Outtakes

Since we are well under way with our filming, we decided to create a video of our outtakes for viewers to see.
We've included some of the funny times that we've had so far filming, and hopefully there will be loads more to come!

Equalibruim Storyboard

I decided to create a storyboard for the equalibrium section of my trailer. I have posted a video version and a paper version:

(length of shots aren't exact)

Horror Film Posters

As part of our project I will also need to create a poster, advertising our film.

Therefore, I decided to look at posters that have already been created to see what conventions make a successful poster.

I noticed that:

• Red is a typical convention for text as it has connotations of blood.
• The posters are generally quite basic, so that they have a lasting impact.
• A tagline from the film is often featured on the poster.
• The main character is featured on the poster.
• Credits are noted along the bottom.
• The background is typically black, with white writing.
• The release date for the film is always included, as well as the minimum age.
  

The next plan

• is to focus on the disequalibrium section of our trailer.
• we've set a couple of days to go out and film
• and plan to edit as we go to make sure everything fits together properly.
• we've also prepared some of the costumes that we'll need to use, and have practised with face paint to make it look realistic.

Our trailer so far...

• We've managed to film quite a lot already, focussing mainly on the equalibrium at the beginning of the trailer.
• We've filmed a range of shots just incase something doesn't work as well as we think.
• Made sure theres continuity when necessary.
• We've also edited the beginning of our trailer, to make sure we have enough shots and angles.
• But the weather's been a problem, as because of the snow we havn't been able to go out as much as we wanted to.

Audience Profile

I decided that it would be benefical to find out the likes and interests of a member of my target audience before I started to film our trailer.



NAME:Chloe Gray
AGE:19
OCCUPATION: Student, living away from home in Student accommodation.
Works part time in a clothes store.
EARNINGS: £350 per month.
LIKES: Going out with friends, going to clubs, visiting the cinema, listening to music.
WHAT MAKES YOU WANT TO SEE A FILM? The backing track has a big impact on me, if I like the band I'm more likely to see a film. A trailer has to attract me as well.
WHAT DO YOU LOOK FOR IN A TRAILER? I don't like too much to be given away, so when I go to see a film I like to be left on the edge of my seat. I like to see well known actors as well.
WHAT GENRE OF FILM DO YOU LIKE? I love chick flick films, but I like horrors as long as there not too gorey!

Lighting Techinques

Another of my roles was to focus on lighting in our scenes. I think this will be a particularly difficult task as horror films are stereotypically set in the dark, which will make it difficult for the camera to focus on the action. Therefore, as a group we decided to film mostly at dusk, and then use editing tools to make scenes darker as this would make the quality of images higher.

• http://www.lavideofilmmaker.com/filmmaking/film-lighting-tips.html offered useful advice as they recommended lighting your film shot by shot. This means that when you relocate the camera to shoot a different angle, the lights must be moved as well to ensure the subject is always lit correctly. This is partly why films take so long to shoot.
  
• This website also advised that when filming a shot and reverse shot, instead of moving the camera and lights for the reverse shot, simply switch the actors around and move the camera to the other side of the eye-line, in order to maintain the correct eye-line relationship. This allows you to use the same lighting set-up for two or more pairs of shots.
  

• I particularly liked the lighting techniques used in this video, and hope to achieve similar shots to the highest quality achievable. I feel that the angles and skills used in this video really suit the genre of our trailer and will therefore try to use them in our film. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUGPa_t8700 )

Filming

As filming is my main responsibility, I wanted to ensure that I understood what it involved, before beginning our project.

• Cinematographic techniques are things such as the choice of shot, and camera movement, all of which greatly influence the structure and meaning of a film. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinematic_techniques

• I already know that a range of camera shots is vital for creating an exciting, tense trailer, but thought that this chart would help me as I could use it as a refernce which would ensure I swapped between shot types.

• I found this video particularly useful as it showed me a range of camera shots, angles and movement techinques vital for film production. It also helped me to pinpoint which angles would be effective for our project, such as high angles to show vulnerability and tracking, as if your following someones movements.

• http://www.filmeducation.org/staffroom/film_in_the_classroom/film_trailers/trailer_techniques.php was a useful website, as it provides tips and advice for creating the trailer itself, such as including an establishing shots and using sound effects alongside transitions to help add suspence.

Trailer Soundtrack:

Before creating our project, or focusing on our separate roles, as a group we decided to chose the music which would be the soundtrack of our trailer.

We felt this was an important decision to make as a group as the music creates the tension in the scene, and helps to speed up the pace of the whole trailer.

After conducting research into other trailers we found that the music is always of a complimentary genre to the type of film, for example a sad song for a sad film. Therefore we decided that we wanted something dark and heavy so opted for rock or heavy metal music. This would allow us to create a dark, eerie atmosphere.

As a group we all agreed on 'Hysteria' by Muse.




We felt this was very suitable as it starts with a slower tone before building up to the cresendo, where the action would take place in our trailer.

We also wanted to check that the public agreed with our song choice:

Amy Buck, 15, said 'I think it sounds like it would belong in a horror trailer, it's not my kind of music but it would definitly be something that could scare me in a movie!'

Ryan Moffit, 18 also agreed stating that 'It definitly makes me think of a chase scene or a killing spree, something creepy like that. I love any song by Muse so I think this would also attract me to see the film.'

