Dear Moderator
Thank you for viewing our blog, we hope you've enjoyed assessing our research and planning for our 2 minute horror film opening.
Najma & Nujin
Monday, 25 March 2013
Sunday, 24 March 2013
EV.5- HOW DID YOU ATTRACT/ADDRESS YOUT AUDIENCE?
Why do audiences watch films?
Audiences tend to watch films for many reasons such as:
The decisions we made in order to appeal to 15-25 year olds were:
Firstly, the actor we chose to star in our opening film was an 18year old girl. This made it more appealing to teenage/ young male adults as they would be more attracted to a young female actor.
For example, Angelina Jolie starring in the film 'Salt' as the main character had attracted a more wider range of male audiences than females. This also counts for a male character being the main character attracting more females, such as 'G.I Joe: Rise of the Cobra' starring Channing Tatum as one of the main characters, which attracted many female audiences.
Another decision we made in appealing to this audience was the mise-en scene of our film opening. This was done through posters in the bedroom of many famous men such as Ryan Reynalds. Also magazines on the bedside table and a family photo, she was also dressed in a pink and rainbow pyjamas. All these factors effect the audience appeal as it shows a typical teenage girl and her environment.
What feedback did you generate from your target audience?
The feedback we generated was a mixture of reviews from different audiences.
"I loved the sound as the phone ringing gave a slight touch of horror and made me jump.. so i was a great opening."- Cason Sanderson
"The texture and graniness was an issue which may have been a little distracting but overall it was good."- Krishma Patel
"It had a great story line and plot to it."- Suhaama Elmi
Did this confirm expectations or generate surprise?
These reviews gave us very close results of what we had expected.As some mentioned the graininess of the video which was expected and some liked the story line of our opening horror film.
Audiences tend to watch films for many reasons such as:
- Entertainment
- Word of mouth
- Socialise with friends
- Andrenaline rush
- To see how fear is created
- To challenge themselves
- Test their ability to control fear
- More appealing
- Personal identity
- Mirror many peoples true life
- Famous actors
- Gaining knowledge/education
The decisions we made in order to appeal to 15-25 year olds were:
Firstly, the actor we chose to star in our opening film was an 18year old girl. This made it more appealing to teenage/ young male adults as they would be more attracted to a young female actor.
For example, Angelina Jolie starring in the film 'Salt' as the main character had attracted a more wider range of male audiences than females. This also counts for a male character being the main character attracting more females, such as 'G.I Joe: Rise of the Cobra' starring Channing Tatum as one of the main characters, which attracted many female audiences.
Another decision we made in appealing to this audience was the mise-en scene of our film opening. This was done through posters in the bedroom of many famous men such as Ryan Reynalds. Also magazines on the bedside table and a family photo, she was also dressed in a pink and rainbow pyjamas. All these factors effect the audience appeal as it shows a typical teenage girl and her environment.
What feedback did you generate from your target audience?
The feedback we generated was a mixture of reviews from different audiences.
"I loved the sound as the phone ringing gave a slight touch of horror and made me jump.. so i was a great opening."- Cason Sanderson
"The texture and graniness was an issue which may have been a little distracting but overall it was good."- Krishma Patel
"It had a great story line and plot to it."- Suhaama Elmi
Did this confirm expectations or generate surprise?
These reviews gave us very close results of what we had expected.As some mentioned the graininess of the video which was expected and some liked the story line of our opening horror film.
Saturday, 23 March 2013
Friday, 22 March 2013
Film- first shoot
Film- sound and editing
SOUND
The sound which we chose to use is called 'The House Of Leaves' we chose this soundtrack as it went very well with our film opening as it gave a sense of gradual panic which increased within time. It also has a smooth 'scary' effect as it makes the audience build their sense of panic aswell with the music.
The sound clip is licenced under:
The House of Leaves Kevin MacLeod
Licensed under Creative
Commons: By Attribution
3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
However according to the Licensed documents, we are allowed to use this clip in our own work as long it has been mentioned who the owner is (as stated above).
