1. Assignment 15: Research
Chelsea Fashole-Luke
Laura Cuk
Rosie Zein

2. Rosie Zein – 7479
Chelsea Fashole-Luke – 7357
Laura Cuk – 7341

3. Inspiration from real film opening
sequences
Se7en
Montage style
opening sequence.
Enigmas are
presented to the
audience, as to who
this character is.
Cast names flickering on a black
screen, emphasises the sinister
atmosphere of the sequence.

4. Inspiration from real film opening sequences
Zombieland
Starts with a
close up of an
American flag
and a narrators
voice can be
heard.
Cinema Verite –
handheld
camera style and
direct address
towards the
camera.

5. Enigmas created – the
audience wants to know the
country got into the state of
being known as ‘Zombieland’.
Zombieland
The titles are interactive with
the images of the opening
sequence. For example, the
letters in the names are
affected by the movement of
the characters.

6. Inspiration from real film opening sequences
To Kill A Mocking Bird
Close up shot of
a box – the
audience does
not yet know
what the
contents are.
http://www.artofthetitle.com/title/to-
kill-a-mockingbird/

7. The title of the film is
displayed as part of the
diegesis of the film. The
child prints in the words
onto the paper.
Montage style opening
sequence, with names and credits
displayed over the images.
Each shot fades into the
next.
Creates an enigma because the
audience doesn’t know what
the film is about, and the
childlike imagery of crayons
and the lullaby-like music in
the background contrasts with
the harsh title of ‘To Kill A
Mocking Bird’.

8. Real film opening sequence ‘Psycho’
My inspiration from this film opening sequence is the use of the tense music. The
violins made the opening sequence give a sense of anticipation.
The use of the dark background gave off a gothic mood.
The style of the
credits/fonts come
across the screen and
fix the letter together.

9. Real film opening sequence ‘Se7en’
This films opening sequence was inspirational because it used the convention
from a thriller and that is montage editing.
The style of the credits/ fonts are
flickering on and off of the screen.
The style of the
opening sequence is
enigmatic. It makes the
audience curious as to
what the character is
doing throughout the
sequence.

10. Inspiration from real film opening
sequences
Sucker Punch : My thoughts on the opening scene..
 I liked it because it was very dark and sinister.
 It introduces the main character and creates enigmas like
what happens to the girl after she is taken away?
 I liked how the sound combined with the video created an
intense atmosphere and the volume control was used really
well.

11. Inspiration from real films
Story/plot/theme:
- Online social interaction
- Control over another character
- Emotional manipulation
Hard Candy

12. Inspiration from real films
Story/plot/theme:
- Obsessiveness
- Captivity
- Stalking of a person
Misery

13. Inspiration from real films
Story/plot/theme:
- The making of a social network
- Life changing invention
- Online interaction
The Social Network

14. Inspiration from real films
Characters: Hayley Stark (Ellen Paige).
With the consideration of the age of
the character, her representation
connotes her vulnerability.
This stereotype is challenged because
she soon appears to be the more
dominant role in the end.
The colour used in
this scene was very
sterile

15. Inspiration from real films
 Phone Booth:
This film is very intense and suspenseful as the villain is unknown. In the film the man
has to stay on the phone with the villain, or the villain will kill his loved one however,
ultimately the man knows he will die.
 When a stranger calls:
This is a thriller film which also has a villain who’s identity is unknown and this relates
to our opening sequence. In this film a teenaged girl goes over to babysit at some
peoples house and while there she starts getting calls from an unknown number.
There turns out to be a masked man in the house, and the girl has to save herself
And the children she is babysitting.

16. Genre and conventions
Convention Explanation Example from real film
1. Perception of reality The main character is unaware or has
no sense of true events that occur in
the reality outside their mind.
Shutter Island
2. Death of a loved one The death of a loved one causes or
spurs the main character to go through
several actions or events, such as the
need for revenge.
Memento
3. Mystery/enigmas The opening sequence shows an
unknown person going through various
unconventional actions, eg. Cutting the
skin off their fingers.
Se7en
4. Mental danger – to do with the mind The main character has hallucinations
or sees things that happened,
differently causing them to think certain
things have happened, when in fact
they have not.
Black Swan
5. Identity The main character is seen to have
multiple personalities, struggling to
make sense of their true identity. This
makes it unclear to the audience,
presenting enigmas such as what their
true personality is.
Identity
Psychological Thriller

