Script

Now that I know the structure for my own film and how the film would develop, I now need to focus on the opening sequence of my film and how to engage the audience into watching the rest of the film.  Therefore, I am going to plan a script for the opening of my film, including dialogue, scenes and camera shots.

Script

1. int house.

 

Ellie (eighteen year old girl who is wearing tight denim blue shorts with a sequin coloured top tucked in hair curly and down with average amount of makeup on with the eyes a bit too coloured where she has made an effort as she likes to impress) is inside making three cocktails starts as a close-up to the drinks she using on this will be the first title it then goes in to full view of the person pouring the drink so the audience get an idea of location (house party). Then proceeds to pick up another bottle then read the label, cuts to a point of view shot and the audience read the next film title. Then cuts back to medium shot of her drinking it placing it back and walking off. The camera stays in the same position whilst she goes to give the drinks to her friends, waits ten seconds before she returns as she has forgotten her phone.

ELLIE:

oh my God where is my phone.

 

Close-up on phone as she receives a message saying the next film title. She then receives another text from a friend saying 'I think someone’s following me!!!' but she ignores the text and continues drinking.

Sharp change of scene accompanied with tense music- camera is stationary whilst showing the scene of a girl (seventeen year old girl rather naive and is wearing a pair of colour jeans with a top tucked in as she is insecure about her self, she has a lot of make up on and has her hair curled with excess hair spray used to hold it in place) on her way to the party driving past the camera. The camera then moves down in height (medium shot) to show a second car's wheels following the girl with tense mood music.

 

Cuts back to a long point of view shot from the killer (twenty seven year old man dressed in jeans and a black top with a grey knee length coat) in the car watching the girl get out of the car and entering the party, being welcome by a very drunk Ellie.

 

Close up shot at floor level showing the killer getting out of the car. The camera then tracks the killer's shoes walking towards the party (when the camera is showing a close up of the door, there is a sticker showing another title.

 

Cuts to medium shot of Ellie, Carla( seventeen year old girl wearing a simple black dress not too short, with her hair which is boob length straight. She is wearing no makeup besides mascara but only a tiny but.), Billy (eighteen year old boy, rather attractive wearing red chinos and a grey shirt, his hair is gelled excessively and has deep blue eyes) and girl 1 partying doing shots, dancing and laughing amongst other people. Carla does a suicide shot and begins to feel extremely dizzy. Point of View shot, shaky camera blurry vision. She sees faint figure of a man in the window.

Over the shoulder shot of the killer looking into the window at Carla.

Cuts back to a close up of Carla's face looking confused at the killer as if she is trying to work out who he is as she slightly recognises him.

Cuts to a close up of the killers hand flicking out a knife and holding it by his side, next title is seen here.


Then changes to point of view shot from the killer’s perspective watching Carla leave the packed room with heavy breathing in the background.


Medium shot of Carla going upstairs in to a room, slams the door shut in the cameras face.

Match on action as the killer manages to go in through the front door past Ellie and girl 1 who are outside having a cigarette who are completely oblivious to the fact the killer has entered the building.


Medium shot of killer going up the stairs and waits outside the room. Looks round to make sure no one is looking.

Match on action shot of the killer opening the door and entering the room that Carla went in. This is then followed by the slam of a door and a scream.  It then goes into complete darkness which is when the film title is seen.

 

Ideas and Planning for Title Sequence

  Now that I have a clear idea of my film structure including the opening sequence in Act 1, I will now need to start thinking of ideas as to the title sequence in the opening.  The title sequence plays a very important role when it comes to the opening of a film as it allows the audience to know more information from above the line talent to costume designer.  Certain names and famous actors might entice the audience to watch the film more than if there was no above the line talent.  As my film will not be featuring any above the line talent, I will need to make the title sequence informative but fitting so that the audience do not get bored at the start.  Therefore, I will need to make sure that I make good decisions when it comes to the order of titles, font and layout.

  Firstly, I will need to come up with a font for the title sequence which in some way reflects something about the film and makes the opening interesting.  

  One of the first fonts that I thought would be good is 'Dark Times' from dafont.com as it looks urban and untidy giving it a mysterious quality.  Also, another reason why I think this font is good is because it reminded my of the different shaped characters that are used in threatening or ransom letters.  This is good as it has some link to the film as the killer is after the three witnesses of his committed crime and is therefore on a quest to seek vengeance by threatening them and attempting to kill them.  Therefore, this font not only looks good but has a good and subtle undertone about what the story of the film is.

  The second font I have had a look at is 'Anonymous Clippings' from dafont.com.  I like the look of this title as it has an even stronger resinance with the film because this looks more like the clippings used by a killer who sends death threat letters.  The use of this font would be very effective in helping the target audience to understand what the film is about and what the underlying themes of the film will be about.  The only thing that might make this font a problem is that it might be a bit difficult to read but I think this is a good looking font that will really make a good representation of the film.

  Another font that I have researched that I thought would look good for the titles in the opening sequence is 'Base 02' from dafont.com.  This font caught my attention as it is slightly distorted and looks untidy which gives the sense that the films would also be uneasy and tense.  The bold characters are also effective in this font as it stands out and is easier to read than 'Anonymous Clippings.'  The fading and distressing on the characters is another feature that makes this font look good as it portrays the anxiety and stress faced by the three main characters.  The font straight away would make the audience know that this film is a thriller and would make the title sequence look very interesting.

  From looking at these three fonts, the one that I think is the most captivating and interesting is the 'Base 02' font as this looks clear and easy to read which is important but also, I think it portrays the idea of the crime thriller genre in the best way with the distressing and fading of the characters.  Although the first font looks interesting, it doesn't look like it fits the theme on reflection as it looks like it could be used for a Super Hero film. Also, looking at the second font, it also might not have much relevance as there is no use of threatening letters in the film so this might not be that effective.  Therefore, for the title sequence, I will use the 'Base 02' font.

  When it comes to the titling sequence, I have decided that it would be good to introduce the titles alongside the opening narrative.  I think this will look effective as I will be able to incorporate the titles onto the props such as putting stickers of the titles on to the drinks bottles.  This will ensure that the tension is not lost as my opening sequence will have a lot of action.  Also, it would be very difficult to make a title sequence on its own as the audience would lose interest and it would be difficult with the editing and animation.

