Planning Sound - Miss Miller

Planning Sound

Sound is important in films as it creates the atmosphere intended. Without sound, everything including the narrative would not make sense and would be extremely difficult for an audience to follow. Planning sound is required in order to produce excellent sequences because each sound inputted or existent in a sequence has to have a purpose and planning these sounds ensures that the purpose is achieved. Sound is vital to compliment what is on screen at the time, so that parallel sound is created - which makes the scenes a lot easier to follow and understand. 

This is evidence from my group's planning of sound:

One sound technique in which we will use in our opening sequence will be a non-diegetic soundtrack. This will be eerie and dark to create a sense of discomfort and an unpleasant feeling from the audience's point of view, as it will compliment the distressing scenes of the victim being stalked/chased - this is the reason why we will be using this type of sound. It will be used when the antagonist is in shot and also the build up of a 'jump' scene where the antagonist pops up unexpectedly. We are aiming to make the audience feel the same as the victim (fearful, weary and on edge) from the use of this eerie soundtrack. The slow tempo of the soundtrack at the beginning reflects the calm emotions in which the victim is feeling. However, when the victim realises she is being followed, her emotions start to demonstrate panic and stress which is mirrored in the soundtrack from the quicker tempo and the crescendo build up. The soundtrack emphasises the situation currently in the scene and what the vicim is experiencing so makes a relationship between the audience and the victim to develop more easily as they feel empathetic towards the victim. Our non-diegetic eerie soundtrack is conventional to the thriller genre as it's not a natural sounding soundtrack that is nice to listen to. It's unpleasant and uncomfortable to listen to, making the audience feel a sense of foreboding from the dark and dreary atmosphere in which the soundtrack creates. In thrillers, it is conventional to have the audience feeling on edge and empathetic towards characters and this is what our soundtrack achieves.

Another use of sound included in our sequence will be off screen sound. We will use it in numerous ways, one of them being for the frequent hearing of the voice of the antagonist and the crunching of the leaves from the footsteps of the antagonist. We will use it here as it gives a hint that the antagonist is present in the scene but nobody is sure whereabouts as there he is not visibly in shot. Therefore, this creates a build up of tension and suspense as well as causing a relationship to be built between the audience and the victim as the audience feel sympathetic towards her, making them feel worried for her and thinking about how they would feel in her position and what they would do. The way the voices and leaves crunching is sound that doesn't have the support of a cause shown visibly, it makes the audience also feel on edge and surprises them as at certain places, these sounds are unexpected. The voices in-particular demonstrate the emotions of the antagonist from the tone of the voices in which are heard. This ives the audience a better feel for the antagonist, giving them more insight to their identity, however, this increases their suspense as they feel they want to find out more about this mysterious character. Off screen sounds show no primary source as to where they are coming from which is a great way to build suspense as you have to make inferences as an audience as to where they are coming from. Creating suspense, surprise and shock is vital in making a thriller successful and so this is why our off screen sounds are conventional to the thriller genre. 

Non-diegetic sound effects will also be included in our thriller sequence. For example, we will be using a heartbeat that will be representing the heartbeat of the victim. We will use this to emphasise her panic and distress which will be easier to get across to the audience. The audience are then able to build a relationship with the victim through this non-diegetic sound effect, as the emotion is portrayed clearly and they feel as if they know the victim a lot more. Therefore, the heartbeat will also reflect onto how the audience feels. The quick tempo of the heartbeat will also build up tension and will build up to a climax where the antagonist will experience shock and surprise as a result, which will also mirror onto the audience. Therefore, this use of non-diegetic sound effect is conventional to the thriller genre as it creates suspense and surprise with also creating more of an impact once the result of the climax has occurred. 

A further sound technique that will be used in our sequence is diegetic sound effects. For example, from the sounds of panicking, heavy breathing and screams from the victim, it will express the fearful situation in which the victim is in. This will therefore create a more empathetic feel towards the character and get across the specific emotions that this character is expressing - this is what we intend. It creates a sense of realism from the fact that the sounds are diegetic, so they are not edited into the scene. The audience are able to build a relationship between the victim and themselves as they feel as if they know the victim a lot more and have more of an in-depth knowing of how they really feel. Furthermore, the panicking, heavy breathing and screams created a distressing feeling making the audience feel uneasy as the victim's fear is shown through these particular sounds. Screams specifically are conventional to the thriller genre as there is always a victim in danger and a scream is a typical, recognisable way to illustrate this. The audience are familiar with a scream's purpose and cause and so this therefore gives them a better understanding of how the victim is feeling. Therefore, with this in mind, this is why our diegetic sound effects are conventional to the thriller genre.

Our sequence will be effective through the way it will engage the audience making them empathise a lot more with the characters. This means that they will impact more when certain events occur as the connection with the scene and characters is a lot stronger, so they are affected a lot more personally. Planning sound has helped me as it has given me and my group a good idea as to what we will need to edit it in, what we need to make sure is included and why each sound is going to be used and so why certain sounds need to be emphasised. 

Planning Cinematography - Miss Miller

Planning Cinematography

Cinematography is extremely important within films as each shot, angle and movement creates variation and simply has to be existent in order to create a film. Every aspect in cinematography is used in order to make a film successful by complying with the conventions of a film's particular genre. Planning cinematography is required in order to produce excellent sequences because each cinematography aspect needs to be thought of gingerly before included in a film. Different cinematography techniques create different feelings and images for the film, this is why it is vital to have in mind when trying to portray the genre clearly.

