Audience Research 1

I created a questionnaire to find out more information about what people wanted to see in an opening sequence, I then handed it out to fourteen different people to fill out. Below are three examples of the completed questionnaire (click on images to enlarge):

                                                                     

                                                                  Questionnaire 1:

Questionnaire 2:

Questionnaire 3:

Shot List

This shot is a long shot of the main character. The framing of the shot will be similar to this as it shows he is lonely and isolated, also the space around the character means that this will be a perfect shot to place some titles over, however we have to make sure that the titles will be readable over the shot. We will use darker mise en scene and lighting to create a mysterious atmosphere as you won't be able to make out the identity of the character.

This is a close up of the main character, this is also a reactions shot to show he's scared and shocked. This is only one of a few times that the audience will see the identity of the character as we want to conceal his identity to make it mysterious. The framing of this shot will be fairly similar to this, the only thing we may want to change is if we want the shot to be a big or extreme close up.

This is a reverse low angle shot. This shot will be used when the character picks up the item, this will be used rather than just a regular shot as it means that the audience cannot see what the item is, this will make the audience ask questions and speculate as they don't know what the item is. This shot will also help to reinforce the mystery that has been building throughout the opening sequence.

This is an extreme close up of the character on the phone, this again adds to the mystery and makes the audience ask questions as they don't know who the character is or who he's on the phone to. We will keep the framing the same as we want to conceal the identity of the character and by using an extreme close up it does this. By concealing the identity of the character it makes the audience want to watch on as they want to see their questions answered.

This is a mid close up of the character putting something in the bin. In the case of our opening sequence the character may not be putting something in the bin, but he will be performing a normal everyday task. This shows to the audience that the character is just a normal person and makes the audience relate to him. Again the characters identity is being concealed to add to the mystery.

This is a close up of some feet running. This shot will be used to show that the character is panicking, thus is running around. The framing of this shot will be the same as here as it doesn't reveal the identity of the character, and it also leaves room for the titles to be placed over, most probably over the floor as it is one colour so the titles will be easy to for the audience to read.

Film synopsis

This is a synopsis of the whole film, it shows what happens in the beginning, middle and end of the film:

Film synopsis

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Below is a second film synopsis as we changed our idea.

Film synopsis

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Initial Ideas

This is a short video showing our initial ideas for our thriller opening sequence:

Location research

This would make a good thriller setting as it is a very eerie setting, especially at night, which is the type of atmosphere we want to create in our opening sequence. This location is also good as it is a public place so there will be no trouble with us filming there, which will make it much easier for us.
The actual location provides us with a lot to work with as it is a fairly large area, so a lot can be done and filmed there. It also gives us different things to work with as there is different types of grass for example, which helps to mix up the terrain and setting of the piece.

 This is another setting that creates a mysterious atmosphere, again at night, as the lighting is very low-key apart from a solitary light which makes the audience not know what is going to happen next, so they will anticipate what's going to happen. Again like the previous setting this is a local place so we don't need permission to shoot here, this again will save us time and effort, that can be better spent focusing on the project.
The location offers a variety of nature as there is a small river, lots of trees, short and long grass etc. this again will help to add to the variety of the piece.

 This is my third location. It is similar to the others as it also has a lot of grass and trees, which will help to add to the mystery of the piece as it can be used to conceal the audiences view of the character. However this setting is on a much larger scale, so more of it can be used and it makes it a much versatile setting. Again, like the other settings it is also a public place so we will not have to ask for permission to film there, again this will save time.
At night this setting will be very effective as not much can be seen, so this will also help to conceal the characters identity and add to the eerie atmosphere.

Conventions of your chosen genre

Me and my groups chosen genre is a Thriller.

Cinematography
A successful thriller opening will use mainly close ups over other shot types, this is because the identity of the characters want to be concealed to create a sense of mystery. And also to make the audience speculate and ask questions of the video. This will make the audience want to watch the rest as they want to see if their questions get answered. However an establishing could also be used to help the audience know where the setting is, and this will help them relate to the setting and situation.

Editing
The editing in a thriller opening sequence is usually very fast paced to help create a sense of panic and urgency. The piece may start off slowly and then gradually gain pace as time goes past, or it may begin quick to get the sense across to the audience as soon as possible. The transitions used will mainly be cuts, this is so that the shots can flow quickly from one to the next, and this again helps to get the mood across to the audience.

Mise en scene
The setting used in the opening sequence can vary depending on the type of thriller that is being made. However the settings usually have an eerie atmosphere to them. Also, the setting doesn't have to be revealed to the audience, it can be kept concealed, like the characters, to add even more mystery and keep the piece ambiguous. The props used also depends on the type of thriller, violent props such as knives can be used to show if a character is violent, which helps the audience create an opinion of them.

Sound
The music in a thriller is dramatic and adds to the atmosphere of the piece, whether it be mysterious, violent etc. In some cases music isn't used this can create a sense of isolation and can create tension as it is unclear what is going to happen. Hyperbolic sounds of things like the wind or someone breathing are also used to emphasise whatever it is and to add to the atmosphere or the characters representation.

Se7en analysis

Panic Room Analysis

The first thing we see is the production company logo, this just informs the viewer on who produced the film. We also hear hyperbolic wind noise which is very mysterious and creepy, we can also hear some dramatic music over the top of this which helps to create the atmosphere and get the watcher reader for the film. This music is very loud and overpowers the sound of the wind.

