Concept for "Tick Tock"
Why we named the opening "TickTock"
- eerie
- Amelia doesn't have a lot of time
- time based name leaving the question why doesn't Amelia have time.
Target audience: Physcological Thriller enthusiasts, Adults.
Character:
Main Character (Amelia) is the focus of the scene, setting up her as the vulnerable protagonist. The fact that she’s a dancer, working in a performance setting, already introduces a sense of vulnerability (a potentially isolated and controlled environment, where the dangers are less obvious).
- The Stalker is the antagonist, lurking in the background. His presence is hinted at, but not immediately revealed, building suspense and emphasizing the psychological element of the thriller.
Setting/Time:
- The setting takes place in a darkened, semi-isolated room after a performance, a common trope in thrillers. It’s late at night, and the stage is no longer lit—signifying a shift from safety (the stage under bright lights) to the darker, more isolated part of the building.
- Time passing is shown by the camera shots, creating a sense of unease. The use of slowly ticking time. Time elapsing with the change in lighting or Amelia’s movements) heightens the tension.
- The plot is structured around a sense of isolation and fear. Amelia starts the scene feeling safe, receiving a text from her dad saying he will pick her up in 10 minutes. However, the narrative slowly shifts as she becomes aware of an unseen presence. The stalker's slow, creeping pursuit builds the psychological tension.
- The phone Amelia checks for a text from her dad, which serves as both a plot device (telling us she expects a ride) and a prop that will later become significant as the communication channel (between Amelia and her dad) that could save her.
- Room lights (which go out when the cleaner locks up) serve as physical metaphors for safety and threat. The lights’ flickering or going out signals the transition from safety to danger.
- Amelia’s dancer costume suggests she’s in a vulnerable, exposed state—possibly still in character after the performance.
- The cleaner’s uniform is nondescript, which helps make him a more ambiguous, neutral character.
- The stalker is not immediately revealed, which is a common trope in psychological thrillers. The antagonist’s presence is felt but not fully understood
- Amelia’s gradual realization that something isn’t right (the feeling of being watched) builds the psychological aspect of the thriller.
- Amelia is alone in a large, empty building—an environment that heightens her vulnerability, a key element in many thrillers.
- Long shots of the empty corridor or darkened building enhance the feeling of isolation.
- Close-ups of Amelia’s face when she checks the phone or reacts to sounds of the stalker help convey her emotions, showing anxiety or fear.
- Tracking shots follow her movements, and as the tension builds, the camera might use slow
- Pacing plays a crucial role in the thriller. The slow build-up to the realization that the stalker is there mirrors Amelia’s increasing sense of fear.
- Match cuts might be used, such as cutting from Amelia’s face to the stalker approaching, allowing tension to build in a seamless manner.
- Jump cuts could be employed to make certain moments feel more jarring, especially when the stalker’s presence is revealed suddenly or during the chase.
Sound:
Silence in the beginning is a key tool for creating tension. The distant applause from the performance gives the impression that the rest of the world is moving on, but Amelia is trapped in the building, amplifying her isolation.
- Sound design is crucial. The sound of footsteps (maybe even just a distant echo) will play into the atmosphere of dread. The silence after the cleaner locks up, followed by the subtle sounds of the stalker moving closer, is key.
- The screech of the elevator and the sound of the hand stopping it add a sudden, jarring noise that elevates the horror of the chase scene.
- Low-key lighting and shadows are used to create suspense, with the lighting dimming when the cleaner locks up, symbolizing the end of safety and the beginning of danger.
- Light flickering might happen when Amelia begins to feel watched, adding a visual cue that something is wrong.
- The chase scene down the corridor is a crucial thriller trope, building on the escalating danger and the character’s attempt to escape. The heightened stakes and speed during this sequence are typical in thriller genre conventions.
- The elevator scene plays with the audience’s expectations—the moment Amelia thinks she’s safe, only to have the stalker stop the elevator, symbolizing that there’s no true escape, which is key in the genre.
- The cleaner’s words and his leaving her alone (locking up) are subtle foreshadowing, setting up the fact that she’s now trapped in the building, and also potentially signaling that the building is unsafe.
- The text from her dad earlier in the scene sets up the illusion of safety, as Amelia believes she’s just waiting for a ride home—creating a false sense of security before the danger reveals itself.
- Amelia’s vulnerability is emphasized not only by her isolation in the building but also through her occupation (a dancer, which traditionally involves physicality and emotional exposure). This vulnerability makes her an ideal target for the stalker and is a typical convention in psychological thrillers.
- The final twist of the stalker’s hand stopping the elevator just as Amelia believes she’s made it to safety adds a sense of finality, a classic trope in psychological thrillers where the villain or antagonist always seems to have control at the most unexpected moments.
PLOT SYNOPSIS:
The opening of the psychological thriller begins with wide shots of a darkened theater, where the faint sound of applause echoes as Amelia and other dancers walk off stage, exhausted but relieved. She checks her phone and reads a text from her dad saying he’ll pick her up in 10 minutes. The lighting is dim and the space feels empty, signaling a transition from the lively performance to a more isolated, vulnerable atmosphere. Non-diegetic sound of a soft, eerie piano starts, subtly introducing unease.
Amelia’s friends say goodbye, and their mother offers her a ride home, but she declines. The cleaner enters, informing Amelia he’s locking up, and the sound of keys rattling and the door locking signals her growing isolation. As he leaves, the lights flicker and Amelia is left alone in the darkened building. The camera lingers on her face, capturing a moment of calm before the impending danger.
As Amelia walks down a corridor, time passes, and the piano music becomes more dissonant, heightening the tension. The camera switches to tight close-ups, showing Amelia’s unease. The lighting becomes darker, casting long shadows, and she begins to sense something is wrong. A sudden thud in the distance causes her to freeze.
In the final sequence, Amelia begins running down the hall, and the pace picks up. The editing quickens, jumping between her frantic movement and the stalker’s silent pursuit. She reaches an elevator, and as she thinks she’s escaped, the stalker’s hand suddenly stops the doors, and the opening ends with her scream, amplified by a high-pitched violin screech.
Beginning:
- Main Character (Amelia) and other dancers walk off stage after the show. (applause in background)
- MC reads a text from dad saying he will pick her up 10mins after show
- MC's friends say bye and their mum offers her a ride home
- Cleaner walks in to say he's locking up.(lights go out)
Middle:
- MC alone now (or so she thinks). Time passes shown by camera shots.
- She realizes stalker is there.
- Chase scene down corridor takes place
- MC gets in elevator thinking she made it out safely
- Stalkers hand stops elevator and opening ends with her scream
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