EDITING
Most of our editing was done in Adobe Premiere Pro CS6. This was because this software is simple and straight forward which incuded most the aspects needed to edit our film.
When it came to the editing fase I found a few difficulties such as taking about the background camera noise. I attempted to get over this issue by downloading another software which can be used in Premiere Pro, called Neat video. However, this was not successful in taking away noise levels. I then realised it would be done through the noise levels itself in premiere pro effects. Although there still may be a little background noise in the film which I could not overcome.
In the begining of the film clip, the dream sequence has been edited in a fast pace to represent the fright and mirror the pace of the music. This builds up tension in the audience and can tell the characters view aswell. Once the character has woken up the pace of editing slows down as she takes her time to go downstairs and read her birthday messages. When she reaches the living room and sees the t.v is on, the pace of editing starts to increase again to get the audience to build a bond with the characters feelings and her fright.
The sound level for the phone ringing was purposely increased to make the audience aswell as the character jump in shock of the call.
I created the title of PLATINUM PRODCTIONS in the begining of the clip with a ray of 'sheen' lighting.
One problem which I found was the graininess of the film. This was due to the camera which we had to use given to us from school. Due to the camera given we encountered a high level of graininess. I tried to download another software called Neat video, to take it away, however even with many tries it would not work, so therefore left the footage as it is and hopefully next time will be able to overcome this issue.
Thursday, 21 March 2013
Film - mise-en-scene
We decided to do our film at Nujin's house as the setting and location was easy to film on and use.
For the mise-en-scene of the main protagonists bedroom we decided to put magazine cut-outs against the wall above her bed.
For her bedside table we put gossip magazines and a family photo to make it suitable to her age.
For the window sill above the stairs we left china dolls to make the setting look a little scary.
For the scene where she reads the note left on the mirror we made the table/ shoe rack beside her look used by leaving folders on there.
The setting of the hall way she walks though we made it look like she's not the only one who lives in the house by having shoes on the floor and coats on the coat rack.
We decided to make our actor look girly by having her wear pink checkered pyjama bottoms and a rainbow printed t-shirt.
For the mise-en-scene of the main protagonists bedroom we decided to put magazine cut-outs against the wall above her bed.
For her bedside table we put gossip magazines and a family photo to make it suitable to her age.
For the window sill above the stairs we left china dolls to make the setting look a little scary.
For the scene where she reads the note left on the mirror we made the table/ shoe rack beside her look used by leaving folders on there.
The setting of the hall way she walks though we made it look like she's not the only one who lives in the house by having shoes on the floor and coats on the coat rack.
Final idea Animatic
Once we had decided what our final idea would be, I made a quick animatic of what our final product may look like once it is finished. Although there may be a few changes according to the setting and timing, this animatic shows an outline of what our final film should look like.
Our target audience
The target audience we have chosen for our film is aimed at young adults aged between 15-24. We've chosen this age group to be targeted for our film as the film would be more age appropriate for their viewing.
It's also aimed at the 15-24 age group as they are the age group that mostly go out to view films. From research we have learned that horror films attract this age group for the thrill, adrenaline rush and the fear.
Monday, 18 March 2013
Initial Ideas/ Group Planning
From the start of planning for our 2 minute horror opening we had many ideas in mind. Some were very different to our final idea and some were very similar. Our ideas had changed many times during this phase. Here are some ideas which we had planned:
Friday, 15 March 2013
Preliminary- Najma & Hassan
This is my preliminary work which is the first time I have started filiming and editing.
Monday, 11 March 2013
Titles and Logos
Titles
Titles are used to tell the audience who is starring within the film, who directed it, which companies helped create the film etc.
Logos
Logos tend to be used before the film starts to tell the audience which companies have created or distributed the film such as Warner Bros., Vertigo Films, Legendary Pictures, Universal Pictures and Canal+
Titles are used to tell the audience who is starring within the film, who directed it, which companies helped create the film etc.
