3. The Title and Synopsis
• The title of the film is “Locked In”
• Damien Nick Arthur ( Javelosa) ; a financial analyst, visits his
friend Eve ( Donkoh) in London from Beijing. He bumps into a lady
that drops her I.D card but is then chased by 2 dubious
individuals, what ensues is a deadly pursuit. He calls his friend
frantically for help but there was no answer. Eventually he was
arrested for the murder of Eve ( Donkoh) and is sentenced to life
in prison from then on he tries to figure out what has occurred
and who truly was responsible for the death of his beloved friend.
What he discovered was nothing that momentous day was what it
appeared to be.
4. Setting/ Location
• The filming scene used was typical of that of the thriller genre. It
was in a dark and quiet road which enhances the opening as it
creates tension and suspense making the audience on-edge which is
what a thriller film should do.
• Furthermore, most of the sequence was in an alleyway. A cramp and
tight space. This was used because it improves makes the audience
wonder who the characters they saw are as they’re faces are not
clearly seen thus the audience is forced to engaged in the opening
sequence early on.
• The location/setting aspect didn’t uses conventions of real film
openings as it was characteristic of thriller films in that it was set in a
dark, quiet and isolated area much of movie in the thriller genre.
5. Genre and how it’s suggested
• Thriller
• There are many aspects in which it is suggested. This is
through sound, location, costumes, lighting and other features
of the opening. Incorporation of generic conventions like
those in real film openings can be found in our opening
sequence although not all might be present but certainly a
considerable of amount are.
6. Costumes and props
• The costumes used utilizes forms and conventions of real film
openings as it is marginally typical of one. As the clothing used in
the thriller opening is one that have been seen used in real film
opening’s to create a credible Mise-en-scene therefore the
costumes and props used “fits in” with the customs of real film
openings as it uses clothing that is conventional and common.
7. Camerawork and editing
• In the opening sequence, there were a variety of camera shots
angles and movement such as medium, long and close up
shots. The variety of shots has meant that the viewer is
stimulated thus generating excitement and thrill which
exercises the generic conventions of the thriller genre. The
particular shot that is crucial to this, is the close up shot ( Eve,
lying dead on the floor) as the jump cut towards that
particular shot needs to create tension without this, it would
not engage the audience early on and the film as a whole
might fail as a result of this
8. How characters are introduced
• The Protagonist Damien ( Javelosa) is first introduced walking
on a pavement. This is nothing special but it is deliberate as it
creates the perception that the individual is “normal” and that
he’s just like the rest of us
• Eve ( Donkoh) was lying on the ground. It is not known yet
whether she’s dead or not as there was no indication to her
current state. This was intentional so that the audience early
on is engaged which is what real film openings do. They let the
audience think for themselves and not make it patronising
hence the most successful thriller films are often
uncondescending towards the audience so that is what we
were trying to recreate such convention.
• The lady ( Howard) was introduced bumping into Damien (
Javelosa) not much is known about her. However, she does
play a crucial role in the film
9. Special effects
• The only special effect we used was a transition globe shot.
This is when the city of Beijing was first introduced then it
moves onto London where the sequence takes place
• From what I can recall, there has not been a thriller film that
has utilised this but I know there are some other films outside
of the thriller genre that has albeit not using a transition globe
shot rather just an establishing shot with the name of the city
on the screen
10. 1st & 2nd Frame – Production Co
• These are the first 2 frames in the 9 sequence of the film
opening
• The first is called “Rainbow Productions” with droplets of
water surrounding it whilst the second one is “Blink of an eye
Production” which on an eye.
• Both logos are very visible and eye-catching as the background
colour is black whilst the captions and the details are blue or
red which immediately stands out from the black backdrop
• It develops conventions of real products as they are in-
conjunction with them as they are simple, unique and
noticeable much like the ones you see on cinemas
11. 3rd Frame - Animation
• As I stated earlier, this is the only special effects / animation
used in the making of our opening product
• This animation is from the iMovie in the Apple Mackintosh
• It establishes what city the Protagonist is from and the setting
that it is taking place. From Beijing to London
• This aspect doesn’t introduce the characters yet, just the
information about the Protagonist; Damien ( Javelosa)
12. 4th Frame
• The 4th frame is one of the main individuals involved i.e The
Directors, Actors and Producers
• The background is black whilst the font is white
• This is one of the classic fonts, colours and background. As
used by the great Director, Alfred Hitchcock in his 1960’s film;
Psycho.
• Like the film, it is black and white however the difference is
that in mine there is no animation of the credits whilst in
Psycho there is but it does still create somewhat of a tension
even though it is primitive compare to that of Psycho
13. 5th Frame – The title
• As seen in above, this is the first time that the title is
introduced; “Locked In” also the backdrop is an establishing
shot
• This is the first time we see the Protagonist, Damien.
• The background is of an isolated road in which the main
character will be walking on shortly
• As I stated earlier, I believe that simple is better so once again
a white, bold font is used with a dark background. This creates
an unassuming title and background which the viewer will
find ordinary
• The simple fonts helps to focus all the attention on the action
that is about to unfold not the writing’s on the screen which
what real products often utilise so we have done the same
14. 6th Frame – Dead or Alive?
• This is the first time we see Eve ( Donkoh) the audience doesn’t
yet know if she’s dead or just lying on the floor. As there is no
indication to her current state
• This is a high-angle shot which often makes the subject
vulnerable , isolated and powerless. This is why we used it as we
want the viewers to be involved in the emotions promptly which
what great films do like The Usual Suspects ( Singer, 1995)
• This shot is the precedent to other shots of her. It will eventually
be insinuated that she is dead but who killed her remains a
mystery
15. 7th Frame – The I.D
• This shot is of an I.D card dropped by a lady (Howard) which
bumped with Damien ( Javelosa)
• This shows Damien picking up the card
• The audience is left to wonder if there is anything significant
about the I.D card. Once again engaging them, making the
viewers active instead of passive
16. 8th Frame – Run!
• This is a medium shot of two dubious characters , played by
Katie Howard and Ilana Prudent
• The two are seen running after the Protagonist Damien
• This very much fits into the archetype of a thriller genre as it
delivers excitement and exhilarates.
• The shot is in an alleyway which is cramp and dark. This
further boost the mystery of their characters as one can’t see
the faces of these two individuals very clearly.
• The only aspect which is clear is their shadow. The shadow
embodies the two characters as they’re dark, mysterious and
frightening
• One can compare it to that of the Usual Suspects (Singer,
1995) when shadows are used to outline the physique of the
protagonist Keyser Soyze ( Kevin Spacey)
17. 9th Frame – The Call
• The last scene of the opening is of Vanessa hand holding her
phone. Damien is desperately trying to contact her but to no
avail
• This last scene of the opening is the summit of tension and
suspense. As the viewers are left with many questions but no
answers at all
• The last scene leaves the viewers to speculate what has
happened to the characters involved
• This practises the form and conventions of real media
products by leaving the audiences stunned as they don’t
know what has happened or what is about to. The audience
are left “hanging”
18. Conclusion
• Our media product uses and develop forms and conventions
of real film openings by using the different aspects being
utilised in their real product such as :
Shadows
Lighting
Animation
Camera angles and shots
Fonts and colours
• All these ideas came from different films but the main one’s
that I have drawn inspiration from are Psycho ( Hitchcock,
1960) and the Usual Suspects ( Singer, 1995) through their use
of the generic conventions as stated from above
