Costume Ideas #2

 These are the costume ideas of Alice Jones (protagonist) and Nathan (antagonist)

Prop Planning #2

Storyboard/Shot Planning

Script

EVERLASTING STUDIOS

“Dear Naomi”

OPENING SCENE

1. FADE IN

Panning shot of the room, camera is at coffee tables level. Calm music playing with a ringing noise in the background. Camera changes from a blur to being focus on the phone and then changing to empty bottles of alcohol.

2. FADE

The shot fades to an image of Naomi with her child next to her.

3. FADE OUT

4.  CLOSE UP

A shot of Naomi laying on the sofa as she is opening her eyes as the phone stops ringing.

5. FULL SHOT

A shot of Naomi putting on voice-mail. *The voice-mail is being played telling her about her next case* (the voice-mail continues over the next two shots in the background)

*VOICEMAIL* THIS IS CHIEF, WE BELIEVE THAT WE MIGHT HAVE FOUND MORE EVIDENCE TO YOUR CASE, THERE HAS BEEN A VICTIM THAT WE BELIEVE HAS ESCAPED FROM THE SUSPECT. WE HAVE FOUND WHAT WE BELIEVE IS HIS HIDEOUT. I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO GO AND CHECK IT OUT. I'M GIVING YOU YOUR LAST CHANCE WITH THIS CASE, IF THERE IS NO VISIBLE EFFORT MADE, I WILL DISMISS YOU FROM THE CASE. *pause* IN FACT, I'LL DISMISS YOU FROM YOUR JOB.

6. CUT to Naomi getting ready

7. CUT to her leaving *Voice mail ends*

8.  FADE IN

        *Naomi enters the crime scene*

9. CLOSE UP

Close up of blood dripping down from a table

10. Panning shot

A shot of the whole crime scene which then ZOOMS INTO a wall of pictures as Naomi is coming towards it.

11. CLOSE UP

A close up of the images on the wall

12. EXTREME CLOSE UP

Extreme close up of Naomi’s eyes.

13. A shot of Naomi taking of a picture from the wall.

14. A CLOSE UP ZOOM IN INTO THE PICTURE OF HER SON. 

*dramatic music beat drop*

15. CUT

Equipment List

                               This is the list of the equipment that we are going to be using:


                                                                 Camera

To record the footage                    

                                                                SD Card

To store the recorded footage

Camera Bag

To keep the camera protected as well as charger and other accessories (SD Card)

Tripod

To help during the filming to stabalise the camera

                                                                       Laptop

To review and edit footage

Cast List

Naomi White       Gertruda Dambrauskaite

We chose Gertruda to play Naomi because she was the most fitting actor to play our protagonist and we knew that because she is part of our group that she would be on set at all times and she would always be available to shoot with and that she would not back out of our project.


Thomas White     Kastytis Dambrauskas

We chose Kastytis to play our protagonist's son because he is the right age for the character and he wanted to film with us therefore we know that he will be able to shoot with us. Before we began casting we knew that filming with young children may be difficult because they may get bored easily and loose interest or they would not co-operate, however, the character of Thomas only appears a few times therefore the actor will not get bored and back out of our project.

Mise-en-scene

Prop Planning

Horror Opening Credits

Director: William Friedkin

Screenplay: William Peter Blatty

Production Company: Warner Home Video

Based on: The Exorcist by William Peter Blatty

Staring: Linda Blair

            Ellen Burstyn

           Jason Miller

                  Max von Sydow

            Lee J. Cobb

            Kitty Winn

                      Jack MacGowran

Cinematography: Owen Roizman

Edited by: Jordan Leondpolous 

        Even Lottman

      Norman Gay

Production Company: Hoya Productions 

Distributed by: ITS Entertainment 

Timeline

Practice Filming

Audience Research

Horror film audience

'Slasher' Horror Audience:
Slasher film target audience is usually young couples or young males. The target audience's age is between 15 and 24 because people at this stage are still developing and therefore experiment with different feelings and emotions. Young people often jump into life without guidance looking for a thrill and horror movies gives them that thrill. Young people are also less likely to be put off by the violence in the film or the unnatural images which older audience may view negatively. Also young people are more likely to relate to the characters in the film which makes the audience form stronger emotional connection with the characters which therefore creates a stronger effect of horror.

