Thrillers that inspired me in planning my thriller. Number 23 (2007)

The number 23 opening sequence

In the opening sequence for this psychological thriller Number 23 (2007), the typewriter effect is utilized, as in our opening sequence. We thus got our inspiring from this as we felt that is created a sinister, mysterious feel which we would hope would inspire the audience from the very start and continue throughout.

Also, the use of blood is very frequent in this opening sequence, which again inspired us in the production if our opening sequence. We choose to use inspiring from successful thriller as we felt it would increase our chances of getting production deals with company's such as Platinum Dunes, due to their previous track record of producing films of Number 23 type.

Shooting schedule.

We never really had a planned out shooting schedule but we had a vague idea of when we would be filming, editing etc. However we where sure we would do the majority of our filming in the half term.
We eventually came to the conclusion that all the scenes filmed inside (The kitchen scene's) in school term. In this case was at approximatly 7 o clock on a Tuesday night. We took the decision to film at night as we wanted the outside climate to be dark as it coensides well with the ethos of our film, dark and gloomy.

The shot's in the forrest/woods were all filmed in the half term as we felt it would give us much more time to make sure all the shots were perfect. This turned out to be a good decision as it took us 3 days to film all the shots to our liking. Another reason why we choose to give ourselves a prolonged time frame to film the forrest shots was because of the weather. We filmed in late January/early February, meaning the weather was very unpredictable. Un fortunately we had 2 whole weeks of horrible weather so it was difficult for filming to flow smoothly.

We also had to plan our filming schedule around the free time of our Rene and Grace, our actor/actress. This was not very difficult as they both had a lot of time, which was very helpful for Sachin, Alex and myself. We finished all our filming by late February and commenced editing straight away.

Permission forms

For our film each actor/actress needs a permission slip to sign that allows them to be filmed and allows us to post footage on our blog. Sachin, Alex and I have made our own permission slip that we will give our actor/actress to sign. Once they have signed this we can begin to film.

This is our permission slip:

I ________________________ agree to be a part of Sachin, Alex and Max's media project and allow them to post this footage on each of their blogs

Signature

_________________________

We also need a permission form to film in one of our location. This location was one of the boarding houses, Mcgills. We needed permission from the current housemaster. In this case Mr Dunstun.

This is our permission slip for it.

I _________________________ agree to allow Max, Sachin and Alex to film part of their media coursework in Mcgills house.

Signature ____________________

Props

Props used in opening sequence

We purchased a replica mask of the one used by Jason Vorhees in the hit thriller Friday the 13th: The Beginning (2009). We made the decision to make our villain wear this as his 'trademark'. I felt this was a good decision as it added a sense of mystery and trepidation to the character. It also conveys an 'untold story' to the audience as to what is the story or man behind this mask. This is different to most other horror thrillers in which the villain wears a mask as they usually find it in the course of the film and make it their identity hider, whereas in our film this mask in on the villain at all times.

Make blood is almost a given when it comes to choosing props for a horror thriller, subsequently meaning we purchases some. The fake blood added a good effect to some scenes such as the blood in the sink. As well as creating a good effect in scenes it also conveys the sadistic nature of the killer. 

Like the fake blood, a knife is also a regular prop in horror thrillers as it is the traditional weapon of choice for the majority of cereal killers. We have continued this tradition by using a fake dagger in our opening sequence. We concluded that a dagger would be the best option as we wanted our character to be sly and sinister in his approach. We felt this was accomplished with the use of the dagger. I personally think this would have been a struggle if the killer was instead,f walking round with a 10 inch machete or raging chainsaw in his hand. 

Research into potential target audiences.

Method of identifying target audience.

We conducted a survey to find out which age group we should be targeting. We asked 10 people from 5 age groups

12-15

16-19

20-23

24-27

28-31

to rate on a scale of 1-10, 10 being the most interested, how interested they would be in viewing a horror thriller. When we've received every participants rating, we calculated the mean for each age group and put in in a bar chart. The age group with the highest mean score would be our target audience. How results are as followed:

This bar chart shows the mean score of the participants in each age group. We concluded from this graph, as you can evidently see, that the age group of 16-19 has the highest average score, therefore we made the decision to make this age group are target audience.

