Group Storyboard - Miss Miller

The importance and creation of a group narrative is to consider everyone's ideas and incorporate the best in order to produce the best possible thriller therefore appealing to our target audience more. By creating a group narrative, this means that the group can input ideas and change them to make the opening sequence better and more thrilling. It also means that we can change ideas as a group if we are unsure that they are conventional to the thriller genre. The group are also given the opportunity to analyse whether or not they are completely happy with the final narrative idea by the input of several different ideas and choose specific ideas for the group narrative to make our sequence more enjoyable for the target audience as well as creating a successful thriller. This also allows the group to have a full understanding of what is happening with the narrative within the planning stages. Kate and I looked at one another's individual storyboards and carefully considered each element and feature evident within these and begin to think of what ideas we liked best to create a group storyboard. As a group, we decided which camera shots were most effective within each frame which helped us in creating a storyboard that we were both happy with and one which we believed would aid us in creating the most successful thriller that we possibly can. Also, as a group, we made some changes to our narrative as it could get too confusing at specific points and therefore altered these frames in order to create a sequence which would be much more conventional to the thriller genre.

This is the first page of our group storyboard. Although we haven't included pictures yet, we have thought carefully about the other elements which will be present within the scene such as camera shots and editing techniques. As Kate and I had similar ideas of having an editing style of flashes at the beginning of the sequence, we decided to incorporate our individual ideas of camera angles into this group storyboard. For example, within the first frame, my individual storyboard had the idea of using canted angle to represent disorientation whereas Kate had the idea of a Point of View shot therefore we decided to use them both at the beginning where we would switch between the two cinematography techniques. This helps to create tension within the audience as it helps to set the scene and suggest that they are watching a thriller film due to our hit man character waking up after being in an unconscious state in a location which is completely unknown to him and is clearly confused. This idea is also conventional to the thriller genre as it helps to create a tense atmosphere making the audience wonder what could happen to this particular character as well as making viewers feel completely on edge early on in the sequence which would unwillingly encourage them to watch further to see what could possibly happen next. The POV shot is also very effective for this particular scene as it helps to create an idea of vulnerability due to the audience only being able to see what the character is seeing within the scene and are therefore left unaware of who could be lurking whether the person who kidnapped the hit man is coming to get him. It also helps to create a relationship as the audience are allowed to feel exact same emotions as the hit man and are therefore immediately emotionally connected with this particular character. In frame 3, we again decided to use both of our ideas in one so as to be able to create even more tension within our target audience. The fact a Close Up will be used to emphasise the hit man's emotions will help to present the psychological theme of amnesia to the audience and allow them to understand why this theme has been included. This idea is conventional to the thriller genre as it can be used to create an enigma for the rest of the narrative to be driven upon this which creates tension as the audience are left wondering what could have been done to this character for him to develop amnesia and that his kidnapper could have possibly done this to him as well as encouraging them to watch the entire sequence so they are able to uncover the mysteries behind the narrative as well as creating individual perceptions of what they think may happen. Kate also had the idea of using an unknown location for the hit man to wake up to which I thought was very effective as it helps to create confusion and prompt viewers to think about where he could be and what could happen. This inspiration came from the film 'The Purge' in the scene where the daughter is held hostage by a man who had made his way into the home. Although the location is presented to the audience, we liked the idea of a hostage situation as we felt that this created a large amount of tension. We wanted to use a similar idea in our opening sequence to create a sinister and thrilling atmosphere. By having this at the beginning of our sequence, I think that this would help to set the scene straight away as well as throwing the audience straight into the narrative without wasting any time. This also helps to not give too much away to the viewers and allow them to consider individually what could have happened. Kate and I had similar ideas to the lighting style being low key due to this being used in most thriller films and we believe this is the most conventional type of lighting to use within our sequence. This inspiration derived from many analysed thriller films such as The Strangers and Mama.

