CourseWork Set Brief

Task Overview

Candidates are required to plan, produce, and evaluate a two-minute opening sequence for an original thriller / suspense / horror film. The opening must establish narrative intrigue, genre conventions, character relationships, and thematic direction, while demonstrating effective use of media language, mise-en-scène, cinematography, editing, and sound design.

Product Description

The opening sequence introduces a grounded, psychological thriller centred on a fractured father–son relationship and a series of mysterious disappearances linked by a recurring masked figure.

The sequence begins with a heated domestic argument between a father and son, immediately establishing emotional conflict and tension. The son leaves the house abruptly, symbolising both physical and emotional separation. Parallel editing is used to contrast the father’s isolation at home with the son’s vulnerability in an urban night-time environment.

As the son navigates deserted streets, subtle visual cues and point-of-view shots suggest that he is being watched. The tension escalates when a news broadcast reveals reports of multiple disappearances in the same area, each marked by the presence of an identical mask. This revelation heightens dramatic irony, as the father becomes aware of the danger while the son remains oblivious.

The sequence culminates in the son’s encounter with a masked figure, conveyed through restricted framing, rapid sound escalation, and abrupt cuts. The scene ends ambiguously, implying violence without explicitly showing it. The final image reveals the mask placed among the son’s belongings, confirming his disappearance and establishing the antagonist’s signature.

Genre

• Thriller

• Psychological Horror

• Suspense

The opening adheres to genre conventions, including the following:

• A vulnerable protagonist

• An unseen or partially revealed antagonist

• A mystery-driven narrative

• An unresolved, unsettling ending
  
  
  

  Representation

  • The Son: Represents youth, emotional vulnerability, and creative repression. His rebellion is framed sympathetically through close-ups and low-key lighting.

  • The Father: Represents authority, regret, and emotional detachment. His character is framed through static shots and muted lighting to emphasize stagnation.

  • The Antagonist: Represents anonymity, inevitability, and fear. The mask removes individuality, transforming the figure into a symbol rather than a person.