Déjà VuMaddy, Charlie, Shannon and Emily

Logline

A female detective, following her parents’ murder, investigates a serial killer case, that she’s already dreamt

about.

A female detective is haunted by flashbacks of her parents’ deaths during nightmares. One particular night she dreams of a case, one that bares similarities to her parents’ murders. She wakes up the next day and discovers that she is investigating the dream that she had the night before – a serial killer case (which later is revealed to be the same murder that killed her parents)

Teaming up with her fellow investigator, she must solve the case before anyone else is hurt. But as she gets closer and closer to cracking this case, another set of clues, in the form of some kind of gang symbol, throws her in a different direction.

Links are made she find the true meaning of the symbol, and with the final murder comes the discovery of the serial killer’s true identity: her fellow investigator.

Extended Plot

CharactersHarriet Bailey• Lead female detective• Parents dead- became detective to get justice for them• 20 years old• Film from her perspective• Propp’s character theory: protagonist

Marco Taylor • Fellow male detective -eventual serial killer• 27 years old • Main characters best friend• Propp’s character theory: sidekick / false hero / antagonist

Superintendent Gates• Chief constable of the precinct• Assigns case• Is there in opening • Propp’s character theory: Princess’ father/quest maker - he’s the one who sends the

protagonist on the quest for the princess (which is in this case is solving the murders)

SettingMontage shots (dream): Parents murder-Marina/harbor

Waking up: Bedroom: -little furniture within mise-en-scene (to focus attention on character)-natural lighting

Murder scene: Hotel room-simply set up & little within the mise-en-scene (in order to focus on murder)-lit darkly

SymbolsThe crime scenes is going to feature a symbol- the signature of the serial killer.

All the symbols we found link to death, but we chose the first one because it is more subtle and mysterious than the other two and it will fit with the film’s tone/mood more.

Titles

• Strong, bold, impacting font connotes masculinity, a conventional theme of the thriller genre.

• Black encodes mystery and darkness two themes/conventions of the thriller genre.

• The font style resembles the symbol key to the plot of the film

• We chose this font over the other two as it suits the film more. Whilst the first font is too masculine we felt the third wasn’t appropriate for the genre.

• The font has connotations of medieval times and to a certain extent, the horror genre

• However it isn’t clear enough for the audiences viewing- they wouldn’t understand in the short time it’s shown.

The actual title of the film itself, will only be revealed once the opening ends – after the crime scene and murder is shown.

Link to target audienceTarget audience: 15-30 year olds (mature viewers)

• Using characters within this age range will make it more relatable for the audience.

• The crime thriller genre uses real life scenarios as a convention in order to make the audience relate.

• Having an intense and mysterious plot, with several twists, grips the target audience and intrigues the viewer – making them relate and want to solve the murders along side the protagonist.

• The primary target audience is more likely to be men as stereotypically the violence would be more suiting. However it is possible than that females would be interested as the female gender is significant in this media text.

Lighting

• Key lighting – We will use this type of lighting during our close up shots (e.g. when the detectives arrive at the crime scene), as this technique allows the audience to clearly see the expressions and features of the character, and therefore relate to how they feel in a certain scenario. In our opening it will be used to show the panic and fear in the protagonist.

• Under lighting – This type of lighting will be used in our montage shots of the dream aspect as it will create an eeriness around the characters within the shot. Using this particularly in the blurred memory of the parents’ murderer, will allow large amounts of the character to be in shadow forms and therefore mask his identity.

• Low key/background lighting – We may decide to use this type of lighting in the few long shots we use (e.g. bedroom scene) as it creates a sinister and mysterious theme from the dark tones. This will therefore relate to the disturbing and unsettling dream out protagonist had just had.

The lighting used is obviously important for any film/opening as it helps define the genre – in our case a crime thriller – as well as providing a successful viewing experience for the audience (making them feel as if there were there).

Audio/SoundUsing distorted and sinister music in the background of our scenes will allow the audience to interpretate the genre of the opening (thriller), and make them unsettled/gripped to what is about to happen.

• During the dream concept the audio will be louder than in the other scenes. The audio will jump around a lot, to match the type of shots used (montage). Again, as the dream shots get more intense, the music shall crescendo (gradually get louder within the shot) to add mystery to the developing storyline.

• Only when the protagonist arrives at the scene will the music get noticeably louder than throughout the other shots. This will add tension and suspense to what she will find before it is actually revealed, and add dramatic effect when the close up shot is used.