Here is the second page of our group storyboard. Again, this page used both mine and Kate's ideas as we both thought that some ideas we came up worked well at later points within the sequence rather than at this point. In these 4 frames, the audience witness the unidentified antagonist explaining what his accomplice needs to do, the hit man then agreeing and being paid before the antagonist providing him with many objects which will be most beneficial to him when carrying out the murder. These include; the murder weapon - a knife, house keys, address. The envelope containing the hit man's money will also feature photographs of the woman so that he knows exactly who to kill. These pictures will be positioned on top of the envelope in order to clearly show this to the audience in a way that they won't get confused. In frame 8, my idea of using shallow focus when all of the objects are being exchanged was chosen to be in the final narrative as my partner agreed this would be the most effective. We chose to use this as it sets the scene of a thriller film as well as showing the audience what the hit man needs to do therefore demonstrating our narrative further. This would also cause intrigue within viewers as they could wonder why the antagonist is hiring someone to kill this woman as well as why the hit man had been placed in a hostage situation which then becomes clear this is to force him into carrying out this murder for him. The iconography of the knife would also create shock and surprise within the audience but could act as an example of foreshadowing therefore suggesting that a death or murder is extremely likely to take place later on in the sequence. Iconography is shown in a majority of thriller films through the use of weapons. As a group, we gained this inspiration from the film Halloween in which the murderer is seen grabbing a knife from the kitchen drawer of which he uses to kill his victim. This has inspired us to also include the murder weapon being a knife as the use of the blade connotes the element of danger and implies that someone's life is going to end. By using this idea within our storyboard, it means that the audience will feel intrigued as to when the murder may take place and gaining a more in depth knowledge of the narrative as it progresses further.

This is the third page of our group storyboard. On this page, it captures the moments leading up to the death of the female victim (antagonist's wife) where the hit man leaves the unknown location, phones for a taxi where he gives the driver the address due to not knowing where or who he is because of the amnesia and the final frame shows the hit man walking towards the house in which he will murder his victim. This page was Kate's idea. We decided to incorporate this into our group storyboard as it was much more clearer to the audience than having the hit man walk into a random house and kill whoever was in there. This idea will help to create tension within our thriller sequence as everyone but the victim is aware that a killer is just about to walk into her house and brutally cut her life short. This also suggests an idea of vulnerability due to not knowing her fate, when the taxi driver is given the address, he is asked to stop short of the house so as not to raise suspicion. This implies that something bad is going to happen due to the hit man not wanting to be seen and creates suspense as well as providing a sinister and tense atmosphere to the scene. Within these frames, the main uses of sound will be non diegetic/parallel sounds of sinister music and some screaming which will help to evoke a response from the audience after seeing the images on screen. The support of the sound and images complementing each other means that a maximum amount of suspense can be created in order to create shock and surprise when the actual murder takes place because of the build up to it. This sound technique has been used to imply that the killer is overpowering and more superior in comparison to his unsuspecting victim. Although no editing techniques have been used on the storyboard, I believe that linking of section should be used to create tension and make the audience more engaged within the film and they begin to feel sympathy towards the antagonist's wife due to it becoming clear that she is the one who is about to be murdered.



This is the fourth page of our group storyboard which documents the beginning of the murder scene which will be the most dramatic point within our opening sequence. The antagonist is seen to be sneaking up on his victim while she is washing up, she then sees slight movement and turns around, upon seeing her attacker with the knife she screams and drops the plate she was holding. This idea came from Kate's individual storyboard as she had to change the entire narrative. We decided to use this idea in our group storyboard as it helps to capture the last moments in which the victim is to be seen alive. The use of the plate smashing has been included to represent the unstable mentality state of the hit man as he has agreed to killing a woman he doesn't know in exchange for money which is not something a person of stable state of mind would do. By using this within our final idea, this allows the audience to build a relationship with the victim as they feel sympathy towards her due to being the target of a hit man regardless of what she may have done to her husband. We have decided to use non diegetic and diegetic sounds of sinister music to build up to the moment in which the victim realises someone is behind her as well as the sound of her screaming and the plate smashing on the floor. This creates a more realistic scene and makes the audience believe that they are watching something which could possibly happen in reality. The diegetic sound of the plate smashing also creates a more sinister atmosphere as the sound of the china sounds very sharp and dangerous suggesting the fact that the infliction of pain and injury is about to occur. This also foreshadows events about to unfold within the sequence. Diegetic sound is commonly used in thriller films such as Scream and Insidious to create suspense. We derived our inspiration for this idea from these films as it makes the scene more natural and therefore engages the audience more.