Results for questionaire

Results

What is your gender?

(10) Males               (10) Females

What is your age?

(4) 13-15

(4) 16-18

(4) 19-21

(4) 22-24

(4) 25 up

What is your favourite sub thriller genre?

(5) Horror thriller

(4) Crime thriller

(2) Supernatural thriller

(0) Psychological thriller

(3) Disaster thriller

(5) Action thriller

(1) Conspiracy thriller

(0) Political thriller

What time of day do you think a thriller should be filmed?

(1) Morning

(0) Midday

(4) Afternoon

(7) Evening

(8) Night

What props should we use in our thriller?

(10)Knife

(1)Gun

(4)Blood

(3)Mask

(1)Car

(1)Ropes

(0)Tape

Who is your favorite thriller director?

(5) Bruce Willis

(4 Al Pachino

(6) Brad Pitt

(2) Robert De Niro

(3) Other

How do you think an opening sequence to a thriller should finish?

(13) Cliff Hanger

(7) A resolved conclusion 

Questionaire

Questionnaire

What is your gender?:

Boy

Girl

What age group are you:

12-15

16-19

20-23

24-27

28-31

What is your favourite sub-genre?:

Horror thriller

Crime thriller

Supernatural thriller

Psychological thriller 

Disaster thriller

Action thriller

Conspiracy thriller

Political thriller.

What time of day do you think a thriller should be filmed?:

Sunrise
Midday
Sunset

What would be the typical story line you would expect in the thriller?:

_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________

What is your favourite opening sequence to a thriller and why?:

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________

Who is your favourite thriller actor?:

Bruce Willis
Al Pachino
Brad Pitt
Robert De Niro

How do you think the opening sequence to a thriller should end?:

Cliff hanger

A resolved conclusion

Thrillers that inspired me in planning my thriller. The Texas Chainshaw massacre - The Beginning

The Texas Chainshaw Massacre - The Beginning

In the opening sequence for this American horror thriller, it portrays a sinister, gloomy feel. Similar to what we've done in the opening sequence for our film. In our opening sequence we have hid the identity of the 'villain', which is also the case in this opening sequence. 

In addition, this opening sequence doesn't really tell a story line, it almost only gets you in the mood for the film. Texas Chainshaw Massacre  have done this in the way that there is a gory, horror thriller to follow this opening sequence. Thus we've attempted to do a similar thing in the sense that we've tried to create a certain feeling that we would like our audience to have throughout the film..

Film classification guidelines.

Film classification guidelines.

All newly released films undergo a process called film classification in order to protect children from unsuitable and harmful content. The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) examines each film before it is released, enabling information to be provided to consumers, allowing them to help decide if films are suitable. Each film is individually and independently scrutinised prior to release to ensure the highest possible level of protection and empowerment. The BBFC works by applying the standards and criteria contained in the Classification Guidelines to each new release, helping them come to a decision. Every 4-5 years the BBFC carries out a major public consultation exercise, ensuring they find out the public’s opinion on the age ratings of films and whether their classification standards meet the public’s concerns – the BBFC adjusts its standards and criteria in response to any changes in public opinion. There are 5 different age ratings – U, PG, 12/12A, 15 and 18.

The U symbol stands for Universal, and it is the lowest film classification as it is for a universal audience. The BBFC states that a U film should be suitable for audience’s aged 4 and over, however U rated films are typically thought to be suitable for everyone. Generally, U films are aimed at a very young audience, however this means there is also a large proportion of the target audience directed towards parents too, meaning many of these films often have hidden morals/meanings. The majority of U films are animation; however there are exceptions such as the Star Wars films, but this is probably done purposely so not to limit their audience range. In universal films, actions such as sexual activity or violence are scarce or considerably diluted in order to keep the audience happy. Universal films are very much aimed at family viewing and so we do not think this would be suitable for our opening two minutes as it contains scenes/suggests violence and we believe that the U rating would lower our audience as they may dismiss it or consider it childish.

