Detailed storyboard

Shot 1 - Police evidence room with three plastic evidence bags on top of the table. At this point the audience can not see what is inside the bags.

Setting – Police evidence room

Shot type – High angle shot

Duration – 2 seconds

Sound – Camera sound

Lighting – Darkened room with light from lamp lighting up a small amount of the room.

 

Shot 2 – A girl aged around 6 is sitting in the front garden holding a doll brushing its hair. The girls hair is down, long and blond.

Setting – Doorstep  of a family home

Shot type – Medium close up

Duration – 2 seconds

Sound – natural sound such as wind chimes in the background.

Lighting – winter daylight

 

Shot 3 – The girl is sitting humming and in this shot we only see a lock of the girls hair and the girls hand brushing her doll’s hair Setting – Front garden of family home

Shot type – Extreme Close up

Duration – 2 second

Sound – girl humming, background noise of wind chime.

Lighting – winter daylight

 

Shot 4 – In this shot the audience is given a hint that someone is watching the girl.

Setting – In the paedophile’s house. A hand is seen pulling the curtain back to show the young girls house across the street.

Shot type – Point of view shot

Duration – 4 seconds

Sound – Distant sound of ice-cream van music is heard

Lighting – Quite dark dim room, light comes into the room when curtain is pulled back.

 

Shot 5 – The audience sees the girl and her house from the paedophiles house; this is from his point of view.

Setting – Paedophiles house

Shot type – Point of view

Duration – 2 seconds

Sound – Distant sound of ice-cream van

Lighting – Winter’s daylight

 

Shot 6 – Ice-cream van c omes into view and stops in front of the girls house so the window the paedophile was looking out of is blocked.

Shot type – Long shot

Duration – 2 seconds

Sound – Ice cream van sounds growing louder.

Lighting – Daylight

 

Shot 7 – The camera is now focused on the evidence room where the camera focuses on one of the plastic evidence bags showing a clump of blond hair.

Setting – Evidence room

Shot type – Close-up

Duration – 2 seconds

Sound – Camera flash sound

Lighting – As before, dark room lit by dim lamp.

 

Shot 8 – There is now a flashback to see the young girl crying and very distressed, and a hand can be seen pulling her hair out violently.

Setting – Outside

Shot type – Extreme close-up

Duration – 3 seconds

Sound – crying and whimpering

Lighting – black and white effect

 

Shot 9 – Flashback to see the ice-cream van. A small cluster of children are buying ice-creams, the van then pulls away and reveals the house the paedophile was looking out of, the curtain is still but the door is wide open.

Setting – the Street of the young girl

Shot type – Medium long shot

Duration – 5 seconds

Sound – ice cream van pulling away & wind chime in the background

Lighting – Normal daylight

 

Shot 10 – The camera turns to show the young girl playing with her doll

Setting – Outside the girls home

Shot type – Medium close up

Duration – 2 seconds

Sound – Wind chime

Lighting – Normal Daylight

Opening sequence analysis of What Lies Beneath

The opening sequence of what lies beneath automatically creates tension and suspense by relating the opening sequence to the title of the film, as the film starts with an underwater shot with the titles that seem to flicker and fade away. This creates a feeling of suspense among the audience and will keep them on the edge of their seats, the music also creates tension as it is slow and solemn and whispers can be heard underneath the music. Also some members of the audience may have a fear of being held underwater so the opening sequence my strike them with fear before the film has began. After the underwater sequence there is a close up of a ghostly woman’s face, then the face turns to Michelle Pfeiffer and the camera pulls away from the water as she comes from under the water. There is a long zoom shot of her catching her breath, the camera eventually ends up on a close up of her. The camera then cuts to her when she is out of the bath and using a hairdryer to remove the condensation from the mirror. A close up of the hairdryer failing to work is shown and results in sparks of electricity after she tries the plug socket, this reveals to the audience the mystery genre of the film and that paranormal events may take place. Because the camera is on a close up of the hair dryer it is more likely to gain a reaction from the audience and throughout the film the audience would be on the edge of their seat.

       Overall I think that the opening sequence in What Lies beneath is used to create a paranormal effect and to set the tone for the entire film. The hairdryer randomly sparking creates the paranormal tone and the audience will expect more paranormal activity throughout the film, and they will be on the edge of their seat due to the anticipation of the that the film creates in the opening sequence.

Potential Target Audience

We decided as a group that our target audience for our thriller opening would be suitable for those aged 15 years and over. In general most thriller films, such as What Lies Beneath do have a 15 certificate because of the conventions used in the film. The BBFC Website states the following information that is allowed within a 15 film.

 

‘ There may be frequent use of strong language (eg 'fuck'). But the strongest terms (eg 'cunt') will be acceptable only where justified by the context ’

‘ Nudity may be allowed in a sexual context but without strong detail. There are no constraints on nudity in a non-sexual or educational context. ’

‘ Sexual activity may be portrayed but without strong detail. There may be strong verbal references to sexual behaviour. ’

‘ Violence may be strong but may not dwell on the infliction of pain or injury. Scenes of sexual violence must be discreet and brief. ’

‘ Dangerous techniques (eg combat, hanging, suicide and self-harming) should not dwell on imitable detail. Easily accessible weapons should not be glamorised. ’

‘ Strong threat and menace are permitted. The strongest gory images are unlikely to be acceptable. ’

‘ Drug taking may be shown but the film as a whole must not promote or encourage drug misuse. ’

 

 

All of the above information we will take into account whilst planning our opening scene for our thriller film.