2. The Brief
Ingroups of four, you will produce the
opening 3 mins of a new thriller.
3. The rules…
You must use one of your pre-production ideas as the
title/theme of your film
You may incorporate themes and ideas relevant to your
pre-production work, e.g. hybrid genres such as horror,
crime, sci-fi etc.
Each member of your group must be responsible for one
of the following:
Cinematography (filming, framing, lighting, shot composition,
movement)
Editing (cutting, narrative structure, juxtaposition of images,
continuity)
Sound (soundtracks, sound editing, diegetic/non-diegetic
sounds, dialogue)
Mise-en-scene (production design, locations, props, ‘what is in
the frame’, colour palettes)
4. Top Tips!
Use iconography relevant to the genre wherever possible.
Be creative with your camera shots/movement and make sure that you use
a VARIETY of different shot types.
ALWAYS use a tripod!
Use locations that you know will be available.
Use friends and family as cast.
Avoid dialogue wherever possible. It is very difficult to edit and quality often
varies.
Remember that this is an opening sequence. You should aim to just outlay
the themes of the film. Don’t try and tell the whole story in 3 mins.
Keep it conventional. The examiner will want to see that your film adheres to
the conventions of the genre.
The sooner you film, the better. That way you can spend longer on the edit.
Be prepared for reshoots. Sometimes shots don’t quite turn out the way that
you planned. This is not unusual!
5. No!
Don’t go carrying replica guns/knives (or real ones!) around the
streets. It is a criminal offence.
Not using a tripod does not ‘create realism’. It just looks bad.
Do not film the whole sequence in ‘medium shot/long shot’. Use a
variety. Cut to close-up shots/ECU’s etc.
A bedroom and a living room do not look like exciting/dangerous
places. They look like bedrooms and living rooms.
Do not use a ‘hoodie’ as the disguise of a murderer. It looks terrible.
Think carefully about costume. Do not simply turn up in ‘student
clothes’. Business suits, boiler suits, gas masks, army fatigues.
These are costume ideas that can significantly improve your
production.
