Friday, 6 January 2017
Blair witch project: props
We can see a destroyed notepad being examined by what is thought to be forensics. The notepad is a relevant prop for the film as it would be needed by the students creating their film. We can see that the notepad looks burnt which immediately creates an enigma and an interest within the audience. This is needed in a trailer as it needs to intrigue the audience with a mystery that they wish to find out. If the trailer successfully captures the interest if the audience then the audience will want to see the film. This is reinforced with the discovery of the camera too. The camera is also damaged which again suggests a mystery around the three missing students as the audience we assume the worst. They are also damaged camera roles which suggests that whatever happened to these students was caught on camera. The fact that these items are almost unusable conveys the idea that somebody wants to conceal their death, therefore the audience wants to discover who that somebody is.
Wednesday, 4 January 2017
Donnie Darko and Se7en: font analysis
Donnie Darko's font is flawed giving impression that it is handwritten. This immediately gives the audience a familiar and comfortable atmosphere. This is because the handwritten font suggests a more casual impression. This correlates to the main character, a teenager around 18 years old. People at this age are typically known to be casual and not serious. If the font was perfect then it would give a superficial impression which does not link to the narrative as it does not represent the film. The main character, Donnie Darko, is thought to be a paranoid schizophrenia and so is imperfect. Therefore the title font represents that immediately.
Se7en's font is also imperfect which again suggests the issues with a persons mind, giving th the ability to preform horrifying acts on other people. This immediately gives us an insight into the narrative. However, this font has the word "Se7en" written a couple times, overlapping each word. This suggests that there are many levels to the film in which a person can interpret. Each one of these layers provides a different and deeper meaning. This allows the audience to take what they wish from the film meaning that the narrative ending can be completely different to another person. The advantage to this is that it makes the audience truly think and engage in the film therefore making it a success.
Our second narrative idea
What our audience want and enjoy is different to what we have initially idea. Therefore we will have to tailor our idea to suit their responses. In our first idea the characters would go to a forest to film their film. This is similar to our new idea as the characters will go to an abandoned building, this change in location is due to the fact that after researching the common locations of horror films, I found that a regular location is abandoned buildings. This is also because our target audience particularly enjoy this location. The characters will then find a blood trail leading to a dead body with the antagonist behind them with and angled up shot to demonstrate the villains dominance. However, in the original idea we dint see this and so the villain wan not recognizable instantly.
Thursday, 22 December 2016
Character bios
As our film is about teenagers we decided to use our friends and matt and I to star in our opening sequence. The reason for this is because having the actors and actresses the same age of the Hollywood demographic allows the audience to connect and relate more.
Callum Wardle: Although I am a director and editor for the film, I am also apart of the acting team in order to create a bigger group size. Compared to the rest of the group I am small in comparison and so I make an easy target for our tall antagonist. I will also need less screen time to show my lack of importance. My characters main purpose is to keep the story in the right direction. By this I mean I guide what is happening on screen for a successful outcome.
Matt Lloyd: Matt is also pat of the editing and directing team an so he will only have a small role, he is only used to increase the numbers. Matt will be able to demonstrate his opinions both on and off the screen. His main purpose for on screen is to show Alice's dominance as she is has a female lead. One of Matts purpose is to direct both in front of the camera and behind it. He will
Alfie Bryce-Clegg: Alfie will be playing a typical white middle class boy which is easily conveyed through his clothing, trainers jeans and a hoodie. He is also extremely available and so he can film whenever. This is good because if we need to re-film a take, then we know he will be available even if it is short notice.
Alice Buckton-Perkins: Alice will be wearing similar clothing, typical white middle class. She is the main role in this opening sequence and so she will have the most screen time and be dominate in the all of her shots. She fits the Final Girl theory as she is responsible as well as mature and will be able to demonstrate these characteristics on screen. As we have a Final Girl theory we want to to show her dominance in the opening sequence as a lead female role is unconventional which we hope will intrigue the audience.
Callum Wardle: Although I am a director and editor for the film, I am also apart of the acting team in order to create a bigger group size. Compared to the rest of the group I am small in comparison and so I make an easy target for our tall antagonist. I will also need less screen time to show my lack of importance. My characters main purpose is to keep the story in the right direction. By this I mean I guide what is happening on screen for a successful outcome.