Planning of Title Sequence

1. (shot 1) Producer - Charles Evans - this title is seen on a sticker on the drinks bottle

2. (shot 3) Film By - Jess Ramplin - this title is seen on the second drink bottle

3. (shot 5) Casting Director - Charles Evans - this title is shown as a message on a phone

4. (shot 9) Music by - Jess Ramplin - this title is seen as a sticker on the killer's car at the bottom of the door

5. (shot 16) Editor - Jess Ramplin - this is a title put over the top in editing when the killer flicks out a knife

6. (shot 18) Director - Charles Evans - this is another title which is put over the top of the action in the post production editing

7. (shot 30) Film title - The Vengeance - this title is put over the top of the darkness, which is the last shot, in editing

Opening Sequence Description

  Ellie, one of the main actresses, is in the kitchen making drinks for three other guests at a house party. Therefore, one of the first things you will see is an alcoholic drink with a title on a sticker.  The camera shot changes to medium shot of Ellie pouring out the drinks using the bottle from before.  She then picks up another bottle which is seen from the point of view from Ellie which has another title.  There is then a medium shot of her drinking from the bottle, putting it down and then walking off to join the party.  The camera stays in the same place as she comes back because she has forgotten her phone.  This is where the first and only dialogue is heard "Oh my God, where's my phone." It then cuts to a close up of the phone receiving a text which reads "The casting director" and then a second text which reads "I think someone's following me" but she ignores the text and continues drinking.

  Next, there is a sharp change of scene, accompanied with tense music, of a girl driving past the camera which is stationary.  The camera then pans down in height to show the second cars wheels.  The camera cuts back to point of view shot from the killer watching the girl go to the party who is greeted by Ellie.

  There is then a close up of a medium shot of Ellie, Carla, Billy and the other girl (girl 1) who are seen dancing, partying and doing shots.  Carla does a suicide shot and begins to feel extremely dizzy.  There is then a shaky camera point of view shot from Carla seeing a faint figure of a man.

  There is then an over the shoulder shot of the killer looking into the window at Carla. There is then a close up of Carla's face, trying to work out who he is.  There is then a close up of the killer's hand, flicking out a knife.  This is where the title of the film is seen.  There is then a point of view shot from the killer's perspective watching Carla leave the packed room.

  There is then a medium shot of Carla going upstairs into a room and slams the door in the cameras face.

  There is then a match on action sequence of the killer entering the party through the front door past Ellie and the other girl who are having a cigarette and are oblivious to the killers entrance.  This is then followed by the a medium shot of the killer going upstairs and waiting outside the room.  He then looks around to make sure no one is looking as he enters the room that Carla went into.  He opens the door and then slams it when he enters the room.  There is complete darkness accompanied by a scream which is where the next titling sequence is seen.

My Film - Three Act Structure

Researching the three act structure for other films in a similar genre to that of my own film is very important for my research and development of the film.  This is because I can apply the three act structure to my own film, as if I am making the whole film.  For my research of the three act structure, I can see that one of the main features of act one is to set the tone and theme of the film and also introduce the main character.  Also, there needs to be a catalytic moment at the end of act one which changes the course for the rest of the story.  Act two is the bulk of the film and needs to explore what the consequences of the catalytic moment are for the characters.  At the end of the film, there needs to be a resolution for the film and an outcome.  The loose ends need to be tied up and the audience must be in no doubt about the link of the film and the theme should be clear.

In Act one of my film, you will see a massive house party where the three main characters will be at.  The house party will be thrown by Ellie to get the other two characters', Billy and Carla's, minds out of the recent events of seeing a killer commit a terrible crime and the killer seeing the three characters witness the crime.  These events made the characters anxious and worried because they think the killer will be after them.  As Ellie is a strong character in the group, she organises a big house party to try and get the others to calm down and try to relax, unwind and forget about past events.  However, at the party, the character of Carla who is must anxious about what happened sees the killer at the party whom she witnessed commiting a crime.  She first assumes she is just seeing things as she is drinking heavily at the party.  The killer then makes an attempt to threaten the characters and they realise that they are not seeing things but in actual fact, he is after them to kill them as they are witnesses of the crime the killer commited.

  In Act two, the killer tries to kill the three witnesses what ever it takes.  The three main characters have to make an urgent attempt to escape their inevitable death at the hands of this wicked killer.  When searching for the three witnesses, he mistakenly kills a vulnerable girl who he mistakes for being one of the witnesses by chopping her legs off and leaving her to drown in a fish pond.  He then aims to kill Billy who is hiding in the garage.  The killer then ties Billy into a side car, pours flammable liquid over the him and then sets the car ablaze with a lighter.  Carla and Ellie wonder where Billy is and suddenly realise that the killer is in the party.  Everyone except Carla and Ellie have left the party by now but no-one can call the police because the signal is down for a 10 mile radius and no one has a car to drive so the characters try to escape by running away.

  In Act three, Carla and Ellie eventually find Billy who is almost dead.  When they find Billy in such a bad state, they have even more conviction to try to save Billy and escape to ensure the killer is arrested.  The characters face many obstacles on their gruesome journey but in the end, they make their way to safety, but the killer is no where to be seen.

3 Act Structure

  Now that I know what my film is about, I need to do some more research and planning into film structure.  Most stories can be structured into three Acts:

Act one is where the main characters of the film are introduced and sets up the tone and conflict of the story.  At the end of Act one, there is a catalytic moment where something significant happens which changes the course of the story.

Three Act Structure

Act two is the main bulk of the film which explores the consequences of the catalytic moment.  This act explores the what happens, how this effects the characters and what the possible outcomes are.

Act three is where the resolution of the film takes place and the audience found out the outcome of the film.  The end must tie up all the loose ends so that the audience understands what the story is about.  By the end of the film, the theme should be clear so that the audience understand the film better.

  In order to explore this structure in more detail, I will look at 2 films in a similar genre to that of my own film and see how these films fit into the three act structure. From this, I will then have a greater understanding of the structure and will therefore be able to plan a three act structure for my own film.

  The first film I have decided to look at is the crime thriller 'The Last House On The Left.'

