Final Piece- The Crypt

The Crypt

Shown below is our final piece. We were all very pleased with the final product and believed that we had achieved what we had planned to and more.

In terms of the process, we believe that our biggest struggle was creating a plot with smooth continuity that would make sense to the audience. It took us around four drafts to finalise our ideas and begin fully editing the opening. Another obstacle of ours, was the flashback. Primarily, we struggled to make the flashback look obvious to the audience without it seeming too exaggerated. So we played around with many effects and transitions to make sure we found the perfect one to portray our flashbacks. A final important obstacle of ours was music, we ended up having to layer multiple sounds to create our final piece, including low toned music, whispers, rain drops and tension building music. This is because our initial music was almost perfect, however, we all believed it didn't have enough tension or trepidation behind it, so we had to layer numerous sounds to create our desired effect.

Despite our obstacles however, we were very pleased with our improvements in our skills in Final Cut Pro and how the overall opening turned out! And we are looking forward to what we can learn, improve and create next!

-Caera Mendez

Uses and Gratifications Theory

Uses and Gratifications Theory 

The uses and gratifications theory is the study of the way the general public consume and react to media. It states that "consumers use the media to satisfy specific needs or desires." Meaning that many people will use social media, such as Twitter, to seek out entertainment along with the finding of information and to communicate with those who have also watched the programme, for example. Or alternatively, to show expression and opinions of a programme. The use of the social media after watching a programme or film, determines the reaction to the media and determine the way it is used.

A typical study of uses and gratifications explores the reasoning behind media consumption coupled with the consequence associated with it. For example, a strong example to use is the use of Twitter during the Britain's Got Talent live final. Many will often tweet their thoughts on each act and interact with others, doing the same thing. It has been identified that this media consumption is done for many purposes, including, relaxation, social communication and entertainment.

-Caera Mendez

18 certificate films - survey monkey

SURVEY MONKEY

After we decided to certify our film as an 18. We decided it would be best to research what makes an 18 certificate differ from a 15 in terms of horror, so therefore we made a survey monkey to ask general members of the public. We initially thought to only ask over 18s, because we believe that it would only be appropriate to ask them, however, after much thought, we decided it would be best to ask people of all ages. This is because it will allow us to know why someone of a younger age would not feel comfortable watching an 18 and we believed it was best to find that out from the younger generation themselves. Here are some of the questions we asked and their results. 

From the results of this question, we inferred that our film definitely certified as an 18 as it included challenging and taboo themes, such as controversial religious aspects etc.

We were slightly shocked by this result, as our film does not include any extremely violent or fighting themes. However, we decided that not all 18 certificate films had to include this and as nearly half voted "only the majority of them". 

From this result, we were able to reinforce our decision of making it our film an 18 certificate. This is because our opening does include taboo and challenging themes such as stigmata.

This really assisted in our research, as it allowed us to differentiate what we need to do to make sure our film is correctly certified.

-Caera Mendez

Pre-Lim Task

Pre-Lim Task

In our evaluation process, we decided it would be a useful to watch our pre-lim task to see our improvement. It is obvious from this piece that we have made vast improvement in our variation of cinematography, for example angles and movement, as well as our actually skills involving holding the camera.
Another great improvement that we saw, was our confidence when it came to post-production. We are now much more confident to add special effects and music. As well as, creating over shoulder shot reverse shots and match on action, has appeared to become much easier for us to do, due to our on going practice.

-Caera Mendez

28 Weeks Later - Deconstruction

28 Weeks Later - Opening

Mise en Scene

Lighting:

• The lighting is low key to show how they are hidden out of the natural world and natural light.
• The room seems to be candle lit to show how they are living with the bare minimum with no electricity.
• When ever natural light seems to show in the sequence, the zombies make an appearance, perhaps suggesting that the natural world is dangerous and the must hide from it.
• Harsh lighting only ever appears on the zombies enhancing their features and their fearful appearance.
• Also, when the characters first open the door to the young boy, they seem to be blinded by the light, implying that they have been away from natural light for a while maybe due to them being in hiding. 

