Thumbnail Research and Development

This blog post, written by Beatrice and Aurel, details the process of researching crime documentary thumbnails conventions and the development of our own thumbnail to effectively achieve the desired results. 

Conventions of crime documentary thumbnails in general :

- All of these conventions are researched by me.

 

1. Colour Palette 

Red is frequently employed in crime documentary thumbnails since it's often associated with blood and danger, making it a powerful tool for drawing attention to crucial elements like titles or key objects. Across various cultures, red often symbolizes warnings and important signals which helps to make it more noticeable and impactful to the audience. Additionally, dark tones such as deep blue, black and grey are commonly used to evoke a sense of mystery, and seriousness. Monochrome or black and white thumbnails are also prevalent as they convey a somber and intense atmosphere, emphasizing the emotions of the subjects involved.

2. Imagery 

Close-up shots of faces, particularly those of victims or suspects, are often used to create an emotional connection with the audience. These faces, usually showing intense or uncertain expressions, help to build intrigue by hinting at underlying drama. Crime scene visuals such as police tape or establishing shots of the crime location are commonly featured to set the context. Additionally, collages of various images related to the crime are often used to convey a sense of complexity and depth. This approach helps build a tense, serious atmosphere, making the audience feel as though they are on the verge of uncovering something unsettling.

3. Typography

The titles in crime documentaries typically use strong, bold fonts, often in white or red, to stand out against a dark background. This choice ensures the text is easy to read while immediately capturing the audience's attention and reinforcing the crime theme. The bold design also adds a sense of authority and seriousness, aligning with the documentary’s tone.

4. Lighting and Composition

Dramatic lighting is often employed to heighten a sense of mystery, with the main focus (typically a key character or piece of evidence) highlighted, while the rest remains in shadow to reduce distractions. This technique allows the audience to quickly grasp the mood of the scene. The rule of thirds is also used by placing the key character or object off-center to create visual interest. Additionally, parts of the image may be blurred to suggest secrecy or to draw the audiences' attention more sharply to the main point.

Conventions of crime documentary thumbnails related to medicine :

Colour Palette 

Thumbnails related to pills and medicine often feature colors like white, blue, and sterile grey to evoke a clinical or pharmaceutical environment. Red is commonly used to connote danger or urgency, often tied to themes of overdose, malpractice, or drug-related crimes. However, I noticed that white is the most frequently used color, as it conveys cleanliness, trustworthiness, and purity, which are elements typically associated with the medical field. At the same time, it can subtly suggest that something darker may be concealed beneath the surface.

Connotations of each colour may be : 

White > cleanliness, purity, trustworthy

Blue > calmness, stability, professionalism

Red > wrongdoing, danger, urgency

Sterile grey > coldness, hopelessness, sterility 

Imagery

Visual cues like pills, medicine bottles, and syringes are often used to hint the type of crime in the  documentaries. Professionals such as doctors or pharmacists are frequently included (typically with specific facial expressions) to suggest their role in the unfolding events and build intrigue about what might happen next. Addiction-related imagery, such as hands holding pills or distressed individuals, is commonly used to highlight the effects of pharmaceuticals on individuals or suggest addiction. Medical settings, such as hospitals, are often depicted with shadowy lighting, creating an ominous atmosphere. This alters the mise-en-scene to evoke a sense of mystery and tension, subtly instilling feelings of unease and suspense in the audience.

Typography

San-serif fonts are typically used in the thumbnail due to their clean, modern, and professional appearance, reflecting the clinical environment of the medical field. The simplicity of these font aligns with the straightforward nature of medical settings. However these fonts are sometimes paired with distressed texture or slightly skewed angles to create a sense of unease. In line with general crime documentary conventions, the typography often features bold font, with red or white colour. White text is used for key terms to stand out against the background, while red text highlights words associated with danger or crime.

Lighting and Mood 

High-key lighting, such as bright, sterile lights, is often used to emphasize the clinical and controlled nature of medical settings, reinforcing their realism. However, low-key lighting is used by incorporating shadowy areas to create visual contrast between the perceived safety of these settings and the darker realities of the crime being investigated. This use of chiaroscuro (the contrast between light and dark) adds a layer of dramatic tension and mystery. Additionally, the combination of clinical lighting and desaturated colours evokes a cold, detached atmosphere, further enhanced by the minimalistic mise-en-scène, which strips away warmth and human connection.

