2. Genre
The Genre of our two minute film opening Is a Thriller with a sub genre of Horror.
The typical conventions of a horror film include: dark lighting, slow audio, red and black colouring and light in a
certain area.
Angles in horror films tend to vary. For example canted angles can be used to create confusion and disorientation,
long tracking shots can be used to create tension, Point of View shots to show what the protagonist/antagonist is
looking at and depth of field to blur the background and focus the attention on the Protagonist. We aim to include
these in our film to ensure that there is a build up of tension and suspense.
Furthermore, slow editing is a good way to create suspense and an unsettling feeling; the audience senses because
nothing has been a fast pace for a while then something bad is going to happen. Therefore we will try and include
this in the opening.
3. Pitch- Narrative
• A child is laying in bed asleep and is suddenly woken up by a knocking sound coming from
behind the bedroom door.
• They get out of bed and follow the noise; opening the bedroom door to peer out. The cause of
the noise is nowhere to be seen.
• The child becomes distressed and calls for their mother.
• Their mother calls to them from her bedroom, and they walk towards her bedroom door. The
door is opened and the bed is empty; the mother is nowhere to be seen.
• The mothers voice then calls the child from the living room downstairs.
4. Target Audience and Story Archetypes
Our Target audience are both male and females aged 15 and over.
The story archetype that our horror/thriller film will fit into will be flight and pursuit. The
unidentified antagonist will be terrorising and pursuing the protagonist in a seemingly subtle
way through showing her that they are present in the house by knocking to wake her up, and
replying to her impersonating her mother. The audience will clearly know that there is an
antagonist present because two people will answer in response to the girl; one of them will be
the mother and one of them wont.
We will end the opening sequence on a cliff-hanger to lift tension and keep the audience
intrigued.
5. Mise en Scene
The location of our film opening will be set in a house where we can alter the lighting to ensure that it is in keeping
with our horror/thriller theme. By setting the film in a house, it will comply with the conventions of a thriller, as it is
realistic yet eerie.
Throughout our film opening, we will concentrate on dark lighting and colouring as it is set during night time/ late
evening and will create a sinister atmosphere. Also, the dark lighting will limit what the audience can see, therefore
making it easier for them to empathise with the protagonist which will increase panic.
The main filming areas will be in the protagonists bedroom, the hallway, the mothers room and the staircase.
