Planning and Research Phase - Thriller Opening

Story:

• Happy 16 year old girl lives with his biological mother and father, his name is Craig.
• In a car crash with her brother Rhys
• Rhys dies and Craig survives.
• Craig is a timid and shy boy and has no friends at St.Phillips.
• He is forced to move with his parents and join a new secondary school called Harris Academy.
• Here he makes no friends because people can't understand what has previous happened to him
• He had a car crash previously, and his brother dies
• Craighas been left with scars on his face and mentally traumatised for life. 
• He cant cope and decides to take his own life

Narrative:

• What happens at the end of the story will be shown in our opening sequence
• It will cut off at the end so you are left to see how Craig got into the state that he did
• After the opening you would see the story and to see how he has now ended up how he has

Plot:

• You will see this take place in his bathroom where he has shut himself away from the world
• You see a series of flash-blacks of two young boys who the audience guess are him when he was younger with another boy. 

Research Task - Emily Tuite Judge

Drive - Opening Analysis



Drive Poster/Front Cover



• The first opening shot the audience are shown to a close up of a map with markings on it.

• This is a powerful opening to a Thriller movie because it shows the opening of the enigma code from theorist Roland Barthes.
• This shot then tilts round up to the vase. Then we are shown to a man. The camera slowly tilts up the man leaving the audience wondering who it is. This shot also implies that the map is this mans, but the audience still don't have a clue what it is for and why he has it.
• The map shows 'DownTown LA' This informs the audience this is what the map is off, but audience are still unsure of where this scene is meant to be in the film.
• The first shot has you guessing which is a typical generic convention of a Thriller.

After the tilt up we are revealed to a mid shot man on the phone wearing a scorpion jacket. Scorpions having negative connotation being deadly. During this camera transition Non-Diegetic sound is playing.

• The music seems quite tense opposite to relaxing.

What we have seen so far has been introduced to the audience through a pan around the room. At the end of this pan we are shown to a black packed bag which he lifts of the bed. Implying he is going somewhere, travelling, on an adventure or even running away. It obvious here that the character is more aware of what is happening than the audience.

• In these frames ellipses has been used because why he is moving away or running or leaving is unknown to the audience, ellipses is used to engage the spectator.

• A typical convention of the genre thriller is fast cars.

The audience are shown the protagonist at a car garage through a long shot. But the audience is unaware why he needs another car as we are shown before him driving to the garage. This suggests a restrictive narrative, another typical convention of a thriller.

• The colour palette is silvers, blacks, whites and blues. These are all typical conventions the thriller genre.

A little more into the opening audience start to find more about the setting. Audience are shown through an extreme long shot the setting. A very urban, light up city. Going back to the first shot the map said LA. This could very well be the setting.

 With the non-diegetic sound still playing and  having no dialogue this helps the audience to concentrate on what is happening in the film. The sound playing creates a suspense feel as the audience are left wondering what will happen next.

 

The shot above shows a long shot of the two men standing at a gate with there faces in a balaclava, the sound of the two men talking is parallel and diegetic. The audience are able to understand they are talking but cannot hear clearly enough what they are talking about, creating enigma which is important for the genre, thriller.

The Hurt locker - Opening Analysis

The first camera the audience are shown to is a handheld camera of an army person running with a gun. Audience know this because of the shadow projected on the ground.

•  At this moment in time it is implied that because of the handheld camera that it is a subjective narrative.

• During this shot Diegetic sound of the person running and shouting and talking of a harsh mans voice in the background, this implies chaos. But the character knows more than the audience because the audience is unaware what they are running from and why they are shouting.

However the next shot we are made aware of where the setting is, 'Bahgdad'.

Earlier in the opening a shot bring attention for acouple of seconds to a small machine that looks to have a gun or a camera at the front of it. Now 00:38 seconds into the opening of this film we are being cut to it again. For people who have no knowledge on war, audience will not have a clue as to what it is and what it is for which again creates enigma, as the audience will be asking themselves questions.

•  In a extreme long shot it shows the device moving but no one controlling it in the scene, the audience will be left thinking, who is manoeuvring/controlling it?

Later on in the sequence the audience are able to piece together that the small device is a camera on wheels but it is still unknown who is watching the footage. It keeps cutting back to the camera footage reminding us that there is something else going on than just war.

•  During these frames there is still Non Diegetic sound being played, now a heart beating sound has been added. This will help do create a tense atmosphere for the audience, and without dialogue helps the audience to concentrate on the film.