Reflection : Since crime documentaries aren't something that I usually watched, I initially struggled to come up with ideas for my project’s thumbnail and felt overwhelmed at the thought of designing it right away. As a result, I decided to research the conventions used in crime documentary thumbnails which, allowed me to gather inspiration and develop a clearer direction.

Further Analysis

After researching the conventions of thumbnails, I choose to conduct more in-depth analysis on two specific thumbnails that are likely to serve as key sources of inspiration for the concepts I have in mind for this documentary project.

The two analysis below are researched by me.

Killer Nurse (2022)

A documentary about Charles Cullen, a nurse who was convicted of killing patients by administering lethal doses of medication.

For my team's documentary, which also involves medical tampering leading to death, I find this thumbnail to be a valuable source of inspiration. The use of a close-up camera angle that focuses on the body rather than the face abstracts the nurse's identity, emphasizing the role and actions of the nurse over personal characteristics. This anonymity creates a sense of unease, highlighting the impersonal nature of the crime and suggesting that anyone in a similar role could be dangerous.

The mise-en-scène in the thumbnail also plays a crucial role. The nurse’s uniform conveys the authority and trustworthiness associated with the medical profession, while the central placement of medicines and a syringe on the tray subtly directs attention to the method of harm. These props symbolize the nurse's role in dispensing medication and the potential for abuse of that role. The empty background ensures that the focus remains on the nurse and the medicine. Additionally, by concealing the nurse's face, the thumbnail creates a sense of ambiguity and mystery.

What I like from the thumbnail and how I plan to incorporate them into my documentary's thumbnail : 

• I really like how the thumbnail effectively shows the nurse holding the medicines on a tray, which intrigues the audience by suggesting potential ill intentions done by the nurse. This detail creates a sense of danger associated with the medicine and evokes unsettling feelings. Inspired by this approach, I plan to use a close-up or medium shot of someone holding medicine in our documentary to achieve a similar effect. This will help to suggest the possibility of harmful intentions and build suspense.
• I am particularly intrigued by the concept of abstracting identity, as it adds a layer of mystery and prompts audiences to question why the face isn't shown, thereby keeping the character anonymous. To achieve a similar effect in our documentary, I plan to conceal the face but I'm planning to use the perpetrator rather than the nurse. This approach will help maintain the sense of mystery and keep the audience guessing about the identity of the perpetrator.

The Business of Drugs (2020)

A documentary about the complex global drug trade, focusing on both illegal and legal drugs. It reveals how these substances have become highly profitable commodities.

I selected this documentary thumbnail because it is highly intriguing. The use of a medium shot of the person handling what appears to be a green substance (likely drugs) emphasizes the detailed actions involved in the drug business and underscores the secrecy and precision required. The motion blur in the shot conveys a sense of speed and movement, effectively evoking a feeling of secrecy and urgency.

The mise-en-scene in the thumbnail is crucial. The individual is seen to be wearing mask, gloves, and a long-sleeve shirt. While these elements typically signify cleanliness and safety in medical settings, in the context of a crime documentary, they suggest an attempt to avoid traceability, adding an element of criminal secrecy and precision. The props, though not explicitly shown, are implied through context, emphasizing the drug-related nature of the activity and drawing attention to the documentary's focus on the drug business. The maroon walls contribute to an unsettling tone, suggesting a controlled environment that evokes feelings of danger and seriousness, fitting the themes of illicit activities and the hidden world of drug dealing. Additionally, the individual sitting on the floor implies a low-level or concealed aspect of the drug business, potentially indicating a lower-tier operation.

What I like from the thumbnail and how I plan to incorporate them into my documentary's thumbnail : 

• The use of low-key lighting, with its deep shadows and minimal illumination, really intrigues me as it effectively creates a sense of mystery and concealment, perfectly emphasizing the secretive nature of drug operations. The contrast between the dimly lit background and the illuminated subject isolates key details, making the central focus stand out more prominently. Inspired by this, I plan to apply the chiaroscuro technique when editing my documentary’s thumbnail to achieve a similar effect. I also appreciate how this lighting choice builds a sense of tension and impending danger.
• I like how the title is centrally placed in the thumbnail, as it immediately captures the audience's attention and ensures quick recognition of the documentary’s title, even with a quick glance. The bold font makes it stand out and leaves a lasting impression. Drawing inspiration from this, I plan to center the title on my documentary thumbnail as well. However, I will opt for a slightly smaller font to create a clearer visual hierarchy within the design.

