highly diverse, including:
Science Fiction thrillers: The Terminator, I Am Legend, Blade Runner
Science Fiction/Horror thrillers: Jurassic Park, Alien, Predator
Techno/Political/Conspiracy/Military/Horror Thriller: Predator, Robocop, S.M. Stirling's Draka novels
Legal/Forensic/Psychological/Horror thriller: Thomas Harris' The Silence of the Lambs, novel, Seven.

source:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thriller_(genre)#Sub-genres

All of this research gave me and my group a lot more ideas about making our thriller for example making the opening scene very fast pass but still make some of the scenes long to add suspence.
This is Holly Costema's research on Thriller Films:
Films
According to www.imdb.com/chart/thriller The Godfather is the number one thriller of all time with The Godfather 2 coming in second and The Dark Knight in third place. The Godfather won 3 Oscars including Best Actor, Best Picture and Best Writing, Screenplay. It also had another 19 wins and 17 nominations. On the opening weekend the gross at the box office was $302,393 and it opened in 6 screens in the USA.
Examples of films:
• Phone Booth is a thriller about a selfish man trapped in a phone booth by a deranged sniper. Framed for the murder of a pimp, he finds himself surrounded by police who have no idea of the sniper's presence.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thriller_(genre)#Film
• The Bourne Identity was adapted into a movie starring Matt Damon which used many of the thriller conventions of the plot. Though its sequels, The Bourne Supremacy and The Bourne Ultimatum, depart significantly from Robert Ludlum's storyline, the conspiracy-thriller genre is still well-preserved.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thriller_(genre)#Film

Also here is Dan's research into the Thriller industry:
I researched into industry and looked at the best thrillers of all time

1. The Godfather (1972)
2. The Godfather Part II (1974)
3. The Dark Knight
4. Star Wars Episode V- The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
5. Rear Window (1954)
6. Cidade de Deus (2002)
7. Fight Club (1999)
8. The Usual Suspects (1995)
9. Psycho (1960)
10. The Silence of the Lambs (1991)