Statement of Intent

This is my statement on intent including our initial ideas for component 1.

˚₊‧꒰ა Statement of Intent ໒꒱ ‧₊˚

Genre
Thriller – Mystery, Horror
Target Audience
Demographic	Teenagers (15-21)
Psychographic	People who enjoy watching thriller; with low lighting (dark contrast colours), High School Student; rebel students
How we will appeal to this target audience
Include modern situations and elements such as social media, technology, trends. This gives a personal and relatable sense that teenage audiences can relate. Other than that we show
Main inspirations
Get Out and Midsommar
General Synopsis
Main character fight with mom Mom mad and sad Partyyyyy  Kidnap kaki gets dragged out mom ❤️call “where r uuuu”
Characters
Teenage girl Mom Kidnapper Random background walkers
Representations
People:  Main Character (Lilith Angelica  Cassie) – Will be using short dresses that most teenagers would usually use, they wear soft makeup Mother – Hair in a bun (?), Typical home clothes, reading glasses, strict expressions  Places: Tisha’s House – decorate the house with decorations that would suit a party,  Props:  Plastic cups (?) Soda’s (Sprite, Coca Cola)  Parking lot – find areas that has dim / low lighting to give an effect to the audience feeling gloomy and scary  Props:  Car Phone Room – Where the main character will be getting ready  Props:  Make up Hair straightener / curler Notebook Polaroid Camera Bag  Heels Photobooth pictures on mirror/wall
Dominant Reading
“Step on a crack, you break your moms back” – Listen to your mom, before it's too late. Your actions affect other people.
Proposed Roles
Script	Cassie
Storyboard	Cassie
Location Scout	Eileen
Risk Assessment	Eileen
Screen Test	Tisha
Filming schedule	Eileen
Audience research	Kimora
Behind-the-scenes	Kimora
Editing	Tisha

Personal Reflection:

Reflecting on my statement of intent, I feel like it helped me clarify my goals and the direction I want to take with my movie opening. It was a great way to organize my thoughts and focus on what I want to achieve with the thriller genre, especially considering how many different elements go into creating suspense and tension. Writing it down also made me realize the importance of technical aspects, like lighting and camera angles, in setting the right mood. At first, I wasn’t sure how to approach the project, but now I have a clearer vision of how I want the story to unfold and how I’ll engage the audience. Overall, it gave me a better sense of purpose and direction moving forward.

Research: Genre

My group and I have decided to create a film opening in the genre of thriller. Here is my research into the codes and conventions of the thriller genre for component 1.

˗ˏˋ ꒰  Genre: Thriller  ꒱ ˎˊ˗

A film’s opening is often used to create a sense of tension or unease, hooking the audience from the start. It may introduce a disturbing event or hint at something sinister later in the movie, providing context or background for the main conflict. This helps build anticipation and keeps the audience engaged and invested in the storyline. 

Thriller films often use slow pacing at the beginning to pull the audience in, followed by sudden and intense moments or events to shock them. However, some thriller openings might choose to jump straight into action to hook audiences immediately, as it serves as a “surprise”. The narratives usually focuses on the protagonist facing dangerous situations or people. As the plot unravels, unexpected plot twists are introduced, keeping the audience on edge. 

In terms of character conventions, thrillers usually have a wide range of what a protagonist could be. They could feature an anti-hero/morally ambiguous protagonist who may be flawed or conflicted, or an innocent/justice-driven protagonist who wants to do the right thing. The protagonist often has to face external threats and also internal struggles, which adds layers and psychological depth to the narrative. Deception, betrayal, and manipulation are common themes. Thriller have to contain a villain who creates the main conflict.

Below, I’m going to analyze film trailers and openings to gain a better understanding on thriller films and their narratives.

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The Guilty, 2021

Produced by: Nine Stories Production, Bold Films

Distributed by: Netflix

Trailer:

*unfortunately I was unable to find a clip from youtube of the opening to paste here*

This is a thriller and crime movie.  

The Guilty is aimed at a board audience aged 16 and older, with a focus to thrill chasers who appreciate character-driven narratives. Its narrative filled with mental health, pressures of law enforcement, and morally ambiguous characters can attract demographics and psychographics who are interested social commentary.

