This proposal is for a supernatural thriller film opening produced by Mercedes Galindo and Saskia Calliste. Their initial idea involves a cursed box from a village where girls were burned as witches. Years later, a bullied girl discovers the box in a cave and opens it, unleashing terror that can only be stopped by her sacrifice. After research, their final idea centers around a box with possessions of

1. A
PROPOSAL
FOR
Pandora Film Productions
PRODUCED BY
MERCEDES GALINDO
SASKIA CALLISTE

2. Brief
We have been asked to produce a thriller title and opening sequence. Our chosen audience is
that of eighteen, due to the fact that we explore the importance of self sacrifice.
Initial thinking
Research findings
A thriller provides the sudden rush of emotions, excitement, sense of suspense and
exhilaration that drive the narrative, sometimes subtly with peaks and lulls, sometimes at a
constant, breakneck pace thrills. In this genre, the objective is to deliver a story with
sustained tension, surprise, and a constant sense of impending doom. It keeps the audience
cliff-hanging at the "edge of their seats" as the plot builds towards a climax. Thrillers tend to
be fast-moving, psychological and threatening, and they will have chase scenes, and at times
involve larger-scale villainy such as espionage, terrorism and conspiracy, alongside action.
Thrillers may be defined by the primary mood that they elicit: fearful excitement. In short, if
it "thrills", it is a thriller. As the introduction to a major anthology explains:
...Thrillers provide such a rich literary feast. There are all kinds. The legal thriller,
“ spy thriller, action-adventure thriller, medical thriller, police thriller, romantic
thriller, historical thriller, political thriller, religious thriller, high-tech thriller,
military thriller. The list goes on and on, with new variations constantly being
invented. In fact, this openness to expansion is one of the genre's most enduring
characteristics. But what gives the variety of thrillers a common ground is the
intensity of emotions they create, particularly those of apprehension and
exhilaration, of excitement and breathlessness, all designed to generate that all-
important thrill. By definition, if a thriller doesn't thrill, it's not doing its job. ”
—James Patterson, June 2006, "Introduction," Thriller
Supernatural thriller: In which the film brings in an otherworldly element mixed with
tension, suspense and plot twists. Sometimes the hero and/or villain have some psychic
ability. Examples include, Lady in the Water, Fallen, Frequency, Knowing, In Dreams,
Flatliners, Jacob's Ladder, The Skeleton Key, What Lies Beneath, Unbreakable, The Gift and
The Dead Zone.
Our target audience will be from eighteen and onwards and those who wish to escape from
regular day to day life through being thrilled to the core. The supernatural has always been a
genre that most people can best relate to as it is a direct link to the human imagination.
In conclusion to all that has been mentioned above, we believe that we have successfully
portrayed all of said convention to create truly enigmatic film opening.
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3. Initial ideas
Person 1
Focusing on our ABC and XYZ research, my idea was to explore the great and terrible
legend of Pandora and the terrible box of sins. I have taken all of these previous
representations of this legend. My group and I have chosen to have a box and a girl whom is
to open it. Yet inside we believed that a sacrifice would prove to be the most dramatic
element of our film.
Person 2
Inspired by the fact that our audience liked XYZ, my idea involved the usage of candles,
since they create atmosphere. The paraphernalia around the box scene is the mise-en-scene
that we have invested into to make the thing which we wish to portray. Meanwhile the actress
who we have selected has been based on her overall camera image.
Final idea
• Years ago- in a Christian village girls, were burned at the stake for believing in the devil.
They took their possessions and placed them in a box in a cave in the woods, which was
cursed by the evil. The girls who were burned were not believers but girls who tried to
warn the villages of evil. The devil would entice them with sweet music, to get them to
open the box so hell could be unleashed and the only way to stop the terror on the town
would be to sacrifice the one who opened it.
• Years later, a girl runs from school into the woods as she gets bullied, comes across the
cave and seeks the box. In curiosity she opens it and history repeats itself bringing every
ones worst fears to life with a vengeance. The girl goes on a quest to find out how to stop
the force of evil and realises the only way is through the sacrifice of the one who opened
it- herself.
We have chosen to develop our initial idea since it was something that we were all able to
agree on. The opening sequence it what we believe to create enough enigmas so that our
audience will want to know more.
Production Team Roles
Planning:
Producer: Mercedes Galindo
Director: Saskia Calliste
Construction:
Cinematographers:
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4. 1. Julian
2. Emil
Editors
1. Saskia
2. Mercedes
3. Emil
4. Zubeida
5. Julian
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