2. For our AS Media Studies coursework we had to create a two minute
opening scene (of any genre we wished). My group and I chose to create a
psychological thriller film. We had regular meetings to develop our ideas
into a feasible and interesting plot, which we could then create a two
minute opening scene for. To enable us to understand the clear
conventions for a psychological thriller film (which we were doing) we
needed to know the codes and conventions that would be found within a
thriller film.
We found that a thriller film needs to have; – The main or one of the main
character suffering from a mental illness (could be known or unknown, it is
usually revealed at some point in the film) – Mind games (could be between
the character, but may also involve the audience) – A sense of danger and
enigma – Dark settings – Isolation. As expected in a thriller film we
decided to use some of the codes and conventions e.g. a mental illness
(with Sonia, even though you don’t see that in the first two minutes) and a
sense of Isolation (with Sonia being neglected by her mum). We decided to
use them because we wanted to let the audience know that it is indeed a
thriller film.
3. Tension is built up throughout the opening scenes in our thriller film, as a typical
device used within opening scenes. Typically, an opening scene will begin with some
shots that establish the storyline, develop main character and introduce the themes
within the film. By the time you have reached the end of the opening scene, you
will get an idea of the setting and where the storyline may be mainly based. Also
within the opening scenes, you don’t show too much of the movie which will give
away the whole story.
In our thriller film we went with the fact that you can’t show too much of the
storyline in the opening scene. I found that this was a common method in all of the
opening scenes, I researched. For example in ‘Orphan’ the movie, (which was a
psychological thriller), didn’t give too much information to the audience in the
opening scene. Therefore, we conformed to the codes and conventions of a typical
opening scene, as we went along with the codes and conventions of a psychological
thriller.
As a typical thriller film the audience expects there will be scenes that thrill the
audience. In this part of the scene we go against the normal conventions as Sonia is
seen as a normal girl who isn’t weak like most stereotypical woman are in thrillers.
We decided to do this as we thought females needed to be in the scene more and
not just seen as the ‘fragile’ character.