Individual Storyboard - Miss Miller

In this task I was asked to create a storyboard which included a minimum of 10 frames which roughly explained what would happen in my opening sequence. A storyboard is used to explain simply what is happening in each shot. In each frame I had to explain what camera shot I would use, the location of the shot, the iconography used, the lighting, the actors, the sound and any editing. I also had to explain the narrative of each frame. Using this storyboard has allowed me to put my ideas into a visual, and I can now see what I need to use in my opening sequence. The storyboard task has also made me see which conventions I need to be including at certain parts of my opening sequence, such as tense music and low key lighting when the antagonist appears. As you can see from my storyboard below this task has allowed me to separate my opening sequence into 10 different segments, and from here I can now improve the frames that may be lacking.This task also has made me realise that my idea may need to be adjusted as it breaks the 180 rule in frame 6.

In the first frame I have used a panning shot of the large tower, this is to set the scene and let the audience know the location. I have also used low key lighting, this is to create and eerie atmosphere and also to match the night time setting. Using low key lighting also allows me to feature a thriller convention. Furthermore I have suggested that during this frame a title saying 'Halloween Night, 2007' should appear. This will allow the audience to see that something scary may be about to happen and again it creates an eerie atmosphere. I have took this inspiration from the film Halloween.

In frame two, it is the first time my victim appears so I want to make sure that an immediate relationship is created with the audience. In order to do this I have made her a stereotypical female victim. I have done this through the iconography of a handbag, designer clothes, a mobile phone etc. I have also decided that an eye level shot is most suitable for this frame, this means that the audience can get a good look at the victim and they will be able to relate with her more easily if the camera is at eye level.

In frame five, we first see the antagonist, so again I wanted it to have a big impact on the audience. I have used a shallow focus shot here, which means the antagonist will be out of focus and we will be able to fully see the victim. I have used this shot because I want to be able to fully portray the emotions of my victim to the audience and at the same time I want to keep an enigma surrounding the antagonist. I have used a non diegetic sound effect in this frame, this will be made parallel to the antagonists movement and to make the audience jump. I took this inspiration from the film Scream.

In frame nine, we are able to fully see the antagonist in full focus. Here I have used the iconography of a knife and a mask. Both of these objects have been used to strike fear into the audience; the knife notifies them that the antagonist plans on killing the victim, this creates tension. The mask has been used to hide the antagonists identity and make him seem inhumane. I took the inspiration of a mask from the film The Strangers, I feel that hidden identity works really well within the thriller genre as it creates an enigma. I have used slow timing of shots in this frame, this slow timing creates tension as the audience can see the antagonist for a long duration.

In the final frame, the victim is being chased down, to enhance this scene I have decided to use a point of view shot. This shot will put the audience in the same position as the victim, enabling them to relate with the victim.