Matt Lloyd: Matt is also pat of the editing and directing team an so he will only have a small role, he is only used to increase the numbers. Matt will be able to demonstrate his opinions both on and off the screen. His main purpose for on screen is to show Alice's dominance as she is has a female lead. One of Matts purpose is to direct both in front of the camera and behind it. He will
Alfie Bryce-Clegg: Alfie will be playing a typical white middle class boy which is easily conveyed through his clothing, trainers jeans and a hoodie. He is also extremely available and so he can film whenever. This is good because if we need to re-film a take, then we know he will be available even if it is short notice.
Alice Buckton-Perkins: Alice will be wearing similar clothing, typical white middle class. She is the main role in this opening sequence and so she will have the most screen time and be dominate in the all of her shots. She fits the Final Girl theory as she is responsible as well as mature and will be able to demonstrate these characteristics on screen. As we have a Final Girl theory we want to to show her dominance in the opening sequence as a lead female role is unconventional which we hope will intrigue the audience.
Tuesday, 20 December 2016
Paranormal Activity: editing and lighting anlysis
Editing:
Paranormal activity is shot on a handheld camera and laptops. The handheld camera gives a realistic view that the audience can relate to. When using the handheld cameras it gives the scene a much more realistic view as the camera shakes connoting drama and action. Using the laptops to film the events in the house is an understandable way of capturing the events as if that was to occur to a normal person. Therefore the audience can relate to the family which will enhance the horror. There are also short takes of scenes during the trailer to create tension which is also parallel to the information given to the audience. This combination of features creates drama as it evokes a chaotic scene in which the audience can feel apart of. After the short takes to build the tension there are collection of long takes. This is done so the audience are anticipating a jump scare which will affect them more as the are on edge.
Lighting:
The opening scene of the trailer is very dark which creates fear, this is done because of the fear of the unknown. The dark lighting is parallel to the on scene images as both create a uncomfortable experience. The next scene of the police arriving at the neighbors house is also at night creating a mystery and and enigma surrounding the issue. The audience begin to assume a crime has been committed which is associate the colour black with negatives. This is in contrast to the next scene as it is much brighter suggesting purity. We associate the colour white peaceful and tranquil experiences which ironic as we meet the boy for the first time during the day. This contrasts as the day suggests purity but the boy is the beginning of the the horror for the family. The light in this scene is also natural suggesting innocent and normality that the audience can connect with. If the audience can bond with the characters on screen then they will relate and empathize with what is happening. Creating this rapport is crucial as the audience need to relate to the characters.
Paranormal activity is shot on a handheld camera and laptops. The handheld camera gives a realistic view that the audience can relate to. When using the handheld cameras it gives the scene a much more realistic view as the camera shakes connoting drama and action. Using the laptops to film the events in the house is an understandable way of capturing the events as if that was to occur to a normal person. Therefore the audience can relate to the family which will enhance the horror. There are also short takes of scenes during the trailer to create tension which is also parallel to the information given to the audience. This combination of features creates drama as it evokes a chaotic scene in which the audience can feel apart of. After the short takes to build the tension there are collection of long takes. This is done so the audience are anticipating a jump scare which will affect them more as the are on edge.
Lighting:
The opening scene of the trailer is very dark which creates fear, this is done because of the fear of the unknown. The dark lighting is parallel to the on scene images as both create a uncomfortable experience. The next scene of the police arriving at the neighbors house is also at night creating a mystery and and enigma surrounding the issue. The audience begin to assume a crime has been committed which is associate the colour black with negatives. This is in contrast to the next scene as it is much brighter suggesting purity. We associate the colour white peaceful and tranquil experiences which ironic as we meet the boy for the first time during the day. This contrasts as the day suggests purity but the boy is the beginning of the the horror for the family. The light in this scene is also natural suggesting innocent and normality that the audience can connect with. If the audience can bond with the characters on screen then they will relate and empathize with what is happening. Creating this rapport is crucial as the audience need to relate to the characters.
Thursday, 8 December 2016
Scream: costume and sound analysis
Costume:
The protagonist in the Scream wears a very distinctive outfit, this is the case so he is very recognizable so wen people see the costume, people immediately think of the Scream. The design of the costume is very simplistic as it is all black. The colour black is used to convey evil and death as we usually associate darker colours with negative images. The colour black can also represent the unknown or uncertainty which is most definable the case as we are presented with a masked murderer. However, this contrasts the white mask as we usually associate the colour with being pure. This colour is connected to good as angels war the colour white suggesting the purity of the colour. The peaceful colour contradicts both the rest of the outfit, black, and the intentions of the character.
