The document discusses four potential locations for filming a thriller opening sequence. Location 1, a school field, was originally chosen but proved difficult to schedule filming. Location 2, Marriott's Way, was then selected as it had similar elements to the field but was publicly accessible. Location 3, a warehouse, was considered for its large dark space but local options could not be accessed. Location 4, a group member's garage, was ultimately chosen as it allowed for close-ups and interaction between characters while being conveniently accessible for filming.
2. Location 1: School field
The first location we intended to film in for the
first section of our thriller opening sequence was
this section of the school field.
We originally chose this location due to its
enclosed openness. The grass bank and trees
on either side of the open field present the theme
of entrapment – a conventional thriller theme that
would suggest the victim will be captured.
However, the openness of the field would
suggest that the victim might be able to escape,
presenting a red herring within the narrative
which is also conventional to thrillers.
This location idea and reasoning are partly
inspired by a scene in “American Psycho,” where
Patrick Bateman chases one of his victims down
a spiral staircase. The seemingly endless length
of the staircase represents an entrapment within
the situation, much like the length of the school field and the raised sides do with this location.
By making the capture of the victim inevitable, we thought that the audience would be kept waiting
for the moment that they would be captured, building suspense within the scene. However, the concept
that the victim might be able to escape could make the audience will them to do so. This would
consequently keep them in state of suspenseful uncertainty which would make the eventual capture of the
victim even more thrilling – a key aspect in making our opening sequence enjoyable for the audience.
However, it became apparent to us early on that to be able to film in this location, we would need to
find someone to play the victim and murderer who attends the college and is available for filming during
school hours. This proved overly difficult due to a lack of available people to ask who matched our
character profiles, therefore forcing us to find a new location for this section of the opening sequence.
3. Location 2: Marriotts Way
Marriotts Way – more specifically Breck Farm
Lane Bridge – is the location have we decided
upon after realising that the school field was no
longer suitable. Much like the school field,
Marriotts Way has raised sides to connote
the entrapment of the victim as they run along
the path, but also has the endless feel that
represents the hopeless efforts of escape of
the victim as they run, representing their
impending doom.
Evidently, the technical reasoning for
deciding upon this location is much the same as
the reasoning behind considering the school
field. However, as this is a publicly accessible
location we were able to film at any time of day
and with who ever we please. This makes the
filming schedule easier to construct as we are not limited by timing restrictions, as well as making casting
easier as we don’t have to pick someone who attends the college.
Furthermore, the bridge at this location lends itself to the construction some more interesting
shots, such as exaggerated high angle shots, bettering some shots that we had already planned to do.
Additionally, the victim will at some point be required to run underneath this bridge as they will be
running along the track, further representing their entrapment and foreshadowing their eventual capture.
Also, the victim’s vulnerable representation will be exaggerated as the end of the path isn’t even in sight
at this location, therefore indicating that the victim has no escape from the murderer.
Another benefit to using this location is that it isn’t place specific due to a lack of distinguishing
features. In other words, this could be a track anywhere in the world. Due to this, the audience will be
able to easily relate it to somewhere they know of, making the scene more real for them. This makes the
scene more thrilling, because they can place themselves in the position of the victim.
4. Location 3: Warehouse
The first location we considered for the second
section of our opening sequence was a
warehouse (not specifically the one pictured).
It would have provided us with the large, dark
space that we required to represent the isolation
of the victim as they sat in the middle of the
space. As well as this, the darkness that a
warehouse provides would allow us to keep the
murderer in the darkness, presenting the theme
of mystery within the sequence.
This sequence was partly inspired by the
Joker’s interrogation scene in The Dark Knight,
in which the darkness helps to exaggerate the
Joker’s isolation as he becomes shrouded in it,
much like how we are trying to represent our
victim, therefore making the warehouse an ideal
location to mirror this representation.
We wanted the location following the victim’s capture to be enclosed to represent the shift in their
ability to escape – it is now clear to the audience that the victim is trapped. This is effectively achieved
from how enclosed the warehouse is, while the darkness doesn’t show any possible signs of escape.
When it becomes clear to the audience that the victim is trapped, more suspense is built as they consider
what will happen to the victim, making the eventual demise of the victim more thrilling due to the
prolonged state of suspense that the audience would experience.
The problem with filming in a warehouse, however, is that there aren’t any locally and publicly
available for us to film in – they are all hired out by private firms, meaning we had difficulty finding one that
was empty enough for us to film in. Instead, we chose to find a different location.
5. Location 4: Garage
After searching for some more locations for the second
section of our opening based off of our original idea, we
eventually decided upon using Ben’s garage. It is smaller
than a warehouse of course, but still provides a dark
location, and upon changing locations we realised this was a
beneficial decision that in fact aids the narrative.
Firstly, the garage is limited in terms of space. Whilst
we initially thought this would hinder our ability to film, it
instead lends itself to close up shots. This not only presents
the theme of entrapment which represents the victim’s
vulnerability and lack of an escape, it also places the
audience close to the victim at all times, therefore allowing
them to grasp the panic and fear of the victim from the
smaller details that would become visible in close up shots.
Secondly, the victim would be much closer to the
murderer within this section of the scene due to the limited
space. This would allow us to construct some two shots,
within which we can show how the two interact and therefore
how much power the murderer has over his victim.
Besides technical reasons for choosing this location,
there are also several practical reasons. As it belongs to
one of our group members, we have access to it at all times
for filming and potential re-filming. This also means that we
can leave props exactly where they are, removing the risk of
continuity errors if we were to re-film anything.
As well as this, we plan to light the location using
candle light, therefore the emanating from the candles will
be picked up easily and we will not need to provide
additional lighting which would negate the effect of the
6. Location 4: Garage
After searching for some more locations for the second
section of our opening based off of our original idea, we
eventually decided upon using Ben’s garage. It is smaller
than a warehouse of course, but still provides a dark
location, and upon changing locations we realised this was a
beneficial decision that in fact aids the narrative.
Firstly, the garage is limited in terms of space. Whilst
we initially thought this would hinder our ability to film, it
instead lends itself to close up shots. This not only presents
the theme of entrapment which represents the victim’s
vulnerability and lack of an escape, it also places the
audience close to the victim at all times, therefore allowing
them to grasp the panic and fear of the victim from the
smaller details that would become visible in close up shots.
Secondly, the victim would be much closer to the
murderer within this section of the scene due to the limited
space. This would allow us to construct some two shots,
within which we can show how the two interact and therefore
how much power the murderer has over his victim.
Besides technical reasons for choosing this location,
there are also several practical reasons. As it belongs to
one of our group members, we have access to it at all times
for filming and potential re-filming. This also means that we
can leave props exactly where they are, removing the risk of
continuity errors if we were to re-film anything.
As well as this, we plan to light the location using
candle light, therefore the emanating from the candles will
be picked up easily and we will not need to provide
additional lighting which would negate the effect of the