Logos
Logos tend to be used before the film starts to tell the audience which companies have created or distributed the film such as Warner Bros., Vertigo Films, Legendary Pictures, Universal Pictures and Canal+
Friday, 8 March 2013
target audience and bbfc ratings
Target audiences for horror films are usually people aged between 15-25 as horror films are given the age rating of 15 or 18.
From researching I have found out that the primary audience are males aged between 15-25 are most likely to watch horror films. The secondary audience is dating couples.
But also it is targeted at teenagers and young adults who want an adrenaline rush from being scared or who just like watching horror films.
Horror films target audience differ from the amount of gore or explicit scenes/ language that are used within the films. However this may change from the classification the BBFC may give the films.
Directors aim to get a classification of 15 to have a wider range of audience however some films are classified to be an 18.
"Many horror films are rated 15. At 15 there can be strong threat and menace (as long as it is not sadistic or sexualised), although the strongest gory images are unlikely to be acceptable."-BBFC
From researching I have found out that the primary audience are males aged between 15-25 are most likely to watch horror films. The secondary audience is dating couples.But also it is targeted at teenagers and young adults who want an adrenaline rush from being scared or who just like watching horror films.
Horror films target audience differ from the amount of gore or explicit scenes/ language that are used within the films. However this may change from the classification the BBFC may give the films.
Directors aim to get a classification of 15 to have a wider range of audience however some films are classified to be an 18.
"Many horror films are rated 15. At 15 there can be strong threat and menace (as long as it is not sadistic or sexualised), although the strongest gory images are unlikely to be acceptable."-BBFC
Monday, 4 March 2013
Sunday, 24 February 2013
Stars and type casting
Chloe Moretz
Chloe Morets is known to be a typical young girl horror film actor. This is mainly because of her style of acting which is used in many Horror films such as Amityville Horror and Let Me In.
Chloe Morets is known to be a typical young girl horror film actor. This is mainly because of her style of acting which is used in many Horror films such as Amityville Horror and Let Me In.
Chloe Moretz in Amityville Horror
directors style/ significant director of the genre
M. Night Shyamalan is a director who has created many different horror films. The horror films that he is most known for are; The Sixth Sense, Signs, Unbreakable, The Villager
Wes Craven is another well known director who creates Horror films. The films he is know for are; Scream(1,2,3,4), The Last House on the Left, The Hills Have Eyes, A Nightmare on Elm Street etc.
Wes Craven is another well known director who creates Horror films. The films he is know for are; Scream(1,2,3,4), The Last House on the Left, The Hills Have Eyes, A Nightmare on Elm Street etc.
Monday, 11 February 2013
Film Production and distribution companies
List of Film Production and Distribution Companies
Univeral Studios
Warner Bros.
Paramount Studios
20th Century Fox
New Line Cinema
Hammer Films
Working Title Films
CBS Films
Summit Entertainment
These companies can either distribute or produce the films. By producing the film they would have to provide a location, create the film, fund it, raise money for the production of it etc.
By distributing the film they would have to promote the media product through advertisment, select locations on where the films would be shown, where the films premiere/s would take place etc.
gender representation
In horror films the females tends to become the person who lasts out throughout the movie (till the end). They are usually one of the main protagonists.
Males tend to survive throughout the film however they tend to be killed off by the monster/ killer within the film.
In horrors there are usually three groups for males and females in films; the useless character, the hero and the monster.
However males are portrayed as being the killer within horror films and females are shown to be the damsel in distress (being chased by the killer).
Resident Evil- After life - Alice contrasting her female role by being the main protagonist.
Males tend to survive throughout the film however they tend to be killed off by the monster/ killer within the film.
In horrors there are usually three groups for males and females in films; the useless character, the hero and the monster.
