The document outlines the opening sequence of a psychological thriller. It will begin with a close-up shot of a screaming girl being murdered. The main characters, Ryan, Alexandria, David, and Tom will then be introduced as they walk through a dark forest. They will encounter the killer who begins chasing them. The sequence will end with the killer cornering one of the characters just before killing them, leaving the audience in suspense.

1. Psychological Thriller opening sequence
Treatment Sheet
2013 By Benjamin Maness
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2. CONTENTS
Story outline …………………………………………………………………………… 3
Cast list ...…………………………………………………………………………………. 3
Concept…………………………………………………………………………………… 3
Outline ……………………………………………………………………………………. 3
Story ……………………………………………………………………………………….. 4
Technical Information ……………………………………………………………..4
Props ………………………………………………………………………………………. 4
Apparel …………………………………………………………………………………... 5
Locations ………………………………………………………………………………... 5
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3. Cast list
TBC
Ryan –
Alexandria (Alex) –
David –
Tom –
Murderer Story ConceptA teenaged boy with a tragic past that begins to catch up to him has to overcome
obstacles with a group of friends whom become entangled in a web of mystery
and murderous intention. The group of teenaged individuals are stalked and
slowly picked off one by one until very few are remaining and the group of
seemingly opposites team up to stop the murderer. However this murderer is
unlike any man that exists to this day, seemingly supernatural. The remainder of
the group solves the mystery, and then using the knowledge acquired stop/kill
the stalking murderer.
Outline of Thriller opening
The sequence begins with a close up shot of a Girl screaming as she meets her
demise, there is no emphasis on quite whom it is. Her body will be laid out with
the murderer standing over and an overhead shot will be used and the camera
slowly zooms out and the beginning will fade to black. The main part of the twominute sequence will introduce our characters to the story, we learn their names
and other things about the characters as they’re walking through a dark desolate
environment, more specifically a forest. The shot in this scene is taken from a
distance and using the zoom function to track their movement firstly and close
up shots and medium shots when they’re speaking so we get a sense of their
emotions, this is the only scene with any significant dialogue. The Camera will be
focused on 3 of our four characters in the next scene, as one of our characters
will by shy and nervous in the environment. The characters will encounter the
killer on a turn; the camera will be tracking the characters as they move. The
killer will begin to chase the characters, the camera mostly focused on his
movements, the killer will corner one of our characters and shortly before he has
the opportunity to stab him the sequence will end, leaving the audience in
suspense. Camera shots for the near death scene at the end will be medium shots
and close ups only mostly focused on the victim as the most facial expressions
will be seen on his face.
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4. The Story
Ryan has a past that he would have kept secret until the grave however when he
starts to have recurring nightmares about the events of the past, they seem to
call to him, almost compelling him to go back to the place where his family was
murdered. When Ryan’s girlfriend Alexandria (Alex) suggests that they follow
the calling to clear his head he thoroughly rejects the notion at first however she
persuades him to go to this place. Ryan, Alex and their two best friends David
and Tom begin their journey into a living hell in an attempt to help their friend
overcome their fear of this place.
Obeying the calling was a fatal mistake, the group is then stalked and slowly
killed off, the help of friends and the police is requested but they aren’t quite as
much help as they once thought.
Technical Information
Set: The sequence will be set during modern times however the beginning of the
sequence will be set years in the past.
Location: Hartlepool Sixth Form College grounds
Rating: 12, due to the lack of blood but sinister atmosphere this is capable of
appealing to wider audience because of this rating
The sequence that is being shot will be roughly two minutes
Props
A toy knife for the murder to use against his victims
Murderer Costume preferably something dark
(Things that the actors have at hand could be used as improvised props)
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5. Apparel
Performers in the two-minute production should wear the clothing that they are
wearing on the day of the shoot; this is to save time and to be productive.
The murder will be wearing an improvised costume, consistent of the things that
are available at the time of the shooting.
It would be preferred if the character of the murderer were dress darkly and
somewhat threatening in appearance or have the appearance of someone that is
psychologically damaged.
Location
The type of location should be dark an eerie like the woods particularly since
places like this are usually associated with murders and irregular activities,
especially for the opening scene shot.
The next location for my filming should be somewhere domestic or just in the
streets as the scenes associated with the main film characters in the opening
aren’t violent.
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