Year 12 Thriller Treatment Guide

Title
• What does the title connote about the film’s themes/content?
• Is the title conventional for the thriller genre?
• How will it appeal to your target audience?

Target Audience
• Who is your target audience (age, gender, interests, other media consumption,
class)
• Why will your film appeal to them (themes, representation, narrative, USP)
• You should also conduct some primary research (questionnaire/focus group to
find out more about your audience’s opinions on your film)

Technology
• How will use technology to realise your production – try to be innovative!
• Why will that technology be suitable?
• Are there any limitations?

Representations
• Who are the key characters in your thriller (protagonist/antagonist)
• Can you apply Propp’s character types to the characters in your film?
• Will your film subvert or challenge typical representations of any groups in
society?

Narrative
• Brief summary of what will happen in your film.
• A more detailed summary of what will happen in your opening sequence.
• How will you use the conventions of an opening sequence, specifically those
of the thriller genre?

Conventions
• How will you use the conventions of the thriller genre (conform/subvert)?
• Will your thriller fall into any sub-genres of the thriller genre?
• Will your thriller have any hybrid elements?

Style and Iconography

• How will you use camerawork to create an effect for the audience?
• How will you use editing to create an effect for the audience?
• How will you use costumes/props as visual signifiers for the audience?
• How will you use sound (music, effects) to create an effect for the audience?

Institution
• What type of company would produce your film
(Hollywood/Subsiduary/Independent)? Give a specific example of a company
explaining why your film would be the type they’d produce
• What type of company would distribute your film? Give a specific example
explaining why.explaining why your film would be the type they’d distribute.
• Where would your film be exhibited (Types of cinema/home release/NMT)?
Offer specific examples of locations and types of media explaining why.