Opening sequence analysis- Miss Georgiou

The purpose of an opening scene is to introduce the characters and give background information, which allows the audience to feel more personally and emotionally involved with the characters. It also sets the scene for the rest of the scene and introduces the narrative. This scene should engage the audience, have a jumpy scene, enigma, surprise, suspense, shock and the film title.

Cinematography-the use of different angles and camera shots within a thriller to build up shock, suspense, tension and surprise.
A shallow focus is used when the knife is being taken out of the draw. The knife is quite dark which could resemble that its a negative object. It makes the scene a lot more serious as a knife is a weapon used to kill. The focus on the knife builds up tension within the audience as they question the reason
and purpose of the person holding the knife. Also a high angle is also used at the end of the scene, the camera goes above the house looking down at it. This makes the audience paranoid and emphasises the vulnerability of the people in the house. This can be supported as we know the girl inside the house has just been killed. As the young boy was in the house is also shows his vulnerability as a child and how he doesn't realise the true implications of what he has just done. Zooming out is used at the end of the scene, when the parents arrive home and pull the mask of the child's face. This builds up shock and surprise as no one would have expected such a young child to of killed the girl. Which makes the audience question the boy subconsciously and builds up the
mystery within the film. This is conventional to a thriller as a it builds up tension, and the different angles and camera shots help the build up suspense and increase the shock and surprise within the scene. It also allows the audience to follow the scene easily and see everything that is going on the whole time.


Editing- different ways in which the producer makes the audience focus of particular things, people and objects. And how scenes follow each other to create shock, suspense, tension and surprise
Slow editing is used. We see this when the killer is walking around and in to the house. Also it is seen when the killer is walking up the stairs. This creates suspense as we know that someone is going to be killed but we don't no when. Also at the end of the sequence a fade is used to show the end of that

sequence, this could represent the end of the girls life. Which creates tension within the audience as an innocent person has just been killed by a little girl and we don't no why. Different timing of shots is also used when the killer is walking up the stairs before the killing it is very slow however after the killing when the killer walks down the stairs the clip goes very fast.Which shows, the killer is trying to run away and get out before anyone sees him or notices. The speed changes to the narrative. This implies the killer knows he has done wrong and  could suggest he feels guilty. This all creates suspense within the film as there are many tense and shocking factors in the scene.

Sound
Sound was used through out this clip to create suspense and increase the shock factor. Non-diegetic sound effects were used. We hear them when there is a distorted piano sound played over the clip. This helps to create a tense atmosphere. Also the eery and off-key sound matches the films unnatural narrative, this is conventional to the thriller genre. Also there is silence when the camera is panning and zooming into the room. This creates suspense within the audience as it suggests danger for the characters in the room. The silence encourages the audience to watch the film as they wont get any clues from the sound therefore it increases the shock factor. The silence could also relate to the movement of the antagonist as they are trying to not been seen and be as quite as possible. This helps the audience to build up a relationship with the characters as it makes them feel anxious as they are waiting for something to happen, this adds to then shock factor. Additionally there is diegetic sound when the knife is being taken out of the draw by the killer. This it to make the audience feel as if they are in the room with the killer, therefore it builds up tension as we don't no what is going to happen. This also makes the audience feel quite vulnerable as any could be easily overpowered by someone with a knife.These sounds are conventional to a thriller as they all increase the shock factor throughout the film which builds up tension and suspense for the audience.

Conventions 
The first convention that was used was the iconography of a knife, we see this when the killer pulls it

out of the door and carries it with him.This is a weapon that can kill easily, therefore we fear the safety of everyone in the house and we don't no who he is planning to kill at this point. It creates suspense as the knife gives the killer a larger sense of power. This is conventional to a thriller as the antagonist can easily over power the protagonist due to thing like gender, size and having a knife.This builds up suspense and tension within a thriller as the victim doesn't have much a chance to survive. The next convention is the timing of shots. We see this when the killer walks up the stairs and its really slow. This increases the fear for
the safety of the girl every time he goes up a step as she doesn't no he is coming. This builds up suspense as we are waiting for something to happen and we don't no how close he is to the girl.  Also the audience is unaware if the girl will see him and have time to escape, as a result we feel anxious. This could also help the audience to build up a relationship with the victim as it could resemble her slow death. This is conventional to a thriller as it helps to create suspense as even though the antagonist is walking slow he still catches up with his victim.

Character representation
The first character that i looked at was the killer with his hidden identity by putting on a clown mask before the killing and only seeing his face at the end of the scene when his parents pull off the mask. The revealing of the little brother at the end of the scene confuses the audience and adds to the shock

factor. The hidden identity engages the audience as they want to know who is behind the mask. This is conventional to a thriller as the sense of enigma creates tension and surprise for the audience. The next character I analysed was the boyfriend. We see him on the sofa with the victim and also walking down the stairs and out of the house. This demolishes little hope for the survival of the girl as he would have given her more of a chance of survival as he was much bigger and stronger then the killer. This confirms to the audience that the girl is going to be killed. As the boyfriend walks straight past the antagonist as he is walking out, it suggests that he knows the killer and did not see him as a threat. This is conventional to a thriller as the killer didn't try to kill the boyfriend as he is bigger and stronger then him, the killer killed the girl, who is a common protagonist in thrillers.

Narrative
The opening sequence to Halloween helps to build up suspense, shock, tension and surprise within the audience. As the film is based on the actual night of Halloween the audience as straight away expecting to be scared and made to jump, as this is conventional to this night of the year. Additionally, as we don't no who the killer is we are unaware of whether they are just going to make the girl scared and jump or if they will really kill her. Therefore suspense is built up when the antagonist is getting closer to the girl. However, at the end when we see the little brother walk out with a costume on it could suggest that he was in the house at the same time as the killer and did not actually kill his sister. This is conventional to a thriller as a plot twist with build up shock and surprise.

From watching this scene for Halloween I know no what I need to include in my thriller for it to be successful and create shock, suspense, tension and surprise. I will have to make sure that my opening sequence engages the audience in order create the best thriller. One key factor from Halloween that I want to include in my opening sequence was the hidden identity of the antagonist as it helps to create a sense of enigma within the sequence, which over all helps to add to the shock and surprise. I really like that we never see the killer in the house with the mask on but by using a killer point of view shot we can see the out line of a mask on the screen which shows that they are wearing one. Additionally, I want to use its the timing of shots as it matches the actions of the characters which makes the audience feel more involved with the film. Which will help to create tension.