17. Genre and Conventions
• Genre: Psychological thriller
Convention Explanation Evidence from real film
Tension music The music makes the opening
sequence seem eerie and
suspenseful
Psycho
(the violins gets higher pitched and
gives a sense of anticipation.
Flashbacks Flashbacks are used to show a
thought or memory. Commonly
shown in black and white
lighting
Momento
(Momento is not filmed in
chronological order –
Montage editing Connotes the juxtaposition of
seemingly unconnected images
in order to create meaning.
Se7en

18. Genre and conventions
Convention Explanation Example from real film
1. Incorporates elements of
mystery and drama
Mystery to keep the film
suspenseful and drama to
connect with the
characters emotions
Seven
2. Deep focus on the
characters state of mind
to be able to understand
the character
Phone booth
3. The film is usually
narrated.
Usually first person
narration to get an idea of
what is going through the
characters mind.
Momento
4. The music used within
the film is usually high
pitched and eerie
To set the atmosphere of a
typical thriller film.
A woman in black

19. Themes/topic mindmap

20. Research on topic/themes
Dangers include:
- Fraud
- Identity theft
- Stolen information
- Exposure of personal information (twitter, Facebook etc.)
The dangers of social media

21. Research on topic/themes
Online relationships
Many people in online
relationships (romantic and
platonic) lie about their real
identity.
These people are
known as ‘Catfish’ –
the term used to
describe someone
who creates fake
profiles using other
peoples information
and/or picturesThe TV show ‘Catfish’ which sets out
to discover if people in online
relationships are genuine or not. Source: wikipedia.org

22. Research on topic/themes
Online communities
More and more people
now have access t the
internet, which means
online communities can
grow quicker than in the
past.
Some online can
be beneficial to
people, becomin
g a place of
support and
friendship.
However, some online
communities can be quite
harming to people - mostly
mentally. E.g.. Online
communities for people with
eating disorders looking for
‘thinsporation’ and ‘support’
from other who share the
same disorders.
Source: wikipedia.org

23. Research on topic/themes
Cyber stalking
Source: wikipedia.org

24. Research on topic/themes

25. Research on topic/themes

26. Research on topic/themes

27. Research on topic/themes

28. Research on topic/themes
Reality/ Real life situations:
 Our Opening sequence is based around social
networking and the ‘bad side’ to it.
 An example of this in a film is the film ‘Hard Candy’.
 The reality within these films makes them
all the more scary, as it means that the things
in the film can happen to people in real life.

29. Research on topic/themes
Identity:
 Our opening sequence also includes the theme of unknown
identity.
 An example of this is in the films Scream, Texas Chainsaw Massacre
and Friday the 13th.
 This theme is used regularly in thriller films as it creates a lot of
suspense as the audience doesn’t know who the villain is and
creates an enigma

30. Research on topic/themes
Mind:
 Our opening sequence is based on the psychological thriller
genre and will include a character who is fixated on another
character.
 The mind plays an important role in psychological thrillers as it
is mainly about the villain being mentally unstable and this
leads them to become villains and be evil.
 Some examples of these characters are, Jigsaw
(Saw), Scarecrow (Batman), Anton Chigurh (No Country for
Old Men)

31. Research on topic/themes
Death:
Characters either fear or are fascinated by
death.
This can also link to the theme of the mind as
being fascinated by death links to the idea of a
psychopathic villain.
Some examples of these characters are
Jigsaw(Saw)

32. Locations
First Location (FLASHBACK):
On a bus going towards/ past an area with business buildings.
Second Location (FLASHBACK):
A busy café, probably in a shopping area like Whiteleys. The character would be sitting in the area
outside the café.

33. Locations
Third Location (FLASHBACK):
Outside an office building – the character will be coming out of the building in work clothes.
Forth Location (FLASHBACK):
On a busy normal street where the characters will be crossing the street on opposite sides.

34. Inspirational characters
Catwoman
- She is strong and
independent.
- Her identity is an
enigma
- She goes against the
stereotype that women
are weak
- She emphasises that
women can be just a
strong as men

35. Inspirational characters

36. Inspirational characters
Lisbeth Salander (The girl with the dragon tattoo)
Lisbeth is an inspirational character because:
 She overcomes her fears
 She is a strong character
 She saves the second main character from the
Villain

37. Inspirational Characters
Sarah Connor ( terminator 2: Judgement day)
Sarah is an inspirational character because:
 She is a strong character
 She tries to help protect others
 She is selfless
 She fights against evil

38. Actors
The people acting in our opening sequence will be Rosie and Laura. They are
available often and good for the role because.......
Strengths Weaknesses
Hard working and reliable. May fall behind in work
Strengths Weaknesses
Hard working and sensible Find it difficult to meet deadlines

39. Actors
Actor of the stalker?
I wanted the stalker to be played by a girl because a common
stalker is a guy.
I planned on using the same plot of the characters like hard
candy (girl is the psycho in the end).
Strengths:
Good actress
Capable of hiding identity

40. Actors
Actor playing Danny Archer:
We wanted to challenge the stereotype of a
vulnerable girl.
We wanted the victim to be a brunette instead of a
blonde character.

