Filming Our Thriller- Mise en Scene

There were only two characters within our opening titles of our Thriller. This was an ordinary man (in the morning) and a villain. To exaggerate the fact that the villain was infact the villain, we dressed him in a mask (colouring in the gaps for the eyes for an extra creepy effect. The character of the ordinary man was then dressed in pajama bottoms and with no top to make it seem as if he has only just gotten out of bed. The whole opening (filmed just as the ordinary man has awake) was therefore filmed in daylight to support the fact that it was set in the morning. The house itself was made to look as if the man lives by himself (so no one bumps into the villain and the ordinary man can't be saved). This was done by making sure only one toothbrush was in the toothbrush holder, breakfast was only being made for one, the man spent most of the time alone etc.

detail in makeup (mise en scene)

Discussing further action

Morning mise en scene

Finished villain

Finding the right angle

Problems filming- No Tripod and Fake Blood

When the day arrived for us to start filming our Thriller, we realised that we had left both the video camera and the tripod. The camera situation was easily fixed by a friend who offered to lend us his own video camera. But we still had no tripod. Therefore, we had to create a makeshift one using a washing line and a shoe. Despite it's rather odd appearance, it was able to both hold the camera steady andalter the height and angle of the camera with much more ease than we could with a handheld shot.

Another problem was that the fake blood we needed (to put on the knife) looked TOO fake. It was too runny and too transparent of colour. To solve this, we had to thicken it, and we used peanut butter. Although probably not the best thing to use, it did thicken it up effectively.

Thriller Animatic

shot 1- (6s)
Camera/Framing- Over-shoulder shot from alarm clock, person laying in background. Maybe use pulling focus, alarm clock in focus first then pull focus to the man as he reaches for the alarm clock.
Sound&notes- Silence, the alarm goes off, man taps alarm clock and noise stops, backing music starts.

shot 2- (2/3s)
Camera/Framing- Close up of feet moving into slippers
Sound&notes- Backing music continues, diegetic sound hidden.

shot 3- (3s)
Camera/Framing- Closeup/midshot filmed into mirror (straight on)
Sound&notes- Man brushing teeth, diegtetic sound of brush included in the sound, along with backing track.

shot 4- (2s)
Camera/Framing- Medium shot, angled down.
Sound&notes- Man opens draw, pulls out knife, cuts apple, takes apple and leaves. Diegetic sound of apple being cut is included.

shot 5 - (2s)
Camera/Framing- Mid shot, straight on.
Sound&notes- Man spraying himself with cologne, music continues, diegtic sound of spray included.

shot 6- (3s)
Camera/Framing- mid/long shot, maybe angled downwards (shot from stairs)
Sound&notes- Man adjusts himself in the mirror, before walking to the right, opening the door, leaving and closing the door behined him. Diegetic sound of door opening/closing included.

shot 1 - 6 is to be repeated twice, getting faster each time, clips being cut shorter each time.


shot 19- (6s)
Camera/Framing- slight over shoulder shot (similar to shot 1)
Sound&notes- alarm clock goes off but is on the other side of the bed, man slams cudboard assuming clock is there, before waking up and looking confused.

shot 20- (5s)
Camera/Framing- Long shot, raised above bed slightly
Sound&notes- man looks around, stops alarms clock, picks it up and stops it, all slow and confused (music has stopped at this time, diegetic sound only from here onwards)

shot 21- (3s)
Camera/Framing- Medium shot
Sound&notes- Man looks at alarm clock, confused. Swings legs to hang off the side of the bed, sounds include squeaking of the bed.

shot 22- (3s)
Camera/Framing- Close up of feet, on ground level.
Sound&notes- Man goes to put feet in slippers, but one is further than expected and he has to find with foot.

shot 23- (4s)
Camera/Framing- Medium shot (similar to shot 3)
Sound&notes- Man brushes teeth. looks round suspiciously, sound of brushing included.

shot 24- (3s)
copy of shot 4


shot 25- (3s)
Camera/Framing- Closeup/medium shot, angled up.
Sound&notes- Man raises knife to identify blood, looks horrified, maybe a gasp included.

