SWOT analysis of first draft

 Strengths

One strength of my opening sequence is that it is a suspenseful attention-getter, which, because of a fear that is commonly held by women of walking home alone and sensing that there is someone behind you is very relatable. In this case, it is very easy for the viewer to relate to this feeling experienced by the protagonist. The other strength I used in the opening sequence was a fake-out moment brought about by a girl's belief that her life was in danger when it turns out to be a false alarm. This will both subvert expectations and keep the viewers' attentions.

Weaknesses

There are a couple of weaknesses noticed in my opening sequence. One of the major issues that can be raised is through pacing the suspense may be slow in building up if not done well. In case this element seems extended to low levels, then there might be a loss in tension rather than an increase of it. Another thing that can be added to this is the fact that there is no music that can be added to the tension or to increase it which is also another weakness. The other weakness is predictability. Although the misdirect with the jogger works quite well, the final reveal of the girl having been kidnapped is just very predictable. A more unique, or unpredictable resolution, could make the story stand out. The worst the protagonist could do from fear is panic and close her eyes.

Opportunities

One opportunity presented by the opening sequence would be to go into much more serious themes of fear, safety, and personal awareness. It does this by giving the audience a closer view of the struggle within, connected with perceived danger versus real danger ultimately giving a reflection of how fear sculpts our reactions. The other opportunity lies in using cinematography and sound design to give suspense. This story would also be good at being further developed into a larger thriller or mystery based on the initial plot point that the child got kidnapped, if i was not only doing an opening sequence.

Threats

One potential threat is the fact that the thriller genre is full of very similar stories, which means that I need to adapt my story and create a difference in it to different ones. Another challenge is how the final scene will actually be carried out. If the pacing, camera work, or sound design are off, the impact of the built-up tension could fall flat. On the other hand, this ending of a young girl being kidnapped should be executed sensitively, so that it does not feel too abrupt or exploitative. It is the balance between realism and story impact that is very important.