What are the conventions of a thriller opening sequence?

• Titles: The titles tend to fit in with the mood that is being built and connects with the sound the majority of the time to create an eerie, chilling atmosphere

• Camera shots, angles, movement help to reveal key elements to the audience for them to identify and the framing and positioning of the shots can build up suspense and mystery. The camera can alse communicate certain things such as a dutch angle (tilt) can suggest confusion.

• Editing: Editing is key in thiller opening sequences because they can reveal and illustrate a lot about the story itself. For instance, fast paced shots can build up tension and panic where as slow shots can add more mysterious and eerie elements to the scene.

• Sound: In thriller openings we tend to hear quite eerie and uneasy music that suggests and builds tension and suspense. The use of this sometimes can go with the Mise En Scene, lighting and the speed of the shots. The atmosphere can be cleverly pieced together just by the use of music on its own.

• Mise En Scene: This can show the audience who, what, when, where, why and how whatever is being shown happened. Despite this, we will never be shown to much that it will give away the story line, the film needs to be able to hook and grab the audience's attention so they can then watch on. Also, the lighting and colours used can connect with some of the other conventions such as sound. We generally see low key lighting and a lot of cold blues and dark mysterious colours in order to build up the opening sequence effectively.