The Guilty conforms to many thriller conventions to keep it true to the genre, while subverting enough to keep it interesting. One of the most obvious ways it conforms to the genre is the stressful and dangerous environment. The film takes place entirely in a 911 dispatch center, a high-stakes area that feels closed in, reflecting the protagonist’s mental state. This setting creates a sense of claustrophobia, therefore adding tension, which conforms to the genre’s convention of uneasy settings. Additionally, the film uses a darker colour palette with low-key lighting that emphasises the feelings of fear and anxiety. Violence is also an essential part of the narrative, as the protagonist, Joe Baylor, is forced to face threats though phone calls, which implies the psychological effects of violence without visually showing it.

Another important convention this film follows is the use of sounds. Thrillers often use eerie non-diegetic sound and loud diegetic sounds (e.g footsteps, whispers, etc) to create this suspense. Since the nature of the narrative makes it so we can’t see too much visual elements, sounds like Joe’s heavy breathing really make up for the possible ways to build tension with mis-en-scene. A noticeable subversion in this trailer is the fact it takes place only in one room, which could be immersive as it puts the audience in Joe’s shoes, but it may be boring over time.

The opening itself starts with a Bible quote on a black screen with eerie non-diegetic music. An establishing crane shot of the city engulfed in flames follows, along with dialogue of 911 dispatchers taking about the fires with callers.  Diegetic sounds of screams are heard before it cuts to the title. The title itself is very simple with white text and black background. The cryptic quote adds mystery while the next shots give us context about what this movie is about. The flames along with the screams of people help make the scene scary and tense. These are all conventions that this opening conforms to. 

Next, we cut to an extreme close up of Joe's eyes. It's very blurry as we hear Joe cough loudly. An eye-line match is used to cut to Joe's inhaler as he takes a puff.  We also hear a slight static noise that continues. The extreme close up brings focus to his eyes and the blur effect shows that he's out of touch. From his inhaler and context clues such as his deep breathing, we can tell that he is struggling with a condition that makes it hard to breathe e.g. asthma. This combination of technical elements gives meaning to this scene and leads us to this conclusion. Again, these are all common elements used in the genre. A long shot of the room from above shows a man getting out of a bathroom stall and tries talking to Joe, however this dialogue is inaudible as his voice becomes distorted. This shows that Joe is still struggling with his breath. Providing context to the audience is important so they can immerse themselves in the story. Additionally, the colors used in this scene are very dull and minimal to keep that clinical and psychological feel. It then cuts to Joe answering his 911 calls. Close up shots of the caller information on the computer scenes bring attention to them and puts the audience in Joe's shoes, making it more immersive. The next shots vary from over the shoulder shots, shots of the dispatch center, different angles of joe, etc. This helps make the scene more dynamic and lets the audience gather more information. Joe talks very rudely and monotone to the caller, saying things like "This is your own fault".

This scene is hard to analyze as there isn't much movement or action. Joe takes some calls but doesn't move around much, allowing for minimal camera movement and angles. This is a subversion to most thriller conventions, as they'd usually have some sort of action at the very start to kick off the film and keep audiences hooked. For this film, the fire could serve as that "action", however it was shown very briefly and it's effect on individual characters isn't shown much, besides the smokey air effecting Joe. This opening relied very heavily on sound design and dialogue. While the sound design helps give this scene emotion and meaning, it can only do so much with minimal mis-en-scene and camera movements. This could be boring after a while and disengage the audience, which is something I aim to avoid in my thriller opening. However, I did appreciate the effective mix of non-diegetic and diegetic sounds. While the dialogue was interesting and helped me to get to know the protagonist better, It's something I plan to minimize in my opening. I do not have access to great actors like Jake Gyllenhaal for my opening, so line delivery in my opening might be very mediocre and unnatural. I'm going to avoid this issue by keeping dialogue minimal, yet telling enough for my audience to get to know my protagonist. I liked how the very first shots introduced a problem right away, yet it lacked action in my opinion. I also enjoyed the smart use of editing techniques and effects such as the blur and distorted voice, which is something I'd like to implement in my opening if I include a scene of my protagonist struggling as she drinks a spiked drink.

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Parasite, 2019

Produced by: CJ Entertainment, Baruson E&A

Distributed by: CJ Entertainment, Universal Pictures Home Entertainment, etc.