Location:

• The location seems to be completely boarded up by wood, this symbolises their want to conceal from the dangerous, outside world. 
• If you look closely to the mese en scene of the house, it shows quite normal day to day items to make the story line seem as believable and life like as possible.
• When the door is opened an you see outside, the location seems to be isolated in fields which conforms with the conventional horror genre of attacking those isolated and desolated.

Clothing:

• All of the characters' clothing seem to be in harmony with the rest of the mese en scene. dark, plain, yet effective in showing the little the characters have, as well as presenting, once again, the chilling atmosphere.
• The young boy's clothes are covered in dirt to symbolise his struggle and his fight against the zombies. 
• The boy is the only character wearing white perhaps foreshadowing that he is the only one with life or youthfulness left, and maybe the only one destined to survive.

Hair Styles and Make Up:

• Both make up and hair of the living humans is kept minimal to connote them living with the bare minimum.
• On the other hand, the make up used on the zombies is strong and lurid to the viewer. The zombies are shown covered in blood to promote fear as it shows how they eat human flesh. They are also made to look pale to signify that they are "dead". They also have red eyes to also make them look inhumane and obscene.
• The hair on the zombies is often made to look back combed and knotted, to imply their disarrayed way of living, as well as their lack of life. 

Camera - Framing/Angles/Movement:

• The extreme close up shot of the boy eating really emphasises his facial expression and how hungry and fearful the boy is because of the zombie apocalypse.
• The gif below shows yet another fearful facial expression, using a head and shoulders shot to emphasise it.

• Throughout the sequence, point of view shots are used to create a more ominous and fearful effect on the audience, as well as a sense of realism almost as if it is happening to them.
• The over head shot of the new zombie attacking the male character assists to prove how fearful the attack from a zombie is, as well as see how, up close, the strength of the SFX and how effective it.
• The low camera angle of the zombie, when her eyes turn red, is a really effective shot to create trepidation and shock within the audience. 
• When the older male character is being attacked by the zombies at the end of the sequence, the camera angle is high and over the top of the male character to highlight the violence of the attack. The camera is also jolting during this part of the sequence to create the effect of the audience being part of the attack and maybe even doing the attack themselves.

Editing:

• The editing is very quick and fast paced, especially during the attack as it creates a more dangerous effect and fearful atmosphere.
• Also, it is very effective as the audience is unable to see what is actually happening exactly creating an unnerving and ominous effect. 

Sound:

• The off-screen non-diegetic sound effect of when the boy is allowed into the house, gives an almost angelic effect, perhaps suggesting that the boy may be a hero in the film.
• The diegetic sound of the zombies, helps to create trepidation and fear within the audience. It also gives the zombies life as if they are real for the audience.
• The diegetic sound of the walls crashing when the zombies break into the house, are harsh and generate a restless feel for the fear of being made jump for the audience, making the film much more scary as it always keeps the viewer on edge. 
• The off-screen diegetic sound of when the zombies bite the characters arm makes a repulsive and sickening sound for the viewer and is very likely to make the audience squeamish, making the film much more effective in its genre.

-Caera Mendez

Review of Filming - Day 3

Review of Filming

After arriving to our location, we were able to set up our camera and begin filming straight away. We began by getting shots of the mese en scene of the church. For example, the stain glass windows, the crucifix and the pictures on the wall.
Because the church we were given permission to use was catholic, it was highly decorative so proved really useful to our filming. It was decorated with beautiful stain glass windows which the light shined perfectly through for our shots. (As shown below)

We were able to really play around with shots and lighting with our camera and stabiliser. We filmed many low shots of feet and high shots of the stain glass windows to vary our shots, to make our film as professional as possible. We also filmed two match on action shots so that we can show our professional editing skills to the audience.

