1. In what ways does my media
product use, develop or
challenge forms and conventions
of real media products?
2. What makes a thriller opening
sequence?
To make a thriller opening sequence successful, there must be codes and
conventions of the genre. These include: mysterious music, iconography, slow
motion, low key lighting and so on. I have included these in my opening
sequence. These codes and conventions create tension and suspense because
they leave questions in the audiences mind. When watching my opening
sequence, the audience had questions in their head. This is shown in the
survey I completed after the final draft of my opening sequence.
An example of a convention of thriller is low key lighting. This makes the
audience anxious because they will want to know who the person is
(especially if they are seeing the character for the first time). I have used low
key lighting in my opening sequence. I have used it for the scientist part. This
creates suspense, which a thriller film is meant to do. This is because the
audience would want to see the scientists face. This shows my film is a thriller
film.
3. Low key lighting has been used in the scientist part of
the opening sequence. I have used low key lighting to
build tension and suspense. The low key lighting makes
the audience question what is going on because the
scene is dull. The audience asking questions is a
convention of thriller.
4. Mysterious music is vital in thriller films because if the music links with the action then the
audience would feel as if they are in the character's position. This will make them want to watch
more. I have included mysterious music in my opening sequence, which also links with the action.
The pace of the score is fast during the chase scene compared to others parts, such as when Karl
sees the two men. The action in the chase scene is much quicker compared to when Karl sees
them. The fast pace score makes the audience want to find out whether he would get caught. In
the thriller opening sequences’ I have researched there are some sort of tense created.
Slow motion is a convention of thriller and creates suspense as it emphasizes the action. Slow
motion makes the audience think about the next scene and what would be a result of the slow
motion. I have included slow motion in my opening sequence in the part where we see the two
antagonists’ feet. This therefore makes my film a thriller film.
The location is also important as it gives the audience an understanding of the opening sequence.
The location can, in some cases, be a reflection of the main character/s. This allows the audience
to understand more of the character/s. In my opening sequence, the setting of the park implies
he is homeless. This information says a lot about Karl, such as he has no one to look after him. In
the opening sequences’ I have research, there are some information about the characters in the
sequence. However, there are not too much. In my opening sequence, I have not revealed too
much. For example, the audience does not know what has happened to him before, as in why the
organization chose him and not someone else. This makes my film a thriller film.
What makes a thriller opening
sequence?
5. Slow motion is used when we see the two
men’s feet.
The slow motion used makes the audience
eager to find out who they are and whether
they are the antagonists. The slow motion
emphasizes how slow time passes by
The audience understands the film is set in a park. The setting links with the genre because
the park we used is local. In thriller films. The setting makes him look innocent and in a
typical thriller film the vulnerable people gets hurt. In this case, Karl is vulnerable and is
getting hurt.
6. The font of the titles are significant in an opening sequence because it links
with the genre of the film. For example, having a bright color and swirl
typography will not be suitable as it does not reflect the genre, which is
thriller. An example of a thriller film I researched is ‘Sin City’. In the opening
sequence of this film, the titles used are thick and bold. This highlights the
genre is thriller because the title symbolises power. In thrillers, power is
usually associated with the protagonists. In a typical thriller film, the power of
the protagonist’s is more than the power of the antagonist’s. This therefore
leads to the antagonists winning in a battle or conflict.
I have used thick typography in my opening sequence. The movement of the
title is important because it adds to the suspense created. In ‘Sin City’, the
titles move from left to right or from right to left. The audience does not
know what way the title would be moving. Similarly, I placed the titles in
different places. This links with the genre because in a typical thriller film, the
audience does not know what to expect. This means my film is a thriller film.
What makes a thriller opening
sequence?
7. In ‘Sin City’, the title moves from left to right
The font of the film’s name is
thick. The colour red connotes
danger, which links with thriller
because in a typical thriller film
there is danger.
The titles appear at different places. This puts the audience
on the edge of their seat because the movement of the titles
are unexpected. This links with my storyline as what would
happen to Karl is unknown. In real thriller films, the audience
does not know what to expect, which makes the film a
thriller.