This is evidence of my group planning cinematography:

Firstly, one of the camera shots we are going to include in our sequence is a long shot - an example is shown to the left. A long shot ensures that as well as the characters (full body length), a wide view of the setting is also shown on screen. In our sequence, this shot will be used on various occasions but mostly when the protagonist is walking in the forest. We have chosen to use this type of cinematography because it allows not just the facial expressions and hand gestures to be seen, but also body language too. Therefore, the character's personality is portrayed more clearly and signature movements of their own become realisable. Furthermore, a large proportion of the screen in a long shot is taken up by the surrounding setting, which will allow the audience to feel more aware of the surroundings and situation in which the character(s) is in. In addition, you can experiment allowing a focussing feature to be emphasised through positioning in this shot - the example emphasises the character shown slightly to the right, making the audience focus on this part of the screen. These are the reasons as to why we have chosen to include this shot. Through the way that more of a character is visible, it allows the audience to build a relationship with them as they can witness characteristics of the character that other types of shot may not be able to illustrate. This will mean that they are more knowing of the character and also make the audience feel as if they are in the scene with the character's in the setting on screen. This connection will help build more suspense, shock and surprise in our sequence as there will be more of an impact created when something bad happens to a character. From the relationship that the audience has built and developed with a character, they feel more worried and hurt genuinely affecting them more when this character is harmed in some way. These reasons are as to why this type of shot is conventional to the thriller genre. Furthermore, the setting in a thriller is vital as it contributes to the elements of suspense, shock and surprise. With this shot, the setting is able to be shown therefore, this is a further reason as to why it is conventional. 

Another shot we will be using in our thriller sequence will be an over the shoulder shot. This shows what is in front of the character but also keeping them in shot, reassuring the audience of their presence. It can be of more than one character, for example in the screenshot to the left, however is most commonly used just over the shoulder of one character. We will be using this shot in our sequence where the antagonist is behind the protagonist but the protagonist is unaware of the antagonist's presence. We have chosen to use this type of cinematography because a more tense atmosphere is created through it as the way in which we will be using it, the audience sees more than the protagonist does. This creates a sense of foreboding as the audience will know that the antagonist isn't far from the protagonist and so know that something bad is going to happen - especially as the protagonist is unaware. The audience also feel sympathetic towards the protagonist as inferiority of the victim is portrayed. This type of cinematography is conventional to the thriller genre as it builds tension from the way the shoulder's restrict some view but the main focus is what is in-front of the character. Therefore, this unknowing feeling creates suspense and then shock and surprise when something finally emerges from the unknown. 


Thirdly, a handheld movement will also be used in our opening sequence. This particular movement makes the camera appear precarious and is literally named as the way it is carried out - hand held. We will use this shot when the protagonist is running through the forest, so the sense of panic created through this shot is reflected onto the viewers. Therefore, this shot has been chosen to be used in our sequence as it's jerky movements will mirror the emotion of the protagonist. This will then mean that the audience feel more empathetic towards the protagonist and the situation they are in. When anything bad happens to the protagonist after these shots, the impact is greater as there is more of a relationship built between the audience and the protagonist and so the audience are more worried and attentive to what happens to the character. Viewers also feel as if they are in the scene giving the illusion tat they are holding the camera. The shot then is conventional to the thriller genre as somehow the shock and surprise elements are supposed to get across to the audience. Through the use of this shot, the emotions of the character's are a lot easier to read along with the atmosphere of the scene being a lot clearer too. Therefore, shock, surprise AND suspense is created - key elements of a successful thriller. 

A panning movement will also be used in our opening sequence. Panning shots are where the camera is moving left, right, up or down, which is difficult to show through a screenshot, but to the left demonstrates a panning shot screen-shotted. We will use this movement as the protagonist runs and the antagonist follows and also when the protagonist is looking around suspiciously. This will compliment the actions within the scene and therefore make the sequence more clear and easy to follow. The use of panning also allows for more of the setting to be witnessed through the use of just one shot. Moreover, the way this shot is used makes them feel as if they are part of the scene following the characters intricately and are able to witness every detail in the scene. This builds a relationship between the audience and the characters as they feel more knowing of the characters and quite personal at this point. Therefore, this is conventional to the thriller genre as the setting is key and through use of this shot a lot is visible in the shot. It also represents movement clearly and in thrillers, viewers need to be able to keep up with the narrative and what's going on to make it as clear as possible. The speed of panning also determines the atmosphere and so the quicker the pan, the greater build up of tension and suspense created - another reason as to why it is conventional to the thriller genre. 

A further shot that will be included in our opening sequence will be a point of view shot. This literally allows for the view of a particular character to be portrayed on screen. In the example to the left, the shot is from the view of the character looking out the back window of a car in rainy weather. We will use it when the protagonist is frantically looking about her surroundings of the forest. It will portray a lack of hope as when she will be looking around there will be nothing in her sight, therefore, the audience are witnessing exactly as she is. A relationship is built between the protagonist and the audience as the audience feel extremely empathetic towards the character through the use of this shot. The audience are able to witness the current scene and situation through the character's own eyes and so feel as if they are a part of the scene. Therefore, this shot is conventional to the thriller genre , because suspense, shock and surprise are created, as elements in the scene that the character may not be aware of - the fact that something could 'jump out', also makes the audience unaware. This also makes the scene unpredictable which is exactly what you want a thriller to be like so that when the climax of suspense occurs, it has a greatest impact possible. 

A close up shot will also be used in our opening sequence. This is basically just a shot of something really close up - exactly how it is named. We will use this to demonstrate the protagonist's facial expressions but also when filming iconography such as a knife and as well as this, parts of the antagonists face to keep the identity hidden. A connection will be created between the characters and the audience from the way a close up emphasises a particular something and so causes this to be the focus of the shot. This makes whatever is in the shot to be memorable, such as a knife for example. It also creates a sense of foreboding as a lot of one particular thing is in shot and so the audience are oblivious to whats going on outside of this shot in the scene at this time. Certain elements need to be emphasised in thrillers as they are symbolic or play a vital role in what's to come. Taking the knife for example, dedicating a close up shot to this object alone emphasises its presence and so creates a sense of foreboding as it is assumed that it will be used soon after the shot. This is why this shot is conventional to the thriller genre - elements need to be emphasised and this shot allows this to happen. 