-Caera Mendez

Filming Schedule - Day 3

Filming Schedule

For our final day of filming, we have been able to get permission to go off site during school hours, to go to a church when it is open, so that we can film from inside. By doing so, we will be able to complete our montage editing part of the sequence. 

The day we have chosen to film is 31/1/17. Our aim for our final day of filming, is to get as much footage of religious imagery such as stain glass windows and crosses as possible. Our main aim, is to get as big as a variety as possible of camera angles, movement and framing.

The filming schedule for 31/1/17:

0745: Meet at location (church)

0800: Set up camera equipment

0810: Film as much religious imagery as possible

0900: Review our shots

0930: Try various camera angles, framing and movement of different shots

1000: Re-film any necessary shots (both inside and out of the church)

1030: Review shots again and re-film any necessary shots

1100: Back to school

Hopefully, by following this schedule, we will be able to achieve all the shots we wanted with the diverse use of camera framing, movement and angles. And by doing so, finish our editing of our film opening. 

-Caera Mendez

Film Deconstruction - 'Halloween'

'Halloween' -Opening Scene Analysis And Deconstruction

Directed by John Carpenter, the 1978 slasher film, is set in a small suburban town in western Illinois. It strongly sticks to the conventions of a usual slasher films by including gore and a masked killer.

Mise en Scene:

Location:

• The house is filled with normal day to day items to create the sense of realism for the audience.
• Also, as it is the victims home, it is more close to home for both the victim and the audience so therefore creating a more sympathetic and fearful feel from the audience. 
• For example, it has furniture which is usual and common to that time period which not only creates realism but also the thought that it can happen to anyone amongst the audience
• The house is also decorated modernly to incorporate the sense of realism again
• The house is shown as friendly family home to prove the innocence of the victims to make the audience sympathise with the victim more.

Furniture and interior 

• The house shown at the beginning of the scene contains muted colours for a  homely feel
• The decor is basic and simple with no extreme tastes or styles which may be distracting. This also keeps the scene relatable to as wide of an audience as possible.
• There is a large dining table which suggests the building is a family home.
• Also, in part of the sequence, there are children toys visible once again promoting the concept of a family friendly home. 

Clothing

• The characters are wearing very typical teenage clothes which makes them more relatable
• Towards the end of the scene the girl wears very little clothing, which may hint at her promiscuity. The conventions of slasher films mean that often the flirtatious female character is killed, so clothing her in this way foreshadows her death.
• At the very end of the opening, the boy is shown to be wearing a clown costume. Clowns are a common fear of many, so the use of this costume plays on the contemporary audience's fears. However, clowns are also often use for fun and pleasure for children, thus subverting there normal use.
• The young boy carries a knife which informs the audience that it was he who previously killed the woman.
• The two men surrounding the young boy are wearing smart suits, which is a symbol of their authority and power over the young boy. This is interesting because it is actually the young boy who has the power in this scene as he takes the life of another.

Hairstyles and Makeup

• The scene features very little evidence of creative hair and makeup design - the costumes are kept simple to make the characters as relatable as possible.
• The 'killer', when shown has a mask on, perhaps hiding not just his identity but also his age as he is such a young child.

Lighting:

• The scene is set at night time which gives an eerie low lighting effect.
• The house, when the killer enters, is shown to be low lit, so therefore, also low key lighting, so continuing the eerie atmosphere of the scene.
• There seems to be full shadow over the victims face, using backlight only; thus promoting her insignificance and lack of sympathy for her death to the killer.

Camera Framing and Camera Angles:

• When killing his victim, a point of view shot is used to create an ominous effect for the audience. Also, the framing of this shot seems to be quite low down, perhaps foreshadowing for the viewers that the killer is a child.
• Also, in the final scene, the dolly shot moving away from the child, also creates a foreshadowing effect for the audience as it leaves an unanswered question as to whether or not the child actually committed the crime. 
• The point of view shot, also implies that the crime was committed purposely by the killer.