Initial Costume Ideas

Mood Board

This is the mood board we made of our final task, it is used to show the theme through pictures. This will help us later on since we will be able to look back for inspiration and to also see what camera shots were used and what shots could I use for our project.

Iconography

BBFC

Bbfc from gertruda12

Cast Photographs

Name: Gertruda Dambrauskaite

Age: 16

Character: Naomi White

Character Age: 27

About: protagonist, detective

Name: Kastytis Dambrauskas

Age: 8

Character: Thomas White

Character Age: 7

About: Naomi's dead child

Film Production Companies

Final Production Company Logo

Our final choice for our logo is the 'Everlasting Studios'. The meaning behind our company name is that we create horror films that are memorable and that people want to see over and over again and that lasts forever in people's minds. 

Production Company Planning

3 of our initial production company logos made by Samanta Cichunovaite.

 

Setting Analysis

'Paranormal Activity' is set in a suburban house. It is a scary setting because it is relatable to everyone because home is supposed to be a safe place where people can relax and not worry about anything. The film is also set in a suburban town. This is also unsettling because a suburban town is not very populated and is usually away from help, this creates a sense of isolation. The film is also set around Halloween, a day that all the 'scary' things happen which links to the film where 'scary' things do actually happen and this is effective because people usually have fun during this day and do't think much about this or actually believe in the supernatural and the fact that something is happening during this time might be scary to the audience.       

Initial Ideas

Prop Analysis

                                              'Scream'

The killer in 'Scream' uses a hunting knife to kill his victims. The hunting knife, as the name suggests, is used during hunting and thus making the victims look like animals which then gives a very violent image of the killings. The top of the handle is white which makes it look like bone which represents death, and it may represent death of the victims or the fact that the killer is dressed as death and thus is death. The killer is using a knife which means that the killer will have to get really close to his victims to kill them. This shows that the killer is really vicious and maybe even that he wants to get really close to the victims because he enjoys killing and wants to see his victims suffering up close.

Director Case Study

Wes Craven from gertruda12

Costume Analysis

Slasher Conventions

Slasher films typically involve a psychopathic serial killer, sometimes wearing a mask of some sort, who kill adolescent victims in a random, unprovoked manner, usually many at a time.

 A slasher film also has the 'final girl' character who live to tell the story; Anti-heroic characterisation of the villain by following their efforts rather than the victims' and thus this idolisation of the villain creates an anti-hero.


The Final Girl:
The final girl is usually a virgin and innocent how starts to build confidence throughout the film. She usually wears clothes that would seem unattractive and she is most likely not blond. She is the last character to be alive in the film.


The Monster/Killer:
the identity of the killer is usually hidden either be a mask or creative lighting techniques to keep audience guessing and on edge about who the killer is and to hide the killer's identity which is most likely to be revealed at the end of the film. The weapon of the antagonist is most likely to be a hand held weapon such as a knife or a chainsaw, and most likely jagged. Killer is also most likely to be male. Most commonly, the reason behind the killer's actions is a childhood trauma which explains the killer's choice of victims and the choice of weapon, this is done so that the audience understand and pity the killer. As this sub-genre developed, some stated to argue that the star of the film is the killer and not 'The Final Girl'.


The Location:
The location is usually a suburban town. This generates fear into the audience because it is relatable and that home is supposed to be a safe lace. The location is usually low in population because it creates a sense of isolation. The killer also sometimes destroys victims' means of escape for example, a car, so that he can kill his victims easier.  

The Lighting:
Lighting is usually dark and is used to create shadows to establish the feeling of mystery and fear. This is one of the most important conventions of this genre.

There is the first girl who die and is there to set the film and establish the killer.

There is also a benefactor who gives hope for the final girl and the audience and who giver information about the monster/killer or how to kill it and may even give a weapon to kill it with.


      

Synopsis

A detective Naomi White used to share a normal life with her husband and her son Thomas until the day he disappeared. Since then things were never the same for her, her husband divorced her as he couldn't stop blaming her for what happened.

Three years later she's an alcoholic who is about to get fired from her job because she can't get herself together. For her last case she has to investigate a missing serial killer and discover his victims.

As she starts investigating the crime scene she sees a lot of pictures of people hung on the wall as she assumes that they are possibly the victims but something seems out of order. With the corner of her eye she notices a pictures that seems a little to familiar as she realises its a picture of her missing son.

With anger flowing through her veins she decided she'll do anything in her power to find the killer, and so the hunt begins. 

