The opening for the film the secret window is able to show key conventions to put across to the audience the genre of 'Thriller'. The film starts with a long shot of an old derelict cabin in the middle of a woodland area surrounded by a large lake. This shows isolation to the audience creating a tense setting which is common in the genre. Slow orchestral music begins to play as the camera begins to get closer cabin revealing that lights are on inside telling the audience that someone does live there. The music is also very quite allowing the diegetic sounds to be heard for example the wind blowing through the trees and the sound of the water hitting the casters which hold the cabin above the lake. This again shows isolation and loneliness which creates good tension which is a main feature of the thriller genre.
Within a Thriller the hero/protagonist is usually isolated, who is usually a brave male who is usually mentally unstable. Johnny Depp taking the role within this film.
As soon as the opening sequence starts 'written and directed by Christopher Nolan' appears on a dark background in striking red lettering. Christopher Nolan is also wrote in all block capitals to perhaps show his importance within the film. Six seconds later the protagonists name appears on the screen 'Leonardo Di Caprio again in red lettering and block capitals'. The editor 'Lee Smith' and production designer 'Guy Hendrix Dyas' then appear fourteen seconds in, however their names are not in capitals and the text is also smaller which could tell the audience that their role within the film is not as important as the director. 'music by Hans Zimmer' then appears at twenty nine seconds into the opening sequence, although his name is not in block capitals or bold font he does have the whole screen to himself which again shows importance. Between each titled name for example the director, producer, music producer etc. there is an actors name who will be shown on screen at some point throughout the film. the director of photography 'Wally Pfister' is then shown at forty three seconds. the rest of the main actors within the film are shown between fifty seconds and one minute into the sequence, the whole first minute is then rewound and the word 'inception' is then shown in again red lettering with block capitals.
Secret window
The order of production companies within the opening sequence of the secret window:
0:16- Columbia pictures presents- T1.
0:19-Pariah production-T2.
0:22-Johnny Depp-T3
0:27-secret window-T4
0:35-John Tuturro-T5
0:38- Maria Bello-T6
0:43-Timothy Hutton-T7
0:46-Charles S Dutton-T8
0:51-Len Cariou-T9
0:55-Casting by John Papsidera, CSA. Pat MCcorkle, CSA-T10
0:59-Costume designer Odette Gadoury-T11
1:03-Music by Phillip Glass-T12
1:08-Edited by Jill Savitt, A.C.E-T13
1:11-Production Designer Howard Cummings-T14
1:15-Director of photography Fred Murphy, ASC-T15
1:20-Executive producer Ezra Swerdlow-T16
1:24-Produced by Gavin Polone-T17
1:38-Based upon the story 'secret window, secret garden' by Stephen King-T18
1:51-Screenplay by David Koepp-T19
1:58-Directed by David Koepp-T20
A thriller is made to keep the audience on the edge of their seat, usually by making the protagonist or main character encounter many menacing tasks or dangerous situations.
orchestral music is usually put into thrillers in order to help build the suspense along with a dark gloomy settings to create tension. Close ups are usually used when showing emotions within a thriller this also makes it creepy and suspenseful for the audience as they cant see what is behind the character.