  In act one, the main character, Mari, and her family members, Emma and John, are introduced as they go away on a vocation to their lake house.  Mari then goes to visit her friend Paige at the nearby local store. At this point, the two of them then meet Justin, a teenager who is passing through the town and invites the two of them back to his hotel room.  This then proves to be a catalytic moment when Justin's family members return.  This is because one of the family members shows Justin the front page of a newspaper which shows some of the family that broke free from custody and killing police officers. The family now deem it to risky to let Mari and Paige go and this is the significant part of the story where the course of the story takes a completely different direction.

In act two, the consequences of the catalytic moment are revealed to the audience.  Following this, the family of Justin's kidnap Mari and Paige using Mari's car.  Mari is then able to convince the driver to go off road. Mari tries to escape but eventually, after a fight breaking out, the driver, Krug, crashes into a tree.  The complications and hence the height of tension is where Paige is stabbed to death and Mari tries to escape by swimming across the lake, then being shot in the back by Krug.  The family then go towards the house of Mari's parents to seek refuge.  This is the plot point two where there is a height of tension as Mari's parents eventually realise that the family in their house are responsible for the what happened to Mari when she crawls on the doorstep barely alive.

  Act three is where the resolution of the story takes place.  The resolution could be seen as an act of justice because the gang of the family are either killed or knocked unconscious.  This film conforms to the idea of the three acts as all the loose ends are tied up and the audience have a clear understanding of what the story is about.  Also, at the end of the film, the audience understand that this story is thematically about justice.

  The second film I have decided to look at is the crime thriller 'Copycat.'

  In act one, the main character, Helen, is introduced as she is in a dream.  She is revealed to be a specialist on serial killers and, in the dream, she is tormented by a serial killer when she is giving a speech at the university and then wakes up to realise it is all a dream and in fact, this killer is imprisoned.  Nevertheless, the serial killer who is in prison previously tried to kill her so she is revealed to be agoraphobic.  Following on from this, murders start to take place and some police officers come to her in order to get her help and advice to find a killer.  This is the catalytic moment and changes the whole course of the story.  However, this opens up a world of different possibilities and consequences that could occur after this.

  In act two, the consequences are revealed.  The police and this women, Helen, eventually find out that this serial killer is being a "Copycat" of an old serial killer.  They find it difficult to find him as he leaves no clues behind and eventually, to throw them completely off the scent, the killer then tries to copy another killer. This means that they no longer know who the killer will target next.  The killer then begins to send emails to Helen about the victims he will kill next. This shows how the catalytic moment has affected the main character.

  In act three, they eventually find who the killer is but this leads to further complications.  The killer manages to kidnap Helen and capture a police officer who comes to save Helen.  The criminal tries to kill them both, firstly by shooting the police officer- assuming she is dead - and then goes to kill Helen. Helen manages to escape and the police officer - who is revealed not to be dead - kills the serial killer.  This ties up the loose ends of the film and helps the audience to understand that this story is also thematically about justice.

Name Ideas for Film

  We came up with an array of names for our film ranging from what we thought would fit the film to what we thought would make the audience want to watch the film. A name is crucial for the film to do well at the box office as if a film was not named successfully, the audience will not want to watch it as it could sound uninteresting.  The same would happen if a film was named something which is suggesting it belongs to a different genre. This could then result in confusion amongst the audience because there would be conflicting genres.

  After doing research and looking at names of films that have done well, I found that a lot of crime/thrillers names are centred around death and criminal activity, such as 'The Fugitive'. The names that I came up with are:
 

  19 - This name arose because this is the house number of the house we are filming at and it also sounds mysterious which will leave the audience questioning what the film is about.  However, this name might be too vague to give the audience a clear idea of what the film is about.
 


  Revenge - This name arose because this is what the film is solely about.
  It gives a clear description of what the film is about and hints at the genre.

  The Vengeance - This name arose because it is a synonym of revenge. However, I think that this sounds more intriguing which would entice the audience into watching the film.


  Death seeker - This name arose because the killer has set out to kill the three witnesses, making him an actual 'death seeker.'
  However, I think this name is too blunt and doesn't conceal any information.

  No trial - This name arose because this is what the killer is trying to have by killing the three witnesses so that there will be no witnesses to the original killings and so there will be 'no trial.'

  Execution - This name arose due to the fact that the killings will be like an execution, so the name is straight forward in order that the audience would straight away know the theme of the film without giving away too much information about the plot.


  The executor - This name arose from the name before.  I felt that this is more powerful with the added 'The' because it highlights a specific character which the audience would be able to recognise as a killer.


  Over all the films '19', 'Execution', 'Revenge' and 'Death seeker' got no votes. I think this is because two of them, 'Execution' and 'Revenge' had improved versions beneath which made them seem not as effective.  The title 'No trial' got two votes.  I think it got this because it is technically what the film is about therefore the person that chose this probably though it was fitting for that reason. Next 'The Executor' got five votes.  This is probably down to being what the film is about so it probably looked better against 'Execution' as that is a less effective version of it. The title that got the most votes was 'The vengeance' with eight votes.  I think this was successful because it sounds mysterious and gives the audience an idea about the theme of the film whilst being quite simple as well. 

Distributor

Universal Ident

Now that I know my target audience, my marketing strategies and the audience expectations about my film, I can research the distributor I would chose to distribute my film, based on other films.  For example, Universal is a distributor that would be good for my film in the crime thriller genre.  Films that have been distributed by Universal include Collateral, Shaun of the Dead and Illegal Tender.  Collateral is a film that is similar to the storyline of my film as it is about a man hired to seek revenge by killing the key witnesses of a crime. Shaun of the dead also incorporates the idea of gruesome zombie death.  This links into my film with the idea of horror and gruesome murders.  In Illegal Tender, there is also an underlying theme of crimes which is the basis for the storyline for my own film.  As these three specific films were distributed by Universal and have similar underlying theme of crime, revenge and thrills, the marketability for my film would have most likely watched these films and would therefore be interested in this film if they see that this distributor is the same in the other films.  Additionally, having a well known distributor such as Universal could also be an effective marketing technique because it will be recognised for distributing good films.

