Treatment

Thriller Codes and Conventions - and how we want to implement them into our film.

Film example - Scream (1996)

The codes and conventions you wish to explore/expand in your production:

1. Tension: We want the audience to be engaged in the plot and give the audience heightened feelings of excitement, surprise and anticipation.

2. Stereotypes: We want to follow the stereotypes of the Thriller/Horror of the genre. For example, the young girl victim. This will bring in our targeted audience.

3. Characters: We want the typical antagonist vs protagonist battle in our production. A young girl victim fighting against the evil force in the film.

How the film opening appeal to the target audience? How does it set up the enigma from the beginning? How will you do this in your own film opening:

• Our main target audience is teenagers/young adults. More specifically the ages 13-30. In Scream, this opening is known to be iconic for the way that this young girl is mislead into being killed. It has inspired and changed the modern thriller/horror films that appeal to young audience. We want to play into that and have young characters to make it more relatable to the audience.

• We will do this in our film opening by casting a teenager to bring in young audiences.

What Themes and motifs are explored? What do you wish to explore?

1. Theme: Fear of the Unknown. Throughout this opening sequence, Casey is talking to an unknown killer. They are using a voice changer and wearing clothes that hide his identity. Casey’s main fears in this sequence is the unknown killer and where they are whilst she is talking to them. We will implement this theme of “unknown” in our film by using a ghost. This ghost will torment Sam whilst remaining completely unknown to her.

2. Motif: Isolation. Throughout the opening of Scream, Casey is isolated. Home alone, in her house which is located far away from her parents. This allows her to be tormented by ghostface. The same will be in our film. The ghost will be able to torment Sam as she is home alone watching a movie.

Symbolism, conflict and tension. How are they explored in your example? What will you implement in your film?

Example 1:

The opening sequence features Casey Becker (Drew Barrymore), an innocent and vulnerable character dressed in a white sweater, a symbol of purity and innocence. Our main character Sam will also be dressed in a white singlet and beige tracksuit pants. Also symbolising the fact that she is innocent and vulnerable.

Example 2: The Ghostface mask itself becomes a potent symbol in the film. Its presence in the opening sequence immediately signals the impending danger and establishes it as the iconic symbol of the "Scream" franchise. How this relates to our film is because our

antagonist in the opener is a ghost. Signifying death or mortality which eventually happens to Sam.

Next Post

(Casting session, Pre - Production)