Blumhouse productions is an American television and film company, which was founded by Jason Blum. Blumhouse Productions are the known producers of Paranormal activity, Split, Get Out and insidious. We had to decide if we wanted to use Blumhouse Productions or Twisted Research. As we wanted out opening to maintain professionalism and be a success, we based success off of revenue as we thought that a successful film would gross more. On a whole, Twisted Pictures averaged a higher revenue which is one of the reasons we prefer it to Blumhouse. Also, because our film opening is an independent, low budget project, we could like as much assistance in terms of production as we can get.
However, Blumhouse Productions are known for their extremely popular but low budget films. As mentioned previously Get Out and Split being the most recently popular ones. Both films received high ratings for the intensity but intellectual plot lines.
Get out revenued over 30 million dollars in its first weekend alone on only a 4 million dollar budget. This shows the company's strength and ability in terms of producing films. However, as a group we decided that Blumhouse had great strength in psychological horrors, but Twisted Pictures seemed to be the stronger company in terms of our supernatural sub-genre. Therefore, after much thought we decided that it was best to go with the company that would be more suited to us, which was Twisted Pictures.
Normally I would use Sony Vegas Pro but seeing as Final Cut Pro was the only available software within the school computers, I had to adapt and research ways to edit, as I was familiar with editing techniques but the methods in which I could achieve these techniques were completely different. Editing research was useful to me , as final cut pro was not an editing software I was familiar with.
Visual effects
A 'fantasy eye effect' on my eye to highlight the 'unknown' essence within the scene. This could have be done via Photoshop for every single frame within the short shot but that would be extremely time consuming, so using Final Cut Pro and I assigned two glossy eyes to some frames which tracked accordingly with the eye. Points were added on my eyelid so that when my eye opened, the glossy eye showed up with it. This ensured that the effect looks realistic and subtle. I found that the close up shot of my eyes coupled with the 'fantasy eye effect' had the most effect on the audience as I had asked several people if it was better with or without the effect and if it should be in a different camera frame.
Flashback
I also had to research what would be the best way to represent a flashback and found that the 'flash' effect on Final Cut Pro would be the best to show a flashback. I also discovered via editing that a slight change in the colour, saturation and hue would be best to convey a flashback. Near to the end of the scene we thought that it would be most suitable to use quick cut editing using short clips as a montage to increase the tension in cohesion with the music.
Transitions
The definition of a transition is 'the process or a period of changing from one state or condition to another'. In the context of film making, a transition is what the editor shows between 2 shots. The connection of the scenes is the transition. Transition can be the next consecutive scene, or it can be a fade or image change. To create our flashbacks we had to use transitions to change from one scene to another.
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.
We wanted to ensure we had a variety of options of production companies to choose from before settling on a final decision. Therefore research on a major company such a Warner Bros was useful to expand our knowledge within this area.
Warner Bros. Entertainment inc. is an American entertainment company, head quartered in Burbank, California and is one of the "Big Six" major American film studios. It is responsible for the development and production of several blue -ray, digital distribution, comic books, video games and broadcasting with its most successful project being the eight Harry Potter films.
Being one of the most prestigious and valuable companies in the world, it consists of more than 75,000 hours of programming, along with almost 7,000 feature films and a huge 5,000 television programs which are individually comprised by multiple of thousands of individual episodes.
Warner Bros demonstrated its potential to create a huge revenue in 2015, as it was it's fifth consecutive year to reach over 3 billion receipts. This company have produced various horror films which is the genre we are interested in. These consist of 'Annabelle', 'The Conjuring', 'Lights Out' and 'The Exorcist'. This is useful to know as this makes it a strong option that may be suitable for out film opening. Below is the Warner Bros. Pictures introduction:
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:
As it is paired with one of the biggest film companies in the industry (Warner Bros.)
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.
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.
While editing our horror film, we decided that we needed to settle on a film production company to show at the beginning of our film opening. One that immediately sprung to mind was Twisted Pictures, which is an American independent production label.
Upon further research, we learned that the production company was initiated in 2004, with their most famous project being the Saw series.
Twisted Pictures appear to take in a large revenue. As shown in their filmography below, on some of their more popular films they have made a huge profit. For example, the film Saw saw a 8,591% return on their million-dollar investment. Hopefully this provides evidence that Twisted Pictures would be a suitable candidate in terms of handling and promoting a horror film.
