Here Cindy is shown walking down the stairs onto the plat form, head down, hood up and earphones in. The various shades of different lighting projected from the lamps in the train station give diversity to this shot and hence makes the location look for intricate rather than just a plain train station. Additionally, from this angle we are still unable to see Cindy’s face and only this dark figure. The way in which Cindy is only seen as this dark figure at first implies she has been through an extremely dark, frightening, hard time and still holds these horrible emotions within her.

This is the first show where the audience can see Cindy – the protagonist, in her entirety, however still not very clearly. Thus viewers cannot still grasp her facial expressions or features. Here Cindy is walking towards the camera, hence coming closer to the audience, with this the viewers begin to develop this initial relationship between watcher and character, as if in the film with Cindy herself, therefore slowly building this sympathy that they will soon feel more within the oncoming film. The high key lighting projected from the street light behind emphasises the shadows created by Cindy’s figure thus suggesting this idea that something is constantly ‘on her back’ and this something will never leave her.

In this shot Cindy is only visible for a few seconds and then as viewers all you see is the steps she makes walking up the stairs. Hence, the audience are still unable to see Cindy clearly and still can’t comprehend what she looks like. The slow steps Cindy makes enforces this idea of mystery and enables the development of tension and suspense within the opening. The low key lighting also emphasises the shadows created by Cindy, giving this sense of loneliness. Additionally, the idea that Cindy is stepping up towards something suggests that she is moving up in life, away from what bad experiences she has previously had and getting on with her life.

The low key lighting I chose to use for the very first establishing shot which beings the opening sequence, suggests to audiences the genre of the forthcoming film – horror. This is because low key lighting like such, is a typical convention used commonly within horror/thriller movies. The establishing shot used allows for viewers to familiarise themselves with the location, a train station. At first viewers will most likely be unable to point out the protagonist – Cindy, this is because during the time of filming people were leaving the train station, therefore in including this within the footage it added to the realism and naturalistic depiction we were trying to establish.

Shot no – 1Camera shot – Establishing shotTime – 0/12

Shot no – 2Camera shot – High angle shot Time – 25/37

Shot no – 3Camera shot – Long shot/Mid shot Time –47/59

Shot no – 4Camera shot – Low angle shot Time –59/1:07

STORYBOARD – THE FAMILY Own footage

This shot is made up of 4 still images, showing Cindy walking towards her seat on the train. The CCTV effect we have tried to create gives this sense of someone/something watching her. Hence the black and white colours denote this CCTV idea because commonly in CCTV footage it I black and white rather than coloured. The emptiness of the carriage implies Cindy is travelling at a reasonably quiet time, possibly also suggesting how she chooses to travel at such a time because she prefers less social interaction with other people and feels more comfortable on her own.

This shot includes Cindy walking onto the train, however only showing the steps she makes onto the train. The voice of Charles Manson follows Cindy whilst walking through the train station and on her train; this could promote the idea that she will never forget what has happened to her and that she is completely ‘scarred’ for life. The little colour in almost all of the opening shots connotes Cindy’s traumatic life, and that her life is far from ‘colourful.’ Additionally, how disheartened she is after experiencing what she has. Dark colour likes grey and black, which we have excessively used within the opening sequence, are associated with dispirited emotions such as sadness.

Here is shot of Cindy waiting to catch her train. This mid shot shows Cindy waiting patiently with her hood up and on her phone, merely oblivious to what’s happening around her. This gives viewers the impression that she is on her own, alone, caring for herself. Cindy’s body language is rather withdrawn and the fact she has her hands in her pocket implies that she is a quiet, cautious character. Cindy is positioned upright suggesting how vigilant she is and is ready for the worst at all times. The fact she is upright, holding this vertical and strong posture indicates little comfort and security in being there alone.

This shot was filmed from the opposite platform, giving some distance between camera and Cindy. In using this long shot it subtlety hints at the audience that there is still a long way to go for Cindy in recovering in whatever has happened to her – which is still unknown to the audience as of yet. The majority of this shot is dark, denoting the obvious time setting being the evening and thus promoting the typical views on what’s most dangerous happens at night. The non-diegetic voiceovers create panic and immerse this anxious and edgy and atmosphere.

Shot no – 5Camera shot – Long shot Time –1:07/1:15

Shot no – 6Camera shot – Mid shot Time –1:20/1:29

Shot no – 7Camera shot – Wide shot Time –1:30/1:33

Shot no – 8Camera shot – High angle shotTime –1:34/1:38

All lighting used within the shots that make up the first two minutes of my opening sequence to my film is low key. This is because low key lighting is such a common convention used intensely within similar genre films and in order for my film to fit in with the current industry of horror/thriller films I wanted to ensure that my opening possessed these typical successful conventions. The use of low key lighting gives the audience a sense of mystery as well as preparing them for the forthcoming dramatic and scary narrative. Such low key lighting is emphasised due to the time in which I chose to film the footage for my opening sequence, hence in the evening, just past rush hour. Most horror movies are associated with this idea that what’s most frightening and dangerous happens at night, this is because at night your visibility is lessened thus encouraging this concept of the unknown and hidden dangers. Growing up people are constantly told to be careful at night, make sure they are not alone and at all times make sure they are able to contact someone if in trouble, and with this I have chosen to play on this idea for the introduction of my film.

The simple style of shots I have chosen to incorporate within these first two minutes enable smooth transitions and allow for an easy, aesthetically pleasing watch. Additionally I chose not to try and squeeze in as many shots as I could in order to not overcomplicate the opening sequence and ensure that it looked clean cut and professional overall.

The slightly poor quality of footage we have incorporated within this opening we chose to use on purpose, this is because it suited nicely the genre of our film – horror. With this in mind, it enforced this idea that within our narrative not everything is explainable or likewise known or visible.

The non-diegetic voiceovers coming from a variety of news reporters bridge over the different shots. I chose to do this so that it would give this sense of frustration and that something will forever be a burden on Cindy’s life and that she will have to work very hard in order to overcome what has happened to both her and her family. Additionally, the sound bridges promote this idea that all of this is going on within Cindy’s head and its proving hard for her to get rid of, thus indicating the upset, panic and hindrance she is feeling. The asynchronous sound over the shots also ensure that there is other sound that just the backing music, adding depth to the opening and encouraging the audience to listen to the voiceovers and slowly start to put together these puzzle pieces almost and figure out what had actually happened to Cindy.

Shot no – 9Camera shot – Mid shot Time –1:50/1:54

This shot is the very first time that the audience actually see Cindy in adequate lighting and are able to make out her features and expression. By looking at Cindy’s body language and the slouched way in which she is sitting viewers can assume that this journey is a regular thing for Cindy and that she is used to being alone and looking after herself. By Cindy putting her feet up on the opposite seats could implicate that she wants no one sitting near her, again reinforcing this idea that she is cautious of those around her and is prepared for anything. Moreover, by both listening to music and being on her phone it could imply that she wishes to block out reality and start over and ignore all of the bad that has happened to her.