Idea Three.

My idea for our thriller project was to film from a handheld camera used by one of the characters, like films such as 'REC', 'The Blair Witch Project' and 'Cloverfield'.

We first decided to do the filming in a woods, also similar to 'The Blair Witch Project'. I thought it would be realistic to film us camping in the woods like a group of friends would, setting up tents, lighting a fire and joking around, but using the script to show some friction between a couple of characters. The tension would begin with flashes of the handheld camera running through the woods later at night and looking behind as though the character with the camera is running from something. Then cutting to the girl with the camera waking up to hear someone singing "If you go down to the woods tonight, you're in for a big surprise.." and seeing a shadow move. At first she'd laugh, thinking it was one of the others joking around until she went to their tents and realised they were all asleep. She would wake them up and the characters that showed tension earlier would disagree about whether to stay or leave, before they hear someone walking around them and they scatter. The film would end with the camera being dropped on the ground.

I've always thought that the more understated, realistic thrillers can be the most effective. 'Scream' is one of the best thriller openings ever in my opinion, it raises the tension and keeps you gripping your seat and asks so many questions that you HAVE to keep watching; terrified or not. Terrified in my case.