Planning Individual Narrative - Miss Georgiou

The purpose of a narrative within any film is to portray a story in order to entertain and inform their audiences. In thrillers, these narratives are exaggerated and intensified in order to create the elements of shock, surprise, suspense and tension therefore keeping the audience engaged in the film willing them to watch on. The narrative is extremely significant as it is the one factor of a film that allows the audience to make their own individual decisions on whether or not they want to watch a particular film based on how intriguing the narrative is. A narrative is structured in a simple form following the equilibrium format. The equilibrium is the original plot, disequilibrium is a disruption to the equilibrium an a new equilibrium is established as the story line is resolved at the end of the film. The film Halloween is a prime example of this narrative structure as the film begins with the plot of Michael Myers killing his first victim, he is then admitted to a mental hospital serving as the disequilibrium as he now has no access to being able to kill and the film ends with the new equilibrium of going on a murderous rampage attempting to kill his sister and is shot by doctors. There are many sequels to Halloween carrying on the story. The key to any successful narrative within the thriller genre is ensuring that the main conventions of the genre are reflected through the story line such as the hidden identity of the antagonist. For example, an audience would be more inclined to watch a thriller film that features a murder within the opening sequence therefore creating an enigma for the rest of the story to unfold and work around in comparison to a thriller film that doesn't represent this. This would engage an audience as the enigma would lead to a mystery being solved and the viewer are given the opportunity to make their own perceptions and eagerly anticipate the unveiling of the antagonist by the end of the film. These narratives also have to create a clear relationship between the characters and the audience to engage them even further and make them feel a sense of involvement by putting them in the perspective of the characters and feeling the same emotions.

I decided that the thriller could feature a psychological theme in order to play on both my characters involved as well as the audience to therefore create elements of suspense to encourage the viewers to watch on to see what might happen. This narrative will be based around the antagonist paying his hit man to kill his estranged ex girlfriend. However, on his way to carry out the deed, this man is involved in a serious car accident which leaves him with amnesia meaning that he now doesn't remember who he has been hired to kill. He ends up killing the wrong person, which turns out to be his own wife, and is hunted down by the family of his innocent victim acting as a diversion for the real killer to embark on a murderous rampage signifying the end of the sequence.

The conventions within my opening are the female victim, a psychological theme, iconography of a weapon being a gun and knife, shock, surprise, suspense & tension, realistic locations, low key lighting and hidden identity of the killer. The audience are led to believe that the hit man is the antagonist which proves to be wrong. This will serve as a plot twist to create elements of shock and surprise within the viewers. Sinister music will be played over certain images in order to build up the tension in the lead up to the creation of an enigma. The fact that the killer's identity will not be revealed at all during this sequence suggests that there could possibly be a sequel or that all will become clear further on in the film.

My group are going to use several camera techniques in order to follow the codes and conventions associated with the thriller genre. One of these will be a Point of View from the real antagonist's perspective at the beginning when he gives his hit man the money, this will help to keep his identity a secret from the target audience and keep them engaged therefore wanting to watch on to see who the killer turns out to be. We are also going to use an aerial shot and zoom in at the beginning, the shot will begin in the air among the trees and then slowly circulate and zoom into the two men leading into the POV shot. This will be filmed in an isolated setting, in the forest, to create suspense. A panning technique will also be used within the car crash scene following the car before it crashes. A canted angle will be used following the car crash which will show an image of the hit man crawling from the wreckage. The canted angle connotes a sense of disorientation and confusion linking in with the fact that he has suffered amnesia within the crash. This will therefore make it clear to the audience what he is suffering with and isn't too confusing.

Editing will be an essential part in my own sequence in order to create the maximum amount of suspense to properly engage the audience. Timing of shots will be used in the death scene. A group of clips will be edited together at a fast pace to document the murder of the wrong person. As it is done quickly, this will help to pass the pace of the scene and create surprise within the audience as they now begin to wonder why this has happened. A jump cut will be used to focus the audience's attention on the car crash as this is one of the most significant scenes within the opening sequence highlighted by the jump cut. A fade out will also be evident within the thriller opening at the end when the image of the antagonist walking into the distance with a knife in hand consequently on his way to kill his next victim. This is used to show the audience that it is the end of the sequence.

I have decided that my opening sequence will be targeted at people aged 15 years and above. I think that my narrative will appeal to this specific audience as I am aiming to make it relatable and use an idea of realism within the story in order to portray that it could happen to anyone in order to heighten their emotions and create elements of shock and tension. With hiding the identity of the antagonist, this will engage my audience and keep them guessing as to who they think it might be as well as including some plot twists to throw the viewers and evoke a feeling of surprise from them. I will ensure that my sequence follows the codes and conventions evident within the thriller genre to keep them interested and engaged while making sure that the audience are aware of the genre of film that they're watching in order for it to be successful.

Another idea that I came up with when planning the narrative was the theme of kidnap. This theme evokes a sense of realism as, consequently, this could happen to anyone which causes the audience to feel a more complex range of emotions as well as feeling involved within the story line. If this idea was to be used, I would ensure to use camera angles which highlight the senses of confusion and fear such as a close up of the victim or a canted angle when the victim is being kidnapped to throw the audience off and so that they are unsure of what is going on at this particular moment. This would be effective as it helps to create an enigma in which the audience are almost forced to watch on further to see what the kidnapper will do to his victim as well as witnessing what he may be capable of. Conventions within this idea could include; a female victim, sinister music and low key lighting. This style of lighting could be used when the victim is transported to a location such as an abandoned warehouse in which she could be held hostage. The only lighting could be from a small flood light which are usually found in warehouses to build the tension and to create shadows to signify the entrance of the antagonist which the audience may be aware of before the victim. This creates a sense of vulnerability as the victim is left in the dark about where her kidnapper may be whereas everyone, including the audience already know.

Fast paced editing could be used within this idea in the scene of the actual kidnapping. The action of the young woman being suddenly dragged into the back of a van in a quick and dynamic shot to connote how easy it is to kidnap someone as well as showing that it is a completely unexpected thing to happen. This would evoke a sense of surprise from the audience as they didn't see this particular situation coming and are left wondering what will happen to the unfortunate victim, if she will escape or if she will perish.

Again, this particular idea will be based at an audience of 15 years and older as certain images may be inappropriate for audiences of a younger age to watch. My target audience will be able to become involved within the story line by being given the opportunity to create their own individual perceptions of what they think may happen and eagerly watch on further to find out if these perceptions were right and what may happen next.  I think that this particular idea represents the use of some conventions within the thriller genre such as an antagonist and a female victim. However, I believe that this idea would not work as well as my first idea as it doesn't feature as many conventions and would not be as exciting. The first narrative idea helps to create elements of shock and surprise due to the use of a plot twist as well as being unique, something that hasn't necessarily been used in thriller films before whereas there are several films already created which focus on the theme of a kidnapping narrative therefore this would not be as effective.

I have decided to use the idea of a psychological thriller film therefore using my first idea to use within my opening sequence. I think that this specific idea will appeal to my target audience as they would be able to relate to it as well as feeling a sense of involvement. It also helps to create crucial elements within the thriller genre such as; shock, tension, surprise and suspense which will help to make my thriller sequence conventional to the genre. In addition to this, the use of a plot twist where the audience are led to believe one thing and it turns out to be the other will help in creating these key elements in order to make the entire thriller sequence conventional to the thriller genre.