Editing:

• During the murder scene, there is an effect to show that the killer is wearing a mask perhaps to hide his identity and human like features from the victim. - However, it later shows that this does not work because of the the victim then questions his identity.

Sound:

• The off-screen diegetic screaming of the victim promotes her fear and terror as she is being killed.
• The off-screen non-diegetic music has a slight build up to create tension for the audience. It is also very much the stereotypical slasher genre music, making it obvious to the viewers the type of film and what to expect. For example, gruesome and gruelling scenes.
• The off-screen diegetic sound of the crickets the desolation and isolation of the location and how far they are from everything else and therefore conforming with the slasher genre. 
• The off-screen diegetic sound of the knife coming into contact with the victim accentuates the gruesome extent of the attack. It also makes the scene quite difficult to watch as it sounds so life like, making the audience quite uncomfortable. 
• At the end of the opening, the music builds up greatly to emphasise the significant of his crime as well as who the killer is himself. 

-Caera Mendez

New Line Cinema Research

New Line Cinema Research

• New Line Cinema was founded by Robert Shaye in 1967 as an American film distribution company when it later became an independent filming studio.
• After merging with Turner Broadcasting System in 1994 and then with Time Warner in 1996, it finally merged with Warner Bros in 2008, which it still remains with today.

It has created some of the most successful films in the industry, with it's highest grossing films including top horror films such as 'The Conjuring' and the 'Final Destination' series. Pictured below are New Line Cinema's highest grossing film to this day:

We decided to use this distribution company for our opening along with Twisted Pictures for multiple reasons:

1. As it is paired with one of the biggest film companies in the industry (Warner Bros.)
2. It has also helped distribute some of the most well known and successful horror films in the business, as well as other genres such as the Lord of the Rings series. 
3. Unlike other independent studios such as Orion Pictures or Cannon Film, New Line Cinema has grown to become one of Hollywood's biggest production companies, proving its ability and successes.

Shown below is the New Line Cinema logo:

-Caera Mendez

Review of Filming - Day Two

Review Of Filming

The Church:

Due to us having to wait until around five o'clock to begin filming so we could get consistent lighting, the church was closed so we could not get inside. However, we were still able to film numerous shots from the outside of the church of religious imagery which we could incorporate in our montage editing flashbacks. We also had the opportunity to work and practise with the camera and the stabiliser. 

Due to us filming at night, we found it quite difficult to get perfect lighting so that objects could be seen on camera. However we were able to overcome this by using torches on our mobile and standing around ten feet behind the camera itself. 

We were also able to play with a range of shots with numerous framing and angles. We got numerous mid shots as well as low shots, this will vary our sequence and help advance our opening as much as possible.

We were also, due to the location, really able to play around with mese en scene, as shown in the images below. We had the ability to use real stain glass windows and crosses from the church. This meant that we can up the amount of religious imagery and symbolism we use in opening to make it as effective as possible. 

-Caera Mendez

Pre-Production - Make Up

PRE-PRODUCTION

Due to our theme of stigmata, we had many pre-production practices with SFX to create as life-like and effective scaring as possible. Here is some small short clips of our numerous practices with the latex and the fake blood.

-Caera Mendez

Coursework Inspiration - Stigmata

Stigmata

Due to our choice of genre and theme, we decided it would be helpful to watch the film stigmata for inspiration. Made in 1999 and directed by Rupert Wainwright, the film is about an atheist inflicted with stigmata after coming into contact with a rosary owned by a deceased priest who experience the phenomenon himself. As a group, we thoroughly enjoyed this film and thought it was really cleverly made in ways such as editing and sound. 

Here is a personal favourite scene for inspiration from others in my group:

What we found really effective was the editing during her experience of the stigmata. The constant cuts in the scene away from the present into another scene to create montage editing was extremely impressive. We are seriously considering using this sort of idea in our opening scene. This is because it assisted the viewer in understanding what was happening to Frankie (the victim) as well as create a fearful effect and strong spine-chilling atmosphere. 

