Set view mode
To make a list or xml file the default view mode, for example to open your movies section automatically be the view mode where you see thumbnails place.
In the xml file, if you add SetViewMode tag with the view mode, it will set it for you. This could also be added to listrepeat as well. you need to set it to the mode number which your skin support.
For example in confluence the thumbnail is 500 so having following tag in the xml should work and djsplay thumbnails:
<SetViewMode>500</SetViewMode>