Thriller Opening - Shooting Schedule

We have composed a shooting schedule in order for us to be organised when filming our opening sequence. It shows us who we need on what dates in what location.

Thriller Opening - Story Board

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.

Thriller Opening Sequence - Props and Locations

Props:

• A Knife – which will be covered in blood during filming to show that it is the murder weapon, Tom (Will) will be carrying the knife whilst he walks away from the murder scene
• A Ring – worn by Jay, giving the link between the death and the cut back to normal day life, shows the audience it has gone back in time and that Jay is alive
• Home Phone – this when Carly leaves the message, almost a way to give the audience clues on what is happening

Location:

• River/Woodland – This location is where the murder scene is and it’s a good place for the opening of a thriller as it creates a sinister atmosphere making the viewer question 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.

Thiller 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.

I have been onto the website freesound.org to find some music clips that may be effective in my opening sequence.

http://www.freesound.org/samplesViewSingle.php?id=19874

http://www.freesound.org/samplesViewSingle.php?id=34588

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 a friend, however Jay doesn’t hear this message as he is in the shower. After showering he listens to the message and realises Carly is missing, almost like she has disappeared. 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 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. 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 a phone message was left (almost setting him up) and then disappears. This leaves the audience questioning at what will happen to Jay also what is Carly up to?

Wallander Opening

Cinematography:
The first shot is of the coast revealing the setting straight away, the camera tracks over the hills which then shows a car and two girls walking in the opposite direction the camera tracks through the gap of them and then cuts quickly to a mid shot looking over the girls shoulders. I have chosen this shot to be in my contact sheet as it is a successful shot that is used in a thriller; the rule of thirds can be used on this shot, on either side there is a girl and inbetween their shoulders car tracks can be seen in the gravel and grass. The rest of the opening sequence is then built up of close ups which do not reveal the characters and actions straight away. There is a close up on one of the girls faces from side on, this shot shows the girl in focus is the main character or the person who is involved the majority of the time. Blood is spattered across her face giving the impression they are in trouble or have been in a serious accident. However the fact that they are breathing hard shows they are in shock or possibly angry, this connotes they have made an attack which caused the blood to be on the girls face.

The titles in this do not necessarily fit the typical thriller opening titles, however they are very successful in terms of making the reader question what is happening and what will happen next. In my seventh screen shot you can see that the letters of 'Wallander' are appearing as close ups on the screen through the gaps in the letters the detective can be seen, these gaps are sharp and triangular looking, they look as though they are taking form of a knife shape which would make the audience think whethe or not there might be another knife crime. The character is seen in a very dark blue light connoting he is powerful and possibly quite calm whilst working at this job however the blue fades into black suggesting he may have a dark side to him. The knife shape then carries on through the rest of the opening sequence in my last screen shot you can see the low angle shot showing the detective/inspector and the woman who works with him through the car window.

Mise en scene:
The Mise en scene in this opening sequence isn't the typical dark thriller scene. It is in day light in the open space by the cliffs on the coast. meaning the girl who committed the murder didn't care if anyone found out or that she would get put away. This gives the impression that they are fearless as well as dangerous. The girls are dressed in dark clothing, the girl who killed the man also has red streaks in her hair the same colour as the blood showing she has a dark evil side to her. In the fifth screen shot I have taken you can see the items in the car that give away who the murdered man is, there is a taxi badge in the car however the badge is in shadow, possibly meaning he wasn't a normal innocent man. There is also a key ring hanging from the keys which pictures him with his arm around a teenage boy. The blood has splattered onto the face of the boy who the audience assume to be his son, suggesting he will also get hurt or even murdered.

Sound:

The non diegetic music in this opening doesn't fit the typical thriller music, it is music that you would hear on an everyday scene eg on a radio. When the man is found the car radio is playing bringing the thriller into real life terms, also making it seem quite realistic as could be an everyday situation. Diegetic sounds of the girls heavy breathing is very effective as it shows that they are angry and scared, it also gives away that they are the murderers and not the victims. This is not given away at first but when the following shot shows a knife in the leading girls hand it is revealed they have committed the crime, the girl drops the knife leaving an over exaggerated sound that shocks the audience.

