An opening sequence

An opening sequence is the first thing in which the viewer sees. Within the first five minutes the producers have to make sure that they:
· Establish time and place
· Introduce themes and ideologies
· Set up an equilibrium
· Introduce characters
· Set up audience expectations
· Demonstrate generic conventions


These are the key elements in order to make the perfect opening sequence. The techniques in which our group will focus on are: ·
Genre – crime, thriller
· Enigmas – who is the killer? Why is he/she killing? Why choose these people?
· Conventions – scalpel, knife, blood, headlines, pictures, scrapbook of achievements, hands, eyes, writing.
· Audience expectations - killings, chase, mental problems


We have used the BFI handbook to find out the figures for the regular cinemagoers. We found out that 41.5 % was between the ages of 15 up to 34. Our project is ideal for this age range because it suits their genre perfectly, as it is a horror.


Films that are related to our project are:

Se7en - $100,125,643 - 9/22/1995

Hostel - $47,326,473 - 1/6/2006

American psycho - $15,070,285 -14/4/2000

Hard Candy - $1,024,640 - 14/4/2006

The genre of the film we are making is popular at the moment and people between the age of 15-34 regularly go to the cinema. Most viewings in cinemas lately are of thrillers. Our audience will want to have enigmas created, and a sense of uncertainty whilst watching the film. We shall do this by not giving the identity of the murderer away, but by simply showing them how they operate. We will also create a ‘red herring’, to throw the audience of track. Our idea is different because there is a twist. The murderer is not who or what you expect it to be. Our film will be similar to the ones which have already been released, due to the genre, but can assure you that it will also be entertaining and NOT a cliché.

Hannah