The document summarizes the opening sequence of a student's thriller film project. It establishes the film's subgenres as crime thriller and possibly psychological thriller through its mystery antagonist and missing schoolgirl plot. Generic thriller conventions like a dark color palette, shadows, and slow build of tension are employed. However, plain title credits challenge expectations to keep viewers focused on the visual storytelling. Nine clips from the opening are provided to represent the thriller genre through their black-and-white filter and enigmatic special effects shots that advance the mystery of the storyline.

2. In my production opening my group and I incorporated generic
conventions of a thriller film successfully. By using a black and white
filter over majority of our scenes, it creates a more dark and sinister
feel to the opening. We also incorporated enigma by making the
antagonist unknown. This is evident in our thriller opening through the
mystery feet walking off. In this scene also we can see the shadow of
the antagonist character. Shadows within a thriller film help to
exaggerate the use of darker tones on top of lighter tones which in a
way increases the anxiety for the audience, as well as increasing the
uncertainty as shadows only gives the outlines of a person and so you
wont know who it is. Majority of thriller films start off slow in order to
build anticipation, this is another generic convention which my
production opening includes. Many of the filmed footage is separated
by opening credits which slows it down, however quick cuts are use
between scenes in order to create the suspense needed.
From the opening it is evident that the sub-genre, which our
film will conform to, is mainly a crime thriller, however it
may also fit into the sub-genre of a psychological thriller.
By having a mystery antagonist, it indicates that through
out the plot one of the main storylines will be trying to
find out who this character is. The generic convention of
mystery is also enhanced for the audience when the final
scene of the opening is of a mobile phone ringing 999.
This mobile phone has previously been seen in the
beginning of the opening sequence, when it was being used
by one of the schoolgirls. This indicates that it is going to
be a crime thriller also as it is evident from these scenes
that something has happened to one of the schoolgirls.

3. The are also elements within my thriller opening that challenge
the generic conventions of a thriller opening. For the opening
credits we used a simple font. Usually within a thriller
film, the credits may have some form of distortion to them
depending on the sub genre of the thriller. As a group we
decided to use a plain font in order to help the audience keep
their attention on the actual opening sequence and not be
distracted by anything else. The sound (music instrumental)
used with in the opening sequence is synchronous with the
pace as they are both fast.

4. Here are 9 clips from the opening sequence of my thriller media clips. These
9 clips represent a thriller genre film as majority of the clips are in black
and white which is a typical convention within a thriller. The antagonist is
represented through a special effect which also enhances the enigma
within the opening sequence. As for the title it challenges the typical title
for a thriller film as it is very plain and not distorted.

5. The title of the film helps to establish the narrative because
the title is called “Lost Footsteps” which gives a big
clue to the audience that the film storyline may be
based on someone being kidnapped. The title has a
similar style to the British based films “Kidulthood” and
“Adulthood” as they both use a bold square edged
font. The title enters the opening sequence by flying
in.
This mid shot of the two female characters helps initiate the
storyline and the fact that the narrative may have
something to do with them as these are the first
characters we are introduced too.

6. A zoomed in mid
shot, helps the
audience to see
the characters
costume and
props used.
The camera angle is a long shot so we can see
the two female characters walking down the
pathway. In terms of mise-en-scene the
costume is a school uniform which makes it
evident they are going to school, the setting is
of an ordinary park to bring realism into film
and the lighting is quite bright , however the
black and white filter tones it down to conform
the generic conventions of a thriller.

7. 1
2
These screen shots show the thriller
genre within my opening sequence.
Both shot 1 and shot 2 are close ups
which create enigma with in the scene.
3 This is because shot 1 we can not see
who’s leg/feet it is walking which leaves
the audience to wonder and shot 2 we
can only through the bush the outline
of the school girl walking, however the
way it is filmed makes the audience
wonder who is watching the girl, who’s
eyes are we seeing through.
Shot 3 is a long shot of a bush, within the
opening sequence the bush is shaking
randomly. This creates suspense and
tension for the audience which is
generic conventions for a thriller film.