Styles for Titles

I have selected 4 possible font styles that could be used in our opening sequence, and I got these from a website called "Da Font".



This text is called “Static Buss” I like this one the most, as you cannot quite see the text as it is fuzzy, making the audience wonder at what is going to happening and why the events are going to happen. Also, I just think it looks very creepy for the viewer, almost forcing them to watch.



This text is called "Kremlin" and I like this one a lot as I feel that the E's being backwards make the audience a little more weary towards the film, almost making them question at what will happen, and if it will be a good thing or a bad thing.



This text is called "Plakkaat" and I feel that it could work within the opening sequence as like other thriller openings it is in big and bold, like it is kept basic just to keep things simple for the viewer, not making a fuss over the titles, just keeping them interested in the film.



This type of text is known as "Zombie" and I feel that this could be used in our opening sequence as it shows an edgy style, almost like that something is happening and can't be stopped, like it needs to be done, like the crime needs to be committed.

Characters & Costumes

Eddie plays the main character Jay, and he is the victim within the movie, and this is strange as it is usually a woman who is the victim but in our opening the woman is a killer. He is wearing a blue coat maybe to suggest that he is a calm person and will cause no harm, and that the audience should sympathise with him as he is the innocent one. Also, Eddie being dressed in everyday clothing makes the character seem more realistic.



Tom is playing the character of Will, who is the main cause of the murder of Jay, he is having an affair with Carly and they are both trying to get Jay's money. Will looks like a normal person but he is wearing the dark colours of black and grey, like he is hiding something from the audience and that they have to carry on watching to find out just how evil this character is. Also, Tom was chosen as the killer as it is typical to see a male lead commit the crime.



Jade is playing the character of Carly, who is in a partnership with Jay, but she assists the murder of Jay. She is clothed in the colours of black and red, and these can present that she is a dark person, full of anger and rage towards Jay, also the colour red can suggest the blood and hurt she has caused just to get Jay's money. Throughout the opening we don't see her face almost to make the viewer question if she is good or bad.

Thriller Opening Sequence – Script

In our opening sequence there is no dialogue but there is a phone message that is left in a panic tone. The message left will be along the lines of warning the character of Jay that he is in trouble and needs to escape. But through the film we learn that the partner Carly really set him up with her secret lover Will.

Message Left: "Jay you've got to get out of here, they know, and they're coming for you Jay, they're coming........"

Thriller Opening Sequence – Props, Costumes and Locations

Props:
→ A Knife – covered in blood to show that it’s the murder weapon.
→ Home Phone – this when Carly leaves the message, almost a way to help the audience at what is happening.
→ A Ring – On Jays finger showing that he is the victim at first then cutting to his normal life.
→ Books, Paper, Glass & Picture Frame – shows that one of the characters is an artist and the titles will appear on them e.g. producer, composer, etc.
Costumes:
The death scene:
→ Jay will be covered in blood and mud, the clothing, which was fancy will also be ripped showing that something bad has happened to him, and this can make the audience think about what has happened and why would it happen.
→ The two killers Carly and Will would be in dark clothing almost to show that they are hiding something.
The house scene:
→ Jay is wearing normal, everyday clothing to show the viewer that nothing is wrong and doesn’t hint at that he will be murdered.
Locations:
→ River/Woodland – This location is where the murder scene is and it’s a nice place for the opening of a thriller as it creates a sinister atmosphere making the viewer question at what has happened. Also, the woodlands can suggest that the death scene is empty; it’s a vast space where no one could help Jay.
→ House (bathroom/bedroom) – This location almost breaks the creepy, sinister atmosphere and bringing the mood back too an everyday life, which makes the viewer feel a lot more comfortable.

Thriller Opening Sequence – Sound

→ Footsteps – walking away from the murder scene, shows at how quite the scene is making it more creepy.
→ Breathing – to increase the tension in the opening and making the audience feel scared.
→ Alarm Clock – used as a sound bridge to break up the scenes.
→ Shower – makes the opening more everyday, almost reassuring the viewer.
→ Phone Calling – the audience questions, who is calling and why?
→ Answer Phone Message – increases the tension amongst the audience, and it almost gives them more clues.

Below I have chosen some music clips that could be possibly used in our opening sequence, I feel that the music has to be very slow and sinister, but it eventually builds up to the alarm clock that will break the scary atmosphere. Also I feel that the music needs to make the audience feel uncomfortable and hold them hostage, almost forcing them to watch the opening.

- http://www.freesound.org/samplesViewSingle.php?id=33987

- http://www.freesound.org/samplesViewSingle.php?id=34421

- http://www.freesound.org/samplesViewSingle.php?id=44594

Thriller Opening Sequence – Shot List

→ Close up – shows emotions, to show shots of everyday things like Jay turning off the alarm clock.

→ Establishing shot – sets the scene, can be used to show where the characters are showing if it’s an everyday scene or not.

→ Tracking shot – follows action, plan to use this when characters Will and Carly walk away from murder scene.

→ Extreme close up – more detail in the frame, we will use this to show body parts of the dead body to keep the viewer questioning at what has happened.

→ Pan shot – shows the scene while camera is still, can show the shot of Jay’s bedroom with the titles appearing on the screen.

→ Focus pull – main object stands out, can use this in the shot of the knife to show that this is the object that hurt Jay.

