Classwork Ellesmere Thriller opening scene: Week One

 

Last week we started production on our group, thriller project. We have been given a script template and 8 scenes to choose from; my group decided to do scene 5&6. For this scene we need shots in/ of a car as well as an establishing shot of the location; we have also cast a hero, hostage/child and a villain. 

Our next step of production is to fill out a risk assessment sheet to assure our set location is safe for filming. 

Ellesmere Thriller Opening Scenes

Int. Day/Night. Scene 1 Printer spews out a Ransom note. We have your child. Do NOT call the Police or we will Kill him/her. We want £6 Million. Await instructions OR…….. ECU mouth speaking into a phone or Dictaphone, (recording a message)…saying the same as above	Music. Siouxsie And The Banshees “Happy House”
Scene 2. Ext. Night.  The college. Tracking shot, (through railings or low angle along grass), tightens from wide so that the old building fills the frame. OR….tilt down from dark. Brooding sky to College. Dutch angles?	Wind noise…storm…add lightning in post? Audio overlaps underneath…..
Cut/Mix to…. Scene 3. Int. Night A group of young people, push a small frightened youngster out of a door and lock it…he/she is left alone in dark empty corridor OR…. A group of young people, push a small frightened youngster into a room and lock the door	Music contd “No, please don’t….don’t. Help! Help!” The group taunt and laugh at the youngster and walk away
Scene 4. Int. Night A series of close-ups of the killer/threat. Feet, boots, as they walk an echo through the empty corridors. A chain dragged? A knife or Gun, held ready. A Halloween or scary featureless mask, surrounded by a hood. All shots track along with the killer.	Music contd Footsteps. Echo. Heavy breathing.
Scene 5. Ext. Night. A car travels up the drive to the building at speed.   Also shoot Interior of car?? With Hero in, (see scene 6)…hands on steering wheel, POV of school shots, eyes in mirror etc.	Music contd. Wind noise.
Scene 6. Ext. Night. In quad Hero exits car. ECU shoes on gravel as they exit car. Looks around her/him.  A child is hurried past by an officious uncaring man/woman.  He/she drags the child by the back of the shirt collar or by the hand. The child drops his/her soft toy and cries out the uncaring man/woman ignores the child and carries on. The Hero calls for them to stop, picks up the toy, squats to the height of the child and hands it back to the child with a smile. He stands and glares at the adult… Before the officious woman/man can drag the child away….he speaks. The adult glares back and points to a door, then turns and walks the child away, more gently this time. The child looks back at Peterson as they walk.	Music contd. Wind noise. “Wait!/Stop!” “Do NOT treat a chid, any child like that.  “I’m Peterson, private detective. looking for Dr Rengele”
Scene 7. Int. Night. Office? A teenager, (male or female), is being held down by several strong men or is tied/strapped to a chair. A smart suited, (or in white Dr’s coat?), man or woman is trying to get information…. Perhaps an injection?  Or branding? Or the threats of burning with a cigarette?	“I do wish you’d understand that this is for your own good. We’re here to help you.  I’m on your side (name), really I am…… I just need a name, that’s all”
Scene 8. Int. Night The frightened youngster, (from Scene 3), is in the corridor and hears/sees the approach of the Killer/Threat from Scene 4….. Create a Chase sequence…in the corridor or on stairs….. Have a Cliffhanger ending….. the Killer finds the youngster…. Raises the gun/knife/axe etc…. We fade to black.

For this task we were split into groups and given a choice of six scene to chose from, then, in our pairs we had to film said scene. Once all the scenes were filmed by all the groups they were combined into one thriller trailer. This was simply a short class excersize to get us thinking about how we would want to film our own thriller, as well as getting all class members more comfortable with using camera equipment and editing software.