Trailer:

Opening:

This is a thriller and comedy movie.

Parasite’s target audience is mostly Gen Z and millennial aged 18-35. While this film is aimed at Koreans, its international appeal was unexpected. Audiences from outside Korea came to appreciate this film’s unique storytelling.  

This trailer serves as an introduction to the thriller and comedy film’s discussion of class, deception, and moral ambiguity. By using various conventions, the trailer effectively sets the tone and intrigues the audience, converting and subverting traditional thriller and drama genre conventions.

The Parasite trailer conforms to several conventions typical of thrillers. One notable convention is the use of a dark color palette. The trailer uses muted colors and shadows, creating an ominous atmosphere that reflects the film’s themes. The distressed environments depicted in the contrasting settings of the Kim family’s cramped apartment and the luxurious Park family residence highlight social disparities, creating juxtapose. This noticeable contrast serves to establish the central conflict, drawing the audience into the story. The sound design also follows conventional thriller practices, utilizing eerie music and unsettling diegetic sounds to enhance tension and add realism.

However, the trailer also subverts several conventions of the genre. One significant subversion is its focus on a single location, similarly to The Guilty (2021). While many thrillers showcase multiple dangerous settings, Parasite focuses on the contrast between the Kim family's impoverished home with the wealth of the Park family. This emphasis on two contrasting environments allows the film to dive deeper into class dynamics.

As for the opening itself, it immediately starts with the production company and the title. We see the title in a shot of socks hanging on a ceiling by a window where we can see outside. The floor outside is the same height as the window, showing that this house is below ground— this is a feature that most small, cramped, impoverish homes may have which shows their financial position. This shot is kept for a while as the names of the actors are shown after the title. Non-diegetic piano movie with a sort of “sad” feel plays, as the camera pans down to a man on his phone. Pans slowly reveal information to give context and to keep audiences on edge. Additionally, pans mimic eye movement, making it more realistic. We see this man trying to leech off of his neighbors wifi, similarly to what a “parasite” would do, which matches with the title. A tracking shot is used as the boy walks around the house, taking the audience with him. This makes the audience feel as if they are apart of the story. He passes by his family members and they share small conversations that define their character, giving context on who they are. Another convention this opening conforms to is the use of dull and dark clothing. While the house itself lacks proper lighting (low-key lighting) and is filled with trash and junk in a cramped space, the dull clothing makes them blend into the environment. The dull and dark clothing (and costume in general) is something I’d like to have in my opening too to reflect the character’s situation and feelings. For example, the characters here are using dull and comfortable clothes because they are at home, while my protagonist will use a dark party outfit as shes going to a party.

The setting seems like a subversion to me. Unlike The Guilty (2021), the opening does not explicitly show us a tragedy, an action or a problem. In my opinion, this opening serves as a introduction to the Kim family and their struggles with class as the man walks around with his phone, searching for the spot with the best wifi in the house. This is a struggle that audiences in similar financial positions could resonate with and relate too, making them have a more emotional connection with the film and characters. The man is even willing to sit in a cramped bathroom next to the bathroom to get wifi. This cramped space makes audiences feel claustrophobic and build anxiety within them, which can reflect the character’s mental state. However, the nature of dialogue such as laid back body language and delivery makes the opening feel more comedic. Which is something I’d try to stray away from. While I plan to start my opening very brightly with no signs of danger (similarly to this one), I’d rather create a more “safe” and “normal” setting rather than a “comedic” one before diving into the psychological factors.

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Get Out, 2017

Trailer:

Opening:

This is a psychological thriller and horror film.

The Get Out film is primarily targeted at young adults and adults who have an interest in the horror genre, psychological thrillers, and social commentary. This demographic and psychographic are mostly interested in films that challenge societal norms and addresses real-world issues. This film effectively appeals to its audience by addressing themes like race and identity which the audience resonates with. This is why I think this film in general is targeting black audiences as it covers black struggles in white spaces. Even though this film is an older one, I still think it uses effective strategies to appeal to the target audience and the genre itself didn’t change much over the years.

Through its blend of horror and dark humor, the trailer attracts its audience by introducing a narrative that is both entertaining and thought-provoking. Audiences who are looking for a movie thats more than just scares find narratives like these more interesting as they contain more psychological depth. 