shot 26- (4s)
Camera/Framing- Medium shot on eye level
Sound&notes- Man chucks knife back in drawer in panic, starts to back up onto other side, knife banging into the drawer (sound included)

shot 27- (3s)
Camera/Framing- Medium shot, continuation of last shot
Sound&notes- Man carries on backing up, rests hands on side, turns (his right) and rushes off

shot 28- (1s)
Camera/Framing- Medium shot, eye level
Sound&notes- View of man walking off, maybe from behined

shot 29- (4s)
Camera/Framing- Mans feet is followed, camera rolls up from feet to head, medium shot
Sound&notes- Man looks into mirror, see's writing and looks scared. Writing says "you're no.11"

shot 30- (3s)
Camera/Framing- Angle changes to mans right, medium/long shot still
Sound&notes- Man carries on looking in mirror, another man appear in background, man 1 is oblvious to his presence.

shot 31- (2s)
Camera/Framing- Shot filmed as though the mirror was the camera, close up
Sound&notes- Man 2 rises behined man 1, although slightly unfocused. Sharp intake of breath included.

shot 32- (3s)
Camera/Framing- Medium shot, angled down
Sound&notes- Man 1 on floor, blood dripping from back, villain seen holding bloody knife.

shot 33- (6s)
Camera/Framing- Medium shot filmed from behined man 2 (standing behined the body of man 1). Camera rises from shot of feet to shot of face/back of head.
Sound&notes- Man looks into mirror and ticks off underneath the writing. His reflection is seen as well as the shot of the back of head, over the shoulder shot.

Collection of completed storyboards

Final Details

Final details include;


Name of film; Routine
Music; 'Oh me, Oh my' - The 99's (permission givevn)
Titles;
   "A CCTF Production"
   "Starring Conor Wilkins and Liamonas Andrejouskas"
   "Music By Tori Wheatley"
   "Casting By Conor Wilkins"
   "Edited By CCTF"
   "Directed By CCTF"

Script + Characters

There is no speech within our Thriller opening, therefore a script isn't necessary. Only two characters will be included, one being the man who's daily routine we are following and the other being the murderer/disguised villain. Although no speech is used, some onscreen dietetic text is used (the writing on the mirror)


Mic may be needed when recording sounds of body hitting the floor, teeth being brushed etc. Either that or we found the non-copy right sounds afterwards. Most likely we will record the sounds diegetically and if we found better sound effects later on, replace them.

Opening Titles

In class, we watched the opening titles of three Thriller movies; In The Cut, Se7en and Panic Room. Whilst watching these i took note of the basic opening titles (the order of the titles) These being somewhat like this;


"A ------ Film"
"Starring ------"
"Casting By ------"
"Music By -----"
"Edited By -----"
"Directed By -----"

*Panic Room opening titles*- an example of architectual font

The titles generally followed the same rule, they were all slow paced and the font matched the mood and atmosphere of the Thriller, all using slightly different techniques. Whilst Se7en used crackly, jumpy titles to set it's slightly creepy atmosphere, Panic Room used 3D-look titles that fitted in with the architecture of the shot. Panic Room also used ticking music in the background of the titles, giving the suspense aspect often given by clocks. The shots also lead from general to particular (protagonist)





My favourite opening titles to be seen so far have been that of Se7en; i feel that the crackling and reappearing font is highly effective, although im concerned as to whether this type of effect on our opening titles would match our shots. Watching these opening titles have both given us an idea of what to write for the titles and how to present them to fit out Thriller.

Location Shots

The whole Thriller opening is filmed within a house (Location at; Plaistow, London). The following shots are of areas to be included within the Thriller;

Hallway- Mirror will be used + written on

Kitchen- Area of knife/blood scene + murderers attack

Kitchen 2

Bedroom- Includes alarm clock scene

Bedroom 2

Bathroom- Will feature teeth-brushing scene

Note: All will be filmed in natural daylight

Audience Research

An example of one of the completed questionnaires

In order to research our target audience, we carried out a list of different things to give us a better idea of who they are, what type of people they are and what they look for in a Thriller.



The first thing we tried out was a questionnaire. We printed off 20 questionnaires and asked people of a range of ages and genders to fill them out. They included questions involving their age, their favourite Thrillers, how often they watch Thrillers and what words best sum up a Thriller. Through this, we found out the majority of Thriller viewers are between the ages of 16-20 (a younger audience) and we found what they thought made a good Thriller- this being shown in diagram two via Wordle. We discovered that the main things a Thriller audience seeks in a Thriller is Tension and suspense, two musts for our own Thriller. 