However males are portrayed as being the killer within horror films and females are shown to be the damsel in distress (being chased by the killer).
Thursday, 7 February 2013
Character Types
There are typical characters who are usually in horror films. Based on teen horrors the stereotypical characters are:
All horrors have different character casts however the typical ones are either a group who end up being the ones who get attacked or followed and killed off one by one or a family who move into a home and unusual events occur e.g. The Amityville Horror
A jock
A geek
A non-believer
A loner
A pretty girl
A stupid/ ditsy girl
An old man/ woman (who tends to have a scary story to tell)
A redneck
The killer
All horrors have different character casts however the typical ones are either a group who end up being the ones who get attacked or followed and killed off one by one or a family who move into a home and unusual events occur e.g. The Amityville Horror
Editing and Narrative
Editing
Editing is a very crucial part of the film making process, as it emphasis the genre more. this links with sound aswell. Editing is known to be the art of film making as it is the aspect which produces the final piece and puts everything together. It gives more effect to the scene and what is happening in that particular moment, such as; fast straight cuts within a moment of panic.
NARRATIVE
Narrative plays a big part within films from either Rom-Coms to Horror. In Rom-Coms it would usually (as a typical Rom-Com film) contain a female voice over talking about their/ a love life or reading a diary etc. Within Horror Films it tends to be talking about either a tragedy that had occured or news-reports.
Editing is a very crucial part of the film making process, as it emphasis the genre more. this links with sound aswell. Editing is known to be the art of film making as it is the aspect which produces the final piece and puts everything together. It gives more effect to the scene and what is happening in that particular moment, such as; fast straight cuts within a moment of panic.
Shaun of the Dead- fast cuts and sounds.
NARRATIVE
Narrative plays a big part within films from either Rom-Coms to Horror. In Rom-Coms it would usually (as a typical Rom-Com film) contain a female voice over talking about their/ a love life or reading a diary etc. Within Horror Films it tends to be talking about either a tragedy that had occured or news-reports.
Mise-en-scene and sound
Mise-en-scene
Mise-en-scene is important in all films including horror films. Mise-en-scene is important in horror films as it can tell the audience the time period the film is set in, who are the victims through the way they act, who is the attacker/ villain, who the main protagonist/s are etc.Low key lighting tends to be used in horror films to create a suspence e.g. lighting behind the attacker (his/ her face is hidden), deep, distinct shadows, sillouettes are formed. Horror films tend to have low light to make it look dark.
In certain horror films a prop is used e.g. the murder weapon being an axe or knife. This helps to build up a tension as the main protagonist/s will be aware of the prop and would/ will try to stay clear or out of arms reach from the attacker with the weapon. A film that uses a knife as the murder weapon is Scream.
The setting/ location of a horror film is usually set/ located somewhere where it is deserted, looks scary or has a story/ history to the area. (See link for information about famous horror movie settings/ location: http://thefw.com/real-life-horror-movie-locations/)
Sound
Sound is very important/ powerful in horror films as they make certain scenes more scarier due to the non-diagetic sound that is being played. Without sound most scenes won't look scary or be able to scare the audience as they watch.By doing research I've realised that orchestral music are used for sound in majority of horror films as by playing/ using certain instruments such as the violin, it can make a specific scene seem scary.
Psyco- Shower killing scene (sound/ music)
"There is an audio sequence in horror films that most people recognize. A long eerie musical build-up of strings or horns as the victim approaches a closed door (for example), followed by a violent orchestral hit as the victim opens the door to encounter whatever is hidden behind it. This is a type of musical cue that is quite common in horror films. Whenever the audience hears this build-up, it knows that something is going to happen." (Quoted from:http://www.eng.umu.se/monster/john/sound_music.htm)
Camera Shots of Horror films
In some horror films where it has an attacker and a victim the typical camera shots that are used for this specific area would be a high angle camera shot showing the victim being attacked. This would represent the victim being the vulnerable person in the situation. The camera shot/ angle that would be used on the attacker would be a low angle shot telling the audience that he/ she is in more power/ has all the power in the situation.