In Get Out’s opening, it follows a man who’s walking through a suburb at night then gets abducted. The opening uses a tracking shot to follow the subject, making it more immersive for the audience. It utilizes dark colour palettes and low-key lighting to build mystery and suspense. He is seen talking to himself as he walks alone, showing his anxiety and nervousness. Close-up shots are used to bring focus to the character’s anxious facial expressions, which can also raise anxious feelings within the audience. At first, no non-diegetic sound was used to create a realistic setting, with only loud diegetic sounds of the night playing, building suspense. This silence can help make the impact of the next events greater. Pans from the car to the characters face are used as this mimics eye movement, making it more immersive for the audience. Additionally, this pan brings focus to the car and distracts the audience from the man unexpectedly attacking the character from the side. This makes the jump-scare more surprising. As the character gets choked and dragged to the car with a tracking shot, contrapuntal non-diegetic sound was used to reflect the kidnapper’s crazy and sadistic actions. The scary scene along with the happy and groovy music creates juxtapose. 

In creating my opening, I would like to draw inspiration from the Get Out use of sound design to build tension and atmosphere. The combination of eerie contrapuntal music and unsettling diegetic sound can evoke a sense of dread and anticipation, which is a powerful technique that I want to incorporate. The opening creates discomfort even in a seemly safe setting (suburban neighborhood) with their sound design. Additionally, I want to avoid giving out too much information to the audience early on, just like this opening. This opening builds hermeneutic codes by starting the title sequence as the character gets kidnapped, which builds mystery and keeps the audience hooked. I aim to build intrigue and hermeneutic codes similarly as well. Although I want to keep the opening less obvious or information packed, I’d like to use foreshadowing or double meanings to hint to a probable outcome instead of showing it right away. I also like the idea of someone getting kidnapped immediately in the opening, which is a narrative I will keep in mind when planning my opening.

I found this opening was rather predictable, which I wish to minimize in my opening. A predictable opening might bore audiences as they can guess the overall ending. Keeping audiences second guessing may benefit my opening as it will get them invested and engaged. The character in this opening was shown alone on a call with his friend. This opening doesn’t leave a lot of room for character building or adds much context, which could be confusing for the audience. I aim to show some character relationships and give context on who a character actually is before any horrible crimes or events take place. This will allow the audience to feel like they personally know a character, and it will add more emotional and psychological depth if the character is lost, as it affects those around them. This makes a loss hit harder for the audience. 

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Knives Out, 2019

Trailer:

Opening:

This is a thriller and mystery film.

The Knives Out trailer primarily targets a broad audience, appealing to both young adults and older viewers who enjoy mystery, comedy, and thriller genres. This demographic is often attracted to films that combine engaging storytelling with clever humor and social commentary. The trailer emphasizes the film's unique approach to the classic whodunit formula, appealing to viewers who appreciate both traditional detective narratives and modern twists.

The trailer effectively captures attention through its witty dialogue and intriguing character dynamics, showcasing its diverse cast led. The clever editing and pacing create a sense of excitement and anticipation, drawing the audience in. Additionally, the trailer uses engaging visuals, including the luxurious yet claustrophobic setting of the Thrombey mansion, to evoke curiosity and hook viewers into the story.

In the opening itself, an establishing shot of the mansion is used. This gives viewers some context on the setting of the movie. The colours used are very dark, building mystery as dark colour palettes carry certain connotations e.g. cold, scary, etc. It was very foggy, adding to the mysterious effect. A slow-mo of the family’s dogs running in the big backyard along with suspenseful violin non-diegetic music plays to add emotion. The violin music speeds up, adding more suspense as it cuts to a close-up shot of a cookie mug and food along side it. A woman is seen rushing to get things on the tray and transporting it somewhere. Quick cuts of different house decoration is used to reveal more of the setting. Low-key lighting is also used to add more mystery. More cuts to decoration happens the woman travels up the stairs. When she finally arrived to a bedroom, she finds that the person shes supposed to serve is not there. A pan is used to shift the focus from the woman to the empty bed. A pan is used to reveal information and to make things for realistic as a pan mimics eye-movement, which can make this scene more immersive for the audience. She walks out and uses a secret door where she finds Mr. Thrombey dead. A push in was used to show the whole room as it slowly brings focus onto his dead body. A reaction cut was then used to shop the woman’s reaction. Overall, these are all conventions of the thriller genre where this movie opening conforms to.

