Research - opening sequence of a thriller - Miss Georgiou

Opening sequence of a thriller film

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre

The opening sequence of a thriller is used to get the audience interested in the film, it gives them a taste of what the film is about and gives the audience an idea of the genre of the film. It usually will consist of some of the main characters. The beginning is the most important time because it is within the first five minutes, the viewer decides weather or not they are going to watch the whole film. Therefor the opening sequences needs to be exciting and set questions for the audience, for example: why did he/she do that?



Editing
There are many different editing techniques used in the opening sequences of texas chain saw massacre. The 'Timing of shots' is evident during this clip, but mainly when the light keeps flashing on the texas chainsaw massacre body, the timing of showing the body, to the music building up is used to build the tension as to what are we about to see. This makes the audience intrigued to find out what has happened to this person. Another editing technique used in the opening sequences is 'zoom' this is used when there is a  close up of the texas chainsaw massacre, and the camera slowly zooms out. This was used to slowly reveal the antagonist. It creates an element of shock because as the camera zooms out we see a victim tied up with the antagonist.

Cinematography
There was many different types of cinematography in the opening sequences, one being the 'shallow focus' this is when there are flashes of the closes ups of the texas chainsaw massacres hands and face. This is used to show the details of he's skin and how bad it is. This is conventional to a thriller because the antagonist usually has something wrong with them, and in this case its gets the audience in suspense as to what has happened to this person.

Characters
There was two characters shown in the opening sequence of texas chainsaw massacre. This is to give the audience an idea of who to protagonists is and who the antagonists is. obviously the women victim in the opening sequences was the protagonist, but she is dead now so the audience are wondering who the next protagonist is going to be. We do not get to see the antagonist move or talk in this opening clip, therefor it keeps the audience on edge which is an effect ever thriller try's to give. It puts the characters on edge as they don't know if the antagonist is alive,  or how he conducts he's killings. This puts many questions in the audience head and intrigues them to watch more, therefor it is a successful opening sequences.

In conclusion the opening sequences is to introduce the narrative of the film and also show some conventions of a thriller film, to set the scene. This post will help me when i come to make my film, as i will know what to include to get the audience interested in my film. Texas chainsaw massacre was a perfect example of a good opening sequences, as i now want to watch the rest of the film.