Script

 Hi!

I have finished writing the script with my partner

FADE IN - 

Location: Inside a dark warehouse at night.

(It is dimly lit, and “abandoned “. The air is thick with tension. The flickering neon lights with creepy shadows on the walls are covered in weird symbols.)

The Loudspeaker turns on.

Loudspeaker (distorted): Welcome, contestants. Your choices start now.

(A group of people, dressed in the classic green jumpsuits, stand in a circle. Their eyes look around nervously and confused)

A Closeup - A teenage girl, Mariah (16), has sweaty palms that she wipes on her suit, eyes scanning the room. Next to her, a girl, Angelina (17), whispers nervously.

Angelina (whispering): I heard no one ever leaves this place…

(A masked figure, the host, steps forward. Their black suit and faceless mask make them even more unsettling. They slowly raise a hand.)

The host: Silence.

(The group instantly falls quiet. The tension is suffocating.)

Wide shot -  The walls suddenly light up. A countdown timer appears that says 60 SECONDS.

Mariah (nervously): What... what’s happening?

The host: Decide quickly. Or don’t decide at all.

(A hidden door creaks open, revealing two paths—one bathed in red light, the other in blue. The group hesitates.)

A loud buzzer blares. The timer goes down.

Angelina(PANICKING): We have to move! Pick one!

Mariah: Wait—what if this is a trick?

CLOSE-UP: The countdown hits 30 seconds.

(Suddenly, one person runs to the red side. The moment he crosses the room—

The sound of a trap springing. He’s gone.)

CLOSE-UP -  Mariah's breath quickens. Angelina grips her arm. The group starts screaming.

THE HOST(calmly): Tick-tock.

CLOSE-UP - Mariah looks at the countdown 

A sound effect of a heartbeat pounding in her ears.

Mariah (whispering to herself) What do I do...?

The countdown hits 0

Cuts to black

End of scene.

Reflection

We might end up changing the names or some of the things to better suit our circumstances but this is our final script of our film opening!

Plot

 Hi!

Planning 

When creating the opening for my thriller film, I wanted to instantly have a tone of tension and mystery, like the creepy and unsettling atmosphere in Squid Game. I want the opening to instantly hook the viewer, leaving them with questions and a sense of unease.

For my film's opening, my partner and I are planning to show a masked figure leading a group of desperate people into a room with low lights. The walls are going to be lined with creepy symbols and the sound effect of a loudspeaker with distorted instructions. We are going to create tension by having the group exchange nervous glances, as they are unsure of what's coming.

To keep the opening short but impactful, we will introduce a protagonist who stands out from the group maybe someone hesitant, unlike the others. The setting will make the situation feel more real and bigger than it actually is. Having a brief exchange between characters suggests high stakes that they don't understand yet. A part of our dialogue will be, “I heard no one ever leaves this place.” before the masked figure cuts them off.

Since the opening relies heavily on mood, my partner and I will focus on lighting. Stark contrasts of lights, with flickering neon lights casting shadows. The camera Angles, low, tilted shots to create unease and close-ups to emphasize the fear. Movements, slow, deliberate tracking shots to build tension. 

Instead of lengthy dialogue, it will be scarce but meaningful. The masked figure will announce creepily, “Your choices start now.” leaving the characters and the viewer in suspense. Ending with a cliffhanger or a question. To leave the viewer on a cliffhanger, the opening will end with a countdown suddenly appearing on the walls.

Reflection

Inspired by Squid Game, I aim for this opening to intrigue, have tension, and a sense of an uncomfortable feeling. By focusing on the visual storytelling, sound design, and minimal but impactful dialogue, the viewer will be left on edge, and eager to find out more.

Planning post #1

 HI!

So this week starts the planning process of our film opening. Me and my partner have decided that for this week we would focus more on the trailer research than the planning as the week was a short one. We have spoken about the planning in person and have decided to leave the main planning for next week when we see each other in person.

Research

My partner and I were speaking, and we both concluded that the hardest part of planning would be finding the location for our film's opening, seeing as Squid Game inspired us for the opening and there is no other place that has the same setting and set design as squid game. We might have to do our own set design and we might have to do some studying of the Squid Game set to do so. Other than that, the most difficult task would be writing a script, but since we have two minds working on it and having it based on a show, it will be easier.

Reflection

Next week we will go more into depth on the planning and provide charts and draft scripts for our film opening. Sorry for the short blog.

Trailer Research

 HI!

This week, I decided to do one more research post before starting planning. My partner and I decided to research trailers because our film's opening is two minutes long, and studying a trailer was the best template.

Research

I first started by watching thriller trailers on YouTube. I first started watching the trailers of the movies that I already spoke about in my past blog posts. Scream, The Shining, and more. I also watched more recent thriller movie trailers like Longlegs and Smile, to get a feel of a modern thriller trailer. Throughout my watching, I realized that most of the more recent trailers have the same formula to them. They all start to look similar after a while. While the older trailers have their own specific styles catered to the movie.