  Another distribution company that could be used to distribute my film is Warner Brothers because it has also distributed films in the crime thriller genre.  Two films that I have researched to find out more about the genre of my film is Goodfellas and The Dark Knight Rises, both of which where distributed by Warner Brothers.  Goodfellas explores themes of criminal activity and the gangster hierarchy which is similar to the criminal aspect for my own film.  The Dark Knight Rises is crime/thriller also that explores terrorism plots from the Bane and the fight of good versus evil which can be linked to the good of the witnesses to the bad of the villainous killer.  Also, my film would explore the brutal side of the killer which could be likened to the similar character type to the Bane in The Dark Knight Rises.  Just as with the films distributed by Universal, the marketability might also have watched the films distributed by Warner Brothers and would therefore recognise this in my own film.  This, like in the case of Universal, would be an effective marketing technique as having a big distributor for my film might attract more attention as being a good crime thriller.  As Warner Brothers is part of the Time Warner company (one of the Big six) which is both vertically integrated, for all parts of the film from production to distribution, and horizontally integrated for other business ventures.  This is good because if Warner Brothers was the distributor for my film, this could lead to going into other avenues such as merchandise.

  Overall, I have decided that Universal would be the distributor I would choose for my own film.  Despite the benefits of Warner Brothers being part of a vertically and horizontally integrated which allows for more opportunities for my film, the films that were distributed by Universal fit the genre and story of my own film.  Therefore, the marketability might have a greater awareness of what my film is about.  Furthermore, Universal is a big and well known distributor in the film industry so could promote the film by just being a part of the film.

Marketing Campaign

  The typical person in my marketability for my film, Marcus, is 18 years old and will therefore be interested in different types of marketing compared with a marketing strategy that would be aimed at a target audience in the 45-54 age bracket.  From the questionnaire videos, I am able to decipher what engages the target audience into going to the cinema to watch a film.  When asked how they were most likely to find out about a new film, many of them said that they would likely go onto the Internet to watch a film.  Another way in which many of them said they would find out about a film is through social networking sites.  Therefore, from the answers and information I received from the questionnaire videos, I will use this information to determine what would be a good marketing strategy in order to appeal to the correct target audience.

  The first way in which I could market the film is through the Internet.  Many new films that come out have their own official website which has links to the cast, the plot of the story and the official trailer to name a few.  This is a very important part of the marketing strategy as it would help the audience to see what the film is about and also to see what above the line talent is in the cast.  The link to the trailer would allow the audience to see what the film is about, as well as engaging them and creating anticipation for the film.  If marketed carefully and correctly, the website will create a good buzz around the film.  From this, the most important and vital part of marketing will take place - word of mouth.  Once people start to look at the website and find out about the new film, they will tell their friends and social groups about the film and the buzz will be created so that once the film is released, there will be a lot of interest and anticipation.  From this, a high revenue can be made at the box office.  It is crucial to ensure that the marketing is effective in creating a positive buzz around the film.  If not, the film is not likely to do as well as it should in the box office and therefore less money.  The Internet is an effective tool to use in order to intrigue the target audience as they are likely to be using the Internet a lot and the website would be very cost effective.

 Another way in which my film could be marketed is through social networking sites such as twitter and Facebook.  This links in with the previous strategy of using the Internet and having an official site.  From this, I will be able to have links to such social networking sites which would allow the target audience to talk about the film and spread good word of mouth, thus creating a positive buzz at a very low cost.  This marketing strategy is very appropriate for the age group of 15-24 as they are the ones who are most likely to use such sites so will be able to be targeted directly.  Many new film websites use social networking sites in order to get people talking about a film but whereas one person just speaking to friends face to face about a new film, networking sites can spread the positive vibe across the globe, therefore proving to be a very successful tool on an international scale.

  One of the most traditional tools for marketing include flooding the territory with posters, billboards and buses with posters, advertising the film.  For example, in build up to the release of the Bond film 'Skyfall,' this was a marketing technique that was used, with posters everywhere advertising the film.  The benefit of this, although costly, is that a huge buzz is created around a film as you are always confronted with the film poster every day.  This flood marketing then means that some people who are less likely to use social networking sites or go onto the official website will be able to find out about the new film, simply by looking at the outside of the bus!  Constant bombardment of this film will then lead to it becoming a topic for discussion amongst family, friends and peers.

  Another type of marketing strategy that was brought out from the audience interviews was that they found out about films from trailers as well.  I did give this some consideration but making a trailer and putting it on TV and prime time would cost a lot of money.  Although TV advertising does have a good impact on people watching the film, the marketability for my film is a younger audience who would likely watch films with their friends (this also being brought up in the audience interviews).  Therefore, it would only take one person to find out about a film for them to then tell all their friends about it and watch it together.  Also, as the marketability for my film is a younger audience, they are more likely to use the Internet all the time.  So if a film website was made specifically for my film, this could be found by a lot of young people who will then tell others about the film. 

Target Audience Profile

Below is a description of the typical person who represents the marketability of the my film.  His hobbies, interests and pursuits are all linked in some way to the genre I have chosen: thriller, crime and horror.

This is Marcus.  He is 18 and is currently studying A levels in Psychology, Law, Media and Maths.   On the completion of his A levels, Marcus hopes to go on to University and study Law and one day hopes to be a barrister.  He has an interest in Law and crime.  This is also due to the fact that his Dad is a security guard at a prison who deals with criminal and thieves daily.

  Marcus is very active and enjoys sport.  His hobbies include going to the gym, playing football with peers who are the same age as him.  Marcus also enjoys going to parties as he likes  to spend time with his peers and likes to socialise.  He also enjoys spending time with his family and friends by watching movies together at the cinema.  He frequently watches films at the cinema with his peers and has a particular interest in the crime and thriller genre.  This is due to influences such as his family's occupation and his particular interest and studies.

  Marcus enjoys spending time with his family and is interested in the stories that his father relates about work as a prison officer.  As Marcus and his father are both interested in crime, they regularly watch crime shows together.  They also have an interest in TV drama and the crime genre and therefore like to work out who the criminal is without many clues before it is revealed to them.

  Marcus is intellectual and is getting high grades in his current subjects that he is studying.  He also likes to know what current world events are happening, economically, politically and socially.