One of the angles we will be using in our sequence is a low angle. This is where the camera is positioned at a low angle to whatever is being filmed. Using this type of cinematography makes whatever is being filmed appear larger and can be used to show variation in dominance and status. In the example screenshot to the left, the two males appear larger which suggests a high amount of dominance. This is how we will use this angle in our sequence - to portray levels of dominance. We will use this angle when the antagonist is seen chasing the protagonist and also on some of our rewinds. This will ensure that the lack of dominance of the victim is clearly portrayed, compared to the highly dominated antagonist, reflected from the narrative. This will help to build a relationship between the audience and the protagonist particularly because they are more familiar with their status at this point in the sequence. Therefore, they will feel sympathetic towards the character from the lack of dominance they possess. This shot is conventional to the thriller genre as there are many characters in thrillers, many with a variation in dominance levels between them. This shot helps distinguish each status of a particular character, helping the audience to feel suspenseful towards certain characters wondering as to how and why they have their level of dominance. 

Through the use of cinematography, I think our sequence will be more effective as it will help to create the atmosphere's in which we intend to create. Moreover, the personalities of our particular characters are more clearly reflected onto the audience making them connect not only with the characters but the sequence as a whole, keeping them on edge for the majority of viewing. All the cinematography can be used to demonstrate conventionality of the thriller genre through the different ways it can be complimented with other features such as lighting, for example. I have found this planning extremely helpful in preparation for filming as it is clear what we want to film, why and how we are using certain cinematography in certain ways to keep to the thriller genre. 

Preliminary Task - Miss Miller

Preliminary Task

The members in my group include Alfie, Danny and myself. 

We completed a preliminary task in order to get used to the equipment in which we will be using for the filming of our opening sequence. Also, to experiment with the different shots we could use, which we found most effective and especially getting used to not breaking the 180 degree rule. The different ways in which the tripod could be positioned is also another reason, as this could enhance our shots, making them create more of an impact and also creating variation. We had to film a conversation between two people in a room  - where someone is already present and someone else walks in. The conversation could be on any topic just able to be spoke about for roughly 30 seconds to a minute, in order to include different types of cinematography. When finished, we edited the clips together in order to create a short sequence that made sense and was flowing in conversation. Before this however, we had to watch back our clips to ensure that no clips were missing that could determine whether the sequence when put together will make sense. When this was confirmed successful, we proceeded with the editing. 

We used a range of different camera shots that made sure to create variation throughout our short sequence. We used panning a few times in our sequence which allows the audience to witness more of the setting, as well as being able to follow the character's movements. We did this by positioning the camera onto the tripod and using the handle to gradually move the camera sideways in a smooth and flowing motion. Another shot we used was an over the shoulder shot, which allows for the character in-front of the shoulder to be shown talking from a more personal perspective as being behind the shoulder is as if the audience are actually in the scene. To do this, the camera was positioned behind the character's shoulder that we were using and had to make adjustments to the tripod in order to create the ideal over-the-shoulder shot that we wanted. A long shot was also used to show both characters in conversation, allowing for both characters' reactions and gestures to be seen at once. This was where the camera was positioned on the tripod and kept stationary to maintain focus on the scene. A further shot used was a close up shot, allowing for the visibility to see who was calling one of the character's phone. For this shot the camera was positioned slightly at a high angle and we used zooming to ensure that the close up filled the whole screen - in this case, the phone ringing. Finally, we also used a shot-reverse-shot as this made the conversation flow and allows the audience to see the expressions of the character's from both sides. We made sure to keep the 180 degree rule in mind when doing our shot-reverse-shots to make sure that the shots when juxtaposed together, flow and make sense. We ensured this by keeping the allocated sides/angles/perspectives of shots were in the correct position. 

When filming, I think what went well for our group was the fact that the conversation flowed and there was a way for a character to enter and also a character to exit - as what was set. The shots went together quite well and this was through the use of editing carefully, ensuring that the cutting of shots was smooth and consistent. Another element that particularly went well was the way the phone ring-tone was played across two shots but we managed to make sure that the ring-tone combined correctly with each shot. This was also achieved by careful editing and cropping of clips at just the precise and appropriate time. 

However, there were also a few struggles. One was keeping the camera in focus, most of our sequence appears to be fairly blurry. This was a struggle because it was difficult to keep the consistency of the focus within each shot especially when movement occurred in the shot. We could have kept ensuring that the camera was in focus after each shot if we would have done it differently. Therefore, next time we will not make this mistake as we will make sure that the camera is in focus by placing a white piece of paper in front of the lense. It will affect the professionalism of our sequence and make it appear more amateur is the mistake is not resolved. As well as this, positioning the camera in a particular place to ensure that the shot is just right proved to be quite a struggle from the lack of space behind each character. This wasn't to be helped because of the setting however, next time we will be aware of the different ways the tripod can be positioned and stood so that it can basically fit in anywhere you try. We could have removed items that were out of shot and irrelevant to the scene in order to get the camera in the best position possible but from knowing that now, we will use in the final sequence in order to capture the best shots as possible. The experimenting of different shots and uses of the camera will definitely help in producing our opening sequence. Being more knowledgeable with the equipment we will be using, gives us a head start and familiarity. Also, the editing of the sequence - knowing how to work Final Cut Pro and the ways of cropping clips precisely in order of not cropping too much but also not cropping too little. This technique will definitely help us and will be kept in mind when producing our opening sequence. From watching the footage back, it has helped us understand what mistakes we made that we were not aware of when we were filming. For example, the way most shots were out of focus and also a few shots that could have been added in to make the conversation slightly less random at times. 

In conclusion, from the involvement in the preliminary task it will ensure that these problems, mistakes and errors are ironed out for the filming of our final opening sequence. It has helped outline these particular errors but also give an explanation as to how we would resolve these mistakes for next time. We have learnt that it is vital to make sure that shots that are put together also work together in order for the whole sequence itself to make sense. Furthermore, that the whole sequence is in focus gives the sequence a more professional feel and should be evident throughout our sequence - something we have learned from this task. The shots in our short sequence will be used in our final sequence as these proved to be effective showing points of view from different character's including the audience. Overall, we will just be emphasising the parts that went well and not including or improving the parts that didn't go so well. 

