Research and Planning: Conventions and Directors

The group had decided together that a gangster crime thriller is the best, and most stimulating genre to do. I then went away to do more research on crime thrillers.

Crime thriller:Thrillers are characterized by fast pacing, frequent action, and resourceful Heroes who must thwart the plans of more-powerful and better-equipped Villains. Literary devices such as Suspense, Red herrings and Cliffhangers are used extensively.

I watched a wide range of films to extend my knowledge on crime thrillers. For example: Lock, Stock and two smoking barrels, Layer Cake, No country for old men, Seven, Eagle eye and A history of violence, to just name a few. All of which had the same kind of conventions in the beginning sequence.
Conventions of a crime thriller;
- Goodie v Baddie (police v gangster)
- No women in the first few minutes
- Opening titles appear on a black screen with just non diagetic music.
- Upper middle class gangsters
- Common music found were eerie and in a minor key with many clashes.
- Family importance
- The weather was always dull, raining or fog usually found.
- Guns, Drugs, Betting, Suits
- Isolated areas
- Rival gangs
-Inner circle
- A narrative usually started of the story to establish the scene
- Drinking spirits
-In some of the films they begun with a close up of a face or hand. This showed the importance of that object or person.
- Very smart story line that is hard to figure out until the end.
- A expensive object exchanges or money.
- There is always some sort of professional clothing worn.

Directors of crime thrillers

Guy Ritchie

Date of Birth: 10 September 1968, Hatfield, Hertfordshire..
Awards:8 wins & 6 nominations

The Gamekeeper (2010) (announced)
Sherlock Holmes (2009) (post-production)
RocknRolla (2008)
Suspect (2007) (TV)
Revolver (2005/I)
Swept Away (2002) ... aka Travolti dal destino (Italy)
Star (2001/I) ... aka The Hire: Star (USA: series title)
Snatch. (2000)
Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998) ... aka Two Smoking Barrels (USA)
The Hard Case (1995)

Steven Soderbergh

Date of Birth:14 January 1963, Atlanta, Georgia, USA

Awards:Won Oscar. Another 22 wins & 40 nominations

Untitled Spalding Gray Project (2010) (in production)
Moneyball (2011) (announced)
Cleo (2011) (pre-production)
The Girlfriend Experience (2009) (post-production) ... aka GfE (USA: festival title)
The Informant (2009) (completed)
Che: Part Two (2008) ... aka Guerrilla (International: English title: alternative title) (USA: working title) ... aka Che - 2ème partie - Guerilla (France) ... aka Che: Guerrilla (Spain: Castilian title)
Che: Part One (2008) ... aka The Argentine (International: English title: alternative title) (USA: working title) ... aka Che - 1ère partie - L'argentin (France) ... aka Che, el argentino (Spain: Castilian title)
Ocean's Thirteen (2007) ... aka 13 (USA: promotional abbreviation)
The Good German (2006)
Bubble (2005/I)
Ocean's Twelve (2004)
Eros (2004) (segment "Equilibrium") ... aka Eros (France)
"K Street" (10 episodes, 2003) - Week 10 (2003) TV episode - Week 9 (2003) TV episode - Week 8 (2003) TV episode - Week 7 (2003) TV episode - Week 6 (2003) TV episode (5 more)
Solaris (2002)
Full Frontal (2002)
Ocean's Eleven (2001) ... aka 11 (USA: promotional abbreviation) ... aka O11 (USA: informal short title)
Traffic (2000) ... aka Traffic - Die Macht des Kartells (Germany)
Erin Brockovich (2000)
The Limey (1999)
Out of Sight (1998)
Schizopolis (1996) (uncredited) ... aka Steven Soderbergh's Schizopolis (USA: video box title)
Gray's Anatomy (1996)
"Fallen Angels" (2 episodes, 1993-1995) - The Professional Man (1995) TV episode - The Quiet Room (1993) TV episode
Underneath (1995) ... aka The Underneath (USA: promotional title)
King of the Hill (1993)
Kafka (1991) ... aka Kafka (France)
Sex, Lies, and Videotape (1989) ... aka Sex, Lies... (USA: short title)
Winston (1987)
Yes: 9012 Live (1985) (V)
Access All Areas (1985) (V)