Thriller opening- planning

Basic Ideas

To start off the planning of the thriller opening we made a basic diagram thinking of different scenarios that could take place. There were many ideas that we came up with and kept building onto them making sure that what we chose was the best possible.

Also in our diagram we thought of different camera angles that we could potentially be using. After we had figured out our main idea for the thriller opening we then went onto thinking of the different scenes that would be shown.  The basic idea that we came up with for our thriller was an everyday normal family would turn out to have a dad who was hiding something that he shouldn't have in a place that would never be expected. At the time of this happening it would be an every day family doing day to day things. Two men, one of which would be the dad who is hiding something, while the other is a family friend who both are joining in on a fun game of billiards, As thrillers aim to excite there viewers and keep them on the edge of there seats by doing the unexpected, this is main aim that we are trying to achieve. The way we are doing this is by getting the audience to think nothing could be wrong with this normal family, when in fact the man of the household is holing one secret that you wouldn't expect.

We wrote down the different shots that would be included, this including the different angles and editing that would be done after filming.

Basic ideas on the shots that will be used:

1) - Establishing shot of the street.





2)-Camera ramping through the street, showing the prospective. Also showing the inside of the building.




3)- Showing an all day event from it being light outside to being night time.

4)Showing the suspicious looking men walking into the billiard room.






5) The camera follows them into the room to continue to watch them do a 'normal' thing.










6) Come to the unexpected when following the man to get a drink to seeing girls that are tide up in distress.

As some of the shots that we want to use in our thriller opening are more complex than just standing there filming, we improvised with some props that we would be able to use in order to get the shots that we wanted. As the first shot that we wanted to take was to be used as a camera ramp we need to make sure the camera would move smoothly up the street, both quickly and slowly.
Here is the prop that we used in order too reach this effect:

The wheel chair enabled us to film on a rough surface but making the camera run along smoothly. While one of us sat in the chair, the other would push we needed, both going at a slow and fast speed.


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The names for the thriller opening:

When coming up with the name for the thriller we came up with many ideas that could fit the story line. Some of the names that we came up with were ' need i say more ', ' oblivious minds', 'between the lines', 'The mind unstripped' and ' The outhouse'. We needed to make sure that the name would stand out and attract the viewers. All of the names that we came up with all linked with the thriller that we were producing. We came to the conclusion that would would use 'The Outhouse'. We decided to use this because we found it most mysterious, as the ' outhouse' is the place were girls that have been kidnapped are placed. The used 'house' has been included into it because a house is a place that you live and spend a lot of time, this representing that these girls have been here for a long time.

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Images of the area that we filmed in.

Hallway. 

Front view of Lounge.

Walkway from kitchen to billiard room.

Side view of Lounge.

Kitchen. 

Conservatory. 

Garden with Shed in background.

Back door.

Garden shed.

Shed door.

Looking into the conservatory from outside in the garden.

Brief overview of the places filmed:

Here is a brief diagram of all the rooms that we will be filming in. It shows an overview of the street that the camera will be following, then leading up to the house.

As we were filming on an open street we did come across a few problems, such as cars pulling in and out of drives and individuals passing by. We did make our away around this after a few shots of filming. The way in which we went up the street was placing the camera in a wheel chair, this was because we wanted to use the effect of camera ramping, this is where the camera either starts of fast or slow, to then doing the opposite. The wheel chair did ex actually what we wanted it to look like.
While one of us sat in the wheel chair the other would push and walk fast/ slow when needed.

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Mise-en-scene

To create the atmosphere that we are aiming for we need to make sure that the costumes that we use fit the characters played. In the thriller opening there will be a total of 8 characters.
Character 1:
In the street there will be a man doing outside jobs, wearing everyday clothing in dark colors.
Character 2:
In the kitchen there will a woman ( who is playing the mother of the family) who will be wearing bright colored clothing to show that she is in a happy environment enjoying herself at this family event.
Character 3:
In the living room there is a pair of individuals who will be playing a simple board game, both of which will be wearing everyday clothing.
Character 4:
This will be the other individual who will be playing the board game. (Wearing what said above)
Character 5:
One of the suspicious looking men playing the game of billiards.  Wearing smart wear, a shirt and trousers.
Character 6:
The other suspicious looking male, which will also be wearing a shirt and trousers.
Character 7: 
One of the kidnapped girls, Wearing dirty clothing ( showing that she is not in a good way )
Character 8: 
The other girl that has been kidnapped. Wearing a similar outfit to the other girl that has been kidnapped.

Here is our first ideas on what we thought our characters could be wearing:

The Lightening:

Throughout the thriller opening it will contain a verity of different lightnings. To start with when camera ramping through the street, it will be shown in black and white this is used to create a mysterious feeling. As it will be black and white it will already be dimmed lightening, which is the effect that we are trying to for.
When entering the the house we will want to lighten up a little this is because it is suppose to be a family event taking place. As these first few scences will be shot in the day light we will need to use editing to make the place look darker.
Whereas in the last few scenes it will be darker outside so there needs to be less editing to make the place look darker.
Even thought the main light will be natural light, filming both at day and night some of the lighting will be edited this is because we cant get the exact lighting that we wont with just the natural light.


Here is a picture of the first use of natural light that will be shown in the opening:

showing the street view and the natural lighting.

Whereas when we go further into the clip the lightening will change and get darker!













If you would like to watch the final clip and evaluation of our thriller opening ' The Outhouse' please click here.