Prop Planning

My thriller film will consist of only one prop, but a prop that is seen as pivitol in thriller films; especially in our genre 'British Gangster.' This prop is the cigarette.

Cigarettes are seen all over the thriller genre. From the sophistocated cool of Noir legends like Humphrey Bogart to the much grittier and modern characters seen in thriller cinema today.

Film Noir legend Humphrey Bogart with his iconic cigarette.

Smoking can mean a vast array of things in thriller cinema, from the desperate, weak and betrayed Walter Neff in 'Double Indemnity' to the dangerous, firey femme fatales such as Rita Hayworth in classic noir flick 'Gilda'.

'Gilda's smoking links into her character as dangerous, firey and passionate; explained by her unfaithfulness to her husband in the film.

In my thriller opening the cigarette will be used as a link into the foreseeable events further on in the plot, with the silm, white figure of the female character being 'stubbed out' by her pursuers; the events further on being the female being killed by the men at the climax of the opening.