Audience are shown through the robot camera in extreme long shot white bags.

As the robot moves closer, audience finally learn who is controlling it and then we get a better sense of what is going on in the film so far.

This movie contained ellipses also because only until the end of the opening did we understand what the robot was, who was controlling it and what was in the bad.

•  It took seven shots for the audience to see what was is the bag. The reason why it took so many shots is so over this time the audience will be on the edge of there seat wondering what is in the bag, causing panic amongst the Arabs and the army crew.

Jaws - Opening Analysis  

 

Jaws Poster/Front Cover

The first opening frame we are bought to has white plain serif text with the titles and the background is the camera moving thorough coral and sea weed in the sea. The lighting in the sea makes the sea look dull and cold. The fact that it is the first shop shows the importance of the sea in this film.

Next we are introduced to the setting through an extreme long shot. This enables the audience to see that the setting is on a beach and there are people enjoying themselves by a fire, relaxing. Audience can see the beach being lit up, but the sea looks dark and black.

• Mise en scene shows in the screen print below the setting
The contrast between the frame above and below shows a difference in lighting. The lighting in the frame below shows to be dull, black and not very attracting, however the girl is in the sea. I feel that this frame implies to the audience that something isn't right.

The next frame shows a low angle in the water. Low angle shot suggests someone or something is watching her but neither audience or character knows. This gives the audience a feeling of tension and suspension, these are generic conventions of the thriller genre.




•  The next shot after the low angle is another low angle but shows the camera to be closer.
• Whilst this frame is showed, a more louder Non-diegetic sounds is being played. With a more low sounding beat. This implies whatever is look at her is getting closer to her. But audience and character is still unaware.
• Ellipses is used to create enigma because audience are not aware of what is watching her.
• The Non-diegetic sound changes from a slow high noise to a low fast noise making audience tense.

The Constant Gardener - Opening Analysis

                                                                               

                                              The constant Gardner poster/Front Cover
The first shot is of two people silhouetted. The two peoples identity is unknown to the audience, all we are able to make out is that it is a girl and a boy. The fade in transition is then used, and the frame gets lighter, and in 00:04 seconds we are able to make out the faces of the people.
•  It took so long for us to see the peoples identity because it is designed to keep people guessing.
• Mise en scene shows a plane in the background and ellipses is used because we don't know where the plane is going, and who is getting on it.
• This frame is a close up straight angle, therefore the plane is in the middle of the shot.

It then cuts to another character walking away with the girl who was previously on the right. This makes the spectators ask themselves why? and who the third character is.

The next shot cuts to a completely different setting, and we are introduced to a new setting through a long shot. The audience is still unaware of why the man and the woman got on the plane, and where the planes destination is. Now the audience are having to ask themselves more questions. This is a main aim in thrillers.

• The plot of this film clearly contains ellipses.

Overall i feel these thriller openings are good because they contain good generic conventions of thriller movies. All movie openings grab audience and make them want to ask questions. Keeping the audience engaged.

Research Task- Ellie Tooth

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-k2gsEI34CE         SE7EN

• You first see a close up of a book with the back of the frame being out of focus. This straight away makes you think 'who are they?' 
• Throughout the opening there are many close ups of everything except the person. You see ther hands and what they are doing such as cutting their finger with a blade and processing a picture of their target. Once that they cross out his face. Without seeing this it could suggest that he has been killed or that he is the next target. 

• Within the opening scene there is no dialogue and just a non-diegetic sound. This is going on throughout the whole on the scene. The point of this is so that you focus on what's going on and what pay attention to what they are doing. The non-diegetic is parallel with what is going on, this is because what you can hear are things you may hear which would be included in a torture scene or hostage. You can hear what sounds like metal bars and it being in an empty space.  It creates an eery atmosphere with a beat as it comes closer to the end as they are waiting for something to happen.
• When it comes to the narrative of the story we don't necessarily know what's going on in the opening scene. It's leaving it up to the audience as to what they are doing and why they are targeting several people. This is common in Thrillers as the aim of it is to keep the audience guessing. 