Twisted Pictures also produced two horror games based on Saw, which shows that the company are interested in horizontal integration.
Why would we potentially want to use Twisted Pictures as our production company of choice?
It is an independent label - due the to the fact that we have a low budget, an independent company would best assist us and meet our needs
It focuses on the horror genre
It places a focus on unique horror narratives, which would be suitable for our religion-based horror
Match on action is a term used to identify a technique which is commonly used within film production. It is created during the editing process where one shot cuts to another portraying a movement creating a sense on continuity. The shots should be cut seamlessly as though the viewers attention is not drawn to the cuts but to the continuous movement. The shot should seem fluid and mask the cut. One of the most common examples of match on action occurs when someone passes through a door and an example of this is below:
180 degree rule:
The 180 degree rule occurs when all filming only takes place in the 180 degrees which is maintained one side of the object. The camera remains on one side of the 180 degree axis for the entire scene. An imaginary line should be drawn perpendicular to the cameras viewpoint when establishing the scene but must remain on this side throughout. Is often used in conversation scenes where several over the shoulder shots will occur to really engage the audience within the conversation.
Shot, reverse shot:
The shot reverse shot usually enties with the 180 degree rule in order to maintain the sense of contituity by not distorting or confusing the view of the audience. It is an editing techniques where a shot is shown of one person looking at the second person and then a second shot shows the reverse of this where the second person is then looking at the first.
should contain reassuring counterparts to any violence or discrimination
no references to drugs, sex, violence, nudity or antisocial behaviour
PG: Parental Guidance
general viewing, but some scenes may be unsuitable for children
discrimination is very unlikely unless in historical context
no reference to drugs unless they carry an anti-drug message
No glamorising imitable behaviour
Mild violence is acceptable
12A & 12: Suitable for 12 & over
misuse of drugs must be limited and infrequent
no promotion of imitable behaviour either
strong language may be allowed but not too frequent or too explicit
15: Suitable for 15 & over
The work as a whole must not encourage discriminatory language or behaviour, even though there may be homophobic or racist themes
Sexual activity may be shown but not in strong detail. May be strong verbal references to sexual behaviour but the strongest references are unlikely to be acceptable unless justified.
The violence shown may be strong but not prolong the pain or injury. Strong gory images are unlikely to be acceptable and the same goes for sadistic violence.
18: Suitable for 18 & over
Clear images of real sex, strong fetish material, sexually explicit animated images, or other very strong sexual images will be allowed and will be confined to the R18 category
R18: Restricted 18
Restricted 18 films are only to be shown in specially licensed cinemas, or supplied only in licensed sex shops, and to adults only
The R18 category is a special and legally-restricted classification primarily for explicit works of consenting sex or strong fetish material involving adults.
When shooting scenes for our film opening, we want to maximise the effectiveness of each and every shot. The rule of thirds is a theory divised to ensure that each shot is appealing to the eye, as well as keeping its symmetry and balance. The rule of thirds applies both within photography and film.
An image composed with the rule of thirds
The theory is based on scientific research that the human eye automatically and subconsciously gravitates to an insertion point when an image is split into thirds. The theory also states that the main focus and interest of the shot should be situation in the first and second thirds of the shot. The focus of the image can be placed on the right or left hand side, however it must remain within only the two thirds. This is demonstrated in the image above, with the building located within the right hand two-thirds.
How can we apply this to our horror film opening sequence?
When shooting over-the-shoulder shots we should ensure to keep the in-focus character within the allocated two thirds.
When shooting long-shots of architectural exteriors, we should ensure to keep the building aligned correctly within the thirds.
When reviewing our survey results, we analysed some of our key findings that we will take into deep consideration when filming our own opening scene and will be very useful when looking for inspiration for our own story line. They include:
Q- What time of day to film?
There was a clear result to this question as the most favoured time of day to film was at night. This may be because the dark setting connotes a more sinister and feared atmosphere which will be effective when achieving the horror genre. Q- Whether to include dialogue or not
We thought this was important to ask as when watching previous film openings there was a huge variety with the use of dialogue. We found that most believed it would be more effective without dialogue therefore we will try to keep it at the minimum when filming our opening scene.
