Coursework Pitch

Idea:
Firstly, we see a flashback of a previous event in a derelict building, where there are 2 boys and a girl. The 3 are messing around when one of the boys gets trapped under a plank of wood.  We then go back to the present, where the 2 survivors are standing in the same building, talking about how the place holds bad memories. This conversation progresses into an argument about how the boy made the girl leave when she wanted to help their friend. As this is going on, we get a point of view shot of someone approaching the pair from behind. Then then go back to view the pair from the front, and see a figure standing behind them. The figure is breathing heavily and the pair slowly turn round, after feeling breath on their necks. They are faced with their friend who was killed. There is then another flashback of the girl being dragged away by the other boy who is preventing her from saving their friend. As she screams, we go back to the present where she also screams. (These screams can be used as an audio bridge to link the two scenes together). The screen then fades to black and the film title appears.

The Town That Dreaded Sundown - Narrative Enigma example

The above idea may initially need shortening down however, with fast editing in the flashbacks and action scenes, it may work well. If not, then some scenes such as the argument can be taken out and the killer can reveal himself sooner.
There will be use of Barthes' narrative theory for narrative enigma. There will be use of narrative enigma up until the end of the opening, when the pair announce the name of the killer, however we do not see his face.

Levi Strauss' narrative theory of stereotypes and binary opposition could also be reflected. The girl in my opening will be the stereotypical nerdy, sensible final girl character, whereas the boy will a jock who doesn't care about school, is dangerous and does stupid things. This is a form of binary opposition  as the pair majorly contrast, which causes conflict in certain parts of the film, such as the girl wanting to help their friend but the boy dragging her away.

Part of Todorov's equilibrium theory may also be applied in some aspect, however the last 2 stages do not occur how Todorov's theory states it should. There is initially a state of equilibrium in the first flash back as the 3 teenagers are hanging out together. There is then a disruption of the equilibrium as the beam falls onto Jason. There is a recognition by the teenagers that the equilibrium has been disrupted, and there is a failed attempt to repair the disruption, as the girl wants to help but the surving boy does not let her. The final stage of a reinstatement of the equilibrium is not achieved in the opening, however it could be achieved as the film carries on.

Friday the 13th DVD cover

The name of the killer will be Jason, which holds intertextual references for Friday the 13th (Marcus Nispel, 2009) after a boy called Jason drowned in a lake but came back to life and stalked and killed any one who came near the lake. My idea is similar to this, because the killer is called Jason and he has come back to life to punish his friends for not saving him. It is also located in a derelict, rural area, similar to that in Friday the 13th, which takes place in a rundown camp.

The Strangers - mask will be similar to the male killer in this film

The weapon that Jason carries will be a plank of wood with nails sticking out of it, which links in with the way he was killed. To kill his victims, he will beat them with the stick. He will also be wearing what he was wearing when he died, however the clothes will be ripped and dirty, and his face will be covered up with a sack or piece of cloth, with intertextual references to The Town That Dreaded Sundown (Charles Pierce, 1976) and The Strangers (Bryan Bertino, 2008).