Limitless

• It starts off with a black screen, and the first thing you hear is a voice-over  This is a non-diegetic sound which isn't the only one it also has a a piece of music in the background which is also a non-dietetic sound. These are both parallel with the scene. 
• You get to see what the department is like followed by the reception area in tracking shots. This is a quick way to set the scene . Tracking means the camera is moving and you are unable to see any people moving anywhere until you see __ bodies laying dead on the floor. This suggests that who ever is banging at the door trying to kill the character that Bradley Cooper plays.
• We don't know who the people are or what they're trying to do. Which suggests that the narrative isn't in order. There is something that has happened previously that we need to know about which will be shown after. This leaves the audience guessing. 
• The building is shown in a close up and the camera is tracking it all the way up to the top to revel a man standing ontop. this is where you can put a face to the voice. It cuts to show that he looks like he is about to jump. Again is causes you to think 'why?'  It then revels that the people banging on the door are after him. 

• Another shot used is a birds eye view one. This is to show his options after looking at the door. It never revels what one he takes in the opening which again leave s the audience to think what's happened. 

• When it comes to the mise on scene it suggests that the apartment hasnt been lived in as everything is very clean and things are in boxes. Also could mean that he lives alone as there is nothing to suggest he is with someone. 
• When it comes to outside the mise on scene is a lot more dramatic. You can tell that is is very busy and the atmosphere is a lot more tense, This is shown by the shots used such as the tracking up the building which is fast and the birds eye shot. 

Taken

• Within the opening titles you seen an old video playing who is the daughter of the males in the next shot. Although you may not know its his daughter, so it keeps the audience guessing. 
• The next shot is dark with the only lighting from a lamp. This is shown in a LS. It shows the emptiness and that he also alone. You see him pick up up a picture which you then see is the same girl . This is shown in a CU. This suggests that if something was to happen to him, people wouldnt know straight away.
• The non-diegetic sound is parallel with what is going on with the scene it is calm and and no drama has taken place.
• In the 3rd scene you see him wrapping a present, showing how everything has to be perfect and precise  From seeing the film you know that this is a huge part of his character. From the begging we he his precise but we don't know how it come in handy later on. 

• As you can see in the shot above that part of the frame is out of focus and the present is in focus. this is editing emphasising how precise he is. 
• The first scene is totally different to the 4th scene where it is the exact people. Within the shots they are full of people and its colourful.
• The non-diegetic sound is also parallel with the scene, and shows the two different lives that they lead.
• The mise en scene in this shot is full of colour, is very grand and over the top. It makes you think that the lifestyle they lead is too perfect and makes you think what's going to happen next to ruin that. 
• There are a various amount of shots in this scene such as CU and LS. There is no pattern to suggest anything at this moment in time.

Sweeney Todd - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xamDprXBtBg

Research Task- Ruby Boisvert

1. Deception 

Example of Two-Shot

                                           Example of ELS- Establishing Shot of setting.

• The music to this opening music is parallel to the scene throughout because the setting is dim, dark and dingy like a prison would be. This is the non-diegetic sound.The sound starts to get into a dramatic crescendo when all prisoners are let out and have to walk in a line.  know this is a prison by the ELS of it and the costumes the characters are wearing;overalls. Also used to show the setting is a tracking shot of all of the different cells the men are kept in. This tells me all of this people are dangerous and it is intriguing to find out more.
• At the start there is a voice over for the first minute or so, telling us about what has happened to the him and who he is/why he is in there. This makes me question why he is in there and confuses me.
• Throughout the opening there were many two-shots to show the friendship between the two characters, another looking through pictures in their cell talking about their life back at home. 
• By the use of camera work, MS,CU, is shows me this place is tense and everywhere you go tension is building on each of the prisoners.This tells the audience that it is a dangerous place and people go there when they have committed something really bad.
• The opening starts at a fast pace showing an establishing shot of the setting then goes into a slow pace showing just the two main characters talking amongst themselves in the cell.
• Towards the start a tracking has been used to establish the cell settings and the men behind the bars. A shallow depth of field has been used to show the emotion on a prisoners face whilst the bars are out of focus.
• The narrative structure is not like a normal three act structure as it starts straight away showing a thrilling scene. But then leads into a day to day basis. 
• Overall I think this is a good opening because it's not the same as many thrillers showing a crime at first. It shows after the crime and how they have dealt with it through there dialogue. It also makes me as the audience want to carry on watching and get to the bottom of it, I like how it is clear to follow through the voice over at the start.
• The narrative is not in chronological order because it starts with a crime that has already happened therefore the viewers do not know what it is which makes it more questionable and a mystery.

