Treatment

We begin with the sound of a door clicking shut, before transitioning from black to a close up shot of the antagonist’s feet walking onto his gravel driveway. The weight of his footsteps is emphasised by the diegetic sound of the crunching gravel and its grey colour palette constructs gloomy connotations. This close up conceals details of the character, making him enigmatic so creating a sense of anticipation. We cut to an extreme long shot, establishing the location of a residential street, which reveals the house opposite. A shot through an upstairs window, creating a sense of intrusion, presents the protagonist in her bedroom. Within her bedroom, we cut to a close up of her face which conveys innocence as she calmly gets ready to go out. A close up of her table as she picks up her keys presents props which convey aspects of her character; schoolbooks convey that she is young and possibly vulnerable, plus photographs of family and friends signify that she is kind and innocent. A jump cut returns us to the antagonist, a close up of his watch and the diegetic sound of ticking presenting him as impatient and creating a sense of threat as it suggests that time may be limited for our protagonist. 

Influenced by ‘The Disappearance of Alice Creed’, we aim to create an increasing sense of threat in the opening of our thriller film which is also about a kidnapping. We will use a similarly bleak colour scheme, containing greys, to create connotations of misery and we will also use close ups to create a sense of intensity. Also drawing influence from 'Se7en', our film will have an urban setting, suggestive of themes of immorality and violence, as is conventional of the thriller genre. Another influence from this film is that we will use close ups of props in the home of the protagonist to help establish her character (as was done for the character of Detective Somerset in 'Se7en').

Location ideas

Character & Props

Below is our brief plan for our characters including the agenda for their character, the props & costume and personality.

Mark is our antagonist male character aged 50. A more in depth description of his character is that he's an obsessive controlling character who lacks empathy for the people who surround him. Moreover, he's a narcissistic short tempered man having a short temper with psychopathic tenancies. The props we will provide the character with will establish this description: a wallet full of past victims showing young girls, dating back years, a watch to connote his need for constant time keeping, presenting his punctuality and finally leather clothes helping establish his neat and clean lifestyle. 

Within planning the characters in our group we went through changes in decision making. For the character of Lila the previous name we chose was Mia however, through decisive thought between the group we decided to change this to suit the character more accurately and give less of a similarity of name between the two characters leading the two people types astray from each other representing the deference between the characters. We decided to age the character as seventeen as it allows us as directors and students to relate to the character and present her in an accurate way. Lila is a quiet and reserved teenage girl, responsible and with a personality where she would never put herself in dangerous and vulnerable circumstances. We want to show her in her natural environment surrounded by her belongings so the audience can associate her character with her belongings (props).

What do directors seek to establish in the opening of thrilles?

In the opening of thrillers directors use different aspects such as character, location, genre and tone/mood to establish the film. Different directors usually focus on one aspect overall in the opening of a film based on its overall style.

Character

David Fincher, the director of Se7en introduces
character effectively within the opening
scenes to allow audience have a better understanding of the character.

For example in the shot Detective Summerset's essential belongings are perfectly placed out. This shows the characters structure and organisation which implies he's a careful man.The first object shown is a cut out of wall paper which holds sentimental value, though the scene which shows the background story to this is a deleted from the full movie of se7en. The rose like print shown portrays the characters more emotional and sensitive side which contrasts to the other objects which convey a more serious side to Summerset. The gold homicide badge which lays next to the wall paper piece outlines his profession and implies his skill and intelligence. The pen and glasses also portrays the intelligence and furthermore shows the characters intel to detail and precision, showing how he looks into the deeper and more hidden things and ensures to recollect them. Moreover, the pen knife presents his character to have a darker side, in which he is aware of the dangers which surrounds him and feels the need to protect himself.

For example this shot is symbolic as it conveys detective Summerset's loneliness, the inequality within the composition forebodes this. The two lampshades with conveying two different peoples taste, however the second person to the bed missing. The single character within the shot.












Location
using the opening of a film to establish location can be effective as it gives the audience insight to where the film is set and  can create the tone. 'Essex Boys'
especially uses location in a way in which it bases the harsh reality of the location, opening with the shot below entering Essex. The colour palette conveys the bleak county the characters are entering into and foreshadows the darkness of the upcoming events. The grey off tone colour forms the sense of positivity being drained from this setting. Before even establishing what the films main plot is the audience can already understand the gritty tone of the film from the location only. 

Furthermore the location bellow doesn't adjust the audiences anyway differently from the previous image, only justifying the bleak tone which is established within the location. This image focuses more on the scenery rather than the character with the on-screen vanishing point also forcing the audience to concentrate on the scenery. Highlighting the deserted expanse of setting dulled with a saturated colour palette creating a location filled with hopelessness.

                                                                                                  

                                                                                                                                Genre

The director of The Third Man, Carol Reed uses generic conventions of film noir to establish the movies genre. The costume of the protagonist clearly defines the anti-hero character presenting them with the classic trench coat and fedora hat which is also shown in other noirs such as Double Indemnity and Out of the Past. Furthermore Reed establishes the genre through location, presenting the inner city night setting set in a European location. This establishes the key theme of post war society where the city is divided, where the British, Americans and Russians are in charge. This  contrasts with the characters and the underworld that is below the city full with paranoia and secrecy. 

The mise en scene used in Reeds The Third

Man also constitutes the genre of film noir. Using Chiaroscuro lighting standing as a metaphor for the characters darker/ hidden   side. In addition the winding stairs creating a  disorientating feeling of entrapment metaphorically showing weakness in the sense of mental and literal struggle within the character which is a common aspect within the anti- hero character in film noir.