Thriller Director - Brian De Palma

Brian De palma is one of the most well-known thriller directors in Hollywood today and years before. Brian has done many successful films such as Scarface (1983), Mission Impossible (1996) and Mission to Mars (2000).
Brian De Palma is well-known from going from extreme violent scenes such as Scarface, to the original style of thrillers by Alfred Hitchcock.


Types of camera/editing skills Brian uses; he often uses the split-screen technique, which is used optically or a split diopter (this is where the lens has a semicircular half of a close up lens in a normal filter old. This allows a close up object and a much more distant background, but everything in sharp focus).

split diopter

Brian uses this to build up suspense as it allows you to see what the cast can't generally seem to see as well. As well as engaging the viewers more further into the story.
Brian De Palma also likes to use Alfred Hitchcock's style of work, this is generally seen by others as he uses the same style of scenes, same camerawork and camera techniques, as well as using blonde girls as 'leading ladies'.


Another trade mark Brian De Palma is recognised for is the use of doppelgangers as femme fatales appear in his film a lot.
Brian shoots 'tense' moments without any filters or wide lens or zooming in, when he pairs this up with his reconisable extended shot it gives the viewer the feeling that they are in the scene.


Another trademark Brian has created of him self is the voyeurism (this is where is the sexual interest in or practice of spying on people engaged in intimate behaviors, such as undressing, sexual activity, or other activity usually considered to be of a private nature). These are generally used in his films as a protagonist who is voyeuristic by nature (can't help it), by profession (he/she's job) and by circumstance (opportunity occurs)