Our thriller opening sequence adheres to several genre conventions including the use of intense music, handheld shots during action scenes, and costumes that distinguish the protagonist and antagonist. It also draws similarities to films like John Wick through its editing pace and use of shot transitions. The setting of a pub and inclusion of props like guns and hammers align with thriller tropes. However, it also breaks some conventions through its period British setting. Social groups are represented through the portrayal of the older generation as stronger and the inclusion of a black bodyguard character positioned as weaker than others.

1. CREATIVE CRITICAL REFLECTION
By Marcus Oakley- Green

2. INTRODUCTION
• Our chosen genre for our opening sequence is a Thriller. Therefore,
there are certain conventions we must adhere to for our sequence to be
classed as a thriller. Some of the conventions we have included in our
thriller are. Extreme close ups of the protagonist, this shows their
emotions. A shorter shot duration of the antagonist to hide there
identity and make them seem more mysterious. The use of intense
music. The use of hand held shots when the action begins in the clip.
This is also shown as it is the longest shot in the hole sequence. This
puts emphasis on the action. The costume of our character also
adherer's to the thriller conventions as it is rugged for the protagonist
and smart and sleek for the antagonist.

3. EDIT
• Our thrillers editing is similar to the editing of the opening scene of
John Wick. They are both similar as the pace of both of them are the
same. The effects used in John Wick is also similar to ours. They use fake
blood and that’s it. In our thriller our protagonist also ends up with
blood on him. Finally the transition of from each shot is similar. In john
Wick they cut back to similar shots of the phone. Where we cut back to
similar shots of the protagonists face.

4. TITLES
• Our titles follow the conventions of a Thrillers titles. This is shown in a
number of different ways. The background we used for our titles is dark
and gives a atheistic of danger due to its black colour.

5. CAMERA
• The camera usage in Man on Fire, John Wick and Taken is fairly similar
to our thriller. In the opening of Man on Fire, the character also starts in
a car. We see shots of the character from both inside and outside. This is
similar to our thriller as our character is also shown from the inside of
the car.

6. SOUND
• The sound we used in our thriller was both diegetic and non-diegetic. It
adhered to the conventions of a thriller. We used dark sounds, such as
drums heavy bass and high pitched sounds to add the concept of a
build up. To achieve this we used violins. The diegetic sounds we used in
our thriller where, sound effects such as the hammer hitting a body. We
also had a small amount of dialogue.

7. COSTUME/ HAIR AND MAKE UP
• Our thriller has very similar costume styles to Wild Bill and Harry Brown.
This is because they adhere to the costume style conventions of a
thriller. This means our thriller also adheres to thriller convention in
costume. However, our thriller is period set and has elements which are
epically British. Such as the gang men and wearing Barbour jackets Our
main character was also wearing a black jacket which had a large collar.
This is very common in thriller films such as Harry Brown and Taken.

8. PROPS
• In our thriller the props we adhere to the genre conventions of a thriller,
when it comes to props. For example we used Hammers and Guns. The
gun is one of the main props used in thrillers. We also used a hammer
to ad difference and verity in the weapons. We also used a phone in the
beginning this was similar to the opening of John Wick, as in both clips
shows the protagonist watch a video of a loved one.

9. SETTING/LOCATION
• The setting we used for our thriller coheres with the thriller conventions.
This is because we set our thriller in a pub. We chose this location as it
goes with the theme of our thriller which is set in the English
countryside. Another thriller which has scenes in a pub is Wild Bill. It also
has a very British theme about it. Therefore, by choosing a pub as our
location we are slightly braking the conventions of a thriller.

10. LIGHTING
• The lighting we used was both natural and false. We used natural
lighting when we where outside so we could get a realistic feel. We had
to use lights when shooting inside as it was dark and we wanted to be
able to shoot with the right amount. The lighting also adhered to the
stereotypical conventions of a thriller as we used low lighting to create a
dark and mysterious atmosphere.

11. SOCIAL GROUPS (AGE)
• In our thriller there are some social groups which are represented in the
sequence. These social groups are race, age and gender. The two main
characters in our sequence are the eldest. This shows that the older
generation are seen as stronger and wiser. This is shown through them
having longer shot durations, close ups and having a stronger character
positioning. Such as the main villain sat down waiting for the
protagonist to entre. The younger characters as seen as weaker as they
play the Villains bodyguard and are easily taken out.

12. SOCIAL GROUP (RACE)
• Race is also shown in our sequence. This is because one of the
bodyguards is black. He is portrayed as weaker. This is because his
character positioning starts off as being strong as he comes towards the
main character. But he is then pushed away connoting he is much
weaker. He also has a much shorter shot duration over the other
characters. This connotes he is less important as we don’t see him more
than once. Finally his costume shows his weakness. He is wearing a dirty
jacket and jeans and boots. Where as the main characters are wearing
jackets and clean coats. This means he is of a lower status due to his
appearance.

13. SOCIAL GROUPS (GENDER)
• The third and final social group our opening title sequence shows is
gender. There are no women in our sequence. This shows that they
could be possible weaker in the clip as they are not involved at all.
Therefore, it connotes that men are the main focus of this clip.