Similar Media Works.

For this, we had to create a powerpoint looking into the different aspects of horror. For this I created slides; 6, 7, 8, 9 and 15 which was; technical codes, analysing the use of techical codes, Mise-En-Scene and example of Mise-En-Scene and also a film brief of "The Omen".

Click here to see our Similar Media Works Powerpoint.

Target Audience Profile.

For this task, we had to research into the types of audience who will watch horrors and who we will aim ours at. For this I looked into film classifications to see where our film would fit in.

As part of our film and planning we need to decide what age rating we will put our horror film. We decided to look at the BBFC website at the different age ratings and which we could relate to our film to help us decide. As most horror films are a 15 rating this is where we are focusing, but as our film doesn't involve much gore we are looking from 12 upwards.
Below are the definations of the age ratings from the BBFC website, from age rating 12 to 18. I looked at the subjects that may be involved in our horror films, such as the horror, violence, language and the theme. Subjects such as nudity and sex will not be involved in our film.

12:
- Horror; "Moderate physical and psychological threat may be
permitted, provided disturbing sequences are not frequent or sustained."
- Violence; "Moderate violence is allowed but should not dwell on detail. There should be no emphasis on injuries or blood, but occasional gory moments may be permitted if justified by the context. Sexual violence may only be implied or briefly and discreetly indicated, and must have a strong contextual justification."
- Language; "Moderate language is allowed. The use of strong language (for example, ‘f**k’) must be infrequent."
- Theme; "Mature themes are acceptable, but their treatment must be suitable for young teenagers."

15;
- Horror; "Strong threat and menace are permitted unless sadistic or sexualised."
- Violence; "Violence may be strong but should not dwell on the infliction of pain or injury. The strongest gory images are unlikely to be acceptable. Strong sadistic or sexualised violence is also unlikely to be acceptable. There may be detailed verbal references to sexual violence but any portrayal of sexual violence must be discreet and have a strong contextual justification."
- Language; "There may be frequent use of strong language (for example,‘f**k’). The strongest terms (for example, ‘c**t’) may be acceptable if justified by the context. Aggressive or repeated use of the strongest language is unlikely to be acceptable."
- Theme; "No theme is prohibited, provided the treatment is appropriate for 15 year olds."

18;
- "In line with the consistent findings of the BBFC’s public consultations and The Human Rights Act 1998, at ‘18’ the BBFC’s guideline concerns will not normally override the principle that adults should be free to choose their own entertainment."

All information taken from http://http//www.bbfc.co.uk/downloads/pub/Guidelines/BBFC%20Classification%20Guidelines%202009.pdf

This work is also on the group blog. This information helped us where to age rate our film.

Storyboard

For this, we equally contributed with ideas but I put together pages 1, 2 and half of 3. I also took photographs to be used.

To see this go to our group blog. Click here to see the storyboards.

We also made an animatic storyboard to help explain the storyboard which me and Hazel completed but which I spoke for half of.

To see this click here.

Actress ideas

Yesterday, I had an idea about using a beach as part of one of our major scenes. We spoke about how we could use Clacton Beach as part of our filming, therefore leading into maybe shots of and on the pier, giving us a wider range of shots and scenes to make our film more believable. We discussed the idea of somehow incorperating the water and the emptiness of the beach into the scene to show quite plainly her unstable mental state.

Remake of 'The Shining'

We were asked to create our own version of either; The Shining, Saw or Scream. Our group decided to do The Shining. As we are a group of three, we would all be able to have an input in the acting and filming. By doing the remake it gave us a greater insight into the horror genre and how we could go about filming and finding the right actors when it came down to our final piece later on. By doing the remake, we had to create a shot list of our film which would be beneficial for when we have to do it for real later.
We learnt vital information and insight into how we should make a horror film and how to create one to the best of our ability and make it interesting and fun to watch, and also for us to do.
Our video is on our group blog.

'Did You Bring It?' Preliminary Task & Evaluation

Preliminary Task Evaluation

I believe that the film we made doesn't demonstrate continuity very well. Several parts of our film show that we didn't really think about it too closely. Some examples of this is that after our establishing shot, which includes Jo Roberts, Lucy Clark, Abi Crafter and myself sitting round a table with Laura in the background, waiting. The next shot is of Jeni coming through the door, and us sitting round the table isn't there anymore and also Laura is standing in the doorway at the side.

Throughout the film, we generally make use of match on action. But we made sure we used the 180-degree rule as to not confuse our audience. Also, shot reverse shot to show who was talking at that moment in time.

I feel our group worked well together. We co-operated with each other and asked opinions. I would've liked the use of the programme to be used by each of in turn, instead of one person having main control of what was being done and added.