  As a student who doesn't have a lot of money and doesn't currently have an occupational job, Marcus would fit into the DE social class category.  Above is a table from the BFI statistical yearbook 2012 and shows the films with an above average DE audience share.  From this, there are not many clues as to what sort of film would appeal to the DE social class.

  From the table above, however, it is clear that there is a market for the crime, thriller genre and it would appeal to the age group of 15-24 so this would also appeal to the typical person in the marketability of my film.  As the Inbetweeners movie is at the top of the table with 67% of the audience being in the age of 15-24 shows that the marketability for this film is interested in the idea of partying.  Also, it could suggest that this age group would also be interested in films such as the Inbetweeners movie because they might be able to relate to the characters more so than in other films, therefore increasing the interest in the film.

  From this information, I can incorporate certain and ideas and themes that are popular in the films listed above into my own film.  For example, I think the idea of a house party at the start of my movie in the opening sequence will really appeal to my target audience (15-24) as this age group is interested in films such as the inbetweeners movie which has this theme of partying and having a good time throughout.  Also, I can use the idea of the main characters being in the region of 15-24 years old as this would help the target audience to relate to the characters and the film more and are therefore more likely to watch the film.  In the target audience profile of Marcus, the typical person who is likely to watch the film also enjoys socialising and going to parties themselves so are also more likely to be interested in watching a film that incorporates these themes.

Film Audiences

When a film is being planned, producers work very hard to establish a marketability for the film in order to attract the right audience and to make a good return in the box office.   The total size of the film audience in the UK in 2011 was estimated to be 5.1 billion (statistics from the BFI Statistical Yearbook 2012).  Therefore, when planning the film opening and storyline, I need to make sure that there is adequate research into film audiences to ensure the film will have a suitable marketability.  The most popular age group of cinema goers is 15-24.  From this, I think that aiming the film at this particular audience would attract the most people and would get the most gross profit which is an important factor to consider when a film is being planned.  A film that is similar to this film is Collateral where an assassin is hired to kill the witnesses of a case using a taxi cab for his transport. This film is similar to the plan of my own film as they both have a similar underlying theme of revenge on witnesses.  This film is also under the genre of a crime/ thriller which is also similar to the genre of my planned film.  The BBFC rating for this film was a 15 which is  falls into the age group and marketability of my film.  Therefore, this is evidence to suggest that the marketability of my film is plausible and will work as a film of a similar storyline and genre had the same marketability.  In the opening weekend in the US, the film 'Collateral' made $24,701,458 which shows that the film was not only good in itself but also, the marketing campaign must have been successful in attracting such a large number of people and hence making a lot of money in the box office.  Therefore, when it comes to planning the opening sequence, I will look at how this film was effective in grabbing the audience's attention and hence I will incorporate some of the ideas.

  Another film that has a similar genre and storyline of good versus evil is 'The Dark Night Rises.'  This film has a strong underlying character type of a villain and a hero and incorporates the crime/thriller genre.  On the opening weekend, the film made £14,362,443 on its opening weekend and its gross profit worldwide so far is $1,081,041,287 which shows the vast success of this film. Therefore, I will look into how the film was marketed and also some key features of the opening sequence that made the film so successful.  The BBFC certificate rating for this film was a 12 which suggests that this film was aimed at the audience of 15-24, the same target audience as the other film.

  From these two films, it is clear that the crime thriller genre has a successful marketability of 15-24 as both films made a lot of money at the box office and it is clear that the marketing campaign worked on attracting the audience.

Genre Comparison

  Following on from my ideas of what I want my film to be about, I have decided to compare three films within the same or similar genre, crime/thriller, to see what features are in the film and in particular, the opening sequence.  The three films I have decided to compare include: The Dark Knight Rises, Collateral and Goodfellas.  I have chosen these three films in particular because they cover a wide spectrum of the crime and thriller genre so that I have a clear idea of what my film is focused and centred around.

  One of the main features that make the films effective is the use of camera shots.  In the first film, the Dark Knight rises, the use of camera is effective throughout.  At the beginning, there is an extreme long shot of the aeroplane which establishes the scene of a mountain and open land.  Following this, there are some close ups of the main characters such as the doctor and the bane, interrupted with medium shots to reveal the situation of the criminals tied up in captivity.  There are also close ups of the gun which also creates tension because the audience are in expectation that something bad is going to happen.

  In the opening sequence of Collateral, there are also lots of close ups of the main character which helps to introduce him to the audience.  Also, there is the use of shallow focus where the audience can see the focused image of the main character through the crowded and blurred focus of the crowd at the airport.  This is an effective way in establishing the main character.  Also, there is an effective use of medium shots because it reveals the other character and also builds up tension when they bump into each other.

  In the opening sequence of Goodfellas, there is also the use of medium shots to introduce the main characters and establishes the Gangsters driving the car.  Following this, when the gangsters her a knocking sound coming from the back of the car, there is another medium shot from the side of the car showing the back of the car and the gangsters stood behind, now knowing that the noise is coming from inside the car.  The medium/close up shot that follows, showing the back, creates tension because the audience are in eager anticipation to find out what is making the noise.

  Creating tension through camera shots is a very good way to capture the attention of the audience  to watch on and see what happens.  It is also very effective in setting the tone and theme for the crime/thriller genre.

  Editing is another way in which the opening sequence can appear as being more tense or flows for continuity.  For example, in the opening sequence of the Dark Knight Rises, the shots are edited so that they appear as being jumpy and choppy.  Also, the use of shot reverse shot when the man is talking to the bane also makes the sequence edgy, increasing the amount of tension as the audience are in expectation that something bad or wrong will likely take place.

  In Collateral, there is an effective use of the editing technique 'crosscutting' when the two characters are walking in the airport.  The editing makes it look as if they have nothing to do with each other as the scene cuts from one person walking to another person.  This is then joined together when the two of them bump into each other and swap brief cases.  This is effective because it introduces the characters separately before revealing what the relationship is between them.  Also, in the build up to this, it creates ambiguity in the audience's mind so it intrigues them to watch on further.

  In the opening sequence of Goodfellas, there is also the use of shot reverse shot when the gangsters are stood behind the car and camera shot cuts from the back of the car and then to the gangsters to show their response to what has happened.  This is an effective technique to use because it allows the audience to see an event and then the reaction of the main characters.  Also, in this scene, the gangsters don't look too surprised to see the dying body in the back of the car making lots of noise which reveals to the audience that these gangsters are professional and are clearly used to this situation.  This helps to build a clear picture of the character's personality.