Group Narrative - Miss Georgiou

Group Narrative

The people in my group are Alfie and Danny, making three of us in total. 

Group Member 1: Amy-Michaela Sowerby

A narrative for a new thriller could be about a girl who has a sister who was murdered a few years back. Ever since this incident the killer has not been discovered, yet the brother had also disappeared since it occurred. It turns out that what they believed that the sister is dead, but in fact the brother is killed by the sister and she is seeking to come back and kill the girl, to take revenge on the result of their childhood. I think this idea of a narrative is quite unique as the majority of killers tend to be male so this puts a slight twist on it. Additionally, not many thrillers have a conflict between siblings to the extent of murder so this also adds some originality. 

The opening sequence would include point of view shots of the sister who is shown to be stalking the girl (her sister). This would give the audience the perspective of the sister but they would not know that.  The audience would also not find out her identity at the end of the opening sequence as I would want to create that suspense and make them experience the feeling of wanting to see more. Furthermore, the setting would be isolated and there would be low-key lighting. These elements create enigma and tension and are also key conventions of a successful thriller. The setting being isolated will create more of an eerie atmosphere and complemented with low-key lighting will ensure that the audience feel worried for the victim. Low-key lighting will mean that not everything will be distinctively visible including intricate detail, so this will leave suspense and the audience pondering as to what is lurking in the darkness. The girl will be represented as innocent and just like a normal everyday person so the audience can feel more relatable towards the character. In contrast, the sister will be represented as the opposite however, not so much in the opening sequence as her identity would be hidden. There would be a tense, eery, non-diegetic soundtrack with uses of diegetic on and off screen sound such as car engine and mobile for example. Use of silence will also be present to create prolonged shots to create a build up on tension in order to create an effective climax. In addition, the target audience would be a 15+ and anyone who enjoys watching thriller films with a certified age of 15 as the criteria would be a appropriate for this particular age certificate. It would include some violence and discriminatory behaviour and language but not exceeding the criteria and the limits that would push it to an 18. Most thrillers are targeted at 15+ year olds and so mine would be very much influenced by these thrillers. 

Advantages: Unique narrative that is unexpected and different to any that exist already. Furthermore, it challenges the conventions of the thriller genre by changing the antagonist's expected gender to be male - in this narrative, they are female. 

Dsiadvantages: The narrative is confusing and slightly difficult to understand. Moreover, it would be difficult to show an effective opening sequence for the film as nothing in the beginning would be able to grip and engage the audience into carrying on watching. 

Group Member 2: Alfie Harris

A narrative for a new thriller would be about a young couple arriving at a summer house on holiday. Upon arriving at the house, they realise they are in a isolated area and the summer house has very little electricity  They go to sleep on their first night and begin to hear strange noises and shadows roaming around the bedroom. The man wakes up in the middle of the night and walks into the kitchen to get a glass of water, where he finds the television still on. He walks over to the tele and turns it off to find bloody handprints over the remote control and a table. He attempts to ring the police but he can't get a signal. Whilst he attempts to find out were the bloody handprints have come from, a shadowy figure appears on the wall by the stairs and the sound of footsteps creek on the floorboards. He then grabs a torch out of the cupboard and follows the bloody footsteps up towards his bedroom. Non-digetic music is playing in the background to add suspense and it matches the sound of his heartbeat. Suddenly, screams from his girlfriend come from the bedroom. He rushes into the bedroom to find her dead body lying across the bed. The camera closes in on his shocked face as he frantically tries to save himself, rushing down towards the front door. Panicking and panting, he can't find the key and the sound of the radio plays in the background. The killer is standing their, gazing at his next victim.

Advantages: The narrative is flowing and easy to follow/understand. As well as this, suspense is built throughout, which ensures that the film would be conventional to the thriller genre. The narrative is also quite realistic as similar stories are heard of in the real world where couples go away for a break in an isolated area and find themselves in some sort of trouble.

Disadvantages: It would be difficult for us to get access to this specific setting as well as getting actors old enough to act such parts. 

Group Member 3: Danny Wheeler

For my story the narrative will be based in an isolated area, possibly a forest, about a crazed stalker who has been following the protagonist for years, one day he finally snaps, and decides to take action, she is running in the forest, and suddenly she feels a blunt object hit her over the head, instantly knocking her out, the screen goes black, he kidnaps her and takes her to his house, when she wakes up she is drowsy and disorientated, and doesn't realise what is happening, she gets up, trying to exit but finds the door is locked, she screams for help, but is trapped, she decides to look around the room and there are pictures of her scattered all over the walls, pictures that look like they have been taken from a distance, she was clearly unaware of the picture being taken, she is starting to become anxious, she frantically looks around the room, searching for an exit or a weapon to smash the door down with, as she is looking around the room the lights start to flicker, she hears the door creaking open, so she tries to find a hiding place in this small room, she gets into the wardrobe, attempting to evade the unknown man, she cannot close it fully, so she ends up peeking out, she sees the man walking around calling out her name (she doesn't recognise him and whimpers as he comes closer) he disappears out of her sight, she stays silent until she hears footsteps going up the stairs, then suddenly he appears in front of her, peeking round the door, she screams and jumps back into the wardrobe, he casually opens the wardrobe door and greets her, she kicks and punches him screaming at him asking who he is, he ignores her and closes the door, a sound of a key rattling in a lock can be heard, then a click, indicating it has been locked, she screams at him to let her out, he calmly replies, "i'll be back for you at six for dinner, make sure you're ready". A few hours later and she hears the creak of the door and then footsteps, he knocks her out with chloroform and she wakes up at the dinner table, the camera uses a panoramic shot across the table and we see the antagonist, he explains how the dinner will be ready soon and not to worry, she looks around the room for an escape (POV shot) (handheld camera), she jumps out her chair (speed of shots fast), running for an exit, the antagonist, annoyed, gets out his seat, "I was hoping it wouldn't come to this" it cuts back to her sprinting around the house she runs towards the door, its locked, she runs frantically towards the front door but as she runs down the corridor he jumps out of no where and stabs her (high pitch noise), gently lowering  her onto the floor, the camera slowly zooms out as the lighting gets darker, a background noise of a heart beat slowing down can be heard in the background.