However, I wanted to learn more about what goes into making a trailer. The main goal of a trailer is to engage with the viewers and make them interested in the movie. Even more so with thriller trailers and their goal is to build suspense. I started to watch YouTube videos on how they edited a trailer to build suspense. Sound Design is an important factor in a trailer. Having the right sound at the right shot easily helps build suspense and also transition into your next scene. Trailers are built on transitions. Needing to know which scene comes next is essential to a good trailer. You have to tell the whole story without giving away much of the move.

Reflection

After doing more research, I feel even more confident about the film opening. However, I am a little nervous about the planning, as my partner and I have to find a place to film. In the next blog, I will begin the planning process. This is when the partner work really begins. My partner and I are going to have to collaborate more than we ever have before to plan this efficiently.

Sources

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BcDK7lkzzsU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97c-AbzhJIQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vkWB-yoW1M

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ou9t6wXJkjE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZQvIJxG9Xs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3J6ACKQ7K0&t=61s

Project Proposal

 HI!

Me Angelina Deus, and my partner Mariah B. are doing the film opening. The main reason why we chose the film opening was because I have taken a previous film class so I have knowledge of making short films. We felt that since I had experience it would be easier and it could also be fun at the same time. 

My potential target audience is older teens to young adults and also adults. I felt that when researching for my target audience, thrillers were most popular with that age range. These ages tend to enjoy thrillers because the psychological horror aspect - seems to be the most popular reason- and because most of them just like getting scared.

Potential social issues and representation that I'm going to cover are people in poverty. This issue is not really represented in the media like Squid Game did. Instead of showing homeless people, they dove into their lives and made them actual people. I hope to do justice and show a representation of this genre.

The software and hardware that I'm going to be utilizing is Adobe After Effects and Premiere Pro. I have a lot of experience with After Effects so I am confident in using that application for my film opening. I am planning to play around with Premiere Pro a bit more knowing that it is amazing for audio.

The basic plan for my film opening is to continue to write the script with everything I studied in focus to really make a thriller opening. The most difficult thing I predict is the production and trying to cast people and find locations. Locations especially are going to be a struggle since there is nothing like Squid Game in my area. Me and my partner are going to work together to overcome these obstacles.

Camera Shots Research

 HI!
This week I decided to focus on the camera shots for the research portion. I already have some notes on this so I decided to study them to polish off my knowledge and to add some information by looking for websites that describe them well and what certain shots are used for thrillers.

Research

I first started by reviewing the notes that I took in class on camera shots and movements. Most of them are conventions but I decided that needed more research on camera shots mostly used in the thriller genre.  

"Psychological Thriller Camera Shots and Angels" claims that low-angle shots are "used a lot within thrillers as it gives characters power as they are being framed from below which puts them on a pedestal" This is something I will utilize seeing as I want a certain type of character in my film opening to be a villain. Dolly Zooms is something that I really want to incorporate in my opening because I view it as a beautifully cinematic movement. 

Dutch Angles are mostly used when things go wrong and I feel like it also really builds suspense, especially in "Harry Potter Deathly Hallows" where they used that shot to increase the adrenaline of the scene. I want my film opening to make an impression in the little time it has and to be memorable. I want to utilize a lot of complex shots to make an impression cinematically. 

Reflection

Researching camera shots made me more confident about being prepared to film my opening. Although complex it is much simpler knowing all of these little but important elements that go into creating a film. A film opening has to be powerful. I am now ready to write my project proposal.

Sources

https://boords.com/blog/16-types-of-camera-shots-and-angles-with-gifs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GMD3beqWJ4

https://prezi.com/jokckqxt9b2b/psychological-thriller-camera-angles-and-shots/

https://www.studiobinder.com/blog/dutch-angle-shot-camera-movement/

Mise-en-scene Research #1

 Hello!

Today my partner Mariah and I have decided to focus on the mise-en-scene of thrillers. The mise-en-scene is very important to set the tone of the story.

Lighting

The lighting is essential in setting a thrilling tone. The low-key lighting emphasizes shadow, making the scene darker. Lighting can also say a lot about a character. A PowerPoint I found, "Mise-en-scene in the mystery-thriller genre" claims "Low-key lighting is also used to play on peoples primitive fears of the dark and the unknown". This is very true - as the example they provided was "Dark Knight Rises" directed by Christopher Nolan - the dark lighting on Joker's face makes him even more evil. A shadow covering most of a character's face makes them mysterious or even sinister. High-key lighting aids in contrasting the shadow and make it stand out even more.

Props

Props can be a defining thing for a character, especially the ones around them. A lot of times thrillers utilize weapons like guns and knives, as a way to tell that they are a bad guy. But it isn't so black and white in thriller movies. It can be a way to mislead you about who truly is the bad guy. A lot of times people use weapons to defend themselves from antagonists. 