The PG symbol stands for parental guidance, and is the second lowest film classification. The BBFC state that any film with the PG rating is suitable for general viewing, but some may be found unsuitable for younger children. Typically, they are aimed at age 8 or over, however it is difficult to determine what may upset younger or more sensitive children which is why it is suggested the parents give consent. PG viewers usually range from 4 to 12 as they are a slight step up from U films. This is shown by the slight increase of bad language, sexual activity and violence. No theme is prohibited at PG as long as it is treated in a manner appropriate to the category. For PG films it is important that potentially dangerous behaviour is not included as the children are usually at an age vulnerable to influences, and so they are strictly scrutinised prior to release to ensure that all aspects to the film are appropriate. Despite the step up in majority, PG films are still not very explicit and are still aimed at a young audience which we would not consider suitable for our opening two minutes.

A 12/A rating is the middle age rating of the film classification, and it permits that anyone 12 or over is suitable for the viewing, and permits that anyone of the correct age, can see the film unaccompanied. This classification states that anyone under the age of 12 must be accompanied or have consent from an adult over the age of 18, who must watch the film with them. There are two types of certificated in this age bracket – 12 and 12A. The difference between the two is that the 12 certificate is just for videos, DVD’s and Blu-rays, whereas 12A is for films shown by the cinema only. This classification is a significant step up from the classification below it –PG as they can include for more violence, danger, sexual activity and bad language, however the terms still apply and they must fit the Classification Guidelines. These types of films are the borderline of adult films as they take into consideration more serious topics that would be seen as inappropriate for anyone younger the 12, however parents may still deem some of the films inappropriate depending on their content although it is still mild. These types of film appeal to the younger teenage audience – particularly below 15 which is the next classification level, however there is still a wide audience range above the age of 15, but some may be reluctant due to the more childish nature the certificate suggests. This is a certificate we will take into consideration for our film as it may be appropriate, however we will need to discuss it in further detail as it may limit our audience.

Any film with a 15 age rating for the audience aged 15 and above – no one younger than 15 is permitted to see a film of this rating unless accompanied by an adult over the age of 18. This film classification states that unless 15 of over, it is illegal to buy/rent a 15 rated DVD without permission as it contains content unacceptable for children under 15 years of age. In 15 rated films, no theme is prohibited; again providing it means the Classification Guidelines and has the appropriate treatment. 15 certificates are stronger than 12 or 12A due to the increased violence, strong language, sexual activity and discriminatory language or drug taking. These types of films tend to be taken more seriously than the lower classifications, as they are primarily aimed at an adult audience, with no attempts to please anyone younger. 15 rated films have a wide audience range and appeal to a larger audience than films such as U’s or PG’s, meaning they typically do well in the industry. This is an age certificate we will definitely be taking into consideration for our opening two minutes as it comes with a large target audience and would be suitable for our content.

Films with the film classification 18 are for adults, and no one under the age of 18 is permitted to see an 18 at the cinema or buy/rent an 18 DVD. No 18 rated films are suitable for children as no theme is prohibited. Adults are free to pick their own entertainment within the law, so it is possible that 18 rated films may tackle offensive issues. Strong issues are also included in this age certificate with very strong violence and bad language, real sex, strong horror and gore as is some circumstances discriminatory language or behaviour. 18 rated films are the highest rated films on general theatrical release. There is one higher rating – the 18R however these films are not widely shown and are reserved for sex shops and specialised theatres. The boundaries of 18 rated films are continually being stretched, shown by the different conceptions of what is permitted as acceptable throughout history, showing the development of the film industry and the acceptance of some topics being shown on film. There is a large audience range for 18 films considering they are aimed at the entire population, only excluding those below the age of 18. For our opening two minutes, we do not think an 18 age rating would be appropriate as it does not include enough of the aspects needed in order to meet the guidelines. In our case, it would probably limit the audience range and is not really necessary as the content is not explicit enough.

Opening sequence of thrillers. Se7en (1995).

Se7en Opening Sequence (2m 07s)

This shot shows that this film is presented by New line Cinema.  The text blends into the image to make a good effect. The text is also placed in the right hand side of the book where the majority of the pages are folded over.

It then cuts to a black screen in which we are just conveyed with a title, this is continued throughout the opening sequence.

In this shot the image of two human hands is blacked out on one side in which the title is and the other side showing one of the two hands.

Its the same pattern again as it just goes to a black screen with a title.

