1. PRELIMINARY TO OPENING SEQUENCE
During our preliminary exercise, we learnt the basics of continuity editing using Final Cut Pro. We
had to make sure that we didn’t break the 180 degree rule. Moreover, during filming the preliminary,
we had to bear in mind the rules of match on action. For the shot/reverse shot sequence, we learnt
to film the entire conversation from both the characters and then edit it later. Even though we had
limited time we added sound to our video.
A mistake made was when we changed the entire sequence
to black and white. Although we did this to add to the
inscrutability of the interrogation room, it became very
difficult to see what was going on in the sequence. Another
error made was an unwanted person in the background, which
we didn’t get time to film again. We filmed the entire task in
one lesson (two hours) due to which we didn’t get much time
to be experimental.
For the actual opening, we had much more time and were
given more creative freedom. The techniques learnt from the
preliminary were extremely beneficial. Although we didn’t use
a shot/reverse shot sequence, we certainly used match on action and followed the 180 degree rule.
We edited our opening according to the song Money by Pink Floyd which made the whole thing flow
seamlessly. This was very difficult as we hadn’t used this technique in our preliminary. This song
helped establish a “cool” atmosphere, surpassing the conventions of a typical thriller opening.
Wherever the beat of the song got more dynamic, we included an important shot for example the
protagonist entering the frame for the first time.
We had more time to research and we used the blood in the sink sequence from Psycho. The
camera angles were more experimental (as can be seen below). If we got an angle wrong, we had time
to re-film it. We didn’t get this opportunity in the preliminary as we only had a couple of lessons to
finish it.

2. As it was an opening sequence we added titles to it. Before adding the titles the opening seemed
very long. However, after adding them it didn’t seem long at all as we had the titles to look at. We
had to re-position some of the titles at the end as they weren’t visible. We also had to carefully
think about which actors would work in a film like ours and not include any unrealistic names. In
addition, the important job roles (for example producers and directors) were given longer
prevalence.
With regards to the mise en scene, the preliminary was kept basic as we only used the college for
the shoot. However, for the final opening we travelled and went to Northwood Hills Station and then
into a house. We established setting with the wide shot in which the name of the station, the title of
the film and the protagonist are in the frame. We used the natural ambient light in the opening. We
learnt from our mistake in the preliminary in which the lighting is poor. When the protagonist enters
the house, the lighting is dimmer, connoting something suspicious and adding to the enigma.
Moreover, we used more props in the opening (fake blood, a duffle bag, a knife, fake money). In the
preliminary we only used a table and a file. The costume in the opening was also thought out
beforehand but no thinking was put into costume in the preliminary.
In order to establish character, we used many different camera angles. We used MCUs, side
shots, in the mirror shots and low angle shots in the opening. In the preliminary we mostly used
MCUs and close ups. We wanted to broaden our shot selection in the final opening which we did
successfully.