We also really liked the muffled and broken up sound used to assist the effect the montage editing creates. The repeated screams and off-screen diegetic noise of the nails and hammer, along with the low and barely visible lighting, helps devise trepidation among the viewer as it is constructing how fearful the actual experience is for the victim. It assists the viewer to get into the head of the victim and understand and empathise with what is occurring to her, creating a relationship with the victim which will overall result in a bigger impact on the viewer.

As you can see from the clip above, the opening is mainly based on religion which is a strong factor that we want to incorporate. The focus of the camera framing on religious concepts, such as the crucifix and the cross help to really emphasise the main factor behind the film and the stigmata itself. The lack of speech in the opening is a concept that we would like to follow as the mese en scene will hopefully be powerful enough, like in this sequence.

Here is my personal favourite scene from the film:

-Caera Mendez

Initial Ideas For Location

Initial Ideas for Location

For location, we are interested in creating a strong effect using mese en scene. So we would like to use locations such as:

Church

We want to include a lot of religious imagery in our opening, due to it being based on the concept of the stigmata. Therefore having it based in a church would be significant because you can include many close up shots in montage editing of religious concepts such as, stain glass windows and statues of the crucifix. This would make our our opening scene very effective because we would be able to incorporate religion as much as possible and really like it into our theme of stigmata, which would help in the understanding of our storyline for the viewer.

Abandoned warehouse

Using an abandoned warehouse would be very effective as it creates the concept and atmosphere of isolation and loneliness. The grey and dullness of the abandoned place takes the life out of it and emphasises that great fear of being alone in an unidentifiable and empty place.  It is also detached from society creating the sense of never returning creating the impression that the character is either going to escape or die trying.

Forest

Because a forest is so open and with no chance of hiding, it emphasises an inevitability of death and the no hope of escape due to wide span of a forest with essentially no end. Also, natural lighting can be used in a forest which will make the opening much more life like and relatable. As well as this, the  fear of the unknown can be accentuated especially at night when you cannot see things. We could seriously use non-diagetic off screen sounds of animals and rustling to fear the audience and build up tension.

Scary bedroom

This is one of our favourite ideas for location. This is because we can use mese en scene thoroughly to present the possession of the victim. We could really emphasise what is going on in the characters head through drawings on their bedroom wall and the mese en scene of their bedroom, which is usually the most personal and important thing to someone. So therefore it would really emphasise her personality and who is she through the location. And therefore assist the plot of the film.

-Caera Mendez

Coursework Inspiration - Woman In Black

Coursework Inspiration

We thought that this opening scene for Woman In Black was a really effective sequence. We especially liked the idea of the three girls jumping out of the window at the end of the sequence. This is because it is a similar concept of what we would like to include in our opening, as well as the fact that it goes against the usual conventions of a horror of significant characters dying at the beginning.

We were also thoroughly inspired by the mese en scene of the room and costume in harmony with the plot. The mise en scene created a sense of realism for the viewer as well as setting the scene of the nursery so you could understand the innocence of the children. This inspired us greatly to use mise en scene to assist the viewer in understanding the plot and making it more life like and effective in just the opening.

-Caera Mendez

Coursework Inspiration - Harry Potter

Coursework Inspiration

For our coursework, we have had an idea to incorporate a dream sequence including flashbacks to the previous day of the actors in the church. We have taken inspiration from the dream sequence of the Harry Potter and The Order Of The Phoenix. As shown in the video below.

We thought this sequence was very effective due to the montage editing. The continuous cuts to the dream and cut backs of reality creates an uneasy effect for the viewer. It also establishes an ambiguous effect as the viewer is unclear what is actually occurring in the dream. The quick pace montage editing of the dream and short shots really conveys the setting of the dream whilst still creating a unsure effect. Also, we thought the constant cut backs and close up shots of him whilst he is dreaming reminds the viewer of his fear and panic whilst experiencing the dream.

