Planning mise-en-scene - Miss Georgiou

Setting and iconography

We have chosen to set our opening sequence in a isolated forest, we are thinking about doing the filming in Epping forest because it is a wide forest which is extremely crowded and has splitting paths ways which a key element to have in out film. This setting will continue through he whole of our sequence the setting doesn't change as we think it is important to keep the enigma of not knowing where they are for the audience. Our films location is conventional for the thriller genre as it is in a remote area excluded from any help or safety. The audience know that any characters in this situation could be in danger and start to feel sympathetic.
There are three main iconography elements in the opening of our film these are the antagonist knife and torch and the girls phone. The phone is going to be used by the teenage girl as she leaves her friends, she will begin to text, not looking around or at where she is going. Having the phone as a distraction for our character is conventional because it means she will less aware of her surroundings, putting herself at danger. The audience know that someone could be with her without her knowing it, as she is on her phone it makes her an easy target for the antagonist and a prime victim.
The torch and the knife both belong to the antagonist, the two iconography assets are important representations of the characters. The torch is going to be hanging of the antagonists belt throughout the opening sequence, this shows that he was prepared that he was going to be searching for something or someone. Its there to show audience that he has planned his capture and he is fully equip to complete his task. The other iconography that the antagonist has in the opening sequence is a murder weapon, he is going to have a knife in his hand to show the audience again that he is prepared for his plan. He is going to have the gun in his hand for the whole sequence so that the audience focus on it an start to foreshadow what he is going to do, he will have his finger on the trigger at all times when it is in his hand to inform the audience is ready to use and isn't afraid of the consequences. The knife is the most conventional iconography asset  in our opening sequence as it is the murder weapon, in thrillers the is almost always some sort of murder or injury so their has to be an asset that is used to hurt the character. The audience expect to see a dangerous iconography and it creates the suspense wanted in a thriller genre.


Lighting and colour

 For most of our sequence we are going to have low key lighting, with dark colours such as browns, blacks and greys. The forest is going to set as sunset so that it isn't pitch black and thinks are still visible, The low key lighting and colours creates the enigma and tension by making shadows and dark corners so that the audience are less aware of what's in the distance. It is conventional because it builds mystery, the audience become concerned for the characters and are distressed about what is going to happen further on in the film.


Costume

Victim:
Our victim is going to be wearing lighting clothing for example white and beige, she will be wearing jeans and a jumper so that she look casual like a normal teenage girl. She will wear this for all her time in the film so that audience keep in mind her innocence and purity. Her clothing is conventional as it portrays her personality as a stereotypical victim. The victims hair and make up will also show that she is innocent, she will have a natural with neat hair and subtle makeup. Having the natural theme is conventional as well as it shows her as an easy target for the antagonist. Her hair and make up will start like this for the first part of the opening sequence but it may get messy as the actions start to take place of her being kidnapped. This is to emphasise that she is struggling and in a panic to escape. The messier costume is conventional because it is make the actions of her emotions stand out allowing the audience to relate that their there feelings and their knowledge of thriller films.

The antagonists clothing will be bagging and consist of dark colours, he will be wearing a tracksuit with a huddle in either black or dark blue. This outfit will not change throughout our opening sequence he will stay in the same costume so that the audience keep the image that he is evil and un predictable. The conventions of the dark clothing is that he is a dark character the audience don't know a lot about him he is mysterious and untrustworthy. He will not be wearing make up, so that he looks bland to match with how little the audience understand about him. He will also have the normal male looking hair just messy and brushed through he will have no gel in or an y hair products, this will interpret his unpredictable personality. Both his hair and makeup will stay the same throughout the opening sequence, having no change in his looks will back up how he is un effected by his actions and has no conscience. The conventions of his styles are that he is a unstable characters wit possible mental issues the connotations show this by the colours and the little amount of care he puts into his image.


Facial expressions and body language
The victims facial expressions are worried, upset and anxious, she frowning and become extremely upset and her body language is sheltered and fragile, she is always guarded and protective. She doesn't   always at like this at the beginning of our sequence she is happy with her friends acting as normal, but as the scene goes on and she begins to realise she isn't alone and starts to panic. These emotions the audience can see she is feeling are conventional for a thriller film as the victim normally feel this way, they are always in trouble and fearful of something so she is the stereotypical victim that needs to be saved.
The antagonist facial expressions are serious and blank, He is focussed on his plan and is determined to complete it. He will be like this for the whole of the opening sequence unlike our victim, he is always in the same state of mind. His body language also shows his power, he stands tall and bold showing his confidence and strength over our victim. The antagonists stereotypical emotions are the same as our antagonist, they are normally angry and serous which makes our characters facial expressions and body language conventional.

Positioning of character

The victim will always be the centre of the screen or nearer the bottom on floor and being looked down on with a high angle. This is how she is going to be positioned for all of our opening sequence so that it is clear she is weak and at risk. She is positioned here to show the audience that she is being looked down on by someone stronger and that she is one the man focuses and needs to be watched closely.
The antagonist will also be in the centre of the shot quite a lot as well as being on the side and on top. He swill stay like this for the whole of our opening sequence as he is meant to be hidden and un seen. It is conventional to have him at the top and side of the shot as he is the powerful character who the others need to be cautious, the audience are aware that he is mysterious and unpredictable.

Conclusion

We are using all these mise-en-scene elements because they are conventional and the audience can relate to the. They connote and foreshadow the right emotions and feelings creating good surprise,  shock and suspense. The mise-en-scene is important to have with in a thriller as it adds to the effects of the film and emphasises the enigma and tension.