Reflection : After conducting a more in-depth analysis of these thumbnails, I have developed a broader range of ideas for my documentary’s thumbnail. This has helped me better visualize the direction I want to take. As a result, I am now ready to begin creating and designing the concepts outlined below.

The additional analysis below is researched by Aurel.

After that I decided to do a more in-depth research. I decided to pick Painkiller: The Tylenol Murders as our documentary was inspired by the Tylenol murders.

Liked:

• The Tylenol murders case is a case of medicine tampering that killed people through the Tylenol that people bought and unknowingly consumed. If you look closely, the dark background is actually a map. This paired with the contents of a broken pill spilling out all over it may symbolize how the medicine tampering has affected various people across a certain area.
• The 'PAIN-' half of the word painkiller is coloured red while the '-KILLER' part is coloured white. This parallels with the pill shown on the cover

Disliked:

• It's not really clear that the background is a map unless you look closely as it is quite dark and the text on the map is quite small. If I were the one creating this thumbnail, I would have made the details on the map (text, roads, etc) in white so that it contrasts with the black and becomes visible

Here I will be presenting the process and development behind the creation of the thumbnail. 

Sketches and Photography Process. 

The first task Aurel and I did was capturing new images for the documentary's thumbnail. Unfortunately, the initial shots were blurry due to improper camera settings, and since we were working during lunch break, we had limited time, which affected the outcome. To maximize the situation, we experimented with different camera angles and compositions, exploring alternative options for the final thumbnail design.

Here are how some of the results turned out.

The following day, I began sketching potential concepts for the documentary’s thumbnail, planning to draft four designs using the images Aurel and I captured as references. However, Regine proposed that we re-shoot the images and contributed two additional concepts that she had sketched. Below are the ideas we've developed through our sketches.

[My sketch]

[Regine's sketch]

We used Regine's thumbnail concept as the foundation for our re-shoot. Learning from our previous challenges, Regine and I opted to conduct the re-shoot after school, allowing us more time to set up the mise-en-scène and explore different camera angles and compositions. We utilized a phone camera for the re-shoot, with Regine directing the process, articulating her vision for the imagery while taking the pictures. My hand was used to model for the thumbnail, maintaining continuity with my role as the perpetrator in the documentary. However, since one of Regine's ideas involved using medicine or pills outside of their packaging, we decided it would be safer to capture this shot at home to avoid any potential risks. This allowed us to ensure a controlled environment while adhering to safety considerations. 

Thumbnail Image Selections 

Here I will be showing the selected images that we ended up using to develop as potential thumbnail.

Images taken by Regine ↓

These are the images captured by Regine at the school clinic. Similar to our previous concept, we aimed to convey the idea of the perpetrator tampering with the medicine through the imagery. To achieve this, we experimented with multiple shots, exploring two different ways of holding the medicine packaging to better communicate this narrative element.

These are the two images we ultimately considered for our thumbnail. I personally prefer the bottom one (the 5th image) due to its more balanced composition. However, Regine favored the top image (the 2nd image) as she suggested altering the word "Panadol" to "Deceit," which adds a deeper layer of meaning to the design. Furthermore, it presents a more conceptually compelling and thematically relevant idea for the documentary.

Images taken by me (Beatrice) ↓

Initially, I captured a variety of images, experimenting with different camera angles and lighting techniques, as demonstrated in the following example. However, I had to narrow down the selection by deleting some images and choosing the ones that best fit the intended visual narrative of the thumbnail. Below are the images I considered for further development.

These are my initial composition ideas. Aside from the third image (which was taken towards the end of the shooting session), the arrangement of the medicine / pills are intentionally disordered to suggest the pills have been scattered, reinforcing the theme of tampering. However, towards the end of the shoot, I had the idea to arrange the pills in a 'P' shape, symbolizing the title of our documentary, Prescription for Deceit. For compositions 1-3, I considered placing the title in the top-right corner, in line with Regine's sketch. On the fourth image, which features a close-up shot from a higher camera angle, I thought of placing the title in the center, inspired by the 'The Business of Drugs' documentary.