Kiss Me Deadly Opening Sequence

The cinematography throughout the beginning of this sequence is very successful in making it an effective opening. The very first shot shown is the high angle mid shot of the woman's legs running, this automatically creates a creepy atmosphere as the audience are waiting to see who it is also why she is running bare foot and who she is running from.

This is then followed by a long shot of her running which is almost the establishing shot as it shows the location and reveals to the audience that it is a young girl. The rule of thirds can be used in this shot, with vertical lines separating the scenery on either side of her. I have chosen this shot as it is one the most important shots in the opening sequence, it shows how she is vulnerable and weak she is of a low status due to the surroundings that look like they are taking over her, the road she is running on is huge compared to her.

There are many over the shoulder shots shown of the man and woman in the car which connotes that people are after her/them, although it is not from the point of view of someone watching it still portrays the fact that the woman is trying to get away from people as it is shown following her from behind.

The mise en scene is also quite creepy and eerie as it very dark and quite hidden. The majority of the opening is set in the man's car which is driving along the road, it is quite empty apart from the odd car that drives past. The man that is forced to stop and let her in the car is portrayed as being quite heroic, due to his new clean white car he also seems to be of importance as he is dressed smartly and looks well groomed. The woman has nothing but a coat on, therefore this gives her a low status as she is not dressed for being outside, running along a tarmac road gives the impression someone as taken her shoes.

Sound in this particular opening sequence is very dramatic, giving an even more tense atmosphere, the fast paced non diegtic sound of music is quite daunting. It seems like it is there to make the audience feel sorry for the woman as at the beginning she is breathing heavily and crying, this may be for the man to feel sympathy for help and give her the help she needs. They use the radio to inform the characters and the audience that she has escaped from an asylum, this creates a few seconds of anxiety as the action slows and the audience have to wait to see if the police realise she is the person that has escaped.

The titles are in block white capital letters, shown by rolling up the screen, this automatically grabs the audience's attention. The titles at the beginning of the opening are detailed, many names and job titles are mentioned.

The titles include:

• Main star
• Supporting actors
• Art director
• Set decorator
• Assistant director
• Assistant to producer
• Film editor
• Music composer
• Screenplay
• Produced and directed by

Double Indemnity 1944 Opening Sequence

The setting is revealed with a successful establishing shot, the long shot of the American street shows the towering buildings and cars that are speeding up the roads. The buildings seem to have power over the characters and portray the buildings to be quite threatening due to them being so high above the humans. The locked up buildings show they are working out of hours making the opening mysterious causing the audience to become curious as to what the characters are doing.

They use costumes to show the people within the film are wealthy, the smart suit finished with a hat and jacket shows the main character shown walking through the building door is of importance.

One interesting camera shot is the first shot showing the figure of a man walking towards the screen this is creepy as the face of the figure is not visible, he is also walking with a limp which would produce a tense atmosphere, the audience will be confused as to what happened to him. This shot then dissolves into the establishing shot of the street.

The film title 'Double Indemnity' is shown in block capital letters giving away no clues on what the film is about.

The first shot of the man's figure walking towards the camera connotes the film will be based on war or conflict due to the man limping and being supported by a crutch. The dark figure suggests the film will be quite secretive and mysterious as not much is given away in the first few shots. This also reveals to the audience that it is a thriller, the silence and shadows suggest there is no one around meaning anything could happen or anyone could be hiding behind the shadows. The building that the man enters is closed and it is quiet, this could mean he isn't supposed to be there.

Introduced first is the male that seems to be the main character/focus, he enters the building whilst being greeted by someone else who works there. It is in night, it is dark and deserted no body else is in the building apart from the man who came to the door therefore he has gone into the building outside of working hours.