We also liked the use of low lighting to create a strong atmospheric effect. As well as, the diagetic sound of his breathing creates the sense of his fear and the non-diagetic sound of music builds up the tension and trepidation for the viewer.

We are therefore going to use this as inspiration for our coursework and maybe incorporate some of the concepts used in this sequence to create as strong as an effect as possible.

-Caera Mendez

Research On Editing

Editing

Editing is the term used to describe association of shots and the way in which they are put together. 

Editing Terms

Match on action

Two shots that match and show continuity of space and time. For example, the opening of a door from behind and then from in the front made to look like one continuous action. 

Continuity editing

Creates a sense of realism as time is continuously moving forward. It is the most common use of editing as it does not draw attention to the editing process. 

Cross Cutting

When scenes alternate and interweave with each other, normally use to combine 

different locations, it builds tension and suspense as it is usually quick paced. (Sometimes known as parallel editing) 

Freeze Frame

Stopping a sequence in particular event to focus especially on a specific element. 

Jump Cut

A sharp transition in between either a continuous shot to highlight an advance in time or between two  similar shots for a sense of uneasiness. 

Flashback

A moment in a sequence when an event from previous time prior to the current narrative is shown.

Visual Effects

Used to change previously filmed elements such as removing an object from the scene or vice versa. 

Montage Editing

A series of unconnected sequences in order to create an effect with a meaning. 




Credits 

The information such as names of actors etc, at the beginning and end of a film.

Cutaways

A short shot that interrupts continuous action with an insert of another action. Such as an object or person followed by a cutback to the original shot.

Shot Reverse Shot

When one character is looking at another (usually off screen) and then the other character is shown looking back. 

-Caera Mendez

Lighting

Lighting Techniques

Three Point Lighting

Three lighting is a common method used in all types of media. It is one of the most simple ways to achieve strong and complete lighting. There are types of lighting used in this technique known as key light, fill light and black light. Sometimes you may not use three lights, if that is the case, if you're only using one that will be the key light, if you're using two lights, the main will be the key light and the other will be fill or backlight.

Key Light

Usually, this is the main and the strongest light. It holds the most influence of the object in the scene. It is place to any see of the camera, to light one side and create a shadow among the other side. 

Fill Light

Fill light is the second light placed to the opposite side of the key light. It's use is to fill the shadows made by the key light. To do so it must be softer than the key light, so is usually further away from the object or has more of a flood light effect than the key.

Back Light

Unlike the fill and key, the back light is placed to the rear of the subject. It is used to provide definition around the subject as well as highlight the outlines of it. It does not provide direct lighting for the subject dissimilar to fill and key. By doing so, it creates a more three-dimensional look and removes the subjects from just being part of the background. 

Types of Lighting

Hard Light

Hard light is when the source is direct, such as from the sun. It is normally uninterrupted from the source from the subject. 

Soft Light

Soft light creates the affect of being around the subject. It often produces weak and less numerous shadows. 

Flood

A light not as narrowly focused usually is a broad beam of light with no direction. 

Spot

A focused and controlled light on the subject.

-Caera Mendez

My Bloody Valentine Main Character Costume Deconstruction

My Bloody Valentine Killer Costume Deconstruction

 

Make up:

• As seen in the photo, make up is not visible on the character due to his face being hidden behind a mask.

The character is dressed in all black for multiple reasons;

1. The first being to help hide him easier in darkness so he can approach his victims undetected.
2. The second being to cover any show of skin which dehumanises the character and makes him more monstrous and fearful towards the audience.
3. The third is to incorporate the eerie feeling from the mask and his actions into the rest of the body because black is a symbol of death and fear.