  Editing is a very important process in post production because if edited successfully and to a good standard, the camera shots can create even more tension with techniques such as shot reverse shot, crosscutting and match on action.  This is a really important feature in these crime thrillers so I will try to apply this to my own work when it comes to editing my opening sequence.

  Sound is an important feature in the opening sequence of any film to create tension and set the tone for the film.  Sound is so important that is is said to have a 50% value compared to the other 50% of what is seen on the screen.  If the scenes create tension but is accompanied by a poor soundtrack, the opening sequence will loose all the tension built.  In the Dark Knight Rises, sound has been used very effectively.  For example, at the start of the opening sequence when the plane is flying over the mountainous region, there is non diegetic mood music that comes in quietly under the sound of the plane itself.  This sound is very subtle but is very effective as it builds tension throughout the scene.  Also, the non diegetic sound of the gun being pulled from the holster is very effective because this emphasises the sound even more to symbolise to the audience that this scene is tense but could also have a foreboding effect that something bad will happen.  The use of dialogue is also very effective as the bane has a distinct voice though non diegetic sound effects.  This makes the character of the bane seem very imposing, distinct and threatening.  Also, the sound effects of the breathing of the bane is emphasised as it creates tension and fear.

  In the opening scene of Collateral, there is also the use of non diegetic sound to emphasise the sound of the footsteps which is effective in creating a tense atmosphere.  There is also an effective use of diegetic sound of the busy airport with the announcements over the sound of the crowd.  This is important because it makes the setting of the airport more realistic and more believable, therefore engaging the audience in.  Another use of sound in the opening sequence is the use of dialogue when the two characters are speaking to each other. The speech within the dialogue is ambiguous which draws the audience in as they don't know much about the characters.  After the dialogue has ended, the mood music is in the background which suggests to the audience that one of the characters is about to move to a different location.   The use of music in this way is clever in communicating to the audience what is about to happen.

  The use of sound is also effective in the opening sequence of Goodfellas in creating a tense atmosphere and setting up the story for the rest of the film.  For example, when the titles are seen and then fade of the screen, the use of non-diegetic sound effects of a car driving past has been used to link in with the opening of the gang driving a car.  There is also the use of diegetic sound of a rattling noise in the car.  This use of sound is also clever because it is ambiguous and it makes the audience think and question what is making the sound, all the time building more tension.  The use of dialogue in this scene also fits in with the gangster theme as there is use of swearing and quick, short, snappy speeches to each other.  This makes the character types of the gangsters more believable and realistic.

   Another important feature of any opening sequence is the use of Mise-en-scene.  If used correctly, Mise-en-scene can make the opening sequence realistic and believable as well as building up character profiles and creating tension through the setting.

  In the opening sequence of The Dark Knight Rises, there are many features of Mise-en-scene which have been used effectively to build the tension up.  For example, the use of props such as the gun are effectively used because before it is even used, it has a foreboding effect on the audience that something bad is going to happen due to the connotations of crime, gangs and death.  Also, the costumes used for the captives makes the scene realistic and mysterious because you can't see their faces so you don't know what they are thinking due to not being able to see their facial expressions.  It also makes the scene more believable to the audience because if these people were really being captured, they are likely to be covered up.  The location of the aeroplane in the sky is effective because it is unstable and could crash or break.  However, it also creates a sense of loneliness as the captured people are alone and appear vulnerable which makes the audience assume that there is no way of escape for them.  A final feature of Mise-en-scene in this sequence is the use of costume for the bane.  In the opening scene, he is wearing a black shirt and a black mask which covers his mouth. This makes the character of the bane mysterious and makes him seem imposing and threatening.

  Mise-en-scene has also been used effectively in the opening sequence of Collateral to also build tension up effectively but also to help the audience to understand the character profiles of those in the film.  For example, in the airport scene, the audience are able to quickly identify the main characters as being villains due to the Mise-en-scene, especially due to the costume of wearing a suit and tie.  Also, the use of props with the brief cases helps the audience to understand the main characters are likely to be criminals.  However, it also builds tension up because the audience don't know what could be in the brief case and therefore, it creates a sense of mystery and ambiguity in the character, intriguing the audience to watch on.  As in The Dark Knight Rises, the Mise-en-scene used to present the characters is effective in making the characters quickly identifiable within the busy airport full of people and makes their character profile more believable.

  The opening sequence of Goodfellas also uses Mise-en-scene effectively in building up tension and making the characters and story line more believable to the audience.  For example, in the opening, there is a medium shot used in tracking the car driven by the gangsters.  In this scene, Mise-en-scene has been effectively used to portray a different time period (1970).  Although there is a title which states the opening is "New York 1970," the use of props such as the old 1970's American car with the costumes of the gangsters wearing suits makes the opening more believable for the audience to watch and therefore conveys more meaning and, as a result, they are more likely to watch the film.  If the costumes used were not from the same time period, it would ruin the illusion of the 1970's and could result in all the tension being lost.  This is further evident in the scene of the dying person in the back of the car covered in blood.  If the blood and costume looked unrealistic in this scene, it could almost become comical rather than tense or shocking.  However, as the use of Mise-en-scene is accurate and realistic, it makes the opening scene believable and creates tension well.

  Furthermore, another feature that is used in all opening sequences is the reference to a narrative and typical story lines of a particular genre that helps the audience to decipher the genre of the film.  In the Dark Knight Rises, the main storyline is about a terrorist leader called the Bane who tries to destroy Gotham and Batman.  In response, Batman is pushed to the limit in order to stop the Bane and save Gotham city.  This is a typical narrative for action and crime films as the equilibrium is disrupted by a dilemma caused by the antagonist and as a result, the protagonist must respond to bring back the equilibrium.  The underlying theme of the film is that of good versus evil and also that of terrorism.  There is a clear heroic figure in the protagonist of Batman, a typical character found in most action films.