Trailer Plot:

Jade and Chloe have been best friends since they were little girls, and used to do everything together. However, everything changes after Jade commits suicide as a result of non stop bullying. Chloe can't help but feel guilty for the death of her best friend, and reveals there was more to their friendship than it may seem, as begins to seek revenge turning the lives of the school bullies upside down. As the bullies begin to 'disappear' a creepy atmosphere erupts in the school Jade once attended, but what or who is causing this? Is it just paranoia or is there more to the story than it may seem?

Results

Once the questionnaires were completed I decided that the best way to organise my data was using pie charts:

By doing this, we are now able to see what the public would like in a horror film. For example, our results show that the majority of people asked would consider 'infliction' to be a suitable name for our film, and therefore we have decided to use this in our production.

Questionnaire

In order to find out public responses to horror films, we decided to create a questionnaire and gave it to 50 people to fill in.

Roles

To ensure that all of the jobs were shared fairly, we decided to split the roles between the four of us.

• I decided to focus on filming and editing.
• Jennifer's roles are directing and focussing on maintaining continuity in our trailer.
• Laura is going to act in the trailer and is also taking charge of costume, make up and our storyboard.
• Thomas is also acting, and is in charge of props and location.
  

However, we decided to work together on editing, as it such a vital part of our project, and it would be unreasonable to expect one person to do all of the work.

Horror Trailer Analysis

Before creating our horror trailer, I decided to analyse a film of the same genre, that is already on the market. However, before I analyed a trailer I wanted to ensure that I understand exactly what a horror trailer is:

A horror film is a genre, which is intended to, or has the capacity to scare its viewers, inducing feelings of horror and terror. Horror can be either supernatural or non-supernatural.

Trailers are film advertisements for feature films that will be exhibited in the future at a cinema, on whose screen they are shown. The term "trailer" comes from their having originally been shown at the end of a feature film screening.

In order to discover the common conventions of a horror trailer, I have decided to analyse one that is already on the market. This will help to give me inspiration for our film trailer, as well as advising me on the conventions that we should include.

First Film Trailer
The first trailer I decided to analyse is Orphan, a horror trailer from 2009.



Mise-en-scene
Mise-en-scene plays a critical role in any trailer, and I believe it is the most important techincal code. In this trailer, the opening sequence is of a school and of girls playing, this shows equilibrium within the scene; a common horror convention. The town is covered in snow which makes the scene appear very cold, and throughout the shots the young girl remains isolated. Winter has connotations of being cold and dark and this is reflected throughout the clip. When the family approach their home, it is very large which implies that the family are wealthy, however the girl continues to wear the same victorian-style clothing throughout the trailer, this suggests that she is quite a dark, mysterious character and likes to stand out. During the toilet scene, Esther is enclosed in the cubicle and this suggests that she is trapped within her character. When she burns down the tree house, the fire is the first time warmth is portrayed in the trailer. Fire has connotations of the devil and this links in well with Esthers character. To create an atmosphere, text cards are used to drop subtle hints about the trailer, these are very effective and are a common convention of a trailer.


Editing
As the trailer progresses, the cuts become quicker in order to build up tension and create an eerie atmosphere. Fades are used to indicate a change in time or location and link well to the snow and the text cards as they fade to white. During the voiceover and at the end of the trailer, the screen goes black to create tension, before displaying the title of the film and the credits. When the mother is chasing after the car slow motion has been used to create an atmosphere as it helps to draw out the scene.


Sound
At the beginning of the trailer, dialogue from the film is used to update the viewer on the events which have occured, this is a very common convention as it is an easy way to back-track on a story and set the scene. At the beginning of the trailer the non diegetic music is quite quiet, as it is portraying equalibrium within the scene, however as the tension builds the music loudens, before a crescendo when we hear a loud scream. As disequilibrium builds up, the music gets louder which is a common convention of a horror trailer. There is also a large amount of diegetic noise within the trailer, such as the childrens voices as the play which helps to create verisimilitude. The dialogue helps to update the viewer on the events that are unraveling and the eerie noise of the swings creaking help to add an atmosphere to the scene. As the cuts quicken the music also gets loude; another common convention of a horror trailer.


Camera angles/shots/positioning
The birds eye view establishing shot helps to set the scene of the trailer, and creates a sense of verisimilitude as we see what appears to be a stereotypical American town. The two shot of the adopting mother and father also help to create verisimiltude as they are framed together, showing their close, normal relationship.
When Esther is in the classroom, the camera is positioned through an opening in the door, and we see her back which makes it seem like someone is watching and following her. A common convention of a trailer is to have equilibrium at the beginning, and this occurs in the orphan trailer, as we see lots of long shots and close ups of the family; making them seem happy and normal. Low angles are repeatedly used to show that Esther is the dominant character and that she is in control. High angles are used on the family, especially the mother to show vulnerability in the trailer. As Esther looks directly into the camera, there is a close up which helps to link her to the viewer, as it is as if she is staring straight at them.


Horror Trailer Two
The Amityville Horror

A2 Proposal

For my practical production this year I am going to work with Jennifer Buck, Laura Robinson and Thomas Hannett. Together we are going to create a horror film trailer, a poster and a magazine cover. We decided to make a horror trailer as it is a genre of film that we all find exciting and we believe it will be interesting to make. Our intention is for our trailer to compete with other horror films already on the market such as 'The Blair Witch Project' and 'The Grudge'. Our target audience will be 15 - 25 year olds, as this is the age range that is most likely to go to the cinema and view a horror film.