Q- What age should our characters be?
From this question we identified that the age range 18 to 25 was most desired group of people. If we are unable to find actors within this age range we would be prepared to adapt our costume and makeup effects in order to meet this
Q- How should we deceive the killer
Our results present the conclusion that concealing the identity of the killer will be most preferred. This was closely followed by the 'masked' option. Therefore, we will incorporate the technique of ensuring the identity of the killer is not visible to the audience. Q-General comments about horror film expectations
We had a variety to responses to this question covering a range of topics. One in particular that gained our interest was 'possession' and 'religious imagery'. This lead to us down research on religious symbolism and see how we can develop those ideas into a horror film. We were then inspired to watching some religious possession films such as 'stigmata'. Other responses mentioned the idea of building up suspense as this is a main desire for a horror film. we feel this can be achieved with the technical use of sound and by creating fast cuts during a scene using postproduction as this is a would of building up tension. Others mentioned about the setting; 'dark setting' 'pathetic fallacy', and these comment all create an inspiration for us when creating our own story line.
In a horror film opening sequence, the selected typography plays a large role in establishing the creative direction of the film. The feature of on-screen text often includes the opening credits; the names and titles of the production crew.
Within film trailers, the logo and branded typography features as the film title is shown at the end of the trailer. However, since we are creating a film opening rather than a trailer we will not be including the film 'logo' in the actual sequence.
Analysis of Horror Typography
Colour
When I searched 'horror+film+poster' in google images, a variety of posters appeared. As shown in the screen capture below, the majority of the film titles are written in a red text.
Typography
Selection of popular horror titles
As shown above, many font schemes used within horror titles have a similar aesthetic. The lines are often ragged, with little to no straight lines. The fonts all have a handwritten quality to them, looking as though they could have been scrawled by hand.
Other common features of typography within horror include:
'drips' of liquid coming from the letters - looks like dripping blood
Special effects makeup is a vital element within the creation of a film. Wen completed professionally, it has the ability to transform the look of a character to produce a completely different analysis of them. It can be used to make a character to look more beautiful and attractive or conversely make them look horrific and terrifying. In contrast to usual makeup, special effects artists will often make their prosthetics such as latex, silicone or rubber After doing research i have found aspects to stage makeup that we should try to avoid: -using fake blood which is too light -Going over the top with blood and cuts -Not blending he colour and the cuts into the skin to make it seem realistic -Using pain or ketchup for fake blood
With the accumulation of liquid latex and fake blood we feel like we can create the effects of cuts and injuries and make them look real. Edward Scissorhands (1990)
The character of Edward Scissorhands has completed a large procedure of special effects makeup i order to produce the final appearance of his character. Firstly, his bird-nest like hair gives a messy and reckless look. It not only emphasises Edward's wild and untamed character but it also strongly identifies the gothic genre of which the film is. In addition to his hair, Edward has been given a pale, white face. The pasty look of his skin is used to emphasise the scars he has on his face which appear to seen very realistic and slightly sinister. The scars also create an air of mystery as the audience may wonder how he got them in the first place. The dark makeup added around his eyes deepens his eye sockets which creates a contrast to the colour of his skin making him seem even more ghostly which portrays that he is not like the other characters. Overall, his special effects makeup is very effective as it adds the subtle indications of a gothic genre without going over the top. This make it seem very realistic thus making the whole film more believable.
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.
When creating a project that will be viewed by an audience it is important to do research to see what the general public would prefer. Therefore, I created a survey on Survey Monkey as this is an effective way to gain information to help target our initial ideas on what is currently most popular. Our questions focused on the presentation of the characters and the plot of our sequence. Here is the link to our survey:
There has always been a ubiquitous link between religion and horror, stemming from many fictional pieces of Gothic Literature. The horror genre essentially introduces the viewer to their underlying fears and questions related to religion and spirituality, particularly as a result of the spiritual enlightenment in 18th Century Europe.
However, the relationship between religious and horror is frequently ambiguous - and this is particularly prominent in the fact that very few horror films explicitly tackle religious narratives or issues.
The codes and conventions of horror films often include symbols - these can be used for an eerie effect, and to give subliminal messages to the viewer. Popular symbols are often stemmed from medieval rituals and religions, as these are items that are regarded as mysterious and somewhat fascinating.
