CHARACTERSJoel Guest

JAMES- TEENAGE BOY

We decided to portray James as a normal, stereotypical teenager going about his business on a cold spring evening, boarding a train and going home totally unaware he is closely being followed by a man dressed all in black. The dress code was chosen by James personally, and all members of the group agreed it was an appropriate and fitting costume to wear, fitting in to what most 16/ 17 year old boys wear casually. The fact that James was constantly listening to music through his earphones highlights his vulnerability, as his hearing would have been distorted throughout the film, therefore unable to identify the oncoming threat of his pursuer. The headphones also link stereotypically to the idea that most teenagers enjoy listening to music, and those who watch the short film can empathise with the character. This will hopefully have the desired effect on the viewer making them feel anxious, scared and creates tension, vital components of a good thriller.

JOEL- KILLER

Due to the thriller aspect of the film, we felt a killer would be best appropriate after seeing films such as ‘Scream’ and ‘Cape Fear’, which follow a general pattern of having the theme of violence and death each of their films. I (Joel), decided to dress in all black, a connotation of the unknown and death, keeping the audience on the edge of their seats as they can see right from the start of the thriller that there is an aspect of mystery and danger. The colour black is also associated with power and authority, which I hold throughout the thriller. The baggy hood of the jacket shades my face and identity, as the viewer rarely sees my full face throughout the film, linking to the sense of danger and mystery. The black bottoms and shoes also add to the stereotypical dark connotations of the colour black, as I am dressed head to toe in a dark colour that blends in with my surroundings and makes it nearly impossible for James to spot me until it’s too late. The idea of gloves also adds a chilling effect, as It gives the audience a sense I ‘won’t be getting my hands dirty’, and that they may piece together what may happen towards the end of the film.