The document discusses the filmmaker's process in developing the opening scene for their crime thriller film. They began by researching conventions of the thriller genre, focusing on crime thrillers like The Dark Knight. They decided to base the scene at an isolated rural bank that could be easily accessed at their location of Bowdon Rugby Club. Costumes like dark clothes and masks were used to keep characters mysterious. Camera angles from films like The Dark Knight Rises were employed to build tension. Lighting and props similarly drew from examples in other crime thrillers to engage the audience through conventions of the genre.

2. Before beginning to make my film I had to consider what sort of things I
wanted and more importantly needed to include. I looked at other media
products based around the thriller film genre to come up with a list of
important codes and conventions that are needed to ensure I end up with a
successful film opening sequence for that particular genre. I looked at many
different types of thriller films all with different sub-genres such as The Dark
Knight which is a crime-based thriller and Sinister 2 which is a horror-thriller.
After researching into certain thriller sub-genres I decided to base mine
around crime as it seemed as if I could include lots of action and make it
really intense. After establishing which sub-genre I would be doing for my
thriller film I researched more about that particular sub-genre to identify any
specific codes and conventions that I would need to include in order for it to
be successful. I looked at films such as Nightcrawler, A Kid Called Danger
and The Dark Knight Rises. Some of the conventions I identified were:
-Low-key lighting
-Tension Music
-Changes in camera angles
-Black and White shots
-Dark clothes
-Extreme props (guns. Ect)
-Isolated location

3. Setting
For my research into crime-based thrillers I found that the most commonly used
location is one of which is isolated and more often than not in quite rural areas. Right
from the beginning I made it clear that I wanted my film opening scene to be based
on some sort of bank/shop that is an easy hit list for a typical pair of outlaw robbers.
At first I thought this may be a problem as it won’t look realistic or professional to use
just a house for the supposed bank in the film, however, luckily I work at Bowdon
Rugby Club in the mornings meaning I have full access to the facility when it isn’t
busy. This meant we could openly film there on the two days we needed to without
any problems. The great thing about this location is that it is very isolated away from
anything else and located in the countryside. This was good because it was a key
convention of a thriller films meaning I had used elements of real media products in
my own. Furthermore, I think that this location, being so isolated, connotes it as easy
target for a bank robbery heist which sets the scene for the audience.
Moreover, I based the location on the opinions of the target audience. When running
my focus group my target audience mainly agreed that the start crime should take
place in an isolated, rural area as appose to an urban town/city.
Overall, I think that my final choice in location was successful as it fit in well with the
idea of Jonny’s character running across the field to supposed freedom. Generally, I
think I used the conventions from existing media products in my opening sequence
as it’s essentially the way to creating a successful thriller film. Additionally, the
location was a success because it was: local- so we could access it easily and
regularly, big: so we had lots of space to record and move about and free- meaning
none of the budget was spent on the location.

5. Costum
eFrom my research on thriller films I came to understand that in most cases the
antagonist generally wears dark, dull clothing as it doesn’t reveal much about their
character. I decided to use this convention in my thriller film because it was very
important that the antagonist in my film (Jonny) was kept mysterious and not
revealing at all. The black ski mask he wore for the first scene when they’re
robbing the bank connotes his lack of identity and the serious and threatening
situation that this imposes. As for the other criminal character, he wears a lighter
colour mask to show weakness which is important as it justifies why he got caught
by the police.
The policeman character, played by me, didn’t have a specific costume as we
didn’t have that sort of clothing so we just filmed while I was wearing my normal
clothes.
As for George’s character, the banker, he was just a minor character so he was
wearing his normal, everyday clothes. Having a casual bystander in the scene
alerts the audience that the two criminals are attacking an innocent place with
everyday people showing the ruthlessness and determination of them.
For the majority of the opening scene I used and developed conventions used in
previous thriller films to infer different things about each character. For the
antagonist character I used conventions from an existing media text. I was inspired
by the film The Dark Knight with the masks and clothing when the Joker robbed
the bank in the first scene.