Sound

Sound in a film can be a soundtrack, non-diegetic sound, diegetic sound, etc. Sound can elevate a scene and change or alter the mood. A chilling noise can change the scene from a comfortable environment to a suspenseful scene. According to the mise-scene-scene powerpoint "

Setting

The setting of a film can affect the story. Most thrillers are in small towns to make the problem of a killer grand. It can also happen in big cities like in "Scream 7" where the killer still chased the main character throughout the city. It can make it even scarier since the city is so big that the killer can be anyone. For my film opening, I will attempt to replicate the squid game set design, with bright colors and symbolism.

Costume

The costumes in "Squid Game" are essential to the story since the plot is about people being trapped on an island participating in a game. The clothing needs to be the same color, with no makeup and undone hair to simulate how trapped they are.

Reflection

For the next blog, I will be studying camera shots. Camera shots are crucial for the mood of the story. I already took some notes on camera shots and angles, so I will study them to ensure I understand them.

Sources

https://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/mise-enscene-in-the-mysterythriller-genre/55798524

https://infocusfilmschool.com/what-is-mise-en-scene/ 

Thriller Studios/Publishers

 HI!

This week I decided to study what productions and what studios do thrillers the best. I watch a lot of movies by A24 and I decided to research them.

RESEARCH

A24 is a company that I associated with horror and thriller. They have made moves like 'Midsommer' and 'The Witch'. 'Midsommer' is a great example of a thriller that I would like to follow the format of. MGM has made a lot of popular movies including 'Saltburn' - a thriller/comedy- a movie that I enjoyed a lot. 'Saltburn' did a great job at building suspense since the viewers didn't know what was happening. One of the main reasons that I enjoyed 'Saltburn' was the way it was shot. The cinematography was beautiful and the shots were amazing. I will be taking a lot of notes on the movie again and using them to influence my shooting of the opening. 'Hannibal' is a great thriller movie I was surprised that a lot of people that I know, were not familiar with Hannibal Lecter. He, in my opinion, is an iconic symbol of the horror/thriller genre. A great character to study if you want to do something with thriller. 

As I was researching, I discovered that thrillers are expensive to produce when taking into account the top talent, physical effects, and filming methods. The high budget can make it difficult for smaller production companies to compete in that genre. It can also make for a better plot which can appeal to a wider audience. "Filmmakers need to spend a lot of money on marketing to stand out from the many other films that are competing for viewers’ attention." There has been difficulty trying to make an original thriller seeing as there is so much plot and ideas in the industry."It can be difficult for independent films and well-known franchises to take off, which makes it difficult for fresh and innovative ideas to find an audience." There is also a problem legally with making a thriller. "Creative expression may be restricted by things like violent, mature, and graphic material restriction." This can make it difficult for people wanting to make a thriller which causes fewer people to make them. 

REFLECTION
In reflection, I realized that a lot of amazing thrillers come from a lot of the same production companies. It also helped me remember some amazing thriller movies that I had forgotten about and am willing to rewatch them for so more research. I also did not realize how many obstacles production companies had to go through to make a thriller. I think it is worth going through that trouble as it is extremely rewarding if the film is liked by a wide audience.

SOURCES

https://a24films.com/films

https://www.verifiedmarketresearch.com/product/thriller-film-market/#:~:text=High%20Production%20Expenses:%20The%20creation,plot%20and%20stifle%20creative%20creativity.

Target Audience Research

 HI!

This week, I have decided to research the type of audience that would watch thrillers and what conventions they would like to see. My knowledge of the target audience of thrillers is limited, but I assume it would be teens to young adults. Some people are also fanatics of the genre and sometimes picky about what makes a thriller a thriller so the research needed to be thorough and correct.

Research

For the research, I decided to start by looking for articles that go more in-depth with the target audience for thrillers. The article "Audience profile for Thriller Genre" by Gemini Productions, claims that the age range is so because "This is because of the mature nature of most thriller films, they include things such as violence, blood, sex, psychological issues etc." I agree with this statement because it makes total sense psychologically and is typical for thriller lovers. I really wanted to focus on what certain things draw people to people to thrillers. 

A lot of factors go into it. Some people watch them to be scared and love jumpscares. A lot of love how some are not supernatural and can happen in real life which is even scarier. I also realized I wanted to have a bit of comedy in the opening. Just a little though seeing as I want the focus of the genre to be on thriller. Researching this kind of thing is very helpful for my film opening. 

Reflection

What draws me to thrillers is the suspense of it, I feel like that's what really separates a thriller from a horror. I will be incorporating suspense in my film opening by using long and wide shots and also having a lot of shadows. I wanted to make my film opening unique and sort of have the opening as the last shot of the film, foreshadowing in a sense. I think that it adds mystery since you do not know how the film ended up getting there. I also think it makes for a more interesting film opening since it is only going to be 2 minutes. 

Sources

https://windsorgirls.weebly.com/gemini-productions/audience-profile-for-thriller-genre#:~:text=The%20audience%20for%20thrillers%20is,%2C%20sex%2C%20psychological%20issues%20etc.

https://storygrid.com/thriller-genre/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mise-en-sc%C3%A8ne