A new detective Adrian Gray is assigned to the case alongside her and as much she wants to find the murder by herself she knows that it won't be so easy and that she'll need help so she agrees to working with him. 

He soon gains her trust as he safes her life by protecting her from a prisoner that escapes and gets and access to a gun. With the detective helping her she feels like she's getting closer and closer to finding the killer. During the investigation there seems to be more new victims appearing which shows that the killer is still in the town hiding.

During a dinner with him she's trying to find out more about him but he seems to be hesitant to answer any of her questions which then makes Naomi question him. He then asks her about her child and how long he has been missing and she realises that she has never once mentioned her child to him. 

Few days pass and she finds someone who allegedly has seen the killer, however to question the witness she goes alone. She asks the victim to describe the killer as she starts to sketch him. The result she sees leaves her feeling uncomfortable as it resembles someone she thinks she knows.

She returns to her house to only find Adrian waiting for her there, and then it hits her. He is the man in the sketch. She tries to act as normal as she can until they enter her house and start talking. She starts hinting the fact that she knows who he is as she's slowly getting her gun out of her pocket.

He realises that she knows and then decides to leave because he has somewhere to be.

The evening comes and she finds herself falling asleep until she hears something strange downstairs. She walks down stairs and sees Adrian standing at her front door. He admits to killing her child which then makes her go mental running down the stairs and uncontrollably firing her gun at him but missing each time. She is screaming begging for explanation and as she gets closer to him he stabs her side. She backs away from him and starts running towards her kitchen to grab something to protect herself with but he grabs her by her hair and throws her on the floor. He shows her no mercy as he starts stabbing her violently until he is covered in blood and she is dead.

Feedback

Mise-on-scene feedback:

I will explore more how certain thing in the scene tell about the character and how they apply to the context of said scene.

History of horror feedback:

Preliminary task feedback:

 

Camera shot/angle/movement Analysis

                               'The Blair Witch Project'

After production logos the first shot is a shot telling of what the movie is about and where the footage is from. Then 'the camera-man' zooms out from her face to a mid shot of the girl so that the audience can see what the main character looks like. Then there is a close up of a book 'How to Stay Alive in the Woods' which is a foreshadow to what is going to happen as well was an old-looking book which looks suspicious and the girl says that it is ''very important'' which means that that specific book will come into play later as well as it may be the reason why horrible things happen to them.  

Mise-en-scene Analysis

                                            'The Ring' 

The girl in the opening is wearing a school uniform looking outfit suggestion the she is a young teenager. Her blouse is white which makes her look innocent and therefore vulnerable. She is also showing a lot of skin on her legs and she is bare foot which also makes her look vulnerable.
The TV turning on and off creates tension and suspense because no one is in the room with her to turn the TV on also the opening of the fridge also creates a similar effect. As she walks up the stairs there is water on the floor which makes the audience confused thus having an element of mystery. 

Font Analysis

                                      'Sixth Sense'

Sixth Sense title font looks like it was written by a child because it is lightly messy and child-like. This type of font is effective because it fits with the story and the fact that the main character and protagonist is a young boy. The title is also written in white which is fitting because the person who wrote it was a child who is clearly innocent and pure, which white usually represents, because he is so young it also makes him seem vulnerable.

Editing Analysis

          'A Nightmare on Elm Street' Opening Scene 

In my opinion the opening scene of A Nightmare on Elm Street is filmed in a montage type of style because the opening of the film establishes how the villain, Freddy, is devised in a series of short shots, of him making his glove, put together in a montage type of way. This is effective because it paints a clear picture of this intentions as well as the origin of his evil and establishes how he does so and because the montage is short it gives some time so show why he made his glove and see him 'in action'.  In the opening cutaway is also use from the girl being attacked to her waking up effective because it shows the audience how the concept of how the whole thing works and how people get into these situations, which in this case is by dreaming. 

Sound Analysis

                              'The Shining' Opening Scene 

The first sound that you hear an the beginning is the low sound of a trombone which is very mysterious and almost as is someone is prowling on its pray. However, this strongly contrasts with the scenery that is show, of a car calmly driving through a mountainous read. This is effective because it makes the audience feel like something is not right. In addition, there are eerie, almost scream-like which might suggest that something dreadful is happening and maybe even causing pain to them or someone they know therefore they are screaming. But again, because it is such a big contrast between the sound and the scenery this makes the audience feel confused.

