Finished Product

WE HAVE FINISHED!

Despite the set backs our idea is finally finished and we are extremely happy with it. Although the changes meant our storyboard is different to our idea, all in all they have made our film more tension building and better as a whole!

Problems that have arisen

In terms of our project our main issue has been time management.

In the beginning weeks we did intricate planning of our idea and storyboarded. However this meant we started filming later and in practice our idea didn't look as good as we thought it would meaning we had to think of a different idea. If we had done more of a rough draft and then started filming we would have realised our idea didn't work well earlier resulting in us being able to put it right and giving us longer period of time to film.

The light has also been an issue in our filming, as we have been unable to start until half past 6 every night. Although we waited until this time and on camera the lighting looked perfect when we uploaded the shots to Imovie they became darker and some were unusable meaning we had to re-film.

Editing Session

Our editing sessions between the 22nd and the 26th of february were extremely significant (we had half term which made us unable to touch our filming for a week). We discovered all our errors in the play back and were able to get second opinions from other pupils in our class as to how we could improve. We recognized that certain shots such as a shot of where Poppy is in the mirror behind Lewis would be more effective if she moved so that the focus would be more on her as it was too subtle to notice. It also helped to be able to put music to our piece as we discovered that shots we thought were ineffective were in fact extremely eerie. All in all our editing sessions have been a learning curve and we have a good plan on our re film on Monday the 1st of March.

Second Filming Session

We originally planned to film on both the 2nd and 4th of February but due to weather problems we were unable to do so, therefore we decided to take a whole day on the 18th of February to get a huge chunk of the filming done. It was very successful and we got most of the filming done. We needed to get as much done in one day to get continuity in the film because the antagonist that Poppy played would be hard to keep the make up and hair the same on another day. We recruited another actor from another school in our film so that Josh could film as we are only a group of three. As a group of three we found it quite hard to pick a story with a few characters as possible as there was so few of us. During the filming session we made many amendments to what we originally planned as although in theory ides seemed good when put into practice we thought of better for example, we decided to use the front road rather that the back garden for Poppy to come forwards and towards the house in a supernatural manner.

First Filming Session

Here are some photos from this filming session.




We had our first filming session on the 26Th of January where we was testing lighting, sweeps and pans and any good angles. It was quite successful because we were able to come together as a group and discover the right lighting and time of day we would need in our actual filming session. Also by all being at the set we were able to discuss any amendments to make to the story board in order to meet the needs of the film with the space we have available. We noticed that Josh has a scary looking tree outside his house which we decided we would utilise in our film in order to help set the scene. Also, we were able to get the first 10 seconds (approximate) of our film of establishing shots of the house.
All in all, it was quite successful as we really came together as a group and got a good feel of how it would be on filming the main part of the story. Furthermore we got a good impression of how we wanted to do things and how it was going to fit with the location we chose.

Storyboard

After having all the trouble uploading the story board we finally have the finished product on.

Make-up Inspiration And Costume

Editing Influences

The jumping and fast forwarding used in this music video, gives a sense of surrealism, provoking that she is supernatural or extraordinary.




During this other AS Media Horror project this group used an extensive amount of fast forwarding, this is common in horror films and we are planning on using a similar technique during our film.

Music Choices for Short Film

This is the looping song from the film 'The Strangers' we found it rather creepy and believe it could be used in a scene towards the end of our film when the girl attacks the teenagers. The repetition builds tension and could be used to sync the music with the film.




This is a song from 'The Ring' sung by a little girl who dies in the film. This could be quite good for our film as it is very similar to our story as they both feature supernatural girls. The song is very creepy and could be used with establishing shots to set the scene and build tension.




This is a soundtrack from the video game 'Dead Space'. We are contemplating using this because it is very similar to our story as its a children's rhyme and our film features a supernatural girl killer. It could be used to build tension among the audience and has a rather eerie feeling to it.




We like the beginning of this song and believe the song can be used after they hear the knock on the door as it would build tension, but after they answer the door and realise nobody is there it will give the audience some 'comic relief'




We have found many songs from this game that could be used in our horror film opening sequence. They all build tension and could be used well with our film.




There are a few parts in this soundtrack that could be used to build tension or to be used as a climax. Once the filming is done we can see if there are any parts where this soundtrack would fit in.

Filming And Editing Schedule

Thursday 26th January 2010 - 1.30pm - Test Shots, Sweeps & Pans (Establishing Shots)
Tuesday 2nd February 2010 - 4pm - Start filming (Indoor scenes)
Thursday 4th February 2010 - 4pm - Antagonist Scenes (Outdoor)
Tuesday 9th February 2010 - 4pm - Editing
Thursday 11th February 2010 - 4pm - Reshoot

Final Location Choice

Choices of Locations for Horror

Part 2

Choices of Locations for Horror

Part 1

Prop List

Costumes:
2 sleepover girls - Short pyjamas
Sleepover boy - shorts and a t-shirt
Villain - white dress, dramatic make up, dirt and mud/rips

Final Idea

Our opening scene will begin with an establishing shot of a house, there will be 3 teenagers inside (2 girls, 1 boy) who are all watching a horror film (n/a) and there is an atmosphere of tension. It will then cut to outside the house where there will be a point of view shot from the antagonist watching the 3 teenagers who gets closer and closer to the window at extreme speed and breathes on the window. All is quiet, until there is a loud ring from the doorbell, they answer the door and no ones there. the two girls return to the horror, but the boy goes to the kitchen, as she is facing the window, we see the antagonist behind him. He turns around and the antagonist is gone (at this time she is oblivious to the danger) . She returns to the room pretending to be dragged and scaring everyone until we see her properly dragged away and then the electricity cuts, they all scream. When the lights flicker back on, one of them has disappeared leaving the last girl alone in the center of the room with the girl behind her. She gets closer (incidental music) and closer (incidental music)... cut to title.

