Most of these drawings were done by Nicole Heath, with a few from Natalie Llewellyn and the captions were written by Jamielee Payne and Natalie Llewellyn.
Vertigo Opening Sequence Analysis
From the beginning of the Vertigo clip, there is gentle piano playing as we are met with an image of a woman's lips. As the first name appears on screen, there is a dramatic cello added. This creates a feeling of the piano representing a 'victim' and the cello representing some sort of danger. The cello becomes more intense as the piano music stays the same. As the camera moves up her face, the cello music stops and the piano resumes on its own. The camera rests on a female's wet eyes and as they start to look from side to side, the next name comes onto the screen and the dramatic cello resumes. The moving of the eyes in each direction creates a sense of danger and suspicion. The pure piano seems to create an idea of an innocent victim when met with the harsh trombone as the danger.
The camera then focuses on one of the woman's eyes while the piano music starts again and the cello stops. The starting and stopping of the two instruments cause the effect of disorientation and confusion. The eye is focused closely on and a red effect is added as eyes widen. The red effect suggests blood or impending danger and makes viewers wonder what is in store.
The eyes seem to become wetter, which is an obvious sign of upset or distress. The eyes then widen in time to a dramatic few cello notes. The film title then appears small in the middle of her eye, coming to the centre of the screen while the cello fades and piano grows. As the word comes out of her eye, it gives the impression of an escaping thought. A small kaleidoscope shape then appears in the centre of her eye, which grows bigger and the image of the eye fades as the shape takes over the screen. The cello music becomes gradually more intense and creepy as the shape becomes bigger. As the swirling effect comes out of the eye, it gives the impression that as well as taking over the screen, it's taking over her mind. The idea of vertigo is disorientation, a whirling or spinning movement and the changing kaleidoscope shapes connotates the effects of vertigo. The music becomes faster paced at this point, creating panic and tension. The colours of the shapes change faster and the disorientation grows. The shapes fade out to be replaced by the image of the woman's eye again, as if we had just seen the inside of her head and thoughts. The music fades out slowly, remaining eerie til the end.
The camera then focuses on one of the woman's eyes while the piano music starts again and the cello stops. The starting and stopping of the two instruments cause the effect of disorientation and confusion. The eye is focused closely on and a red effect is added as eyes widen. The red effect suggests blood or impending danger and makes viewers wonder what is in store.
The eyes seem to become wetter, which is an obvious sign of upset or distress. The eyes then widen in time to a dramatic few cello notes. The film title then appears small in the middle of her eye, coming to the centre of the screen while the cello fades and piano grows. As the word comes out of her eye, it gives the impression of an escaping thought. A small kaleidoscope shape then appears in the centre of her eye, which grows bigger and the image of the eye fades as the shape takes over the screen. The cello music becomes gradually more intense and creepy as the shape becomes bigger. As the swirling effect comes out of the eye, it gives the impression that as well as taking over the screen, it's taking over her mind. The idea of vertigo is disorientation, a whirling or spinning movement and the changing kaleidoscope shapes connotates the effects of vertigo. The music becomes faster paced at this point, creating panic and tension. The colours of the shapes change faster and the disorientation grows. The shapes fade out to be replaced by the image of the woman's eye again, as if we had just seen the inside of her head and thoughts. The music fades out slowly, remaining eerie til the end.
Script
(Exterior)
Location - Dark alleyway, single lampost light to create an eerie atmosphere
Hooded figure walks up alleyway, face covered and quick paced walk. His breathing is loud and fast
(Exterior)
Location - Dark street, houses on either side
The man walks up middle of road keeping the same fast pace
(Exterior)
Location - Street corner and opposite pathway
The man crosses road and stops at a house's gate
(Exterior)
Location - Outside of darkened, silent house
The man opens the gate slowly, trying not to let the gate make a noise. He walks up the black driveway.
(Interior)
Location - The girls bedrooom.
Unknown to the intruder, the girl inside the house has stirred. She opens her eyes and blinks twice.
(Exterior)
Location - Front door of the house.
He stops at the front door, takes a torch out of his pocket and crouches down. When he straightens up we see he has retrieved a key. He puts the key in the door and turns the lock.
(Interior)
Location - Hallway of dark house.
The man steps through the doorway and closes the door quietly.
(Interior)
Location - Bedroom.
The girl swings her legs out of bed and her feet catch the crinkled newspapers she was reading the night before. She stands and begins to make her way out of the bedroom.
(Interior)
Location - Stairs
The girl starts to walk slowly down the stairs, unknowing that there is an intruder in her house.
(Interior)
Location - Hallway and Kitchen
She walks through the hallway in the dark and reaches for the kitchen light. She fetches a glass from her cupboard and walks to her sink.
As the girl's back is turned, a hand reaches through the doorway and switches off the kitchen light, plunging them both into darkness.
There is a piercing scream, a smash and then silence.
(Interior)
Location - Kitchen
A picture of the dead girl is taken, with police radio and sirens echoing in the background
(Interior)
Location - A garage
Over the shoulder of the same hooded figure, a wall full of photos of dead women is seen.