8. The costumes of the characters define who they are and
this is vital as the audience has a first impression of them.
The costume can imply a range of things, including their
social class (middle class people are likely to dress smart)
and their occupation (businessmen wear suits). In a
thriller film, a convention is the type of clothing the
antagonists and protagonists wear. In a typical thriller
film, the antagonists would wear smart clothing and the
protagonists would wear daily clothing. My opening
sequence demonstrates this as the two men wears smart
clothing and Karl wears normal daily clothing. This makes
the audience believe that Karl is the protagonists of the
film.
What makes a thriller opening
sequence?
9. The two members of the
organization is wearing smart
clothing. In typical thriller films, the
antagonists dress professionally.
Karl is wearing normal daily clothing. The fact
that Karl wears daily clothes links with the
thriller genre because in a typical thriller film
the protagonist wear normal daily clothes.
Normal clothing makes Karl seem innocent
and innocent people are usually the victim. In
this case, Karl is the victim.
10. Flashbacks are an effective way to get the audience
thinking and keep them on the edge of their seat.
In a typical thriller film, close ups of the characters
are constantly used. This creates tension because
the audience pays full attention to the character.
This keeps them on the edge of their seat. In my
opening sequence, there are close ups, especially at
the end where Karl is laying on the ground. At this
point of the opening sequence, the audience
focuses on Karl’s facial expression, and this
therefore leads them to feel tension.
What makes a thriller opening
sequence?
11. This is how the flashback starts.
Flashbacks are common in real
thriller films. The flashback builds
suspense as the audience wonder
why they chose Karl and not
someone else. From this, the
audience also questions how he
escaped from the experiment.
These put the audience on the
edge of their seat because they
would want to know the answers
to their questions.
12. Comparing my opening sequence to ‘A
Most Wanted Man’
Similarities:
There are many similarities with my opening sequence and the opening sequence of ‘A most wanted
man’. In my opening sequence, Karl is running away from two men. This is shown in the chase scenes.
Likewise in this opening sequence, a man climbs up and drags himself to the floor and as soon as he
gets up he runs. This clearly implies that the person is running away from someone. In both opening
sequence, there is someone running away from someone else. The audiences have questions about
the characters running.
In both opening sequences, there is an over shoulder of a character looking at something. In my
opening sequence, Karl is reading the note whereas in this opening sequence the man is looking at a
picture.
Both opening sequences start with a score. This starts to build tension for both opening sequences.
Another similarity is the close up of the same character's reaction. In this opening sequence, the man
changes where he looks, which implies he is desperate for the person’s answer. In my opening
sequence, there is a reaction shot of Karl waking up after he fainted (at the end). He is worried and
frightened.
However, from the man’s reaction there might be something illegal going on. This is because the man
is encouraging the other man to do his job for him. This is demonstrated in the dialogue ‘You are doing
the right thing’. This is similar to my opening sequence because the secret organization is testing an
illegal drug on an innocent person. Both films are doing something illegal.
13. Differences:
The plot of my opening sequence is different to the plot in this
film. My opening sequence is about Karl getting abducted by two
men because of a drug. Whereas this opening sequence is about
a man hiding and another man talking on the phone.
Another difference is that in this opening sequence there is a
hidden identity. We can not see the face of the person who is
hiding. In my opening sequence, everyone’s face can be seen.
This film may be effective because the audience wonder who he
is and why he is hiding.
Comparing my opening sequence to ‘A
Most Wanted Man’
14. Reaction shot of the
man talking on the
phone.
The man is
climbing up.
15. Karl running away from the two
men. The chase scene is a
typical convention of thriller.
The chase scene in my opening
sequence creates tension and
makes the audience ask
questions. This is a convention
of thriller films as it makes them
want to watch more. An
example of a question asked in
my opening sequence was
whether he manages to escape.
The shot of Karl reading the
note creates tension
because the camera is
positioned above the note.
This makes the audience
feel as if they are his
position. This makes the
audience feel sympathy for
him.