Advantages: There are conventional mise-en-scene elements such as the isolated setting and violent iconography and a detailed description of what would be included in the opening sequence specifically. 

Disadvantages: Difficult to shoot from the lack of facilities we may be able to access and it may be difficult to narrow down enough engaging content for a opening sequence. 

Final Group Narrative:

Our final narrative consists of influence from all 3 individual narratives, as we have found that combining all of our ideas is most likely the best and most efficient way in creating a thriller to be as successful as possible. 

Our final group narrative is set in the forest and about a girl who is being stalked by an unknown identity. The girl hears many unclear voices and sounds that give her the feeling of being watched. When she tries to make an escape from the forest a masked man blocks her path so she turns and runs for her life. She finds herself lost as to where she is at this point and also realises that the man hasn't been chasing after her. Frantically, she looks around for a way of escape just as there is a camera shot to behind her where the man's presence is visible to the audience but not to the girl - she carries on walking. Once again the man appears directly in-front of her and she freezes in panic and as he goes to grab her, she runs in the opposite direction. He catches her arm with the blade of the knife causing it to bleed quite heavily causing her to faint because of the sight. When awoken she is unaware of her surroundings and is feeling drowsy. She glances at her arm, which has strangely been cleaned up and bandaged. The masked man is visible once again, however, he hasn't realised that she has woken up so she tries to make an escape. Gingerly and slowly she makes her way to the door but finds it locked, the noise of the attempt to open the door alerts the man who turns around. The girl attacks him and he fights back, stabbing her and leaving her to suffer. The lighting gradually fades as the sound effect of a heartbeat (representing her own) is heard, getting slower and slower. 

Narrative Theory:

Our group narrative is going to be following Aristole's theory. This is because the themes in which his theory consists of matches our narrative perfectly. For example, having an inciting incident - the girl getting stabbed. This also creates the elements of shock, suspense and surprise through the build up to and when the event is occurring. The dramatic question is 'who is the killer?' which leaves the audience on a cliff hanger as even by the end of the opening sequence, they are unaware of who this 'masked man' is. All the rest of Aristotle's themes for his theory are included too, character goal, antagonist/protagonist, stakes, sympathy/empathy - apart from resolution. A resolution is not included in our opening sequence as this would give too much away so early on in the film and therefore not a satisfactory build of suspense will be created. 

Our group narrative doesn't follow Propp's theory as this theory does not apply to every narrative anyway nor every type of film. His theory is that a set, listed amount of characters make the difference to the narrative. We are only creating an opening sequence so, having too many characters in the first few minutes is likely to spoil the rest of the film, not giving it the elements in which a thriller should have - suspense, surprise and shock. Only 2 characters are being shown in our opening and so this theory is quite the opposite to our narrative. Our narrative also does not follow the theory of Todorov. His theory consists of ideas of equilibrium and disequilibrium and the way the narrative has to undergo the interweaving of these 'briums' with a new equilibrium at the end of the narrative. This is not similar to our narrative and so makes it difficult to follow with a theory so different to it. Aristotle pretty much allows our narrative to be able to follow it easily and so this is why we are following this theory. 

Our group narrative is conventional to the thriller genre as it has a build up of tension and suspense which eventually results in a climax. The audience are made to feel relieved in a way when the girl faints as someone may be able to help her but when the antagonist is seen once again, the audience loose hope for her. The way this relationship forms between the character and the audience makes the thriller a lot more relatable from the audiences point of view. Also, the fact that the audience are able to witness some things that the character cannot such as the man behind her, creates a sympathetic feel for the character and also a sense of foreboding as they know that something bad is going to happen. Furthermore, the victim will be female, making them seem more weak, vulnerable and also conventional because the victim needs to be weak in order for something bad to happen to them. Moreover, the antagonist/killer's identity will be hidden which was proved to be popular from what was expected in a thriller from the questionnaire results we retrieved. 

Another reason is the fact that there will be an eerie soundtrack, along with conventional sound effects such as a heartbeat and also silence. All three of these will build suspense and complement the actions present in the scene. This will appeal to our target audience of teens to young adults (15 - 25 years old) and thriller fans, as the characters will be around the same age and so will make the characters more relatable. Thriller fans will also enjoy the build up of tension that will occur and create a emphasised climax. Target audiences will enjoy this as it is also realistic and knowing it is possible to happen to them in a similar way will keep them feeling on the edge of their seat. 

Opening Sequence Analysis - Miss Georgiou

Opening Sequence Analysis

An opening sequence is needed for every film that is made. It's purpose is to set the scene and introduce the narrative - fundamentally give it somewhere to start from. Without an opening sequence a film would not be able to be gone through with as it simply wouldn't make sense and would be difficult to follow. Opening sequences can be expected to contain all of the conventions of that particular genre - in this case, thriller. 

From analysing 'Halloween''s opening sequence, it was clear that many thriller conventions were evident throughout:

Cinematography
There was a shallow focus in the opening sequence when the iconography of the knife is out of the drawer. From the use of shallow focus here it emphasises the knife's presence and the value of it in this scene. Having the knife in such focus creates a sense of foreboding, as it is likely then that it is going to be handled with. It also creates tension as the audience are weary of the capabilities of a knife and in which ways it can be used. Furthermore, the audience are made to feel suspicious as it makes them question the antagonist's reasons or purpose for getting the knife out of the draw. The shot leads the knife being quite central so it portrays the knife's domination and relevance to this part of the sequence. This shot is a convention of the thriller genre as, in thrillers a high use of violent iconography is used throughout. By using a shallow focus shot, it creates emphasis on these uses of iconography  which are significant objects in thrillers and need to be illustrated to stand out. With the use of this shot, the film is able to accentuate these vital uses of iconography. 