  Similarly in Collateral, there is a story line and narrative of a taxi driver who is held hostage by the main character, who is a killer, and is immersed in crime scene to crime scene in LA.  Therefore, the taxi driver must try to save himself and others.  This, once again follows the story of a person who has to try to save people as well as himself in a less heroic way than in The Dark Knight Rises.  The underlying theme of this film is of criminal activity with an innocent hostage who must fight for what is right, once again coming back to the theme of good versus evil.

  In Goodfellas, the story line is about a man called Henry Hill and a group of friends who try to make their way as gangsters.  The underlying theme is that of a gangster squad and criminal activity.  This conforms to the typical features of an action/ crime film and helps the audience to identify the film genre easily as well.

  Titles are a common feature in opening sequence and can either be a separate sequence on their own away from the story line (such as used in the James Bond films) or are integrated with the action.  In The Dark Knight rises, the use of titles is simple and selective with more of focus on the actual opening sequence and the action.  In the opening sequence of Goodfellas, the use of titles is effective because the font used and the colour is not elaborate and fancy so as to detract from the action in the sequence but is informative and fits in nicely with the 1970s time period.  Moreover, one feature of this title sequence that is effective is the transition of the titles - flying off the screen accompanied by the sound of cars driving past - to create tension and lead nicely into the car scene.  This shows the titles are well integrated and fit the story line well.

  Every opening sequence has a function whether that is to introduce the main characters or to set the scene.  Nevertheless, every opening sequence has to do one thing - engage the audience and keep them hooked so that they want to watch the rest of the film.

 In The Dark Knight Rises, there are a number of functions that can be noted from the opening sequence.  For example, the aeroplane sets the scene and location for the film, the different camera shots used to show the Bane introduces the antagonist and throughout the sequence, due to sound, camera and Mise-en-scene, the tone is set for the rest of the film by building up a tense atmosphere.  Altogether, this is an effective way to engage the audience as there is a lot of action that makes the scene edgy and entertaining as well as ambiguity as to what could happen, therefore captivating the audience to carry on watching the film.

  In Collateral, there are also many functions of the opening scene.  One example of the function of the opening for Collateral is in the busy airport scene.  This scene is effective as it suggests, through the hustle and bustle of crowd in the airport, that the film will be very dramatic and action packed and busy.  Also, the opening scenes act as establishing shots as it reveals the main character for the film and just gives enough information, though constume, dialogue and props, for the audience to make a judgement of his character profile and work out what will happen in the film.  It does this by giving enough information to question what will happen and to be intrigued but not so much information that the audience lose interest by the plot being revealed too early.

  In Goodfellas, the opening sequence also has a purpose and function in order to intigue the audience.  It does this by setting the tone for the rest of the film as it starts off violent and a bit of action.  Also, through Mise-en-scene (costume in particular), the film opening reveals a little about the story line being about gangsters, also revealing and introducing the main characters and what they are like.  This helps the audience to work out who they are and what they will do in the film.  The shooting at the start also acts as a climax in tension because it makes the audience think about the consequences and whether they will get caught.  This is a clever way in making the marketability think about not only what is happening but also what will happen.

  From my comparison of three films, I will now be able to draw out some features that I will be able to use in my own crime/thriller genre.  Some of the key features that have come up include:

•  Long shots to establish the location of the opening
• Close ups to establish the main characters, create a claustrophobic feel and hide information from the audience
• Fast pace, snappy editing of scenes to build up tension and unnerve the audience
• Tense, sinister, scary soundtrack to make the scenes build up in tension to a dramatic climax
• Good use of costume, props etc. to make the scene more realistic and to aid the audience in building a character profile
• Typical narrative theme of good against bad, a disruption of an equilibrium and a challenge to return to the equilibrium.  Sometimes including heroic figures
• Function of an opening sequence to intrigue the audience by making building tension

Audience Response

Now that I have a profile of my target audience, I have decided to get the opinions of the marketability for my film to make any appropriate changes and to ensure the film is well suited for them to be interested in.

 

James Holt (above).  From this interview, I was able to find out that he would expect to see action and mystery in an opening sequence.  When it comes to the storyboarding, script and eventually the shoot, I will make sure that I can try and incorporate the mystery part and perhaps the action also.  He liked the idea of the horror/comedy/crime/thriller so I will try to add some humour to the film as this could be a niche market.  He said he goes to the cinema so if my film did come out in a cinema, we could make money at the box office.  He mentioned that the film sounded like a good idea which is promising as he would fall into the marketability for the film so the fact that he shows interest could be representative that most people this age will like the film.  Also, he mentioned that he would watch crime/thrillers with his family so families might also be interested in this film.  The film he picked out as liking was Layer Cake because he liked the people in it, the plot was good and so was the action.  Therefore, we will try and portray a good plot in our opening to intrigue the audience.

Declan Keohane (above).  From this interview, I found out that he expects an opening sequence to have something that interests the audience.  Therefore, when it comes to planning, I will keep this in mind by perhaps adding a twist at the end or something that will really grip the audience's attention.   He said that given the choice, he prefers crime/thriller so perhaps I might try to focus more on the crime aspect as this has a broader spectrum of possibles as opposed to the limited possibilities of a horror comedy that might not work.  This was also brought up when we asked him about the film as he said that it sounded good and that there were lots of options we could explore.  He also said he would go to the cinema to watch a film so this shows that if the film we were making was a full, real film, we could have a box office hit.  As regards the marketing of a film, he said that he finds out about films on the adverts and TV but also on the Internet.  When it comes to the marketing strategy for my film, I will try to keep in mind that the Internet is a great way to attract our marketability.  A film that he mentioned was Reservoir Dogs because he said it was amusing and violent so perhaps we will add some of these features into our film.

Crystal Hale (above).  When we interviewed Crystal, she said that you might see some action in a film opening so we will try and perhaps add some action as this will interest people of a similar age to her.  An important point that was yet again mentioned is that as regards marketability, she said that she would likely find out about a film on an advert on the TV which is also something I can consider in my marketing strategy.  Although adverts are expensive, especially on prime time TV, they are one of the most influential ways to market a film as it means that a lot of people will find out about a film and they will be able to spread good word of mouth about the film too.  When we asked her about what she thought of our film, she said that it sounded like a thrilling film and that she would watch it.  The fact that she thought it was a thrilling film, we will try to get the thriller side across because it is something that has been mentioned a few times and is therefore something that would interest this sort of age group.  The fact she said that she watches crime/thrillers with her friends means that good word of mouth might be spread from one person to all their friends and their friends and so on which would make the film viral.