Sound:
We are immediately shown a phone call with an ambiguous caller on the other end. The initial phone ringing creates and mystery intriguing the audience instantly. This is done by the produces to hook the audience from the very start and so they watch the film. Once the phone is picked up we here an inviting voice which makes us as the audience feel comfortable as well as the character as she continues the conversation. The audience start to wonder who the caller is and we wonder if he'll be the antagonist. Character A, the one receiving the call, hangs up but the phone rings again creation slight tension that will climax later on in the scene. The establishing shot of the house outside has a swing in the foreground which we can hear rocking. This ambient sound is used to create an unsettling tone and feel to this situation, foreshadowing later events. Character A starts to cook popcorn just as her phone begins to ring again. This is showing the tension in the air and just when the the scene reaches the climax the popcorn explodes signifying this. This is done to hype up the atmosphere and create a more dramatic experience for the audience. During one of the phone calls character A pulls out a knife from its holder creating a quick slicing sound to disturb us. Thus also foreshadows later events when the antagonist is killing his victims.
The protagonist in the Scream wears a very distinctive outfit, this is the case so he is very recognizable so wen people see the costume, people immediately think of the Scream. The design of the costume is very simplistic as it is all black. The colour black is used to convey evil and death as we usually associate darker colours with negative images. The colour black can also represent the unknown or uncertainty which is most definable the case as we are presented with a masked murderer. However, this contrasts the white mask as we usually associate the colour with being pure. This colour is connected to good as angels war the colour white suggesting the purity of the colour. The peaceful colour contradicts both the rest of the outfit, black, and the intentions of the character.
Sound:
We are immediately shown a phone call with an ambiguous caller on the other end. The initial phone ringing creates and mystery intriguing the audience instantly. This is done by the produces to hook the audience from the very start and so they watch the film. Once the phone is picked up we here an inviting voice which makes us as the audience feel comfortable as well as the character as she continues the conversation. The audience start to wonder who the caller is and we wonder if he'll be the antagonist. Character A, the one receiving the call, hangs up but the phone rings again creation slight tension that will climax later on in the scene. The establishing shot of the house outside has a swing in the foreground which we can hear rocking. This ambient sound is used to create an unsettling tone and feel to this situation, foreshadowing later events. Character A starts to cook popcorn just as her phone begins to ring again. This is showing the tension in the air and just when the the scene reaches the climax the popcorn explodes signifying this. This is done to hype up the atmosphere and create a more dramatic experience for the audience. During one of the phone calls character A pulls out a knife from its holder creating a quick slicing sound to disturb us. Thus also foreshadows later events when the antagonist is killing his victims.
Wednesday, 7 December 2016
Horror survey results
We will use this information to alter and improve our film to suit our audience to create a successful opening sequence. We have a range of ages 12 to 26 plus. This is useful as it gives us a range of ideas we can use for different age groups, therefore the audience will widen.
What is your favorite sub-genre?
My group and I will have to make our opening sequence believable and realistic as it proves that people find it scarier and so will enjoy our film more making it a success.
What is your favorite sub-genre?
Our survey results show that the audience particularly enjoy a psychological sub genre. In order to make a successful film,we need to, as a group, incorporate a psychological aspects into it. This will include both long and short takes to create tension and create a scarier experience for the audience. The audience does not enjoy body horror as nobody selected it. Therefore we shall avoid this to ensure a successful film.
What type of setting scares you?
The audience are favorable over abandoned areas as 37.21% chose it as their preferred location by a significant amount. My group and I will ensure we incorporate this into our opening sequence as it is liked by so many.
Is a more realistic horror film scarier?
What aspects of horror do you enjoy the most?
The audience do not enjoy gore 3.61% so the group and I will have to keep it to a minimum. However, people enjoy suspense building as they enjoy the tension therefore the group will have to create this. The target audience also fevers an interesting story line which will needed to captivate the audience.
Who do you prefer as the main character?
The gender of the main character is not preferred which is beneficial to my group and I as we can explore a range of ideas to make a successful film. This includes the final girl theory and female gaze theory.
How do horror film make you feel?
The audience watch horror films in order to be scared which is clear by our survey results. Therefore my group and I will have to try and make it as scary as possible to excite the audience. We will do this through short takes to create tension and long takes to create suspense.
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