The titles are very large and are in a cerif font, which hints to the audience that this is a serious film. The titles are also overlapping the video which is from the perspective of a New York skyscraper. This gives the audience a sense of setting, which further reinforces the mood of the film. The fact that the titles are played over the video makes it more visual and interesting as the audience have something to look at while the titles are on screen.

However when the title 'Panic Room' appears the music turns more low-key and serious, this foreshadows to the future and hints that the words 'Panic Room' have negative connotations. This also starts to feel more like a thriller, as before it could have been an opening sequence from any film as it was pretty ordinary. But now the low-key music makes the audience feel more wary as they start to feel as something big may happen. This is very effective as it now grabs the audience's attention and gets them much more interested in the film.

Over the next titles the music becomes much more fast paced, and there is almost a countdown-like sound. This suggests that it's counting down to something important, and also has the connotations of a bomb, which may hint to the future of the film. This sense of panic contrasts with the regular and normal setting of New York. Again this makes it feel more of a thriller as it is now making the audience ask questions, which is the hallmark of an effective thriller opening sequence

We hear a women's voice over one of the titles, her identity is concealed to add a sense of mystery, however we do know it's a woman. Next, we see a tilt of a high angle shot to a normal shot. The shot is of a busy city street, however two women are at the forefront of the shot to show their importance and hints to the audience that these are important characters in the film. We can hear them talking and walking quickly to suggest they're in a hurry, however we don't know where, which makes the audience ask questions and speculate.

Opening sequence:

 

Conventions of a title sequence

Opening sequence coventions

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What titles?

The first thing we see when watching a film is the distribution companies logo. This tells the audience who distributed the film in a visual, interesting way. Examples of distribution companies are 'Hollywood Pictures' and 'Spy Glass Entertainment'. It is common for the music to start over the titles, this creates the mood early and helps the film to flow from the titles to the actual film.

   

We then see the names of the distribution companies, this just reinforces to the audience who distributed the film if they didn't know from their logos.

The next thing the audience see are the names of the production companies, these are the people that produce the film, they have a large influence over the film and how it is made.

Next, we see the name of the main actor/actress in the film. This is usually the most famous actor/actress in the film, and gets the audience excited as they know of them due to their fame.

The title of the film then appears, there is sometimes a flourish in the music to emphasize the importance of this. The titles also tell the audience that all of the titles after this are either of actors/actresses or from crew members.

The names of the supporting actors/actresses are then shown, these are usually less famous then the main actor/actress. The list of actors go from the most important to the least important, this is to entice the audience early on.

We then start to see the titles of the crew. The first we see is the caster, the job of the caster is to choose the actors/actresses who will play each character in the film. They find suitable people who will portray each character effectively.

Next, is the costume designer, these design the costumes for each character in the film, the costumes that they design portray the personality of the character.

The music creator is next, they create the music for the film, they try to create music that fits the mood and atmosphere of the film.

The editor is next, they piece together the different parts of the film. They remove the clips that are incorrect and only use the clips that are correct, they try to create a piece that flows well and meets the script.

The purpose of the production designer is to create the set that the film will be shot at, they also set the lighting and may also create the props. They work closely with the costume designer to create an authentic setting that is believable for the audience.

The director of photography sets up the cameras and decides where they will be placed and make sure that the shots are working correctly. They can also be referred to as a 'cinematographer'.

The executive producer handles the money and the business side of the film. They stay away from the creative side of the film.

Producers are similar to a manager, as they make sure that everything is running smoothly. They are also focused on the business side, however they are more hands on than the executive producer.

The writer and director are see next. If it says 'written by' it means that the film is an original. But, is it says 'screen-play' it means that they have taken a book for example and made it into a film. The purpose of them is to make sure that the film is presented correctly and fits the script and the ideas that they have.

The titles of the crew members are the opposite of the titles of the actors. They go from the least important and finish on the most important member of the crew - the writer/director.


A different example to the one above is the film 'Se7en'.
This film uses both a mixture of titles over black, and titles over video. This has the best of both worlds and meets the preferences of everybody.

This is an example of what the titles look like over black. Even though this is over black it is very quick and fits in with the already fast paced title sequence, this is different to the titles of Sixth Sense (above), which is very slow paced and draws out the titles to create suspense and tension within the audience, as it feels like were building up to something big. However in this case it is very paced and keeps the audience on their toes as they have to be quick to read what's on screen.

But, the titles are also placed over video. This helps to keep the audience who don't like titles over black pleased as they can see video aswell which keeps them more enticed. By placing the titles over video it also means more niformation can be revealed or it can also help reinforce the atmosphere and mood. In this film it does it very effectively as the titles are still clear to the audience and keeps them interested, which can be a criticism of placing the titles just over black.

Overall I think that the film 'Se7en' has more effective titles than 'Sixth Sense' as it is more interesting to look at, and it also helps to set the scene for the film, which 'Sixth Sense' doesn't really achieve.

In our film however we will have to place our titles over the video, so we will have to think about the framing of the shot as the titles need to be clear so that the audience can read it. They also need to fit the mood of the opening, so the correct font will need to be used to portray this.