These are my second composition ideas. I decided to remove the cap and the yellow medicine packaging to place more focus on the pills themselves. By using a higher camera angle, I felt this better emphasized the pills while also showcasing the date on the packaging more clearly. This could serve as a subtle narrative device, linking the event’s timeline to the date on the packaging. For instance, the 14/9 appears unpressed, suggesting it should have remained unopened—aligning with our documentary’s storyline, where September 14th marks the day the student suddenly lost consciousness and was rushed to the hospital.

This is my third set of composition ideas, where I employed a similar technique to the second composition by focusing on the pills with minimal distractions. However, this was also when I began experimenting with arranging the pills into a 'P' shape (and re-shooting image 3 from the first composition). Despite these efforts, I find the compositions in this set too orderly, which doesn’t effectively convey the sense of chaos and disruption associated with the tampering of the medicine. Therefore, I’ve decided not to develop these images further, possibly with the exception of the first image.

These are the four images that I plan to further develop. Together with the image that Regine took, I will be experimenting with the placement of the documentary's title to determine which two images are most effective for the final thumbnail. This process will help refine the selection and ensure the most suitable visual representation for our project.

Mockup Designs

Here's the edited version when the brand name 'Panadol' has been substituted with 'Deceit.' Despite extensive research, the exact typeface utilized by Panadol remains unidentified, as the company has not disclosed this information publicly. Consequently, I have selected 'Playfair Display' as a substitute. This choice was made to maintain visual coherence.

The initial concepts were developed by me, and I faced a challenge regarding the placement of the title, as the word 'Deceit' would appear twice. To address this, I consulted Regine for alternative approaches. She provided two additional design options, which are presented at the two bottom ones. However, I find the third option (bottom left) less effective due to the disproportionate size of the word 'Deceit,' which appears too small. Consequently, here is the revised version proposed by Regine.

I believe the revised version is an improvement over the previous design. However, we have decided to experiment additional thumbnail concepts to determine which design best enhances the visual impact of our documentary. 

1st

2nd

3rd

4rd

Here are the results of the mockup designs I created using the images I captured earlier. While I haven’t yet adjusted the lighting or finalized the typography, these mockups provide a foundational concept. I personally feel that the 1st and 2nd designs resonate most effectively with our documentary’s theme. This is because, in the first mockup, with pills scattered across the table, highlights the chaos caused by the crime. The additional medicine packaging enhances the mise-en-scène by suggesting that the tampering affected multiple medications, which led to several students being harmed. This visual disorder strengthens the narrative's sense of urgency and disruption.

The second mockup also stands out due to its high-angle close-up shot, which draws immediate attention to the medicine. This composition directs the audience's focus, allowing them to quickly grasp that the documentary centers on the issue of tampered drugs.

However, after presenting these designs to my teammates, they expressed a desire for revisions. We then decided to collaborate more efficiently by sharing the Canva link, enabling us to work together and refine the visual concept. Moreover, Aurel then introduced a new idea for the thumbnail, which is incorporating a printed fake prescription with blood splatters, symbolizing the deaths caused by the medication tampering, to further enhance the impact.

New Concept

The ideas below are made and written by Aurel. ↓

Since the title was Prescription for Deceit, I started thinking about how I would be able to involve a prescription in our thumbnail. So, I started creating some fake school clinic prescription templates

Although prescription notes are typically black & white, I picked a turquoise colour to match our school's theme (since that's where the plot takes place) and because it was a colour often associated with medicine. I also planned to print it our put fake blood on it for the thumbnail so I believed that this cooler colour would contrast well with the red of the blood as they are complimentary colours which made it more eye catching. However, Beatrice suggested a more blue tone and created the draft below

I agreed with her decision as blue was more often associated with clinics than turquoise is while still being a complimentary colour to red so I decided to go with her idea.

After that I printed it out. I used old paper rather than using a brand new one as it made the prescription note look more used. Then I applied red food colouring on a paint brush and flicked it at the paper to create a blood spray effect. 

(Written by me, Beatrice) ↓

After she printed it out, she capture the images using her camera, Canon EOS 650D. 

