Music Choices:

Sound plays a very important part in any film, so our choice of song for the small section in which the stalker turns the radio on has to set the tone of the film, even though it is only a few seconds. The songs which we have in mind as possible choices are:







Using audience feedback, we discovered that among both boys and girls the first clip was the most popular choice. Furthermore, we think that the title of this song is particularly appropriate for our film.

Preliminary Task

Here is my attempt at the preliminary task set.
At 0:03 I have demonstrated a match on action shot.
At 0:09 I have demonstrated a reverse shot.
From 0:04 to 0:10 I have demonstrated the 180º rule.

Font Research

From my research, I found three possible fonts that match the style of the title sequences that I analysed. Below are several other fonts that have a creepier feel.

Credits Research

The opening sequence for Memento begins very simply with the title. Later on in the sequence it gains complexity, with the words being integrated into the objects moving across the screen. 

The title sequence for Inception has a simple colour scheme and font, however the moving lines in the background create confusion for the audience, linking to the plot of the film. Similar to the title sequence for Black Swan, it is very minimalist. 

The credits for shutter island appear in a blood-red, capital font. The way in which the letters flicker creates a sense of unease, and the colour connotes blood and violence. It is placed over the image with enough prominence that it is noticeable however it does not detract from the rest of the setting. 

White words contrast with black background, connoting the struggle between light and dark within the film. The text moves with fluidity and has a peacefulness to it, conforming to our expectations of a film about ballet. The words fade in and out; it is simple but effective in that it sets the tone of the film.


From this research I have concluded that our title sequence should be simple, with clean fonts and basic transitions that don't detract from the action on-screen. For variety, we could perhaps align our titles with actions on-screen, similar to memento and black swan. 

Location Recce

***NOTE FOR MISS SPENCE*** Things in bold will be replaced with pictures as soon as I can get them onto the computer. 

Last weekend, our group went together to Phoebe's family farm as it was a possible place to film. We took several photos of the farm and possible locations for our short film as we think that if done correctly props, lighting and sound can be used alongside the setting to create a very subtly unsettling scene. Here are some of the pictures we took.
1. Woodland area. Because we are filming in winter, it will get dark quickly, however the grey weather may work in our favour when creating a film of this genre. The light fog on this day made this hill seem particularly eerie.
2. The upper floor of a barn. The old, worn down appearance of the storage barn is another possible filming location-- although we will keep in mind ways in which to ensure that it doesn't appear to be too close to the horror genre. Again, this can be avoided with the right lighting and props.
3. A grey, empty room with a sign on the door that says no entry. This is another possible location for filming.
4. An old bedroom with bars across the window looking out over the courtyard. We thought we could use the window as symbolism for entrapment and also for a creative shot of the stalker walking across the courtyard below.

Genre Discussion

At the end of our research into the thriller genre we decided to focus entirely on the sub-genre of psychological thriller after a group discussion.

Shutter Island Opening Sequence Analysis

The opening sequence begins with a shot of a dimly lit corridor. The low-key lighting creates suspense, and the red font has connotations of blood and violence, coupled with the tense music to create an uneasy atmosphere. The film grain that has been added subtly over the top creates a feeling of realism. There is a cut to a rapid spinning shot of a spiral staircase which creates confusion and perhaps a feeling of a downward spiral. The editing is fast-paced and focuses on several shots of dark rooms which creates a sense of mystery and enigma, intriguing the audience. The next shot is then an extreme close-up of a hand, creating tension because of the uncomfortable closeness as well as the strange behaviour, making the audience feel as if something isn't right. This is followed by a loud crescendo which then fades away to almost nothing, leaving the next shot in an uncomfortable silence and adding to the sense of mystery and dread at what lies beyond the gates. The image is filtered to make it seem less colourful and the camera is a P.O.V. shot as if the audience themselves is entering. This shot then fades into the next, an anonymous person in front of a fire, The flickering, shadowy lighting coupled with the fact that they are turned away from the camera suggests secrecy and again creates enigma. The editing is much slower paced than the first half, with another fade into an extreme close-up of a boot pressing down on a gun. This creates the feeling of danger and threat, and unsettles the audience because of the strange behaviour and anonymity. This then fades into a shot of falling slow at night. The symbolism of the white on the black could suggest a binary opposition narrative, with a struggle or perhaps inner conflict between good and evil. There is then a crossfade into what appears to be a cell, but with the snow still blowing over the top. This may suggest isolation. The music picks up again, becoming more dramatic as the screen flickers. The spell of blackness is then interrupted by the striking of a match, again creating tension by introducing the idea of secrecy and the fear of the unknown. There is then a scenic wide-shot of an island, although the image has been desaturated to make it seem unappealing. The island again fits with a feeling of isolation. Finally, the title appears in dark red, capital font, with connotations of blood and violence. The way in which it rapidly approaches the audience is unpredictable, and sets the tone for the remainder of the film.