16. Costume/Props
Karl’s clothing may have been effective if it was ripped in some parts. This would make it obvious that
he is homeless and poor. In the opening sequence, Karl looks more of a working class than underclass.
This is because he is wearing a lose top and a stereotype of working class is wearing lose clothing. This
makes my film a thriller film because the innocent characters are usually the ones that get hurt (a
convention of a thriller film).
The two men who are members of the secret organization are wearing a smart shirt. This clearly shows
that they are middle class as this social class is more likely to wear professional clothing, perhaps the
reason is their type of job. In this case, they are members of a secret organization. This outlines they are
the antagonists of the film because wearing smart clothing is typical for a thriller film. This therefore
means my opening sequence has followed conventions of the thriller genre.
Ohemaa (the scientist) is wearing a mask. Her clothing of a scientist is not shown which may prevent
the audience from understanding the plot fully. However, the mask hints she is a scientist. The overall
effectiveness is not good because the audience cannot see the costume of the scientist.
We used a test tube to demonstrate Ohemaa is a scientist and is experimenting. This section is
successful because there is a green liquid in the test tube that implies she is experimenting something.
The props were used effectively. An example of a real thriller film that has a similar plot to my film is
‘Paycheck’. In this film, a man is also being experimented on. The test tube in my opening sequence links
with a typical plot of a thriller film.
17. The two men from the secret organization
are wearing smart clothing, which gives
the impression that they are professional.
This makes my film a thriller because the
audience can distinguish between the
good and evil.
The scientist’s clothing is
not shown. This creates
suspense as there is a
hidden identity. This makes
the audience want to see
the face of the scientist.
Costume/Props
18. Characters
In my opening sequence, there are only four characters: the scientist,
Karl and two members from the organization. Overall, the characters
were how my group and I wanted them to be. There is not a lot of
information about the characters. This would persuade the audience
to want to carry on the film and put them on the edge of their seat. In
a typical thriller film, the opening sequence does not give too much
away because if everything about the characters are revealed within
the first 3 minutes then the audience would think there is no point in
carrying on the film. This therefore makes my film a thriller film.
The audience understands a lot about the two men. For example, that
they are after Karl. When they start chasing Karl, they realize they are
the two men are from the organization.
19. A medium shot of
the two members of
the secret
organization
A medium
shot of
Karl
The scientist
Characters
20. Comparing my opening sequence to
‘Friday the 13th’
Similarities:
In both opening sequences, everything is normal up to a certain point. In my opening
sequence it is normal up to when Karl sees the two men. In this opening sequence,
everything is normal up to when the boy sees the person. We do not know who the
person is because there is a point of view shot.
Most of the people in this opening sequence is wearing the same clothing, suggesting
they are students and are having a great time with friends after school. Their clothes
reveal their identity. In my opening sequence, the two men are wearing smart clothing
implying that they are from the secret organization. In both cases, the clothing the
characters wear is essential because it shows what type of person they are.
In my opening sequence, as soon as Karl realized the two men are after him he started
running. Likewise, as soon as the boy saw the person he started explaining and
panicking. In both cases, the characters got terrified after seeing someone.
In my opening sequence, Karl runs in order to not get caught by the two men. Also, in
this opening sequence, the girl starts running in order to escape from the person. Both
characters are trying to escape from someone else.
21. Difference:
In this film, there are a lot of dark and dull colors used.
However, in my opening sequence there are not a lot of dark
colors. The only dark scene is the scientist part (flashback).
Having dark colors is more effective because it creates
suspense.
The plot of this opening sequence is different to my opening
sequence plot. This film is about a group of friends having a
great time and a couple go to a separate room and when they
see the person they start to panic. However, my opening
sequence is about Karl getting abducted by a secret
organization who wants to test their drug on him.
Comparing my opening sequence to
‘Friday the 13th’
23. Karl seeing the two men.
At this point, the
atmosphere is tense
because it leaves
questions on the
audiences mind and
makes them panic about
what Karl would do.
These are conventions of
thriller.
Karl running away from
the two men. The
chase scene is quick,
which is a convention
of thriller films.
