2. From previous research and watching thriller films
thriller opening sequences, we therefore had a better
understanding of how to engage our audience; we did
this by watching a range of thrillers from really recent
films opening sequences to ones which were made
years ago. We then applied the common codes and
conventions into addressing and attracting our audience.
3. SUSPENSE TENSION
■ Thriller films are untimely about building suspense and tension in order to keep the audience
drawn into the storyline. We reinforced this typical convention through the use of sound; it
started calm and childlike – which is connotes innocence, usually the opposite to what a
thriller would normally incorporate, however we found this helped to set a ‘creepy’ and
unsettling tone, the music builds up as we used ambient sounds to really capture the
audience’s attention, before the music speeding up in pace and ending with a ‘crash’, this was
extremely helpful in keeping the audience engaged.
■ In thrillers, opening sequences often tend to keep things a secret; this is done by withholding
information. We used this by not really making it explicit what was wrong with the character;
they could figure out the fact that the character suffers with some kind of illness, but it
wouldn’t be able to be identified just what that illness may be. By keeping some parts of the
plot a mystery helping to fully capture the audience’s attention.
4. THE SUBJECT
We selected a very touchy subject of ‘mental illnesses’ which if not
represented sensitively could address and attract audiences in a negative
way – due to people finding it to be insensitive or untrue. Therefore we
addressed the subject in a sensitive way and a non explicit way in order to
ensure we didn’t upset anyone during the process of creating the opening
sequence.
The use of props help convey to the audience she is in some way ill.
5. LOCATION(S)
We used settings such as the woods – this is a common location used within thriller films;
this is normally as the woods are seen as unsafe and a risky location.
We also created the setting of a ‘hospital’.These settings followed the typical conventions
of the thriller genre.
6. OVERALL!
Overall, I feel I attracted and addressed the audience by appealing to those who
are already a fan of the genre; by using the typical conventions of a thriller film,
allowing those who already enjoy watching these films to be able to access the
film easily. The music helped to engage and keep the audience’s attention
throughout the opening sequence and disallowed them to look away at any
point. We kept parts of the storyline a mystery and didn’t reveal much to also
help keep the audience intrigued.