This is the fifth page of our group storyboard and captures the moment in which the female victim is stabbed and killed by the hit man. The hit man holds the knife high as he grabs the female victim, stabs her multiple times until she stops screaming. Her body is then shown and this page ends with the hit man calling the antagonist telling him that the deed is done. Again, this was partly my idea and partly Kate's, I thought of how the victim was to be killed whereas Kate thought about the use of a phone call after the murder has taken place.These two ideas have been used in our storyboard as we feel that they both create tension within the audience as well as shock at the fact that the woman has been murdered in such a cold blooded way. It also helps to show the audience exactly what the hit man is capable of doing for money which is very sinister. The audience are immediately threatened by the hit man having just witnessed him murder a young woman in a vile and brutal manner. Silence is used in the aftermath of the murder when the body is shown which is effective at this point within the sequence as it is used to show how someone's life has been taken away; one minute she was breathing and screaming, the next she is lying motionless on the floor. This is a very scary aspect and shows the audience just how easily the life can be taken out of someone so quickly which would also create an element of surprise here as, although a murder was expected, they were unsure of how brutal it would be. We gained this inspiration from the film Scream in the scene in which the woman walks up to the curtain in her home and the killer suddenly jumps out on her. This creates a dramatic effect and signifies that there is no life left within the scene.

This is the final page of our group storyboard which implies that the sequence is coming to an end. It shows the antagonist approaching the murder scene and congratulating his accomplice on his good work before sending him away and standing over his wife's dead body before looking straight into the camera signifying the end of our thriller opening. I had the idea of the last frame whereas Kate thought of frame numbers 21, 22 and 23. My idea was to have the antagonist stand over his wife's body, take the mask off therefore revealing his identity and looking straight into the camera before a fade out will be used. By using both of our ideas in the final part of our sequence, this means that we are able to create as thrilling a sequence as possible therefore appealing more to our target audience as they are constantly left on the edge of their seats while watching. The enigma is revealed through the reveal of the antagonist's idea which is conventional to the thriller genre as it helps to create shock and surprise within the audience due to the antagonist possibly being someone that they would never have expected. Although this means that there would be no space to further the enigma and keep the audience guessing, it still creates a dramatic effect as it allows for the antagonist to be able to carry on killing and could also suggest a possible sequence. We took this inspiration from Halloween where the identity of Michael Myers being the killer was revealed within the opening sequence of the first film and then allowing him to kill where the franchise reached a total of 10 films. Although it is not stated, fast paced editing with the addition of non diegetic of tense closing music will be used to create instability and represent that the hit man has got to the victim as well as the antagonist seeing his wife has been killed. This inspiration was taken from the film Shutter Island where the two police officers are fighting a patient at the mental hospital they are investigating. Fast paced editing can be used to represent a scene of chaos as well as showing that the victim will always be inferior to their killer. We added this to create a similar effect and that the victim's life has come to an abrupt end after all the build up. This also creates an idea of vulnerability as well as showing the victim had no way of escape. This makes it easier for the killer to get to her and creates a much more sinister and tense atmosphere.

To conclude, I think that our group storyboard follows the conventions of a thriller film closely as it creates relative elements of shock, tension, surprise and suspense for the audience. Our storyboard also features a lot of 'jumpy' and climatic scenes which is the main aim Kate and I wanted for our opening sequence. It builds up tension and suspense and keeps the audience wondering what could happen next. An enigma is created throughout the duration of the sequence and is elevated to appropriate levels of suspense and the storyboard helps us to know exactly what to do when we are filming. It helps us to understand what will be happening in each individual frame and what elements are going to be used. Our group storyboard is of a good standard as it considers both Kate's and my ideas and we are both happy with what order the frames are to appear in and the different camera, sound and editing techniques used. We managed to successfully incorporate both of our ideas into the group storyboard by carefully analysing one another's individual storyboards and lifting the best ideas from each to create the most conventional and thrilling sequence. We also decided what we thought would look best in the sequence as a whole and what order the frames should appear in. This helped us in incorporating both of our ideas into the storyboard as we both had our own opinions and were able to justify ourselves when considering which ideas would make the sequence most conventional and thrilling for the audience. We had to come to some compromises when planning the narrative due to having to change it. This was the only compromise we had to make and now see that our original narrative would have confused the audience too much and they would therefore not enjoy it as much. I think that overall, our storyboard is good although I would add in a few more editing techniques in some frames where there are none stated. For example, linking of section and Kuleshov effect.