Furthermore, a high angle shot is used showing the house. The use of the high angle gives the illusion that the house looks smaller than what it actually is. This is complemented with the situation that is occurring in the house at that current time and so makes the audience seem like they are looking down slightly on the house. Audiences are made to feel like they are better off than the house and its surroundings at that time as they are away from the danger and not shown to be on the same level. From knowing this, it creates tension as the audience feel sorry for the people in the house knowing that something bad is going to happen from what they are able to see but the characters cannot. This is conventional to the thriller genre because often different characters have different statuses and some sort of hierarchy and this needs to be shown. The use of high angle causes something to appear smaller and therefore shows a lack of dominance on their side. This is the same with low angle but the other way round so the audience are made to feel small and the character or whatever is shown is shown to have a high level of dominance. 

Throughout the whole of the sequence there is a point of view shot used and this is from the perspective of the antagonist. This allows the audience to feel empathetic towards the antagonist as they are able to witness the surroundings through their eyes. The perspective of the antagonist is then reflected onto the audience and this creates suspicion as the antagonist's identity is not revealed until the end. Therefore, this builds up tension throughout as suspense is felt by the audience as they are left wondering who this character is. This is a conventional shot of the thriller genre as it is a great way to create suspense and shock which are two key elements of a successful thriller. As well as this, it gives the audience the perspective of a particular character and as in various thrillers there are some characters that may be slightly mental or deluded and difficult to understand their feelings, this shot gives them an insight as to what it is like to be this character. It also involves the audience in the scene so that they feel apart of the scene itself and can relate to the character.

Editing
A wipe is used at the beginning of the sequence to introduce the house and it's surroundings as well as the general setting. The use of a wipe creates a clear and definite marking to the beginning of the sequence. A wipe is quite a harsh movement as it's very sudden and quick which can be a reflective of the stabbing of the girl shown in the sequence. HAving this mirroring movement creates a sense of foreboding and a worried feel for the characters from the audience. This is conventional to the thriller genre as it is often used when starting, ending or changing a scene. It creates a definite start for what's about to happen and in many thrillers there is lots going on that the audience need to keep an eye on. The insert of a wipe ensures that the audience know of the new scene that is about to begin (or end in some cases). Also, there is a lot of quick movement in thrillers so this reflects this movement and compliments the other movements perfectly. 

Also in the sequence, there is the use of slow editing. This is evident when the antagonist is looking through the windows from outside of the house. This creates suspense as it is as though it is prolonging the shot in order for a shocking or surprising moment to follow. Additionally, it allows the audience to 'take in' more of the surroundings noticing intricate details such as the couple inside and what they are doing and listening to. Therefore, they are able to feel more apart of the scene as they are aware and have some knowledge of what is exactly in the setting. Slow editing is conventional tot the thriller genre as it is an easy way to build suspense. As it prolongs a movement or action taking place in the scene, the audience know that something is going to 'jump' out or create a sense of shock. This causes them to look away as they don't want to feel this 'jump' only to look back and find that because the shot was so prolonged they have to end up seeing what 'jumps' out at the climax of the shot. This is often used in thrillers as it engages the audience more and keeps them wanting to watch the film. 

Soundtrack
There is a use of many non-diegetic sounds but one example is at the beginning when there is an eery sounding, quick, off-key piano playing. The fact that is is off-key makes it uncomfortable for the audience to listen to and so creates a sense of uneasiness and discomfort. This is then reflected onto the scene as the girl character is in discomfort after the presence of the antagonist. This eery sound creates a sense of foreboding as enigma is created making the scene a lot more effective. The off-key piano suggests that something isn't right and in order and so the audience can infer that something about the setting or the time is not normal. This is conventional to the thriller genre as it creates suspense and builds tension. These are two vital factors that need to be included in a thriller in order for it to be successful. Without this sort of non-diegetic sound, there is a lack of tension and build up within the scene and so certain actions and movements are not able to be emphasised as much as they could be. 

Moreover, diegetic sounds are also used throughout the sequence, for example, when the children are heard singing/trick or treating. This emphasises the time of year it is and the fact that this particular night is the night of Halloween. As this is a significant night that has many 'scary' tales made from it, it has more of a fearful impact on the audience. This is because this is seen as a scary and an arguably unlucky night so creates more of a build up of fear and tension. This is conventional to the thriller genre as having diegetic sounds such as this one keeps the normality flowing throughout. Therefore, this makes the film seem more realistic and relateable.

Codes and Conventions of a Thriller
One convention of a thriller shown in the sequence was the fact that the setting was isolated. Although it seemed to be in a fairly big, welcoming, family home, the different uses of cinematography portrayed the lack of surrounding of people. This means that if there is no one else around, it is unlikely that the victim will be heard (apart from by the family). This akes the audience feel scared for the victim and other characters as they feel that they wish they could help them from the knowing that the characters are alone. This is a convention of a thriller because audiences watching a thriller are aimed to feel sympathetic and worried for the characters that are existent in the film. With the use of an isolated setting, this creates this fear for the characters as to what will happen, how they will manage to cope with the situation and the way they are going to get help. Audiences then can relate to the characters as they start thinking about and questioning what they would do if they were in the situation that the characters are in. 


Representation of Characters
The antagonist shown in this sequence is very valid to the whole of the sequence because it's based mainly around them as a character. They are very much the focus point of the sequence as they are the perspective in which the audience are experiencing to feel. From the way the audience are able to see the antagonist pick up a mask and put it on to hide their identity creates more suspicion and says a lot about the character themselves. They are shown to be quite weak if they are unwilling to show their identity and face the consequences they may have to face. However, because of the actions they proceed with (stabbing the girl) they can be shown as quite fearless or maybe lost. Throughout the audience are engaged as they are eager to find out who the killer is. When the killer is finally identified, it is surprising as the little boy is the or one of the least expectations for the killer to be. This is conventional to the thriller genre because the surprise and shock element is created so clearly here leaving the audience wondering what will happen next. This leaves the audience wanting more and so they become fixed and want to carry on watching.