Farath Saddiqi (above).  One of the functions of an opening sequence that she brought out was that of the sequence being enticing, dramatic and something that makes you think about what will happen in the film.  Therefore, I will need to think about something in the film that will really hook the audience in like a twist or a climax of tension at the end of the opening sequence.  She said that she would like horror/comedy but mostly comedy so perhaps I will try and find a way to incorporate humour in the opening.  When I asked her about how she would find out about a film, she mentioned that she would find out from film websites and trailers.  Yet again, the use of the Internet and film trailers in adverts have been mentioned again, suggesting they are clearly effective in attracting the attention of this age group.  When I told her about my film ideas, she said that she would watch it and that she normally watches films with friends so if one person gets to find out about the film on the Internet, they might tell their friends and watch it together.  Although she said she doesn't really watch crime/thrillers, she said that if she saw a good trailer, she might be enticed to watch the film.  I might consider a trailer as a marketing tool as it would attract a lot of people.  One film, or collection of films, was James Bond because she said she liked the use of action.  I will therefore try to incorporate action into my film to attract a mass audience.

25 word challenge

Pitch for my film Opening

Now that I have come with my initial ideas in the mind mapping process, I then moved on to developing a final idea.  One of my decisions was to combine the ideas of crime, thriller and adventure.   I liked the theme of revenge because it gave the storyline some conflict and I also liked the genre of crime and the location of a house party as this would attract a teenage audience.  Therefore, I wanted to combine the two genres of crime, thriller/ drama and a bit of horror.  I moved on to this area of genre in particular because it would have a wide target audience to attract most people.  Also, horror films in particular are good films to make on a low budget as the special effects and editing can really be brought to the fore as opposed to action films that rely on expensive action scenes such as car chases and explosions.

 The storyline that I then thought of from my chosen genre was about a crazy killer who is remanded in custody and is on the hunt for three teenagers who were a witness to a crime committed by him.  The story would be an exploration of the escape of the three witnesses from their inevitable, gruesome death. 

  When a film is pitched to a distributor, it is known as 'high concept' if the film can be summed up in 25 words or less. Therefore, I came up with my own pitch for the film in under 25 words:

  "Crazy killer goes seeking revenge.  Three key witnesses of his dark crime are on an escape from their gruesome, inevitable death."

  From this, I was then able to get feedback from peers who are in the age group that the film would be marketed towards.  The overall feedback was that it was "creative" and a "good chosen genre" that they would be "intrigued to watch."  They also said how the storyline, summed up in less than 25 words, is "clever" as it gives "enough information about the genre and description of the film to get people's attention but doesn't give so much away that it is clear what happens."  Another point that was brought out from the feedback was that they were "interested in the mix of genres" as this would "set it apart from other horror films."

  As a result from this feedback, I was able to discuss my ideas of the opening sequence with the other person in my group, Jess.  The feedback showed that the marketability was there for the film and they really liked the idea. 
 
  Therefore, we came up with the idea of an opening where there is a house party where the three witnesses of a crime that has already occurred come together.  Following this, there are camera shots that reveal a point of view of the villain who is seeking to get rid of the witnesses in order to walk away from the crime.  The opening would look like a typical teenage film with the party, loud music and humour.  However, the audience would quickly be able to see something is wrong when the villain manages to get into the party and everyone is questioning who he is and what he is doing.  The build up in tension on screen would also be accompanied with a change in music from the pop music played in the party to tense, dramatic music which has a foreboding effect that something bad is going to happen.  The villain is then searching around the party to find the 3 witnesses whilst the 3 are totally oblivious that the criminal is here.  When the 3 witnesses suddenly find out that the villain has arrived, there would be flashbacks of the crime that occurred, helping the audience to understand what actually has happened. 

Mood Board

  Now that I have some initial ideas for my opening sequence, I decided that a mind map would be a good way to visually illustrate what I have in mind.

  Below is the mood board I have created to display my initial ideas for the film opening and some of the locations, themes and iconography that might feature within the opening.

    From the mood board, it is clear that most of my ideas have inspiration from my mind map, especially the 'crime genre' and the house party theme.  For example, I have used images such as alcohol, drugs, blood, guns and people partying which has connotations of violence, crime and a house party which could go wrong.  I have also used images such as the court room and weighing scales to illustrate justice or, in the case of my initial ideas, a lack of justice which could fit in with the idea of revenge for someone who has been set up or is guilty and is trying to get rid of evidence and witnesses. I used some images to illustrate loneliness such as the man on a bench, the island by the sea and the deserted train station.

  Some of my inspiration for my film ideas has come from the Batman movies and Collateral (the front covers of which can also be seen on the mood board).  These films explore ideas of good against evil, fighting crime as well as being a part of crime.

The Initial Ideas

  This video shows the backbones of my first ideas including genre of film and possible story lines.  It includes mind maps which I created, starting with a broad genre and then narrowing down to a more specific story.  I came up with 3 possible genres initially: drama/thriller, crime and adventure. 
 
  This video also shows the development stages and how one idea linked to another.  There are also links and connections from one storyline in a particular genre to other story lines from other genres.  From this, I am able to develop an overall idea for what the opening sequence of my film will entail including the genre and brief storyline.

 One of my first ideas when it came to the mind mapping stage was that of a drama/ thriller which explored ideas from revenge on someone to escapism from a family or a gang.  After I had explored different avenues of the revenge theme, I then moved on to the adventure genre and came up with ideas of someone lost on a desert island.  I also came up with the idea of a family who had lost a child and were looking for the child, fearing the worst.  The final theme I explored was that of a house party in the genre of crime with drugs, drinking and a possible killing.

  When I had these ideas written down, I then tried to make links between my different ideas to try and come up with one that I liked and had different elements to it.  One idea that I did like was the house party because, with filming in mind, the setting for a house party would be quite easy and it would also be quite easy, in the editing stage, to add effects and alter the lighting to create and eerie and tense atmosphere.  With this idea, I would be able to explore the idea of crime and possible revenge.