Techniques I like

1. Techniques I
like
What I will use within my
thriller opening sequence

2. Introduction
 After analysing and sampling a number of
different thriller film openings, as well as some
of other genres, I have discovered a number
of techniques that I believe would be rather
useful and effective when creating my own
piece.

3. Dominating Establishing Shots
 For example one of the techniques I liked was the use of a
series of establishing shots, this can be found within the films:
The Shining, as well as The Village. this is a technique that I
found highly effective, as this allowed for the setting up of the
narrative, by revealing the location, as well as forming a
specific atmosphere, which takes affect as soon as the film
begins.

4.  I believe this technique in co-ordination with a
rather eerie use of both ambience and diegetic
sound can create for a very effective opening
scene. Therefore I believe that within my own
thriller opening I will include a range of shot of the
main location, this being the woods, as this will
allow for the narrative to be foreshadowed as well
as inciting enigma codes within the piece as the
audience become intrigued as to what will occur
within such a setting and its significance to the
narrative.

5.  However, although this is a technique that I
find particularly effective I believe that if I were
to use this it should not dominate the entire
duration of the piece, as this may limit me to
the action and character introductions that I
can make within my piece, therefore I believe
that I should use this technique in
collaboration with other in order to vary my
piece.
However…

6. Plot Twists
 Another technique I like is the use of a plot twist. This
can be found within films such as The Sixth Sense,
where the protagonist is revealed to have been a ghost
all along, as well within The Village, where it is revealed
that the time period in which the film is set is not all it
first appears to be.

7.  This is an effective technique, as this has the
effect of surprising the audience, further enticing
them to the film. This would be a useful effect
within our thriller opening piece, as one of the
conventions of an opening is to convince the
audience to commit to the film by enticing theme
to the narrative and use of characters. Therefore, I
believe this would be an effective technique to
include.

8. However…
 However, as we are only creating an opening and plot
twists conventionally appear at the end of a film, we may
not be able to form a complete twist, as the narrative
would not have progressed to its entirety in enough
length. However, we could still apply a small twist or cliff-
hanger at the end of our opening sequence, as this will
both entice the audience to commit to the entirety of the
film as well as clearly signalling the end of the opening
and the beginning of the main film, therefore allowing the
structure to be full understood and comprehended by our
audience.

9. Focus Pull
 Another technique that I find effective is the camera technique;
Focus pulls. This technique is something I found can greatly
enhance a scene, as specific information can be withheld then
revealed to the audience, by blurring out certain features of a
scene, which then come into gradual focus as the piece
progresses. This would be effective for thriller opening secrets as
this will enable to incite enigma codes into my piece (meeting
with one of the conventions of an opening sequence), as I could
use this to hide specific details from the audience. Therefore,
also meeting with the conventions of thriller , as this will build
anticipation within the audience as they become enticed to
discover the secrets within the piece.

10. The Dolly Zoom
 Another technique that I like is a technique known as; The Dolly
Zoom. This is a technique that I believe would suit my thriller
opening piece very well as this technique allows for a unique
emphasise upon the dramatics of a scene. This effect is gained
as this technique allows for a gradual zoom which creates the
effect of the subject remaining stationary, but the background
moving away. Resulting in emphasising the focused subject
within the piece, effective in portraying certain emotions such as
the rapidness of surrounding events or connotations of shock or
disbelief, as the subject is still in comparison to ever moving
background. Therefore, this would be an effective technique in
connoting the emotion of the characters within my piece,
resulting in forming more effective bonds between the audience
and the narrative.

11. In Conclusion
 In conclusion, I believe that after analysing and
identifying a number of techniques hat I have
discovered during my research of thriller films, that I will
be incorporating many of these ideas within my final
piece. As this will allow me to both build upon and
experiment with already established conventions
(linking with the experimental stage of Christian Metz’s
Four Stage Theory) as well as creating an enticing film
for my audience that meets with opening sequence
conventions as well as that of a thriller (such as through
the use of ambience and eerie settings and scenarios).
Therefore, contributing to the overall success of my
thriller opening piece.