Location - Dark alleyway, single lampost light to create an eerie atmosphere
Hooded figure walks up alleyway, face covered and quick paced walk. His breathing is loud and fast
(Exterior)
Location - Dark street, houses on either side
The man walks up middle of road keeping the same fast pace
(Exterior)
Location - Street corner and opposite pathway
The man crosses road and stops at a house's gate
(Exterior)
Location - Outside of darkened, silent house
The man opens the gate slowly, trying not to let the gate make a noise. He walks up the black driveway.
(Interior)
Location - The girls bedrooom.
Unknown to the intruder, the girl inside the house has stirred. She opens her eyes and blinks twice.
(Exterior)
Location - Front door of the house.
He stops at the front door, takes a torch out of his pocket and crouches down. When he straightens up we see he has retrieved a key. He puts the key in the door and turns the lock.
(Interior)
Location - Hallway of dark house.
The man steps through the doorway and closes the door quietly.
(Interior)
Location - Bedroom.
The girl swings her legs out of bed and her feet catch the crinkled newspapers she was reading the night before. She stands and begins to make her way out of the bedroom.
(Interior)
Location - Stairs
The girl starts to walk slowly down the stairs, unknowing that there is an intruder in her house.
(Interior)
Location - Hallway and Kitchen
She walks through the hallway in the dark and reaches for the kitchen light. She fetches a glass from her cupboard and walks to her sink.
As the girl's back is turned, a hand reaches through the doorway and switches off the kitchen light, plunging them both into darkness.
There is a piercing scream, a smash and then silence.
(Interior)
Location - Kitchen
A picture of the dead girl is taken, with police radio and sirens echoing in the background
(Interior)
Location - A garage
Over the shoulder of the same hooded figure, a wall full of photos of dead women is seen.
Our Opening Title Sequence
Title - Disturbed
We chose the title 'disturbed' because of the ambiguous possibilies. The woman in bed has been disturbed, woken up by the intruder. This is one way of interpreting the title name. But also the man who murders the women is clearly mentally unstable or disturbed. This means that with one word we can explain what the film entails and the general theme of the film.
Plot outline/summary
serial stalker/murderer claims another blonde female victim.
Opening sequence outline/summary
Characters
Victim - Jamielee Payne, member of group.
Murderer - Lewis Morgan, outside help.
Mise-en-scene
Red and black clothing on murderer shows impending danger and blood.
White and red quilt cover on victims bed shows purity and splashes of blood.
Setting
Starts with exterior of dark lane. Then interior of house. Hallway, stairs, bedroom, kitchen.
Location
Lane in Brynna and Jamielee Payne's house also in Brynna.
Costumes
The woman is wearing pyjamas. The man is wearing black gloves, black hoodie and dark trousers.
Props
Lava lamp to create different lighting, newspapers, Disturbed CD for a play on the title, glass of water, picture covered wall, plant pot, key and torch.
Lighting
We are aiming to keep the lighting spooky and mysterious. When the man is walking up the lane, we will situate the camera by the lamppost, using the light to create an eerie effect. It will light up the man, but not so much that his identity is obvious. When the man gets to the door, he uses a torch to find the key in the plant pot. We will use the torch to clearly identify what the man is looking for. It will make it easier for viewers to follow what is happening. Inside the bedroom, we are going to use a lava lamp to create a dim light, that can be explained as a normal bedroom prop but also gives off adequate light.
We chose the title 'disturbed' because of the ambiguous possibilies. The woman in bed has been disturbed, woken up by the intruder. This is one way of interpreting the title name. But also the man who murders the women is clearly mentally unstable or disturbed. This means that with one word we can explain what the film entails and the general theme of the film.
Plot outline/summary
serial stalker/murderer claims another blonde female victim.
Opening sequence outline/summary
Characters
Victim - Jamielee Payne, member of group.
Murderer - Lewis Morgan, outside help.
Mise-en-scene
Red and black clothing on murderer shows impending danger and blood.
White and red quilt cover on victims bed shows purity and splashes of blood.
Setting
Starts with exterior of dark lane. Then interior of house. Hallway, stairs, bedroom, kitchen.
Location
Lane in Brynna and Jamielee Payne's house also in Brynna.
Costumes
The woman is wearing pyjamas. The man is wearing black gloves, black hoodie and dark trousers.
Props
Lava lamp to create different lighting, newspapers, Disturbed CD for a play on the title, glass of water, picture covered wall, plant pot, key and torch.
Lighting
We are aiming to keep the lighting spooky and mysterious. When the man is walking up the lane, we will situate the camera by the lamppost, using the light to create an eerie effect. It will light up the man, but not so much that his identity is obvious. When the man gets to the door, he uses a torch to find the key in the plant pot. We will use the torch to clearly identify what the man is looking for. It will make it easier for viewers to follow what is happening. Inside the bedroom, we are going to use a lava lamp to create a dim light, that can be explained as a normal bedroom prop but also gives off adequate light.