2.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nM975_Ld9S0- Blue Velvet

• This is a contrapuntal opening sequence. It starts off with non-diegetic music which is happy with sunshine and bright flowers everywhere. Setting a scene of perfectness almost thinking what is going to happen, this seems too happy.
• MCU'S have been used to show the face of the man and the show the flowers moving in the wind.
• ELS to show house in the neighbourhood and it could be giving a clue of something that will happen later on in the film.
• An inside shot of a woman (possibly his wife) watching a film with a gun in it, giving a clue of what may then happen, this gets the viewers to think and want to keep watching.
• Depth of field is used when the man is shot in the neck showing the twist in the hose pipe then the water squirting up in the air with the background out of focus and the water in focus. This could also be a clue because then it pans deep into the grass showing dim and dark lighting and some sort of sludge.
• no diegetic sound throughout the opening sequence. I think this is to set the suspicion and just show the setting and the layout of what is going to happen.
• The only part of diegetic sound is the dog barking which is enhanced to sound louder.
• A foley has been used to make a sound of sludge when it's the ECU of the grass,there is something moving underneath, this makes the audience really think and try and work out what it could be.
• The bright setting and the vibrant flowers show that the town seems safe and calm, with school kids crossing at the road with a lollypop man,but there is a killer on the loose. 
• Man hosing his grass is wearing clothes that show he could have a bit of money and he looks after what he has, so someone may be after his life,jealous.
• Continuity editing- match on action , from a shot to shot when dog playing with hose pip then turning into a CU of dog playing with hose pipe.
•  Narrative structure is a big part of the film i.e death/crime happening at the start then following the story.
• Story starts off looking happy and a perfect safe area to live in then becomes thrilling and contrapuntal sound is used.
• The build up of why someone is doing this and what is happening.
• This works well as a thriller because it creates the tension in the opening to then make the audience want to watch more.
• It is clever who they are conveyed the scene like this form looking safe and a beautiful area to extremely dangerous.

Happy flower setting.

First shot of match on action

Second shot continuing match on action.

3.  The Hit List

• As The Hit List starts it shows an extreme long shot of the area that it is set and labels ‘seattle,WA’ in the corner.  This gives the audience an idea of the type of day it is and the setting i.e night time and on the coast. It then whip pans closer into the area making the place more specific to create panic.
• It then shows an establishing shot of the building which gives the idea that someone may be in there.
• The setting is a bedroom showing natural lighting of morning sun as the man is having a bad dream,flashbacks are used to create a past trauma or anxiety that the man has by  flashing back and forth from what looks like it a war to him looking terrified and having a nightmare.
• Then drastically waking up from the dream he gets up this being a MLS to show his movement and composition from the bed.
• Tracking has been used a lot to again show movement and panic through him.
• Depth of field is then used for him looking out of the window at something focusing the camera a just on the window showing something that may make sense to the audience later on in the film.
• The man is made to look like he is dripping with sweat in bed on his own showing him terrified and afraid of what may happen again.
• He body language throughout the opening seems stiff and facial expressions shows scaredness,terrified and confused.
• I noticed on his back as he got up they used the medium shot to show the scars on his back which could relate to the dream so it makes more sense for the audience.
• Also the tattoos could show strength and a bad past as that is a big reason why people get tattoos.
• Non diegetic sound is used throughout for example when the opening starts a wave sound is used with an instrument playing quietly in the background.
• In the dream a foley has been used to emphasise the gun shot showing the big effect it must of had on the man.
• Parallel sound used throughout.
• The use of flashbacks cutting back and forth from the man in a dream and the war scene create engima for the audience as he looks uncomfortable and stressed about the dream something bad must of happen to make him react this way.
• This works for an opening of a thriller because it creates enigma and thought of what is going to happen and puts audience on the edge of the side as it is mystifying.
• The Narrative structure is different to the other films I have chosen because it doesn't show the ending at the beginning but even though the scene is in the present time it shows past happenings but does not give anything away which makes you want to carry on watching.

                                                       Establishing shot of area.

                                         Panning in to pin point a specific place.

                                         Showing building which tells us the scene is inside.

                                          The man in a traumatic dream, ECU to show terrifying expression on face.

Flashback to his dream that could of been a reality a few months ago.

                                          Medium shot of him showing scars and a tattoo that could mean something.

4.Set up

Example of Establishing shot.Foley- Enhanced for car door slam.