This document discusses conventions in film openings and plots. It notes that film conventions often involve a flashback, spooky locations, and supernatural elements. Character introductions and hints of the supernatural are also common in openings. The document then lists examples of conventions that can be drawn from, including plot, characters, narrative structure, locations, lighting, costumes, editing, and sound. It analyzes how several conventions from horror films could be used, developed, or challenged in a new opening sequence, such as having a vulnerable main character, nonlinear narrative, and a graveyard setting.

1. Conventions
Emma Marshall
Annamaria Noto
Bridget Cardenes Pazmino

2. Conventions
Conventions in a film
• Will involve a flashback/ something from the
character’s past
• It will be located in a spooky, typically scary place
• There is always something supernatural/ something
implied as supernatural to be involved
Conventions in an opening sequence
• The audience will be introduced to the character/s and
their surroundings
• An aspect of something supernatural

3. Conventions can be from:
• The story/ plot
• Characters
• Narrative Structure
• Locations
• Lighting
• Costume/ props
• CamSAMC
• Editing
• Sound/ music

4. Conventions
Convention Use Develop Challenge Was there an inspiration/ similarity from real
life films?
1 (Plot) Main
character is going
to be shy and
scared, appears
vulnerable
X
‘The Conjuring’ (2013)
‘The Quiet Ones’ (2014)
2 ( Narrative) Is
not always linear
X
‘The Woman In Black’ (2012)
‘American Horror Story’ (2011)
3 (Characters) One
vulnerable
character who’s
flashback we see
and two other
characters who
are daring and
cause the trouble.
X
‘The Woman In Black’ (2012)
‘American Horror Story’ (2011)

5. Convention Use Develop Challenge Was there an inspiration/ similarity from
real life films?
4 (Setting) large
majority is set in
a graveyard, a
common
convention in
horror movies is
to have a spooky
and scary
location.
X ‘Exorcist: The Beginning’ (2004)
5 (MES) the
characters are
going to be
dressed in
dresses to show
they are quite
‘girly’. There will
also be a prop of
a graveyard sign
to add to the
setting.
X ‘The Woman In Black’ (2012)

6. Use/ Develop/ Challenge
USE DEVELOP CHALLENGE
• Plot
• Narrative
• Characters
• Setting
• MES
We have a mix of both use and develop for conventions, therefore meaning our
opening sequence has the conventional aspects of familiarity but also has some
differences as well.