Although the image in this shot is faded, it still created a sinister, gloomy feel about it. It also has another credit of an actress.

We then get in this next shot the title of the movie which is a black screen with a shadow effect. You realise that the title is not shown at the very start of the sequence.

We then get the title shown to us again, but this time in a smaller font and it is accompanied by another picture of an object we can't quite make out. Again adding a mysterious feel.

There is then another credit shot with a credit of a actress

Again here is another credit shot with a credit of a actor

We then get shown a book with what looks like a picture, retaining this gloomy feel. 

Very similar to the previous shot, we get shown a book with writing crossed out, which looks very suspicious.

Credit shot.

Again we get shown the book with crossed out writing.

Here is a credit shot with a picture of a face with a black line across it.

Another credit shot with a picture in the background.

Another credit shot with a picture in the background

Credit shot.

Another credit shot with a picture in the background

Another credit shot with a picture in the background. Note that they have no used this image of the book twice.

Credit shot.

Another credit shot with a picture in the background

Credit shot.

The last shot is a credit shot with the driectors name being shown.

In this opening sequence, the credits are shown in a very smart way, in the fact that it is a way that intrigued us to see the film without giving it away. For instance all we can really get from that 2 minute long sequenced is that it is a crime thriller, most likely to do with murder. This conveys excitement to the audience before the film has even stated, which in my opinion makes a successful opening sequence. 

My personal favorite thrillers. The Dark NIght Rises (2012)

The Dark Knight Rises

The Dark Night Rises is the third of the 3 Marvel Batman films. The film stars Christian Bale, Tom Hardy, Michael Caine and Ann Hathaway. It is directed by Christopher Nolan, whom has directed the whole trilogy. The Batman is referred to as the Dark Knight, the film was called the dark knight rises because in this film The Batman must rise again after his retirement due to the ending of the last film in which The Batman got injured for a long period of time.

The villian in this film, Bane (Tom Hardy) is a a mercenary bent on destroying Gotham City. Drawn back into action by new threats facing the city, an older Bruce Wayne is forced to come out of retirement and become Batman once again, subsequently meaning the "Dark Knight" rises.

The reason why this is one of my favourite action thrillers is because of the unpredictable story line and the sheer ruthlessness of the vilian Bane portrayeyed wonderfully by Tom Hardy. The way this thriller ends just adds to the quality of the film. It leaves us with a predictament in which we dont know if Batman/Bruce Wayne is dead or not.

My personal favorite thrillers. Captain Phillips (2013)

Captain Phillips (2013)

This film is based on a true story in which a cargo ship (Maersk Alabama) is hijicked by Somalian pirates. The film stars Tom Hanks and a American-Somlian actor, Barkhad Abdi with the directer being Paul Greengrass. The captain of this ship, Cpt Richard Phillips (Tom Hanks) was given orders to sail through the Gulf of Aden to Mombasa, round the Horn of Africa. Wary of pirate activity off the coast of Somalia, the captain orders strict security precautions on the vessel and carries out practice drills.
 
During a drill, the vessel is chased by Somali pirates in two skiffs; Phillips succeeds in outrunning them when one gives up after hearing Phillips on the radio calling for immediate military air support (a bluff) and the other loses engine power while trying to gain speed under the rough water Captain Phillips created. The next day one of the skiffs returns with four heavily armed pirates led by Abduwali Muse (Barkhad Abdi); they are carrying a ladder.

 Despite the best efforts of Phillips and his crew, the pirates board and take control of the Maersk Alabama, capturing Captain Phillips after he cuts the ship's engine power and tells the crew to hide in the ship's engine room. Phillips offers Muse the contents of the ship's safe ($30,000), but, under orders from his boss, Muse's plan is to ransom the ship and crew in exchange for millions of dollars of insurance money from the shipping company.

In the end the Navy are called out and rescue Cpt Phillips who was abducted from his ship. The 3 Somalian pirates were killed in the process by 3 Navy SEALS.

In my opinion this film was one of Tom Hanks greatest performances. I say this because of the way he portrayed the real Cpt Phillips and also the way that this film kept me on the edge of my seat throughout, regardless of me knowing how it ends as it's a true story.