Also, it is a non-diegetic sound because there is no source of music on screen and therefore is a background music.

Mise-en-scene

 

                                       

 

The fact that the girl is lying shows that that she is vulnerable. Also her red duvet  that she is lying on might be a foreshadowing that she is lying in her own blood and that she may die. The boy in the background is all shadows and no decipherable features and blurred out shows that he is mysterious and evil and not human because he does not have clear features. Dark lighting shows danger and that something bad is there. This scene is effective because it is set in a bedroom which is supposed to be a safe place and also it is relatable to everyone which makes it even more scary.     

History of Horror

                   

                        

video from: http://filmmakeriq.com/lessons/a-brief-history-of-horror/

From this video I have learned that horror genre is unique because of its recognisable pattern. All of the horror films made go through Horror Cycles such as remakes, reboots, sequels, etc. The first horror ideas came from monsters, demons, beasts and murderers and the genre was an extension of literature and was named Gothic Horror because of its medieval settings of old creepy castles and dark forests. 

The first horror film ever made is considered to the 1896 'The Manor of the Devil' 
In the 1900's and 1920's they were still exploring the Gothic horror genre with Thomas Edison's 'Frankenstein' in 1910. After World War 1 Germany started exploring expressionism over real world. one example of this is 'The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari and was thought to be the grandfather of all films.                                                      
In late 1920's the film industry made a great leap when sound was developed.


Post World War 2 to 1950's was the most difficult time for the film industry due to the end of Classic Studio System and Battle with Television. During this time there was a great boom of pulp science fiction such as 'The Thing from Another World' in 1951 and the famous 'Godzilla' in 1954. 

In the 1960's and on the was a great freedom in making movies due to the elimination of the restrictive Production Code in 1964 and so nudity, gore and psychology was introduced. One result of this explosion of freedom was the iconic 'Psycho' made in 1960 directed by Alfred Hitchcock who was the master of this cycle. Hammer Gothic Horror cycle was being rebooted in the UK in colour. 'The Curse of Frankenstein' made in 1957 showed nudity and blood on screen in its true colour. 1959-64 was the Edgar Allen Poe cycle with films like 'House of Usher' 1960 and 'Tales of Terror' 1962.

After this came the occult cycle with films such as 'Rosemary's Baby' 1968 and one of the most well known 'The Exorcist' made in 1973 and 'The Omen' made in 1976. 1980's 'The Shining has defied any category or imitation with its uniqueness. 'The Evil Dead' made in 1981 a blood soaked horror never intended for cinema.

Throughout the 1990's and 2000's psychological and thriller were very popular alongside torturous violence such as the film 'Saw' 2004. Furthermore, 'The Blair Witch Project; made in 1999 was the first in its sub genre of 'found footage' 



In the modern day zombies have become a popular sub genre and films were made such as '28 Days Later' 2002 and 'World War Z' 2013. However, this genre is starting to fade out as comedic versions of this genre are being made such as 'Zombieland' 2010. 

  

Preliminary Task

                                          Evaluation

During this exercise I have learnt how important lighting is when you are filming outside. Also I have learnt the importance of communication between people that work on set. During filming i have also learned how to use different angles to create certain emotions such as: close ups helped us to create more tension and to show how characters felt through facial expressions. However, we edited our shot reverse shot incorrectly so we did not have a coherent and continuous sequence.

One skill that i have developed is how important it is to project my voice to be heard in the audio and how important it is that both actors project in a similar volume because if they sound very different then it sound awkward in the final piece. Also I have learned how important it is to take time planning and drawing a storyboard and not to rush it so that when we actually film we are not confused and have to change multiple scenes. Also I have improved my communication skills because when we did have to change some scenes we were able to do it clearly because of good communication. It was fairly difficult to do at the beginning because we all had different ideas of how our final piece should look, but as the filming progressed and the final outcome became clearer we were and to communicate better and come to a conclusion of how our work should look calmly.

We have received some positive feedback from others:

 




I could improve my preliminary task by re-editing some of our scenes (which we did) and make sure that the rules that we used such as shot reverse shot are clear and understandable. Also we could improve by taking time making our plan for shooting and storyboard, so that it makes sense. And write down scenes in an order that is more convenient to shoot rather than to just write the scenes in order of the story. 

Preliminary Task

                                

                                                          Location

Most of our filming is going to be done outside. 

Script

Storyboard

Filming Schedule