Narrative
The narrative here leaves the audience on a cliff hanger. Throughout the sequence you are lead to believe that some sort of murderer is walking about this family home on a mission to complete a murder. Only to find out that at the end, it's the little boy in the family of which who has stabbed his sister and this is the part where the element of surprise and shock occurs as it is not what the audience expect to find out. Furthermore, the narrative is based around Halloween. This creates elements of enigma from the reputation of this well-known day and leaves the audience feeling on edge as the narrative develops. This is conventional to the thriller genre to base the narrative around a theme such as 'Halloween' because this is a well-known day for it's scary aspects and is recognised and celebrated by many. Another time in the year which would be conventional is a 'Friday 13th' for example, as this is another day associated with fear and unluckiness. 

Overall, the sequence informs the audience of the conventions of a thriller from the way it illustrates everything in which they expect to see in a thriller. Because of the way the audience feel after watching the sequence, they are able to recognise what aspects and elements made them feel that way. These elements are most likely the conventions and so they are weary of the conventions from this. 

In Summary, this analysis will assist me in planning my own thriller because it has outlined the many different conventions that can be shown in such a short space of time. Just for the opening various different thriller conventions were clearly demonstrated and so this will influence my own thriller and what I will include in my opening sequence. In addition, I noticed that not too much is revealed in the opening sequence - the audience were still left feeling suspicious at the end of the sequence. This will influence my own as I believe that it is an effective way into making the audience want to see more. Therefore, in my own opening sequence I will include enough to grip the audience but not too much that will spoil and give away the rest of the narrative. 

Research into Target Audience - Miss Miller

Research into Target Audience

Research was carried out to find out the most productive and effective way of creating a successful thriller sequence. From the research, we are able to discover what the most popular and idealistic conventions are that should be included in a thriller. My group and I decided to create a questionnaire to carry out research in order to see what codes and conventions were the most popular in thriller films and why. The results will then be able to influence the ideas for our thriller opening sequence. We asked 40 people to answer our questionnaire so that we could receive feedback from a large sample. This would mean that the results we get will be more valid and accurate as the view and opinion of many is counted and to more of a mass audience more so than a niche. From the results we have acquired, we will use it to create our sequence noticing what the audience like best, what they expect to see and how successful a thriller can be created with the specific conventions found within.



This was the questionnaire we carried out, consisting of 3 open questions and 7 closed questions:

These were the results in which we retrieved from the questionnaire:
  

From this pie chart it is clear that 19 - 25 year olds was the highest percentage age category therefore, most people between these ages took the questionnaire. Whereas, there were less 12 - 18 year olds that took part in the questionnaire. This could show that this is the age group that are the most popular with thrillers, however this could just be due to the particular people in which was questioned. This would support the age certificate of a thriller to be 18 though, I believe most thrillers are aimed at 15+. However, because of this research, age will definitely be taken into account when making our thriller sequence. From the high number of 19 - 25 year olds, this is what information we will consider. 

This pie chart shows that the majority of the people that took the questionnaire were men. This could suggest that thriller films are more popular with the male gender. This could be because stereotypically they are seen as the gender that are 'least scared' in general and so as thriller films can have an aspect of horror and fear to them, this may be the reason the results have appeared in this way. Furthermore, it may just be the fact that females are not as engaged within thriller films or may enjoy another type of film genre a lot more, leaving the thriller genre with less female 'fans'. Moreover, a lot of the females are shown in thrillers as the victims, so this could mean that females relate a lot more to them but also feeling their fear throughout the film - this could also be a reason as to why females don't watch thrillers as much. From this research, it can be taken into consideration that not a significantly large percentage breaks the other, however, male being the more popular, this will be considered. The thriller sequence we create will have influences such as the idea of a female victim and perhaps a male killer included. 

This pie chart recognises the different films in which the participants liked best. It is evident that most people at 25%'s favourite thriller was something other than listed. We are unable to know what this is as it is not visible, however, from the ones which are the most popular was 'Scream' at 22%. Scream is a fairly old film, so more may have seen it however so is 'Silence of the Lambs'. The fact that 'Scream''s killer has a hidden identity proves to be popular, furthermore, the fact that they had a mask and black cloak covering the entire body makes it a lot more suspenseful because none of their flesh at all is visible. This could be one of the reasons why this is the most popular thriller film as chosen from the participants. 'The Strangers' at 15% of the participants choosing it as their favourite thriller could be for a number of reasons. This films has a lot of 'jump scares' which some people may hate, however some may like. 'Jump scares' create more of an impact and the events that cause the jump can be thought of by the viewer shortly after, making them feel scared at times when they shouldn't. 'The Strangers' is also quite realistic in the way that a couple has gone away together, although, it's predictable because they are in an isolated setting, communication with others seems to go wrong and some sort of killer seems to be after the. This predictability and expected nature could prevent people from watching as they know what will happen, so may not see the point. From the results, they will be able to influence the ideas in which we have for our thriller sequence as we will analyse what the participants said to the 'why?' part of the question. This will give us a better idea of inparticular why they favourite a certain thriller over the others. 

Results from this question show that the most popular sub-genre in which people like to be paired with thriller is horror. This is not surprising as most thrillers do have a horror element to them in the way that suspense is built and there is usually a killer. With the horror sub-genre this adds slightly more gore to the film and so this may be what viewers want to see. This creates more of an enigma as the audience are able to witness the way in which a victim is killed in intricate detail for example. More fear is created and the kill is made more personal as the audience get to know more of the gory details. The least favourite sub-genre in which the participants as a whole decided was comedy. This is understandable because there isn't many comedy thrillers that exist. With the input of humour, it lessens the impact of the killing or traumatising event that may occur. Consequently, this is why it may be the least favourite as it isn't as intense and so doesn't build up as much suspense and tension because it's not taken as seriously. For out thriller sequence, this research will be taken into consideration and so it will also influence the way in which we create our thriller. Aspects of a sub-genre will be determined by these results from a clear lead of horror. Therefore, our sequence is most likely to include elements of horror such as evidence of killing like blood, for example, due to the popularity of the sub-genre. 

