Location Research & Analyse

 Our film opening will show a teenage girl awakening mysteriously in a house. As she progresses through the house, jump cuts will show that someone is following her and approaching the home she's in; the audience don't know who this person is. A radio report reveals that people have been discovering demonic twin versions of themselves walking around; it's unknown where they came from or why they're here - but already there has been riots, death and destruction caused. As the girl sits in her room, she hears something, turns around and realises that it's herself staring back at her.

We decided to film in and around the outside of my house, as it's a familiar setting that the audience can relate to which in turn makes the film opening frightening. I have included some screenshots of my house from Google Maps.

Using a variety of close ups of the mise - en - scene helps introduce the setting without the use of a establishing shot; this is something we've seen done in many thriller film openings - as the audience are initially unaware of the characters surroundings and therefore so are they. Filming the main character from a variety of different angles will create a continuous match on action shot which will allow the audience to see more of the location; the mise - en - scene will subconsciously tell the audience where the location is set. This fits with the typical thriller convention as the location, is often set in a house; the camera shots and angles also stay within the thrill conventions as short shots are often cut very quickly together in order to speed up the action and increase the suspense. 

The mise - en - scene in my house helps makes the audience feel at ease due to the familiar location, with objects they're used to. A house is a good place to set a thriller, because it makes the ordinary setting, unordinary which can heighten the experience; as the audience can relate the situations to their own.  Using jump cuts to briefly show sinister scenes inside a house can unhinge the audience, because it takes place in a setting the majority of people live in and find relaxation in.
  During the film opening when someone is approaching the house; this is filmed just outside my house, this creates tension; because makes the audience feel on edge due to the fact that a victim can be preyed on in a place of safety.

Just outside my house, there is a large greenery, trees and a road; this makes it an effective place to film as the trees provide a barrier between the camera and the character. Using shots from behind the tree or where a character disappears for a short amount of time adds to the suspense; especially when it's paired with non diegetic music to create an atmosphere.

The mise - en - scene really adds to the shots as the natural surroundings provides a wall of secrecy; which means that the audience are unaware of the action. When filming in the winter, the light of day disappears very quickly which means we'll have to be quick when filming however filming during dusk into twilight is a good time period as the darkness once again heightens the thriller aspect. When filming in the dark; the audience's view is hindered and therefore with the use of camera angles; you can intentionally make the audience see less.