Thriller Wordle (the most repeated words appear largest)

Our questionnaires have helped us to develop an idea for our target audience and age and are also helping us to develop the Thriller to that specific audience taste.


Through the above research, we have discovered our target audience age is between 16-20 year old film goers, whom seek mainly Tension in their 'to-watch' Thriller list must haves.

Chuck Jones 'Rules'

Before Chuck Jones created animated series; The Roadrunner (a segment with Looney Tunes) he had created a set of rules for the characters to obide by throughout every episode. For example, Coyote but always attempt to harm Roadrunner, but never succesfully do so, and the only sound Roadrunner could ever make would be 'meep meep'. This is an example of rules set in production.

Sound For Thriller Opening (continued)

After sending an email to a member of The 99's (found on unsigned.com) on asking permission to use their song 'Oh my, Oh my' we received a reply giving us the permission we needed. We can now use this song in the opening of our Thriller.

This is the song we are using;

Sound For Thriller Opening

During our search for suitable music for our thriller opening, we signed up to a website called mobygratis.com, a wbsite which others a range of copyright-free music, and are now officially members of the site, meaning we have our choice of any available songs on the site. We are currently searching the site now.

We are also searching unsigned.com, a website offering copyright-free music from unsigned bands, and have emailed a few bands in particular. We are awaiting a response.

Call Sheet

Date: Sunday 29th January
Location : My house (20 Gad Close, Plaistow, London). 
Cast:  Conor Wikins and Laimonas Andriejauskas. 
Crew:  Chloe Bencini-Harding, Frankie McFarlane, Tori Wheatley, Conor Wilkins.
Proper: Bed, alarm, clock, clippers, towel, knife, fake blood, shower, mirror, mask, cereal, toothbrush, toothpaste. 
Costumes: Main character has a suit, well dressed. Murderer is wearing all black and a mask.

Analysis Of Film Openings

Memento (Christopher Nolan, 2000)

Conventions-

Tension used, black and white is used to represent flashbacks. The fact the beginning is played backwards confuses the audience and draws them in to watch more and find out what is going on.

Camera-

Mainly midshots/medium shots, basic camera movement (moving with characters)

Editing-

Slow paced editing builds tension and pull the audience in before the action.

Sound-

Nondiegetic, calm music. Also nondiegtic would be the voice over, diegtic sounds include gunshots and conversation between the two characters.

Mise-en-scene-

Protaganist wears smart, detective like clothes (typical of a thriller protaginist) the scratches on the protaganists face also suggests violent goings on (story could evolve around this) blood and broken windows also suggest violence.

Brick (Rian Johnson, 2005)

Conventions-

The slow paced tension build up is really effective, along with the flashback (if you could call it that) both frequently used in Thrillers

Camera-

The whole opening consists of mainly close ups/extreme close ups, only giving us one or two flashes of the area itself. The is really effective, like it's only giving you a taster of the film.

Editing-

This is a very slow paced opening, but suits it and works well.

Sound-

The mood is set and the tension is built with the non-diegetic song playing and through it's high pitched yet sad playing of the cow bells.

Mise-en-scene-

The positioning of the woman on the ground with the water washing over her slightly informs us that she is indeed dead, and we realise this straight away. Also, the costume plays a large role, towards the end of the first scene we get a closeup of the dead girls arm jewellery with the water running over it, this is then carried on in the next scene with that same item being shown on the girl whilst she's alive, telling us that what's coming up is in the past.

Zodiac (David Fincher, 2007)

Conventions-
Again. like the above two and most other thrillers, tension is one of the main conventions used in this thriller, in this particular one the tension is built up through a long worried silence and repetition of the same acts.
Camera-
This film uses the most camera movement of the three, including both rolling and tracking shots to run along with the car. It also consists mainly of long shots apart from when the two people are in conversation, in which it secludes them off from the area with a closeup.
Editing-
The editing is again quite slow paced, this seems like a usual thing for most thriller openings (builds tension before the action). Also, there is a non-diegetic caption added in at the beginning telling us that 'the following is based on true case files'. This automatically draws in our attention fully by giving us something to read and therefore pay attention to.
Sound-

The non-diegtic backing track is quite smooth and relaxed, so when it stops it makes us pay notice and hints to us that something is about to happen.