This question here is vital in the making of our sequence, as it shows the most expected conventions in a thriller from the participant's (audience's) point of view. Clearly, the use of an eerie soundtrack was the most chosen option at 31% of the people in the survey choosing it. From this knowledge, an eerie soundtrack will be present in our thriller sequence as it seems to be very popular with the participants but also ourselves and in many other thriller works. This is most likely because an eerie soundtrack helps to build suspense, surprise and shock - 3 main elements to a successful thriller. Normally, an eerie soundtrack also complements what is going on in the scene which is what makes it so effective with a large impact. The option that was chosen the least was a female victim. I don't necessarily think this is because this is not a convention but more so that the other options may have illustrated more of what the audience expect to see. Female victims are usually in every thriller with a male antagonist being the killer, supporting dominant ideology. The results from this question will definitely influence the opening sequence of our thriller as it is clear what the most popular conventions are so which ones we can emphasise. Furthermore, we can make sure that they are clearly portrayed in our sequence in order to create a satisfied audience by meeting their expectations. 

Number 6 was a question finding out what setting was the most popular in the eyes of our participants. An abandoned house proved the most popular with 30% of our participants opting for it. I believe this may be because the audience are made to feel worried and scared for the victims as they have no one around that are able to help them get out of the situation they may be in. In a city/town was shown to be the least expected setting, from the results shown. This is likely to be because in a city/town it's quite lively and doesn't contain the silence that can be used to build suspense, surprise and shock. Also, in a city/town a killer may be clearly spotted or identified and from the high density of people in this area, the audience do not feel as worried for the victim. This is because they know that they will be able to seek help from someone as there will be someone around in the area. These results will influence our own thriller sequence as one of the listed settings will be used. The way in which the data has resulted will determine which setting will be best and most effective for our thriller and it's narrative. 

This question is on iconography and demonstrates that the most popular use of iconography that is expected to be seen is a knife. Over a quarter of the people we questioned chose this as their option causing it to be a shared agreement. A knife is a lot more personal than a gun for example, as a killer has to be close to a victim in order to cause a wound or killing. With a gun, a killer can be further away and so maybe this is one of the reasons as to why the use of a gun is the least expected in a thriller. This suggests that viewers prefer to see more intricate, up close murders representing the killers as disturbed and cold-hearted. Using a knife also makes a murder a lot more brutal and graphic from the traces it can leave behind such as blood for instance. Whereas, a gun is just one, single moment of pain that the victim has to go through and therefore one, single moment for the audience to witness. Not much in the way of brutality is seen as the bullet travels so fast that it is not clearly visible to the human eye when being shot. A knife is an object that is able to be seen constantly so when this is used it creates a more fearful effect as it is also an everyday object which anyone can get a hold of. These results will be taken into consideration from the thorough decision making we will proceed in order to use the best weapon in our thriller which will most likely be a knife. This is because the high percentage of people that chose this option therefore, these results will influence our sequence.

From this pie chart, the results show that the majority of the people we questioned expect the killer's identity to be hidden - just under three quarters to be precise. This shows that not knowing who the killer is really makes an impact and is a common opinion that it should be kept unknown. The way that only 28% said 'no' suggests that they like to know who the killer is and have the thriller filmed as if they are the point of view of the killer. This is quite a common scenario and so could be the reason for these participants choosing 'no'. In our thriller sequence we will most likely have our killer's identity kept hidden in order to please our audience. Therefore, the results retrieved will influence our own thriller sequence.

Number 9 is based around what sounds are expected in a thriller - the most popular was an eerie/dark soundtrack. Most likely, this is because this is one of the most effective ways of building suspense, surprise and shock. Half of the amount of people that chose an eerie/dark soundtrack opted for screams. This is also a typical convention of a thriller as it demonstrates the stress of the characters especially the victims, particularly if their murder is brutal and violent. The weapon being used is the least expected sound in a thriller which I don't believe is necessarily true, however, could just not be the most important sound to be included. Having the weapon visible is one thing, but hearing it being used is another as it creates a sense of foreboding from the weariness the audience will have become of that use of violent iconography. This will influence our research as this is the second time that an eerie/dark soundtrack has proved to be popular from the results of this questionnaire. Therefore, using an eerie/dark soundtrack in our thriller should help build suspense and create a successful opening in which the audience will enjoy to watch.

This final question is about the cinematography in thrillers and which is most effective. Point of view shots seem to be the most picked option. This type of shot allows the audience to build a relationship and relate to a character more easily as they are able to watch the scenes through the character's perspective. From seeing the character's perspective, it may change their views and opinions on how they would resolve a situation or cope with whatever is occurring in the scene. What is shown to be the least effective shot is a shot other than what is listed joint with steadicam which 15% of participants chose. Steadicam is quite an average shot that can be used in all genres but in thrillers may not make that much of a difference when referring to effects. Not as much as a close up for example, as a close up allows the audience to witness the intricate detail of something like someone's expression or emotion. The results retrieved from this question will influence our thriller sequence as we can clearly see that point of view shots are tended to be fairly popular and effective. We want to make our thriller as effective and successful as possible so using this research to influence our own thriller sequence will hopefully make our thriller the way we intend it to be. 

These are 3 vox pops in which I also carried out:

From creating and carrying out this questionnaire, it will ensure that our film is much more audience considered. This is because we now have evidence to support the decisions we make and resolutions as to how to make our thriller successful. We are going to be very much influenced by the particular topics of the questions such as the sub-genre, iconography and soundtrack. The results all display answers that are conventional to the thriller genre and so are what we pretty much expected that they would come out as.