This document analyzes the opening sequence of a student film created to be a thriller genre. It discusses how various shots, costumes, locations, sounds and other elements develop conventions of the thriller genre, such as using dark colors and lighting, dangerous props like knives, high angles to depict vulnerability, and revealing a violent climax early on. However, it also notes that revealing so much of the plot in the opening is unconventional. The purpose is to both develop and challenge conventions of real thriller film openings.

1. E V A L U A T I O N Q 1
In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions
of real media products? (i.e. of film openings)

2. S C R E E N S H O T 1
The start of our opening sequence starts with a pull focus shot. This
is to captivate the audience and to draw focus onto the female
character and to signify she is of some importance in our film.
traight away helps to convey the thriller genre. Typically in thrillers the props used would be dark/dull colours as thrillers have dark
The female charter has
both red nail varnish
and red lipstick (applied
a little later on in the
sequence). We chose
this as red can
resemble danger but it
can also represent love
which shows our female
character can be
perceived as both a
villain/threat or a sex
object. Danger is typical
in a thriller as they often
contain a lot of violence
and threatening
behaviour and
serious/dangerous
plots.
The title slate was
blended into the
background, in the
pillow. The font chosen
has an edge and looks
‘broken’ and
mysterious. The font is
in block capitals which
we feel fitted with the
thriller genre as thrillers
are normally hard, bold
and fast paced.

3. S C R E E N S H O T 2
We used an establishing shot in our opening sequence; this was to
create a mood and atmosphere for our audience and also show
where our opening sequence will be set.
Although our location is not typical of most thrillers, as typically they
are set in big cities, it does create the same atmosphere as most
thrillers. The location gives a spooky, eerie and mysterious feel; as the
location is run down, isolated and dark.
The colours in our location
are very dull and dark as
the location is run down
and dirty. It has low key
lighting, which helps to set
the correct atmosphere for
a thriller, and it is typical of
a thriller to use dark low key
lighting.
The title slate was faded
slightly so it could sort of
blend in with the
background and not drew
too much focus away
from the rest of the shot
which helps to set the
atmosphere for the rest
of the opening sequence.
The title slate was edited
to move along with the
camera as it panned
along the wall and the
title slate slowly followed
underneath the pipe. It
was edited like this to
make it look more
professional; to show
more skill.

4. S C R E E N S H O T 3
Title slate
Location/lighting
Shot/camera
Soundtrack (heels)

5. S C R E E N S H O T 4
Camera
Female power
Costume
Soundtrack

6. S C R E E N S H O T 5
Female power
Location
Story/action
Soundtrack/dialogue

7. S C R E E N S H O T 6
This shot shows a male victim lower down than the female,
showing that he has less power and status which shows he is
vulnerable - this challenges typical thriller films as the males are
normally the more dominant and powerful.
We used a high angle shot to show that the male is the most vulnerable out of
the two characters, thrillers often use high angle and low angle shots to
distinguish what characters have the power and which characters are less
powerful and in danger.
The colours and lighting in the
frame are quite dull and dark,
this is to help convey the
thriller genre as typically
thrillers are very dark to show
the danger and
mysteriousness.
The title slate is blended into
the background by having it
a similar colour to the wall,
this is to help keep the focus
on the main characters in
the shot and to make the
opening look more
professional as in most film
openings the title slates are
built into the surroundings in
the frame.
The male was positioned in
the centre of the frame and
we used an over the
shoulder shot to show that
he is the focus and that he is
in danger as the female is a
threat to him.
Our male character’s
costume was a messy suit,
as in thriller openings it is
common for characters to be
dressed quite smartly and it
is often that the men would
wear suits and be of a high
status/power. However
because in our opening the
male is the victim we had to
make him fit his stereotype
by making his suit dirt and
untidy.

8. S C R E E N S H O T 7
Title slate Location
Camera/shot
Knife action

9. S C R E E N S H O T 8
This reinforces forms and conventions that
are used in real thriller films as they typically contain weapons such as knives
and involve violence, death and blood like we included in our film opening.
Plots in thrillers often contain this as it creates face paced action, mystery and
a dark atmosphere for the audience.
However looking back on our opening it is not typical of other film
openings to reveal so much of the story straight away. Normally
openings build up tension and suspense to then have action in the
climax of the film, we had a climax in the opening - the female slitting
the males throat.
The location adds to the
atmosphere as it is run
down and dirty which
creates an eerie and
gloomy mood whilst the
violent attack is carried out.The soundtrack changes at
this point in the sequence,
as the pace picks up due to
the action occurring. The
soundtrack becomes a lot
faster paced and harder
tone, which makes it a lot
more intense which builds
the tension for the
audience.
The female’s costume is
all black and she is the
villain in our opening
sequence, this is typical
of thrillers to have their
villainous characters in
dark clothing as it creates
a sense of danger. It also
shows they are a threat
and are intimidating and
portrays they are
secretive and have
something to hide.

10. S C R E E N S H O T 9
The knife at the end of the opening sequence helps to
suggest that the film is a thriller as typical props found in
other media products that are presenting the thriller genre
are guns and knives as they are dangerous, scary and
threatening.
The last title slate in our
opening is the director.
Most films end with the
director as the last name
in the title slate sequence;
this is because the director
overseas everything in the
film production, they have
the control over the film
and all the actors and crew
that are part of it. So the
director appears after all
the actors and production
crew as they are the main
person involved.
For this shot we chose to use a pull focus shot as it creates mystery and suspense and it is typically
used in thrillers for this reason. The pull focus shot helps to show something is of an importance
and in this case, it shows that the knife is important and the knife is a serious and threatening
object which shows there is danger within the film and adds to the thrilling aspect of the film.