Aurel and I collaborated on creating the mockups to development of our ideas and provide feedbacks to each other. Here are how some of the results initially turned out : 

The first and third design concepts were initially created by Aurel. Initially, she chose 'Canva Sans' as the typeface. However, after reviewing the designs, we decided to switch to 'Arial' and apply the bold font to create a more prominent and impactful text as it appears thicker. I also made minor adjustments to the typography’s alignment, ensuring that the words "Prescription" and "for" are properly aligned. Additionally, we decided to tilt the word "Deceit" to match the tilted paper in the design to create a more cohesive visual flow.

After further discussions with our teammates, we concluded that the third design is the most fitting for our documentary. Its alignment with documentary conventions, particularly in its visual style and emphasis on key themes. We then decided to develop it further.

Editing Process : Enhancing Lighting for Visual Clarity

Given my slight dissatisfaction with the initial lighting, I decided to enhance the images by adjusting key elements such as exposure, brightness, contrast, highlights, and shadows. This process allowed me to achieve a more visually appealing result and align the imagery with our desired aesthetic.

I edited the image using Adobe Lightroom, which marks my first time working with this software after a while, as I typically prefer using Polarr. However, due to technical difficulties with Polarr that day, I wasn’t able to utilize it. As a result, I created several Lightroom presets to experiment with to see which tone would best suit our documentary thumbnail. As shown in the examples, most of the presets lean towards cooler tones to align with the conventions of crime documentaries, especially those set within a medical genre. Below are some side-by-side comparisons of how these presets turned out.

After discussing with Aurel, she opted for the second and fourth one. Therefore, we decided to try that out with the image that we're choosing to use as our documentary thumbnail.

Here's the side-by-side comparison of how the selected filter looks like when applied to the image and its application as an actual thumbnail. We have opted for the second one, as it more effectively aligns with the conventions of documentary aesthetics and better supports the visual narrative of the project. However, I noticed that the background of the second picture may be a too dark. However, I noticed that the background of the second image may be excessively dark. To address this, I have made several adjustments to the image to improve its overall appearance. Specifically, I slightly brightened the background to address the lighting issue. Additionally, I sharpened the image and adjusted the hue to better enhance the texture of the slightly crumpled paper, thereby improving visual clarity and detail.

Thumbnail - Final Result

Here is the final result of our thumbnail :

Here is the link to the images of the final thumbnail, provided as a precaution in case any technical issues occur → Documentary Final Thumbnail.

Conforming and subverting to the genre. (written by me, Beatrice) ↓

This documentary thumbnail aligns with the conventions of our genre through its use of symbolic codes. The prescription form, a clear medical symbol, immediately secure the documentary's theme in the medical world. This element is inspired by The Business of Drugs and Do No Harm. Additionally, the symbolic code is further reinforced by the blood spatters on the form, which, following Barthes' semantic code, signify violence, harm, or death, instantly suggesting a darker twist to the narrative. The thumbnail’s close-up shot and bold text create a dramatic emphasis, drawing the audience’s attention to the key object (prescription form), underscoring its relevance to the story and building suspense.

However, the thumbnail also subverts genre conventions by not featuring a person at all. This decision focuses solely on the prescription form, abstracting the narrative to highlight a broader mystery or school's failure, rather than individualizing the crime or suspect. While the title follows the documentary thumbnail conventions with bold, sans-serif fonts, the use of two distinct font sizes ("Prescription for" being smaller and "Deceit" larger and angled) creates a dynamic visual hierarchy. This deliberate choice enhances intrigue, directing the audience's attention to the word "Deceit," emphasizing themes of manipulation and betrayal. The layout also invokes Barthes' Hermeneutic Code that might invite questions and anticipation from the audience regarding the nature of the deception. Furthermore, the minimalist mise-en-scène contrasts with typical documentary thumbnails, where backgrounds offer more context. This subversion adds an abstract quality, potentially engaging audience’s curiosity without overwhelming them with visual information.

Self Reflection: Since my team had agreed for Beatrice and Aurel to work on the thumbnail together, I did not have much involvement during the research part of this blog. Instead, I assisted Beatrice and Aurel by giving them my comments when they began developing the final thumbnail. The research done in this blog by Beatrice proved to be well-made and useful during this time. By referencing this blog, I noticed a pattern of the subject of the documentary taking its position in the middle with the text center aligned and shared my observation to the team. With that, we discussed about the reasoning of subverting the convention set by other medical crime documentaries as it had a better composition while also being unique enough to stand out amongst the rest to better attract audiences eyes.