Many films include religious symbolism of some kind - more than we might imagine. Some might use more subliminal links to Biblical Tales, however some may explicitly use religious symbols.
Religious Allegories within the Horror Genre
One example of a film that uses a biblical allegory rather than explicit symbols could include The Truman Show, which is perhaps representative of the spiritual journey of the soul. The various images of light falling from the sky mimics the religious idea of light falling from heaven. Furthermore, the part where Truman has to cross a vast sea to reach the 'promise land' is similar to the story of Moses.
In our own opening sequence we could reference particular Biblical stories. Due to the fact that we live in a predominantly Christian society, these features would be fairly recognisable.
Religious Symbols within the Horror Genre
The Cross
The Cross is a religious symbol belonging to Christianity or Catholicism. It is used religiously to represent the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, however in horror films it can be used as a force against evil.
This symbol works well within supernatural horror films as it ties in with themes of exorcism and religious healing. The symbol of the cross is frequently turned upside down as a symbol of religious or spiritual unrest within a family or household, for example within The Conjuring 2 in the scene where the cross on the walls rotate upside down before falling off the walls.
Using the symbol of a cross in this way in our own horror sequence would be fairly easy to do, as the mise en scene required is fairly easily accessible.
The cross can also be used as a symbol of death, as it is commonly associated with gravestones and cemeteries. These types of locations are frequently used throughout the horror genre (especially Gothic horror) as the fear of death amongst the audience is artfully played upon. During our location scouting process we will consider locations like this as they often have a very eerie effect on the overall mise en scene of the sequence, whilst conforming to the common conventions of horror.
A Typically Eerie Cemetery
Stigmata
Stigmata is the term used to describe wounds or sensations of pain on the body that inhabit similar locations to the crucifixion wounds of Jesus Christ. The most common forms of stigmata occur on the hands, wrists and feet.
As a group, we discussed the topic of stigmata, and upon conversation we decided that we didn't have an equal understanding of how stigmata appears, and what it symbolises or means. To answer our queries, I did some further research and collated and summarised it below:
General Points to Note
Stigmata is thought to be a 'mystical grace given by God'
There sometimes appears an injury on the chest to represent Jesus' heart wound from the lance of the Roman soldiers
There has been reported cases of a shoulder wound, from where Jesus carried the cross
Injuries from a crown of thorns can also occur
The injuries can appear individually or simultaneously
Stigmata can be invisible, where one simply feels pain or discomfort in those areas
In many reported cases of stigmata, a floral scent is released with the blood
90% of reported cases of stigmata have occurred within women
Where are the wounds situated?
Hands or wrists (there has been some dispute as to whether the hands can actually support one's weight, so some believe Jesus was nailed through the wrists)
Forehead
Chest
Shoulders
Feet
What is the purpose of the wounds?
Some argue that the wounds are placed to unite one with Jesus
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.
Sound has a very effective purpose in films to create a certain atmosphere or to create a desired mood. Each sound included has a specific effect which is usually taken for granted by the audience as the most effective sounds tend to go unnoticed. The sound used has the ability to change the entire way the audience interprets a scene and therefore it is extremely important to critically choose the right sounds that compliment the scene being shown. As a film maker, sound is a key tool required to control the way your audience to feels.
Diegetic sound In film, diegetic sound is the sound you are able to hear in the world you are watching. The source of the sound will be visible on screen such as:
a door closing
voices of characters
sound of objects within the film
The digits sound can either be on-screen of off-screen depending on weather the source of the sound in in the frame or outside the frame. The purpose of diegetic sound is to create a sense of realism for the audience for the to become aware about what is happening. An example of where diegetic sound is used is in the train fight scene in Spectre. This scene is embedded with a lot of diegetic sound to make the action taking place seem more realistic for the audience. It emphasises the gun shots and the sound of them punching and throwing each other about to exaggerate the intensity of the fight. We hear the sound of glass shattering, gun shots, punching, grunting, doors opening and these are all examples of diegetic sound. You are able to view the scene mentioned below:
Non-Diegetic
Non diegetic sound is the sound added in post production. It is sound which its source is not visible within the scene. It is used to create a particular effect such as a soundtrack or voiceover as this techniques can create what the audience should be feeling. Without this sound, the scene would undoubtedly be rather confusing or boring as no effect will be given to support the visuals. Example of non-digeic sounds are:
Sound effects added for tension
Background music
Narrators voice
An example of where non-diegetic sound is used effectively is in the famous jaws scene. The famous jaws music is an iconic piece that we instantly link to the scene of a shark attack. The simple two note piece effectively builds up tension and makes the audience aware of a danger that is occurring in the scene. An example of this famous Jaws sound is inserted below:
Before starting to plan and film our project, our group decided that it would be best to research different camera angles and movement and how each of them is used for effect. We will research the overall effect each camera angle gives, and how we can use them to our advantage within our project.
