Planning

Filming Schedule:

3rd January - Explore area and find best parts to film in.

10th January - Make dialogue and actions that are suitable, possibly start filming.

17th January - Stick to story board and film whole sequence.

18th January - Continue to film sequence if unfinished then re film scenes and frames that need alterations.

25th January - Only needed if filming is not complete.

Prop list:

Mood ring

Bench

Costume:

Gemma - daisy dress, black tights, green parka, black Doc Martens and silver sparkly scrunchie

Rachel - acid wash jeans, green/brown jumper, black Doc Martens and blue scrunchie

Possessed girl - white night dress, wellington boots

Although Rachel is the weaker and more scared character we have dressed her as if she is the stronger and less afraid than Gemma is dressed. We chose to do this to juxtapose the audience; they will be expecting Rachel to be the strong one.

Casting:

Ellen Holmes as Gemma

Freya Blake as Rachel

Annabel Harris as Possessed girl

We have chosen the two teenage girls as victims as this is a usual convention of a horror film - they are seen as most vulnerable. The little is a good antagonist as at first she seems innocent and vulnerable but the fact that she's the murderer contrasts with first impressions. This will leave a lasting effect on the audience. 

How this will help me to create my thriller opening:

Having a detailed plan has allowed me to know what needs to be done and when it needs to be done. Taking pictures of the cast in their costumes means that we can make sure they are wearing the exact same each time we film. 

Audience Profile

The results of our audience profile questionnaire:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/results/SM-3GYM8WPV/

Our audience profile:
Teenagers 15+
Both genders
Mainstreamer - We will use common conventions in our opening, not challenging
Thrill seekers
People at lowest level of income

How this will help me to create my thriller opening:

From my questionnaire results I now have a clear idea of what the majority of people would like to see in a horror - thriller. This means I now know what to and what not to include in my opening.

Influential Thriller Director- M. Night Shyamalan

Manoj Shyamalan (born 6 August 1970), known professionally as M. Night Shyamalan is an Indian-American screenwriter, film director and producer. Major films of his include: The Sixth Sense (1999) and The Village (2004). He is known for filming and setting his films in and around Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and for including unexpected plot twists in most of his films. Many of Shymalan's commercially successful films were co-produced and released by Walt Disney Studios, Touchstone Pictures and Hollywood Pictures.

Common conventions in his films:

• He enjoys playing with, then defying what he believes to be the audience's expectations.
• The stories he tells are very much allegorical in nature, above all else.
• Surprise twist towards the end of the film.

M. Night Shyamalan's films relate to my opening as my opening is in the supernatural-thriller genre which is similar to The Sixth Sense. From this research I have gained more knowledge as to what is popular in films of this genre and what I should include in my opening.

How this will help me to create my thriller opening:

M. Night Shymalan has made some films in the same/similar genre to our film which means that this research has allowed me to see what has made his films successful and what conventions of his would work in our opening.