3. In my thriller opening,
the main character
(protagonist) was a
younger actor, therefore
portraying the idea that
youths are perhaps
growing up too fast or
trying to act older (in this
case the boy stealing the
box). This shocks the
audience, as they are not
necessarily used to
seeing young children
commit crimes. The use
of the boy watching TV
reveals that in our
modern day world people
are immersed in
technology and the
younger generations are
becoming dependent on
it in everyday life.

4. I have used the location of an
alleyway to play on conventional
ideas that alleyways are dangerous
and you don't know who may be
lurking in them, therefore agreeing
with the common ideology that
crime rates are high in towns. As
well as possibly implying that gangs
are maybe a part of youth lives as
there are several different
neighbourhoods shown and when
the antagonist starts stalking the
little boy. They are in a different
neighbourhood to where the boy
actually lives, therefore suggesting
that the boy is invading another
person/gang's territory. The low
angled shot of the boy helps add to
this in that he appears as if he is
invading due to the fact that his feet
are the main focus of the shot and
that we hear the diagetic sound of
footsteps.

6. In my film, I have chosen an
all white cast, with the
protagonist being a young
boy around the age of
twelve. This agrees with the
common ideology of the
protagonist being a white
male and therefore helps the
audience to take sides with
him more so than the
antagonist, as we are used to
taking sides with the white
male figure of the film (for
example James Bond). The
fact that the boy is young
challenges the common
ideology, as usually the actors
are adults, so that the
audience can have a figure to
look up to.
I however, used a young actor purposely so that the audience
didn't have a stereotypical figure to look up to/ trust, as then it
make them feel more vulnerable and even though they may
not be of the same age as the actor, they would still be able to
sympathise with him and manage to feel as if the antagonist
was out to get them. This gives the message that young people
are still vulnerable in society, as they are easily influenced by
the world around them. The idea that the boy is young also
plays upon the idea that he is naive and innocent, which would
again help the audience to feel sympathy towards him as it
plays on the ideology that young children are more susceptible
to being abducted

7. The ethnicity of the antagonist in
my thriller is quite hard to be seen
by the audience - even though
white actor was used. The use of
the white actor for an antagonist
challenges the common ideology
that black people are more likely
to be associated with crime as it
makes it easier for the audience to
associate anyone with the position
of the antagonist. This fits with
the common ideology where we
are likely to associate a man who is
wearing black, or a hoodie (for
example) with someone who is
likely to commit a crime. I also
used a white actor to give an
impression that anyone can
commit crime and that the
location should be focused upon
more for the crime not necessarily
an ethnic group because if the
audience realise that anyone can
commit a crime, they are more
likely to be able to relate or put
themselves into the situation.

8. I haven’t included any
women in my cast,
which wasn’t a decision
made on purpose.
However I do think that
it is a good idea seeing
as not many action
thrillers contain women
as main antagonist/
protagonist characters. I
have only included one
adult in my thriller
opening, who is the
antagonist. I did so as I
wanted to almost create
a generation gap, but to
also create a character
that would be of threat
to the protagonist.

10. I have constructed quite
a realistic thriller
opening, with elements
of surreal ideas. For
example the use of
flashbacks the boy has
about stealing the box.
This is significant in that
it implies his guilt from
the situation, and
reveals to the audience
that they should not
steal or it will haunt
them.

11. The shots are also in black and white, which isn't too realistic,
however the ideas shown through them are realistic in showing
how the boy has been badly affected by this situation. This creates
a sense of unease amongst the audience as they sympathise with
the boy feeling uncomfortable, and might be able to relate to the
situation itself if they have ever regret something they have done in
the past.

12. I have also used a young
actor within my film, which
subverts the idea that
adults are only involved in
crime, and gives a realistic
approach as to how
children are also affected
by the world around them.

14. I have used a variety of different camera shots/ angles, however I feel that the
most successful shots were where the young boy dominated the screen, as
the audience were able to connect with the boy's character and in turn feel
more anxious when he is being chased by the antagonist. I also used some
shaky shots in the point of view of the antagonist to portray a believable
unstable personality. This is effective in that we are now looking through the
perspective of the antagonist, therefore making us feel as if we are the ones
chasing the boy.

15. The music in my opening was quite conventional of a thriller, with the use of a
few crescendos to help build up a sense of unease amongst the audience. I
also used some music which contained staccatoed piano notes, this fit in well
with the action going on to create a believable chase between the antagonist
and the little boy. However, the piano music was possibly more conventional
of a horror film. This is effective as the sound is almost from the perspective
of the little boy running, therefore igniting fear amongst the audience.

16. The mise-en-scene in my opening
helps to make each actor more
believable at playing their part. The
use of black clothing for the
antagonist helps to create a dark
personality, contrasted entirely by
the boy's brightly coloured rucksack,
from which we can take that he is
childish and quite possibly immature.
The lack of dialogue plays in the
construction of the verisimilitude of
my thriller, as it appears more
realistic if the two characters don't
discuss their thoughts or engage in
conversation. The costumes in my
thriller opening help to make it seem
more realistic as the young boy is
wearing a brightly coloured rucksack.
The bright colours help to portray he
boy's age and give a complete
contrast to the black coat that the
antagonist wears. The black coat
symbolises that the antagonist is
going to kill someone (or at least try)
as from the colour black we depict
connotations of death/misery.

17. The setting also helps to create a
believable scenario as we
commonly associate alleyways
with crime, and therefore the
common ideology is backed up by
the fact that the boy steals the box
from an alleyway. This works as an
opening in that we are
immediately in fear right from the
start, therefore keeping the
audience interested in the film,
and making them want to continue
watching even though a lot of
audience loyalties are broken due
to the fact that it is hard to feel
sympathy for the boy as he is
committing a crime by stealing the
box.