Camera Angles
Aerial Shot
Usually taken from a helicopter
Used at the beginning of films to establish the setting
We will not be able to use this shot, as we will not have access to any of the equipment required.
Bird's Eye View Shot
Sets the scene and can be used to show the overall setting of the film
Very unnatural angle
Familiar objects such as umbrellas may look entirely unrecognisable from this angle.
Puts the audience in a god-like position where people in shot can appear very small and insignificant
In our horror film opening we could use a bird's eye shot to establish the setting in the first few seconds of the sequence. However, bird's eye view shots are very difficult to execute without specialist equipment, so it may be impossible for us to include on in our sequence as helicopters or drones are not readily available to us.
High Angle Shot
Not as extreme as the bird’s eye view
The camera is elevated above the action using a crane to give a general overview
High angles make the object photographed seem smaller and less significant
We could use this camera angle in our film opening to frame a victim from above, as though they are being watched from a villain above. This also is an uncomfortable viewing angle, so we could use it to add to the uneasiness. If we had a scene where the victim was unaware, a high angle shot will make the viewer feel external to the scene, building the tension.
Eye Level
Probably the most commonly used shot
Used for a sense of realism within the scene
The camera will be placed roughly five to six feet from the ground
We could apply this camera frame to scenes with lots of action, as the viewer will feel as though they are actually there and involved in the scene.
Low Angle Shot
These increase height (useful for short actors such as Tom Cruise) and give a sense of speeded motion
Low angles give a sense of confusion to a viewer, and induce feelings of powerlessness within the action of a scene
The background of a low angle shot will tend to be just sky or ceiling, which adds to the feeling of disorientation
We could use this camera angle to add height to our villain, to make him more fear-inducing. We could alternatively use this angle in a forest or outdoor setting, to make the trees/buildings seem more imposing and overpowering. This could be helpful to use in establishing shots
Oblique/canted angle
The camera is tilted (not placed horizontally to floor level) to suggest imbalance, transition and instability (popular in horror movies)
Indicates to the audience that the scene is unstable
We could apply this angle to a confrontation or scene to make the scene more ominous and unsettling. We could alternatively use this technique in combination with the use of a handheld camera to increase the feeling of uneasiness.
Camera Framing
Extreme Long Shot
Also referred to as an establishing shot
Can be taken from as far as a quarter of a mile away
Usually shows an exterior setting, for example a vast landscape or cityscape
In our horror film opening, we could start the sequence with an extreme long shot to establish the mood and setting of our piece. If we used this in combination with dark lighting (perhaps we could shoot in the evening) we could create an eerie effect.
Long Shot
The long shot is typically used to give an 'actual size' effect when the film is viewed in a cinema. This means it can be quite difficult to use.
The character on screen is fully shown, with their head near the top of the screen and their feet near to the bottom.
The background is still visible at the sides of the screen
This shot is a very simple shot we could use to show our character walking or moving from one place to the other. In a scene where facial expressions and mode of address are key to the narrative, we will not use this shot.
Medium Shot
Shows the character from the waist and upwards
These shots are typically used during dialogue scenes, because you can see the character's expression and mode of address
Very little setting is shown - the intention of this shot is to force the audience to concentrate mostly on the characters
If we use any medium shots in our sequence, we will priorly use a long shot to already establish the scene, to avoid any confusion surrounding the setting.