Psycho (1960)

Psycho is a 1960 american horror film directed by Alfred Hitchcock, based on the screenplay by Joseph Stefano. Psycho is about the encounter between a secretary, Janet Leigh, who is in hiding at a motel after embezzling from her employer, and the motels owner, Norman Bates, and the aftermath of the encounter.

The film is notorious for its famous 'Shower Scene' where the murder of Janet Leigh's character actually occurs. The Shower scene is one of the most famous scenes in cinema history and could be stated as being the revolutionary scene to change the horror film industry.

The scene begins in a bathroom, the bathroom is spotless and white, possibly showing the innocence and purity of the protagonist. Furthermore due to the film being black and white, in my opinion I feel this further enhances her purity as the colours seem to be more pure. However when we see the antagonists silhouette through the shower curtain we can immediately see the contrast between the protagonists purity and the antagonists impurity.

The protagonist enhances her purity and fundementally her vulnerability when she removes her dressing gown to enter the shower. This portrays to the audience that danger is looming. Whilst the protagonist showers we see a series of different camera angles as she enjoys her shower. But then the camera angle changes and remains there as we see the antagonist vaguely enter the room, meanwhile the audience are looking through a shower curtain so the antagonists identity remains unknown therefore increasing the tension. The antagonist then rips open the shower curtain and begins his attack.

The murder weapon is a knife which conforms to the iconic conventions of horror films as it portrays a more brutal and painful death. Once the protagonist has been attacked we see a close up of her hand run down the tiles on the wall as her life slowly fades away. But she then grabs on to the shower curtain with a last gasp of strength then the shower curtain falls and with the shower curtain the protagonists body falls to the floor.

Throughout the scene lots of jump cuts are used to build up tension. There are also a vast amount of close ups of the protagonist. These are possibly used to show her emotion and emphasise her innocence and purity. The most notorious shot of the whole scene is where the camera is directed at the protagonist but the framing is interesting and she is not placed in the centre, but instead is placed slightly to the right. This allows us to see over her shoulder and see the antogonist enter the room. This builds up a huge amount of tension as the audience can see what is going to happen before the protagonist can.

Iconic FIlms

Alien

Alien was directed by Ridley Scott, with a UK release date of 6th September 1979, it was one of the first sci-fi horror films.

The Shining

The Shining was directed by Stanley Kubrick released in 1980 with the slogan 'The tide of terror that swept America is here' was one of Jack Nicholsons most memorable films.

The Exorcist

The Exorcist was directed by William Fredkin was released in 1978 and was based on the novel by William Peter Blatly, its slogan was 'The movie you've been waiting for, without the wait'

Blair Witch Project

This was a horror documentary about 3 young students who go missing. Directed by Eduardo Sanchez. Iconic 'real footage' shows antagonist as little as possible to create suspense

The Amityville Horror

This was released in 1979, its about a family who move into a house with a history of murder. Its iconic because it features real life paranormal experiences of the family

Texas Chainsaw Massacre

This was released in 1970 and was based upon a story of a guy who wore peoples in faces in Texas (USA). The iconic chainsaw was one of the first of it's kind as it was the first power tool to be in a horror film

Jason-X

This film has features of iconic films with the use of a mask on the antagonist therefore making them more initimidating

Psycho

The main plot is about a man who owns a motel who murders a woman, its iconic for the famous shower scene

Modern Horror FIlms

Irony In Horror Films

Horror has become more self-mockingly ironic and outright paroduc example of this would be 'Scream'

The Return Of The Zombies

There has been a major return to the zombies genre in horror movies made after 2000, a larger trend is a return to the extreme, graphic violence that characterized much of the type of low budget, exploitation horror from the seventies.

Torture Porn

They have been labelled torture porn due to the sadistic yet sexual, This new form of horror has only been recently become popular because of the how we have been descencitized

Horror Hybrids & Sub Genres

What is a sub genre?

Sub Genre is defined as 'category of artistic, musical or literary composition characterised by a particular genre'

Sub Genres Of Horror

• Comedy
• Extra-Terrestrial
• Monster
• Teen
• Slasher
• Supernatural
• Psychological

Comedy Horror Films

Horror films involving some form of comedy an example of a film like this would be 'Shaun Of The Dead'

Slasher Horror

Sub genre of the horror film genre typically involving a psycho killing an example of this would be 'Halloween'

Supernatural Horror

Depict events that appear beyond normal perceptions, for example a film such as 'The Ring'

Psychological Horror

Relies on characters fears, guilt, beliefs, usually involves eerie sound effects, relevant music and emotional instability to build tension and further the plot

What is a horror hybrid?

Something of mixed origin or composition when two films genres are combined together in order to create a combination of both the films for example films like 'Deadlands', 'Alien'

Psycho (1960)