Planning and Pre-Production
Define a Thriller
A Thiller movie can include many different sub-genres. They are fast paced and usually take the form of equilibrium to disequilibrim back to restored equilibrium.
Thriller codes and conventions
Canted camera angles - suggests disorientation and provokes confusion.
Low key, high contrast lighting - creates spooky, eerie atmosphere.
Extreme close ups - clearly shows expression on faces e.g. fear, shock.
Jump cuts - increases pace and intensity.
Creepy music - such as cellos or violins, to create suspense and unnerves viewers.
Exaggerated ambient sound - background noise grows louder.
Location - usually deserted or run down to emphazise lonliness of the place.
Non diegetic music - playing in the background to create a sound bridge to create a certain atmosphere.
Why are Opening Sequences so Important?
The opening sequence is important to set a mood or feeling for the rest of the movie. It gives the audience an idea of what the film is going to be about. If the opening sequence is lighthearted and funny, you are most likely going to be watching a comedy. It prepares the audience for what they are about to watch. Apart from the trailer and other adverting elements, this is the first thing seen by the audience when the lights go down.
Narrative of our thriller
Idea One
The tall hooded man walks up the street and heads towards a house on the corner, it cut to women lying in bed then back to the man. The man walks up the drive of the house and reaches under the plant pot to get the key for the house. He slowly unlocks the door and walk into the house dropping the keys on the floor. Looking around for anyone the man starts walking up the stairs and peers into the women’s room. The woman is still fast asleep and not aware of anything going on. The man lifts his arm up with the knife in his hand and then the film cuts to the knife on the floor with a scream.
Final IdeaBegins with a house, looking like its detached and alone. Cuts to a girl lying in bed with lights on, lava lamp lightening up her face. Focuses on a pile of horror books and a Disturbed CD lying next to the bed.
Cuts to a hooded figure walking quickly up the street and towards the house. Cuts to hand on the gate, heavy breathing is heard at this point. We hear the creaking of the gate and cut to girls face opening her eyes. Cut to shot of hooded figure retrieving a hidden key from a plant pot, as if they knew it was there. We watch them walk through the door and close it quietly after them. Cut to girl walking downstarirs, wandering into the kitchen and start to fill up a glass of water. The lights turn off, silence fills the room until there is a bloodcurdling scream and silence once again. Cut to a still shot of a picture covered wall. Sirens are to be heard in the background as well as muffled police radio. Cue mournful cello music and fade to black.
A Thiller movie can include many different sub-genres. They are fast paced and usually take the form of equilibrium to disequilibrim back to restored equilibrium.
Thriller codes and conventions
Canted camera angles - suggests disorientation and provokes confusion.
Low key, high contrast lighting - creates spooky, eerie atmosphere.
Extreme close ups - clearly shows expression on faces e.g. fear, shock.
Jump cuts - increases pace and intensity.
Creepy music - such as cellos or violins, to create suspense and unnerves viewers.
Exaggerated ambient sound - background noise grows louder.
Location - usually deserted or run down to emphazise lonliness of the place.
Non diegetic music - playing in the background to create a sound bridge to create a certain atmosphere.
Why are Opening Sequences so Important?
The opening sequence is important to set a mood or feeling for the rest of the movie. It gives the audience an idea of what the film is going to be about. If the opening sequence is lighthearted and funny, you are most likely going to be watching a comedy. It prepares the audience for what they are about to watch. Apart from the trailer and other adverting elements, this is the first thing seen by the audience when the lights go down.
Narrative of our thriller
Idea One
The tall hooded man walks up the street and heads towards a house on the corner, it cut to women lying in bed then back to the man. The man walks up the drive of the house and reaches under the plant pot to get the key for the house. He slowly unlocks the door and walk into the house dropping the keys on the floor. Looking around for anyone the man starts walking up the stairs and peers into the women’s room. The woman is still fast asleep and not aware of anything going on. The man lifts his arm up with the knife in his hand and then the film cuts to the knife on the floor with a scream.
Idea Two
A young women who lives on her own starts getting ready for bed, as she just finished watching the news, she is very worried about the warnings on the news about killings going on in her area. The women turn all the lights off and make sure the door is locked correctly. Making her way up to bed the women hears a bag in the back garden, but thinking it was just next door she continues to go up stairs. The film cuts to a hooded man standing at a back door.
Final Idea
Cuts to a hooded figure walking quickly up the street and towards the house. Cuts to hand on the gate, heavy breathing is heard at this point. We hear the creaking of the gate and cut to girls face opening her eyes. Cut to shot of hooded figure retrieving a hidden key from a plant pot, as if they knew it was there. We watch them walk through the door and close it quietly after them. Cut to girl walking downstarirs, wandering into the kitchen and start to fill up a glass of water. The lights turn off, silence fills the room until there is a bloodcurdling scream and silence once again. Cut to a still shot of a picture covered wall. Sirens are to be heard in the background as well as muffled police radio. Cue mournful cello music and fade to black.
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