The document provides ideas and details for a short film opening sequence about a teenage girl. The sequence establishes that the main character is upset and calls her friends for help but they do not answer. She has a flashback to cleaning her injuries a few days ago. The opening ends with the girl receiving a scary text message telling her to get home. The narrative structure is non-linear with the flashback. Interior scenes include a bathroom and exterior scenes take place on a street and outside a cafe. The target audience for the film would be 15-24 year old British females from working class backgrounds.

1. Target Level : Yellow
By : Abigail Menzies

2. Film: 4.3.2.1
The character Shannon inspired
me for my idea as she is presented
as teary and in need of a friend to
talk to however they pay her no
mind.
This is similar to my idea as my
main character is also neglected by
her friends when she needs them
the most
Film: X Men The Last Stand
 Even though its not a drama film, I
like the idea of the teenage boy
trying to clean up from his bruises
in the bathroom mirror
 I also like the props of the tool kit
shows that this isn't the first time
the character has done this as he
has all the equipment needed
 This is similar to my idea except it’s
a first aid kit not tool kit

3. Girl is walking down the road
and calls both friends but there's
no reply.
Girl begins to cry as she has no
one to talk to.
 She has flashback of herself
after being abused few days ago.
Back to present now and the girl
is seen on a bridge reflecting her
life
Idea Explorations
Girl and female friend on lunch time break.
Girl tells friend all about her half term and talks about the Girl comes home from shopping.
one guy she meet and how she feel in love etc. Puts kettle on and starts texting
After bragging about her good time she slyly slips in the friend.
fact she might be pregnant Girl receives scary text message
Girl and Friend goes chemist then back to school from her mom saying come upstairs
Girls finds out she’s pregnant then girl flash forwards her Girl goes upstairs and no one’s
mind to the future there.
Flash forward shows girl (a bit fat) living in council flat Girl searches every room starts to
with 3 kids and other flash forward of herself looking panic
healthy and on the red carpet Then before scene fades out you
can see a dark figure walking
towards girl

4. Girl flashbacks to
herself looking in
Girl looks up
Film openings Girl calls friend the mirror and
to the window
with girl sitting but it goes to cleaning up her
and sees the
outside of café voicemail, she scars with a first
curtains shift
drinking a coffee calls the other aid kit and covering
meaning
friend but the the bruises with
someone has
phone is busy make up
been watching
Girl leaves
café and Girl starts the Girl then gets
takes out cry as she has *Back to the a text saying
phone to no one to talk present* ‘Get home
make a call to and Girl stops now!’.
flashbacks to walking and Opening
a few days looks up to the sequence
ago window of her ends.
house

5.  What type of opening sequence is it?
It is the start of film which establishes the main character and
the setting of the film. I’ve chosen this type so the audience are
familiar with the setting and character and aren’t left in too
much suspense.

6. Explain the narrative structure?
 The narrative structure is non-linear as the girl has a
flashback of herself cleaning herself up from a few days
again.
Is it a contemporary modular narrative?
 Yes as its anachronic and includes a flashback from the main
character.

7. Main Character
 Name : Sarah
 Role: Victim of domestic violence
 Actor: Russ
 Representation: The character's messy hair, soft tone
and sad facial expression will emphasise the idea that
this character is hurt/hurting. The props of the half
empty first aid kit will show that this isn't the first
time this character has been hurt
 Body language/facial expression: Looks Scared, face
wet from previously crying,
 Tone/language: Soft tone of voice
 Costume/props: Ordinary everyday clothes, first aid
kit, phone (to call friends)

8. Exterior Scenes Interior Scenes
This would be the
type of setting the
film would open on
This would be the
scene setting before
the girl has her
flashback
Bathroom with a
mirror this is the type
of setting that would
be used in the girl’s
flashback
On a typical
London street
would be the
setting after the
girl has flashback & Why?
before the opening The lighting in this scene would also be of a low
fades out key and different to the other scenes to emphasise
that this is a flashback.
Highlight the character’s loneliness and to show
Why? that behind closed doors this is what she goes
Chose these locations as it establishes the setting of through (abuse)
the film and shows that the character doesn’t care who
sees her crying and upset.

9. Conventions in Use, develop or Examples from films
Drama challenge
Set in a modern, Use – The film is set in
urban residential the neighbourhood of
area the main character
Angus, thongs and prefect snogging is
set in a urban neighbourhood
Evokes emotion Use – There’s a Pursuit of happiness
flashback of the main evokes emotion
character trying to through the dad’s
dedication to get a
cover her scars and better life for
bruises with make up himself & son
Young girl in My
Sister’s Keeper
suffers from cancer

10. Conventions in Drama Use, develop or Examples from films
challenge
Main character faces a Used – The main
challenge/problem character is the victim of
domestic violence
Teacher in Freedom Writers has to
make sure her students that are labeled
as the ‘unteachables’ graduates
Happy ending to the Challenged – The Challenges
film opening sequence ends convention as the
with a threatening text male lover in Titanic
dies
message and the film in
general ends with the
main character dying.

11. Audience Target Audience Groups Explanation
Elements For Film
Age 15-24 I chose this age group as they would
be able to relate to the story as the
main character is a youth.
Gender Females This is target gender as females are
more emotionally connected to the
drama genre.
Ethnicity Those born in Britain but also This would the target ethnicity as
descend from other cultures the British will be able to relate to
e.g. British Blacks, British the setting of the film and the
Asian accents/slang of the teenages
Interest/hobbies Enjoys hanging around with The film is centred around family
friends and family and friends.
Social Class Working class As the characters of the film are
working class so the audience will
be able to relate