7. Camera
AnglesPart of creating a thriller film is using a range of camera angles that convey different moods
and themes about each scene. While observing the fist scene of The Dark Knight Rises, I
noted some of the key camera angles and shot types that were used and how they were
effective in creating tension in the lead up to the bank robbery. Due to my previous study of
various shots and camera angles in thriller movies I already knew, more or less, what I was
looking for.
This zoomed shot of the clown mask connotes a sense of
mystery and hidden identity which shows the reader that
whoever this character is, he doesn’t want anyone else to know
him. The use of masks in this first scene also indicates an
immediate involvement to the joker (with him being a clown).
This wide angle, long range shot portrays the high risk and
danger of this heist, shown through the clearly visible long drop
from the wire. Showing this to the audience builds excitement
as it shows how extreme the robbery will be as they are
attacking from the air while they have people on the ground too.
The close up of the criminal’s hands holding the alarm hacking
device gives the audience some insight on the complexity of the
heist showing how much thought has gone into breaking into
the bank The wires further connote this thought of complex
heists.

8. Camera
Angles This over the shoulder shot is very important for the audience to
understand what is happening and will happen in the first
scene. It allows the audience to see the person behind the
hacker about to shoot him which is already a plot twist in this
story which excites the ready early on.
The high angle shot, looking down on the bank owner, connotes
his lack of control in this situation and shows him as weak. He is
bleeding out after being shot, on the ground and unarmed while
the Joker walks away with his money, it’s fair to say he is very
week in this shot.
The close up of the jokers face is now revealed and it is almost
the final piece to explain the killing of the fellow crew members.
The audience know that this is the Joker after hearing that he
wears clown face paint earlier in the scene so showing him as
the last man standing puts everything in perspective
The tilt shot in this clip shows the extreme height of the building
they are about to zip line from connoting shear danger and
tension. The tilt shot almost gives the illusion of the audience
falling making it very realistic and furthermore exciting.

9. This close up, zoomed shot of George’s character placing the
money in the bank has been developed from the existing thriller
movie. I used this shot so the audience could see the amount of
money being stolen and the severity of the crime.
This is where I challenged the existing film’s camera shots in
because in this clip I used a match on action shot type to make
the clip of them walking through the door a lot clearer and
smoother. By using this shot I made it more realistic and gave
the illusion that the readers were actually present.
The wide angle shot used in this clip of Jonny running across
the field away from the police is well used as it informs the
reader of the great distance he has run from the police and that
he has essentially escaped.
This high angle shot looking down on Matt’s character connotes
his lack of power in this situation. It shows the reader that he is
vulnerable at this time. This high angle shot has been used in a
lot of thriller films especially during interrogation scenes.

10. I have used codes and conventions from real media texts as I have used low-key lighting to
create a sinister mood and a daunting atmosphere. I looked at the crime thriller Nightcrawler
which used very dim lighting during the interrogation to make the scene seem creepy and
gloomy. Often a dark setting can build tension because there is a constant fear of the
unknown from the audience’s perspective. I decided to almost mirror the low lit interrogation
room as I thought the daunting effect it provided would build tension and keep the audience
on alert.
Lighting

11. In my film opening scene I used the Uses and Gratification Model which is most
commonly used in thriller and horror movies as they are unrealistic. Using this kodel,
it meant that the audience could watch it as a form of escapism to leave reality for a
short period of time and avoid stress, worry and frustration. This model is most
commonly used in thriller films because the story line and content is often unlike real
life, allowing the audience to essentially take themselves off into a different world.
However I also used the reception model at times bvecause the audience is also
made to decode the representations that lie within the scene. Using Mise en Scene I
represented the criminal, that got caught, as quite young, stupid and inexperienced
with robbery heist. An example of this is with ambient sound and the characters
dialogue which is loud and easily identifiable. This character is juxtaposed with the
character that escaped the police because he kept quiet and took certain precautions
to assure he was successful. This model is used in a wide variety of films, and quite
commonly in psychological thrillers where the audience has to figure out the different
representations within the film to understand the plot.
Audience Theories

12. When deciding what props I will use in my opening sequence I looked at the props in existing
media texts that were based around similar plots to my own then developed and challenged
some of the examples. In the bank robbery scene, from the film 44 minutes, the robbers
props are very typical of a criminal. They had, fire arms, a bag for the money and ski masks
to cover their identity. For my bank robbery scene I thought it would be best if I used similar
sort of props to ones that are in an existing media text.
Props