Some horror/ thriller films tend to use point of view (POV) shots, found footage or hand held shots to make the audience connect with the characters more. Certain films that use this are Paranormal Activity and Cloverfield (shown below and on the right).
Extreme close-ups are used within horror films to emphasis something, to either show someones face, a specific prop, a dead body etc. Close ups are used to usually show the emotion/s that is on the subjects face i.e. someone crying
Tracking shots are mainly used during a chase scene in horror films where the main protagonist/s is/are chased by the attacker.
Some horror/ thriller films tend to use point of view (POV) shots, found footage or hand held shots to make the audience connect with the characters more. Certain films that use this are Paranormal Activity and Cloverfield (shown below and on the right).
Extreme close-ups are used within horror films to emphasis something, to either show someones face, a specific prop, a dead body etc. Close ups are used to usually show the emotion/s that is on the subjects face i.e. someone crying
Tracking shots are mainly used during a chase scene in horror films where the main protagonist/s is/are chased by the attacker.
Codes and conventions of the Horror genre
Most horror films follow a set of conventions consistent through out the genre, however many chose to by pass these.
Sources:
- Dark/shadowy lighting
- Isolated location
- Female victim
- Disruption of normality
- Sub plot of male/female relationship
- Defeat of monster
- Split into sub genres, often hybridised
- Primary target audience – male, 16-24, Mainstreamers
- 15 or 18 Certification – debates on passive consumption
- Uses and Gratifications (active audiences) theory can apply
- Extensive use of Narrative enigmas
- Exploration of Narrative Themes
- Slow pace of Editing, builds tension. Long takes
- Three act narrative structure
- Predictable narrative content
- Clear binary oppositions e.g. good v evil
- Use of low key lighting
- Use of CGI, FX
- High production values but many low budget horror films
- Dominant, hegemonic representation of gender: The Female Victim
- Extensive use of close up
- Incidental non-diegetic sound
- Distorted diegetic sound
- Extensive use of narrative off-screen space
- Young/teenage characters
- Use of hand-held camera: audience identification/realism
- Point of view shots
- Low angle shots
Sources:
Wednesday, 6 February 2013
Sub-genres
There are a certain amount of sub-genres within horror films. These are the different types of sub-genres:
- Action Horror
- Body Horror
- Comedy Horror
- Gothic Horror
- Psychological Horror
- Horror- Thriller
- Teen Horror
- Slasher Film
- Sci-Fi/ Fantasy Horror
- Zombie Horror
- Satanic/ Religious/ Cult
- Ghost/ Supernatural Horror
- B-Movie Horror
- Cannibalism or Cannibal Films
- Classic Horror
- Costume Horror
- Creature Features
- Demonic Possession
Sources:
Monday, 4 February 2013
Saturday, 2 February 2013
Thursday, 31 January 2013
Analysis of Rom-Com and Thriller openings
The two genres which I have chosen are Thriller and Rom-Coms. The films which I have chosen are 'Friends with Benefits' for a Rom-Com film and 'Resident Evil' for a Thriller film. I chose these certain films for these genres as they show a typical Rom-Com and Thriller opening within the first 2 minutes. This contrasts with our chosen genre being Horror.
ROMANTIC-COMEDY
Friends With Benefits-
The first 2 minute opening of Friends with Benefits snapshots.
THRILLER
Resident Evil: Retribution -
First 2 minute opening of Resident Evil: Retribution snapshots.
Wednesday, 30 January 2013
Welcome
Welcome to Platinum Productions.
This blog that we have created will show you the step-by-step process we have gone through to create our two minute film opening for our chosen genre:- horror.
Najma & Nujin
This blog that we have created will show you the step-by-step process we have gone through to create our two minute film opening for our chosen genre:- horror.
Najma & Nujin
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