Over-the-Shoulder Shot
Similar to the medium shot, except the camera is placed behind the shoulder of the character in then foreground
Only the foreground character's head and shoulders are shown
The camera is typically focused on the front-facing speaking character, so the foreground character often appears blurred
If we use any dialogue scenes within our sequence, we could use over-the-shoulder shots to show the continuous dialogue between the two characters.
Close Up Shot
Concentrates on the face or another part of mise en scene
Can be used to add emphasis to a particular facial expression
Often the background will be blurred to add further emphasis to the item in shot, in a sense forcing the viewer to notice it
We could use this to show close ups of any stage makeup we do to emphasis its effect. We could also use a close up shot of any prominent mise en scene pieces, for example a letter.
Extreme Close Up Shot
The purpose of an extreme close up shot is to magnify beyond the naked eye
This adds a sense of uneasiness to the scene, as it is a very unfamiliar viewing angle
Used for dramatic effect
In our own film sequence, we could add an extreme close up shot of a characters eye or mouth to emphasise their facial expression and mode of address. It could potentially be quite powerful to include a range of extreme close up shots in a montage.
Camera Movements
Pans
Camera pans involve the camera scanning a setting horizontally
Can be used to keep a moving object in the middle of the frame
We could use this to scan our scene, or keep up with any moving characters
Tilts
Similar to a camera panning movement except it scans the scene vertically
We are unlikely to use this type of camera movement as it is typically used to show action that occurs across vast heights or depths. One opportunity to use this type of camera movement would include in our establishing shot - we could vertically scan the exterior of a tall building or forest.
Dolly Shot
The camera is placed on a moving vehicle of some sort to show a fast moving subject
The subject is able to be kept central in the frame
This is a difficult shot to execute, however with help we may be able to film a moving object or character.
Hand-Held Camera Shots
The camera is moved and held by the cameraman\
It rests on the shoulder for comfort and stability
This technique makes the audience feel as though they are part of the action, seeing through the eyes of a character.
One possible use of this camera technique in our film opening could include a character being chased. Someone could run after the person filming them, making it seem as though the viewer is watching through the eyes of the character. The jerky movements caused by the cameraman's footsteps would depict a sense of realism, adding uneasiness and terror.
Crane Shot
Similar to a dolly shot except the camera is able to move in all directions, including up and down
Used to ensure moving objects or characters are kept central in each shot
It is unlikely we will use this shot in our film opening as we won't have access to a crane. We may be able to create a makeshift crane using an extendable pole of some sort, however we will revisit this when planning our film opening.
Zoom Lens Shot
Used to magnify a shot, even with the camera operator standing one or two metres away
Used with a tripod and stabiliser
Used to zoom into a character's face
We could use a zoom lens to zoom into a character's face to emphasise their facial expression.
Steve Neale came up with the theory that 'genres are instances of repetition and difference', and 'difference is absolutely essential to the economy of genre'. He decided that the genre of a particular film is determined by two things:
How much it conforms with a genre's codes and conventions - he believed that a film must conform to its genre a substantial amount, in order to make it recognisably part of that genre
How much it subverts a genre's codes and conventions - he believed that a film must subvert these conventions enough to make it unique, yet must still be identifiable.
An example of a film that subverts stereotypical conventions of horror would include 'It Follows', directed by David Robert Mitchell. Mitchell interestingly uses teenage sexuality as a force of harm rather than as a characteristic used to foreshadow death. The plot includes a stalking terror that is sexually transmitted, twisting the classic stereotypes of the promiscuous teenager resulting as the victim. However, the film conforms to typical horror conventions in the sense that it uses dark setting and lighting, and has a young female as the final girl. The use of an abandoned house further contributes to conforming to the conventions of horror. Overall, I think the slight twist of genre in this film is used to make it more unique and memorable whilst keeping it easy to identify as part of the horror genre.
Blumhouse productions is an American television and film company, which was founded by Jason Blum. Blumhouse Productions are the known producers of Paranormal activity, Split, Get Out and insidious. We had to decide if we wanted to use Blumhouse Productions or Twisted Research. As we wanted out opening to maintain professionalism and be a success, we based success off of revenue as we thought that a successful film would gross more. On a whole, Twisted Pictures averaged a higher revenue which is one of the reasons we prefer it to Blumhouse. Also, because our film opening is an independent, low budget project, we could like as much assistance in terms of production as we can get.
