Question one evaluation

1. Opening Sequence
Conventions
Question 1- Evaluation
Task

2. Conventions of a Thriller
opening sequence
• Thriller opening sequence conventions almost always contain a
‘dip’ into action. This is not usually fast paced, but the
audience quickly gains a quick idea of the narrative enigma.
An example of a real text is Drive by Nicolas Winding Refn
(2011) where characters in cars are introduced. They appear to
be thinking and the audience presumes that they have a
destination to get to.
– Sometimes, this convention is specifically broken when
the characters appear to be performing daily, routine
tasks, however, the enigma created, strikes a an anxiety
of posing threats to the characters involved. An example
is in Split by M. Night Shyamalan (2017) where the film
opens with a father finishing up his daughter’s birthday
party (this is soon turned into action where his daughter
and her friends are abducted).
• The audience will also gain an introduction of characters and
it is likely that they will meet or hear of the antagonistic
character(s) in the first three minutes of the film. This
helps form representations and encourages the audience to
begin thinking about the nature of the characters. We can find
an example in Jack Reacher by Christopher McQuarrie (2012)
where a character (with conventionally mysterious/ suspicious
props such as a firearm, sun glasses and latex gloves) is
introduced.
• A dilemma or mystery is usually introduced which sets up the
narrative of the film; this helps create enigma and
immediately encourages the audience to form interpretations of
the situation taking place. An example can be found in Fargo
by the Coenn brothers (1996) where an obvious deal is being
made.

3. Conventions we kept to
• The audience gains an introduction to the antagonists of the
film.
– (Tony A and B) for whom the audience is able to form opinions of judging by
their representations.
• We have also introduced a mystery to set up the narrative.
– The two Tonys explain that the phone which they hand over to Ivan contains a
message from his father. This hopefully makes the audience think about the
importance of this message and why he is not able to deliver it himself.
– The audience may also think about what Ivan will have to do about it and once
Ivan has listened to the message, the audience should realise that Ivan is in a
position where he is no longer a child with minor responsibilities. The fact
that his father expresses his desire to be proud of Ivan, puts pressure on him.

4. Conventions we broke
• We broke the convention of starting our opening sequence with
action and conformed to the one of performing harmless tasks
instead. This is because Ed and I thought that the enigma
which is created by the characters seeming to appear normal is
far greater than that which the audience could take from an
action filled opening sequence.
– The audience is forced to think about the actions of the character and thus
makes the film… a thriller, the audience does not know when action may begin
and can therefore expect to be thrilled.
– Ivan walks down a path, seemingly with a direction due to his confidence.
Walking and trekking is not a task deemed unusual in any way and thus, the
slight confidence in Ivan’s sense of direction, suggests to the audience, that
he performs this task often and routinely. In reality to the narrative, this
is not the case, and Ivan is in fact in unfamiliar terrain, both mentally and
physically.