41. Costume and props
• Costume of stalker
I wanted the stalker to wear all black clothing to give a sense
of mystery. This connotes that I am reinforcing a stereotype.

42. Costume and props
Costume of victim:
The costume I want the victim to wear would be something basic
like a plain white t-shirt and denim jeans with white converses.

43. Titles and credits
The fall: The tile appears within
the smoke in the movie.
It the disappears as it is fanned
away by the character, along with
the smoke.
Paranorman: The title of the film
stays within the genre of spooky, yet
mild comic horror and gore.
The creepy hand and
the ‘N’s being bigger
than the other letters
emphasises this.

44. Titles and credits
Twin Peaks: Very basic, but
allows the audience to at least
understand that the title is also
the name of the setting of the
film.
Red Lights: also simple, yet
affective teamed with the
sinister music.
The title on a black background creates
emphasis on the flickers of red light that
momentarily surround the title.
The name of the main character is
also the name of the film.
The presentation of the title fits in with
the high school theme of the film, by
showing the audience the title on a
student ID card.

45. Music/sounds
‘Disembark’ – under category of dark/brooding –
freeplaymusic.com
- Creates mysterious and enigmatic atmosphere
- You don’t know where the music is going at first, leads
the audience to question what I going to happen next
‘City Cranes/ - under category of ‘eerie/ethereal’ –
freeplaymusic.com
- Sounds very eerie
- Not knowing what to expect
- Creates a chill in the atmosphere

46. Mainstream or independent
• Mainstream films are big budget films whereas independent films have a
smaller budget.
• Our film would be a mainstream film as it is not a hard hitting film which
considers issues within society, it would be a film which appeals to a wider
audience and so would need to have a bigger budget to be able to
distribute to many places.
Some examples of mainstream films are:
Avatar
Titanic
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Some examples of independent films are:
A separation
Train spotting

47. Target audience
Our target audience would be a mass audience
as it would be a mainstream film we would it
expect it to attract many viewers.
Also, our chosen genre (psychological thriller)
usually attracts a large audience.

48. BBFC and film rating
• To understand what BBFC and film ratings were we researched it and found the official site.
• We found the different types of ratings which are U, PG, 12A, 12, 15, 18 and R18.

49. BBFC rating
Our opening sequence is rated 15.
Here are the different types of
ratings:

50. Production Company #1
• Hammer Film Production
I chose this as one of my possible production
companies to produce my film because this type of
company specialising in producing psychological
thrillers.

51. Production company #2
• Lions Gate Entertainment
I chose this as one of my possible production
companies to produce my film because this particular
company produced one of my inspirational films ‘Hard
Candy’.

52. Production companies
Before choosing our production company we researched our genre to see which
production companies were most commonly used.
BLACK SWAN: Black Swan is a thriller mystery film which used the Fox Searchlight
Pictures as their production company and also as it is a
conglomerate they used it for their distribution company.

53. Production Companies
SE7EN:
Se7en is a crime/mystery/thriller film which only has two
production companies which are Cecchi Gori Pictures and
New Line Cinema.

54. Production Companies
MEMENTO:
Memento is a mystery thriller film that had four production
companies and only the Newmarket company was used as a
distributor out of the four.

55. Production Companies
• After doing some research we decided that the would have two production
companies which would be Cross Creek Pictures and New Line Cinema.
• We decided to use these production companies as they are very successful and
well known.
Click here to watch the New Line Cinema logo
Click here to watch the Cross Creek Pictures logo

56. Distribution companies
• As New Line Cinema is part of the Warner bros. Corporation it also
distributes its own films.
• For example, New Line Cinema was both the producers and distributers of
Se7en.
• So for our distribution company we decided to use New Line Cinema as it
would mean we would pay less.
• Another distribution company we could use would be Paramount Pictures,
which produced and distributed the film ‘Shutter Island’ starring Leonardo
DiCaprio.
• This would be a good distributer as it is well known and has a good
reputation.

57. New Line Cinema
New Line Film Productions Inc., often called New Line Cinema, is
an American movie studio. It was founded in 1967 by Robert
Shaye and Michael Lynne. It became a subsidiary of Time Warner
in 1996. It was merged into the bigger studio Warner Bros. in
2008.
New Line has produced films such as:
- The Golden Compass
- Nightmare On Elm Street
- The Lord Of The Rings Trilogy
- Final Destination

58. Fin.