If we were to do this filming again, I would improve on the continuity of it. There were several times, of which I've mentioned above, where it was shown to be poor. I would also make the set more believable and good to look at. For parts of our filming also, we needed to have the cameras at the different heights and angles for it to look effective.

I don't think we planned out video very well, and I think we could definately improve if we had to do it again. I would do a test run first and make sure the actors knew their places and lines and put the right effectiveness to what they were saying to make it believable to the audience.

We added music to our piece and also added a title page. We used transitions to fade out and in between scenes to smooth the running from scene to scene instead of it just being changed.

The editing software was very complicated to use and it took us a while to get used to the different style of programme. We've learnt the basics of the programme, such as how to use transitions and cut scenes where we want them. We came across a problem where Laura was standing in the corner of a scene which she wasn't meant to be in, so we had to crop the shot so she wasn't in it anymore. But we found that we were unable to do this, so it made it difficult for us and it added to the poor continuity of our piece.

Mise-En-Scene of The Shining

The Shining was filmed in 1980 and was directed by Stanley Kubrick. The parts of Mis-En-Scene I’ll be analysing will be the; sound, costume, lighting and camera angles.
At the opening of this scene you immediately get a mid-shot of Jack by the bathroom door. He is wearing a red jacket and cheque shirt. The colour red connotes danger and death, red symbolising blood. He is singing the dialogue of the wolf when he is attacking the pig’s houses in turn. The story of this is associated with children’s stories so to contrast the innocence of children and the stories told to them against the horror of Jack about to cut the door down to kill his wife who is inside the door. There is also extra diegetic sound over the shot; it is of a high pitched sound but is coming in slowly so the audience doesn’t notice it until it gets louder over Jack. The use of this sound builds tension within the audience and hints that something bad is going to happen as the tempo of the music is slowly building up, like the mental illness of Jack. The lighting around Jack is coming from a single lamp to the left of him. The lamp is on the bedside table shining up into his face connoting danger.
On the other side of the door, is Jack’s wife in the film. She is wearing a dressing down, showing she has obviously just got out of bed. By her wearing a dressing gown, the audience can immediately tell that is night time and she has clearly got out of bed in a rush. The use of a dressing gown connotes the vulnerability of her, as we associate night time with eeriness, danger and it is when we feel most vulnerable. The camera tracks her to the sink, where she has placed a kitchen knife in the sink beforehand. Throughout this time the tempo of the music has started to get quicker and the pitch of the music is getting higher. The lighting in the bathroom is clinical, white and sharp. It illuminates her facial expression evidently, the main light is coming from above her from a ceiling light so therefore is not natural light.
When the shot goes back to Jack, the camera then is behind him as he raises the axe to crash into the door. You can see the mess the bed has been left in which signifies to the audience there has been a rush. The pitch of the music then gets higher still until Jack plunges the axe into the door, where it pauses and we hear the thud of the axe against the door and then the scream of Wendy. The scream denotes that Wendy is terrified and we don’t even need to see her face to understand that. A scream is associated with fear so it adds again to the heightening fear of Jack. The camera tracks the axe as it goes backwards and forwards into the door. This happens twice and on the third, the camera angle shifts to show the axe coming in the through the door. This makes the audience feel like they’re involved in the scene and are actually a part of the moving axe. The sound of the axe coming in through the door is diegetic but there is still the extra diegetic sound over the top. This has now suddenly turned to a high pitched, fast tempo sound to a low thrumming sound. We carry on watching the axe hack through the door sideways. The camera now progresses around so the audience are watching the axe come through the door face on and can see the hole that has ready been made. We can also see Jack’s facial expression, this adds to the dread we as an audience feel for Wendy as the look on his face is sheer malice. The music then goes back to its high pitch again from the beginning of the clip, it indicates that something bad is going to happen again as when the music was last used Jack started hacking the door.
The camera then moves back to the other side of the door again where there is a wide shot of Jack and the bedroom. Again, we see the bed and the bedside light that is just casting a light up the wall causing the rest of the room to look dim. We then watch him successfully cut the door and walk over to the hole created. The music then gets considerably noticeable and high pitched as the camera angle does a close up of Jack’s face looking into the door. The expression on his face is chilling and is even more manifest as he put his face into the directly bright light of the bathroom. We then close up on Jack reaching in to turn the key in the lock. Then we see Wendy cut Jacks hand in a close-up shot and then again on Jack’s face as he shouts in horror because of his hand. It leaves us wanting to know if Jack successfully got through the door or not, and if Wendy will escape and survive.