As for the subversions, I didn’t really notice any major subversions but rather I noticed the intense focus on the mystery genre. Mystery and thriller could go hand in hand, but I picked up the mystery “who dun-it” vibe rather than the psychological thriller themes. In my opening, I would like to incorporate the opening’s approach where they reveal tragedy right at the start. I think this is a smart way to hook audiences and keep them engaged. 

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Unlocked, 2023

Trailer:

*unfortunately I was unable to find a clip from youtube of the opening to paste here*

This is a thriller and crime movie.

The trailer primarily targets young adults and adult audiences who enjoy thriller and mystery genres. The film’s focus on technology, particularly smartphone security and the consequences of digital privacy breaches, resonates with a generation that is highly engaged with technology in their everyday lives.

The trailer appeals to viewers by creating a sense of urgency and suspense, drawing them into the narrative through quick cuts and dramatic music. It effectively showcases the protagonist's struggle to regain control over her life after her phone is hacked, making the audience empathize with her.

This opening contains many POV shots that help immerse the audience into the story and makes the audience feel like they are in the protagonist’s shoes. Instead of introducing a story, this opening showcased the many uses of our phones that we use daily. They also used elaborate editing techniques and transitions into the phone and out of the phone constantly. Shots engaged very often, making the editing fast-paced. Very upbeat and lively non-diegetic music was playing to, creating a almost “cute” mood.

This opening rarely conformed to thriller conventions. The only conventions i could identify that this opening conformed to is the use of POV shots. Other than that, it was all subversions. Thriller films usually start off in dark settings, with a big plot of the story revealed (such as a tragedy, action or event). This opening started off like a normal day that showed no significance. It was very bright and bubbly, using light colour and high-key lighting which creates the opposite of a suspenseful atmosphere.

In my opening, I like to keep the “no danger” themes in this opening for the first half of my opening. I’d like to create a false sense of security before my opening becomes a darker and more thriller like after i introduce crime elements, which this movie does well in. The juxtapose between the beginning and end of the film only makes everything more shocking, having its impact of the audience greater. However, something I’d like to avoid in my opening is subverting too much. Unlocked’s opening subverted too much from thriller conventions that you wouldn’t even be able to tell it was a thriller. I’d like to conform enough to be true to the genre, but subverting enough to create shock in my audiences. 

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Woman in the Window, 2021

Trailer:

*unfortunately I was unable to find a clip from youtube of the opening to paste here*

This is a thriller and mystery film.

The target audience for The Woman in the Window primarily includes adult viewers who enjoy psychological thrillers and mystery films. The film's focus on suspense, paranoia, and unreliable narration appeals those who enjoy stories that explore mental illness, trauma, and isolation. The trailer draws in viewers by inviting them to solve the mystery alongside the protagonist.

The trailer also appeals to a modern audience by representing common fears, like being trapped in your home and not being believed by others. This can especially resonate with people who have experienced isolation or mental health struggles. By presenting these relatable themes, the trailer connects emotionally with the audience, making them more interested to see how the story unfolds.

This opening starts off with a black screen with white particles as it cuts to a extreme close-up shot of a woman’s eye opening. It then cuts to the living room where the title is displayed in red which gives off a thriller-feel which connotes violence and danger. Slow pans of the rooms in the house then play as we hear subtle dialogue of a woman talking to a child. Non-diegetic eerie music did play, but very subtly and quietly. These are all thriller conventions that this opening conformed too. This opening did not subvert very many thriller conventions as it successfully stayed true to the genre.

I felt scared watching this opening, which is an aspect I want to avoid at first to build a false sense of security and safety for my audience. While I appreciated this opening’s ability to set a scary mood, it’s something I’d like to minimize early on. However, I think implementing the mood setting techniques during the kidnapping and drugging scenes in my opening would enhance the fear in that scene. 

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Missing, 2023

Trailer:

Opening:

This is a thriller and mystery film.