Film Synopsis – Deceit

The two main characters, Jay and Carly, are a married couple. Then one day Jay receives a distressing phone call from Carly, however Jay doesn’t hear this message as he is in the shower. After showering he listens to the message but he doesn’t know where Carly has gone, almost like she has disappeared. Then Jay sets out to find her; but along the way he becomes the main target for Carly and her secret lover Will. Although in the end it results Jay in dying, being stabbed by his exe wife and her lover all for his money/fortune.

Opening Sequence Synopsis – Deceit
In the opening sequence of ‘Deceit’ we firstly see the 3 main characters Jay, Carly and Will, but we see the dead body of Jay then Carly and Will walking away from the body. But then it quickly cuts to the alarm clock where we see Jay and Carly together as a couple and living a normal life. While Jay is in the shower Carly leaves a phone message (almost setting him up) and then disappears. This leaves the audience questioning at what will happen to Jay, and then what is Carly up to?

Shooting Schedule - Deceit

This shooting schedule shows the days that we plane to film as a group and it also shows the locations where we plan to go to film for our opening sequence. We had to plan these days around each other so we could all be there to film.

Shot List

Storyboard - Deceit

PLANNING - Initial Ideas

Results from Thriller Questionnaire 3

Do you like the 'end' of the film at the beginning of the film?

The half of the people of the survey show that they don't mind if the end is shown or not, meaning that as long as they are kept interested at the beginning they don't mind.

Results from Thriller Questionnaire 2

What time of day do you like the opening set?

From the results it shows that most of the people answered that they like the opening set at night-time, and this could suggest that the audience wants to be more creeped out.

Results from Thriller Questionnaire

In the post before you can see that I produced a questionnaire to see what certain people like from a thriller opening sequence. Below I have produced some pie charts and tables to show some results from the questionnaire.

Do you like 'Fast', 'Slow' or 'Doesn't Matter' music?

From the results you can see that most of the audience likes slow music in the opening sequence, and this could be due to it makes the mood more creepy and builds a lot of tension.

Questionnaire for an Opening Thriller Sequence

Questionnaire: Thriller, Hot or Not?
In this questionnaire we will be researching information about the opening of our thriller, and we are gathering information about thriller opening sequences, so we can establish a unique and interesting idea that will appeal to our target audience.
Instructions:
- Circle appropriate answers
- Answer questions truthfully, with your own opinion

Question 1
Do you like the end of the film to be shown at the beginning of the film?
YES SOMETIMES NO

Question 2
Do you like a cliff-hanger ending?
Strongly Agree Agree Don’t Know Disagree Strongly Disagree

Question 3
Describe your ideal thriller opening location.

Question 4
Do you prefer fast paced or slow paced music in the opening?
YES NO

Question 5
List 3 features you expect for the following characters.

Question 6
Do you like lots of titles at the start of the film?
YES SOMETIMES NO

Question 7
What time of day do you expect a thriller opening to be set?
Early Morning Mid-day Night-time

Question 8
Do you think that the opening is important to a film?
YES SOMETIMES NO
Why?

Are you male or female?
MALE FEMALE

What is your age?

Conventions of an Opening Sequence

The opening sequence is an important part to a film, as it almost introduces the film to the viewer making them get 'hooked' to watch the film. Some conventions are:
- The audience is usually familiarised with the setting of the film, an establishing shot is used
- Clips are slow paced, and are edited in the style of continuity editing
- The viewer could be introduced to some characters
- Most times there are titles of producers or actors names
- It must 'hook' the viewer, making them want to watch the film and find out what's going to happen

Conventions of my Chosen Genre

A thriller has a lot of conventions to it to make it a successful thriller film. It must have the viewer hooked from start to end, making them question the events going on during the film. Some conventions could be:

- Many close up shots to question the viewer

- Sinister locations, almost making the mood creepy

- Props used, for example a polaroid picture in 'Memento'

- Music that starts off slow, but gains speed as tension builds in the film

- Story-line has to be interesting to keep the viewer watching the film, making them question the film

- There are also many quick cuts between shots to make an event fast paced

Location Research for a Thriller

These are my 8 beautifully composed images for ideas for a location for a new thriller opening sequence.

The images above reflect what I believe would make good locations for a thriller opening sequence, firstly I feel that the images of the trees in a long shot make a good location as it shows a sense of wonder for the viewer, making them wonder at what is out there and what could happen. Also, I like the use of the mist in the frames because it shows that the scene is quite creepy.

I chose the image of the phone box, as it shows a sense of loneliness in the frame, yes the frame is almost filled but its a single object in the frame, also its almost a cliche as in some films the phone box would ring and a person would answer it and would be given a task to complete.

This then links to the close up of a branch with graffiti, showing that the scene is very corrupt and that something bad could happen. Then the image with the hole in the middle with light shining through, also shows a sense of wonder, making the viewer wonder what's out there and what could happen.

The mid-shot of the grey box with black graffiti could show a sign for the characters, almost like it helps them solve a puzzle, and I like the last image of the rose with snow on as it links to all the other pictures saying that there is always a sense of loneliness in each frame, but something so basic is shown as beautiful and peaceful.

Overall, I believe that I have composed 8 good images as a suggestion for a new thriller opening sequence.