The mask:

1. The killer wears a mask to hide his identity which creates an atmospheric fear among the audience as well as the victims.
2. The masks also covers his facial features, which by covering creates an illusion that he is not human but more of a monstrous character, because facial features are a strong indication of whether a person is human.
3. As well as this, the mask is a gas mask, which is normally used to save someone's life, so by an antagonist using it to hide his identity whilst he is killing victims contradicts the idea of protection and safety. This creates a strong eerie feel amongst the audience because he is using something out of the norm (such as a balaclava) to hide his identity and instead is using something of protection, so confuses the audiences. By not using a balaclava or any other type of "scary" mask, the film is going against the usual codes and conventions of a horror film, suggesting that it may be a different outcome to a usual film of that genre.

• The character is seen wearing gloves, this suggests that he is attempting to cover his actions by not leaving any traces of finger prints. It also once again suggests that he is trying to cover his human features such as skin or fingers, to create the monstrous, more fearful effect.
• The character uses the same weapon the whole way through the film and you do not see him without it, suggesting that without the axe he feels powerless or weak. Because the prop is an axe and is usually used to cut things in a more innocence way it creates a feeling of fear amongst the reader because of the strong use of realism.

-Caera Mendez

Codes and Conventions of Supernatural Horror

The Use of Codes and Conventions in the Supernatural Film 'The Amityville Horror (1979)'

'The Amityville Horror' includes many of the main codes and conventions of a supernatural horror film. Directed by Stuart Rosenberg, it is an excellent depiction of a supernatural film, due to its inclusion of the fear of the unknown mixed with the concept of religion. 

As well as the main themes being spirits and religion, listed below is a list of several other conventions included in the film:

• The setting is based in the new home of the main character's family, therefore is close to the main characters and is where they are meant to feel the most safe and comfortable.
• The costuming and props are extremely subtle to create the sense of realism for the audience.
• Towards the end of the film, after suspense is built, loud noises are often incorporated to frighten the audience.
• The story line is based around signs from the unknown in their new home.
• As shown in the picture above, the lighting is often low and concentrated on one prop or character, such as the cross.
• The main events of the film often occur at night in addition to the low lighting.
• Finally, many objects, such as curtains and doors, move on their own to create fear and suspense among the audience. 
  

-Caera Mendez

Supernatural Horror

SUPERNATURAL HORROR

Supernatural horror is a sub-genre that is based among extra-terrestrial elements in society, for example, ghosts, gods, the devil and miracles. The sub-genre often creates apprehension among the audience as it consistently focuses and plays on the fear of the unknown, therefore often includes and exaggerates on the theme of religion and the undead. A few of the many examples of supernatural horror consist of Paranormal Activity, the Conjuring and the Amityville Horror.

As mentioned previously, one of the main themes that occur in the supernatural sub-genre is religion. This is because it is something that cannot be proven or explained, which creates fear among many. It is also something that many people turn to for answers and reassurance when feeling uneasy or worried, so therefore by incorporating that into horror it establishes a trepidity among a concept that so many people trust. 

We decided to research and consider a supernatural horror as it would allow us to play around with lighting (mainly using low-key), as well as subtle props and strong mise-en-scene. Some of the main codes and conventions are as follows:

• A setting close to the protagonist (usually their home)
• Simple costumes and subtle props
• Story line is usually based around a death or a "sign" from the unknown
• Slow, deep music to build suspense.
• Loud noises to scare the audience.
• Usually based in a suburban area, separated from society.
• Dark and low lighting.
• Many high angle shots to show setting and create a feeling of the audience being watched. 
• Many things such as curtains and doors moving on their own to symbolise the entering of the dead. 

Pros and cons of creating a supernatural horror:

The Pros:

• Experiment and play with lighting and music 
• Really focus on mise-en-scene
• Conventions are simple to follow
• You can use a range of shots which are not typically used (high angle)
• Simple costuming

The Cons:

• May struggle to make it seem authentic
• Easy to be similar to many other supernatural horrors
• Not able to experiment with props
• Difficult to create supernatural occurrences, such as doors opening on their own etc.

-Caera Mendez