Props

Final Product: Props: Flower Backpack

The colour connotations present within the backpack will be used to portray our female teen protagonist; the floral print represents youth, beauty and innocence- three things in which a male stalker (antagonist) is stereotypically quite likely to prey on. The individual compartments of the backpack is typically associated to the life of a student or someone who attends full-time education; this will benefit the mise-en-scene as it will create a sense of vulnerability towards our protagonist (role to be played by Stephanie Jones). This will be reinforced as a school folder will be visible from inside the bag; this will portray the protagonist as defenceless and therefore cause the audience to feel fearful for the teen as the music alongside the setting will create a tense atmosphere in which her safety may or may not be put in jeopardy. 

Final Product: Props: Black iPhone

A black iPhone will be another prop in the possession of the teen female protagonist. The newly updated technology will represent the modern day  teenager and the stereotypical ideal that young people are consumed by media. The phone will also connote her lack of attention/focus therefore acting as a distraction causing her to be unaware of her surroundings; this puts her at risk which will be shown within the opening clip.

We will also be using a smashed phone in which will be presented through the use of a canted angle (Dutch angle). This will portray elements of distortion creating a sense of unease which will hopefully be interpreted by our target audience. The initial smashing of the phone will be unknown of cause therefore following the traditional convention of a thriller in which antagonist identities are not revealed early and the audience will be left asking questions therefore keeping them engaged within our opening 2 minute clip. We chose to show a functioning phone in use and a broken phone on the ground without cause in the same 20 seconds to symbolise the deterioration of routine and the break down of safety; this will also connote conflict which is prominent in most crime thrillers in which we found out through the research process.

Final Product: Props: Headphones

Much like the iPhone, the headphones will also represent a community of young people consumed by modern day technology. The headphones reinforce the protagonists lack of alertness when in relation with the phone due to two of her senses (visual and audio) being preoccupied. The idea of music seperates the protagonist from reality and therefore from any threats which may or may not be of relevance to her.

Final Product: Props: Pinboard

Our initial opening shot consists of photographs being added to a pinboard. Pinboards are often used as memoirs; a collection of photographs or tokens to remind an individual of past events in their life; for example a selection of keepsakes. This association will be used to our advantage as the audience will be unaware of the identity of the person who owns the pinboard; is it the antagonist (stalker) or is the pinboard part of a police investigation in which the antagonist (stalker) is the target/aim? The pinboard will also give my group the opportunity to produce an efficient graphic match as the pinboard will contain pictures of the protagonist (Stephanie Jones) who will be introduced later on in the opening clip. The pinboard also gives my group the opportunity to experiment with lighting e.g. high or low key (we have discussed the use of a torch attached to the camera so the lighting and camera match and are in sync with one another) and movement e.g. pan shots. 

(Lily and I had a discussion together about props - written credit to Lily Sutherland)