The Missing trailer primarily targets a young adult audience, particularly those who enjoy thriller and mystery genres. This demographic is often interested in films that include elements of suspense, technology, and relatable characters. The trailer appeals to this audience by presenting a modern story that uses digital themes, showcasing the main character’s use of technology and social media to uncover a mystery surrounding a missing person. This approach represents younger viewers, who are used to utilizing similar technologies and apps in their daily lives.

The opening starts off with a video recording of our protagonist as a baby. The camera is hand-held and shaky, recorded by another character in this film. This necessarily serves as a POV shot that allows audiences to be more immersed into the narrative and story. The recording goes on for the entire opening, as the father (the one recording) pans over to the protagonist’s mom and back to the protagonist. The camera then pulls out/zooms out from the video only to reveal its being watched from the protagonist’s laptop screen, where then she looks though her dads devastating medical records. These technical elements are pretty basic and can be used in any genre, however this footage effect reminds me of found footage films in the horror sub genre. I supposed it subverts and conforms in its own ways, but I think it subverts more than it conforms. 

Honestly, this opening bored me. It had little to no action happening and didn’t necessarily hook me which is something I plan to avoid when creating my opening. Openings need to be engaging and interesting so audiences can get invested in the story. Something I did enjoy though was the family aspect and how the protagonist dealt with her father’s saddening medical history. Stories like these can really help add psychological depth and emotion into a film, which I aim to achieve.

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Nightcrawler, 2014

Trailer:

Opening:

This is a thriller and crime film.

Nightcrawler is a dark psychological thriller that appeals to a broad adult audience, particularly viewers aged 18-40 who are interested in morally complex characters and narratives. The film focuses on themes of media manipulation and moral ambiguity. While the movie was released almost a decade ago, the thriller genre has evolved since then, reflecting the rise of social media and technology. However, I think it’s good to go back on older films to analyze them to see what techniques are still effective. 

Lou Bloom, the main character, is portrayed as a determined but ethically questionable anti-hero, which would appeal to viewers interested in darker, more realistic representations of ambition and despiration. The trailer’s focus on Lou’s spiral into unethical practices and his obsession with success, captures the interest of audiences who enjoy complex, character-driven plots.

The opening starts off with very low-key lighting where Lou cuts some wire in a close up shot. While this act isn’t violent, the introduction of a possible weapon can already build tension in thriller films. The low-key lighting also helps build mystery and set a suspenseful tone. Diegetic sounds and no non-diegetic sounds are used to create realism and to build suspense. Medium-close-up shots of Lou’s lit up face is used when guard questions him, this brings focus to his facial expressions as it is the only bright thing on screen. An eye line match close up shot of the guards watch is then used, where Lou then chokes the man to steal the watch. We cut to him in his car, admiring the watch. The costumes used in this opening is very dark and dull, reflecting the overall nature of the film. These are all conventions this film conforms to.

I didn’t notice very many subversions from genre conventions here, which gives me the impression that this is a classic example of a thriller film.

I’d like to incorporate the dark costumes and low-key lighting for the last part of my opening during the kidnap scenes to build mystery and suspense. Additionally, I enjoyed the use of non non-diegetic sounds during these scary parts. However, I’d still like to include some non-diegetic sounds that subvert thriller conventions to create a false sense of security at the start of my opening. Another part I like is the complexity of the protagonist. He seems rather flawed, as he beats up the security guard. While I would still like to potray my protagonist as a normal innocent teenager girl, I’d like to bring up some issues and feelings she’s facing to add more emotional and psychological depth to the story. I’d also like to do this so other teenagers watching my film could resonate with my protagonist on a deeper level.

Personal Reflection:

Reflecting on my genre research for my thriller project, I realized just how much goes into making a thriller truly exciting. At first, I thought I understood thrillers pretty well, but digging into the genre showed me so many layers, like how pacing, suspense, and visuals all work together to keep the audience hooked. One thing that surprised me was finding out about the different types of thrillers, like psychological thrillers versus crime thrillers, each with its own style and expectations. Learning about these differences helped me see that even within the thriller genre, there are many directions I could take my story. It made me think more carefully about what kind of thriller I want to create and how to build the right atmosphere for it. Overall, this research has given me more confidence in planning my project. I feel like I have a clearer idea of what makes a thriller work, and I’m excited to use what I’ve learned to make my own story as engaging as possible.