Characterisation and character motivation and history

Girl – Parents experimented on her when she was a child.

2 sets of memories- One her parents installed in her and the real ones. (Real ones just beginning to remember).

Something inside of her. Blackouts.

Based on the Niki/Jessica storyline from Heroes- Split personality- super strength.

Tries to figure out what is happening.

Focus/facebook groups/Questionaire/Target audience

TARGET AUDIENCE -

My target audience is aimed to be around the age of 15-25 as my chosen genre is horror and more young people prefer to watch horror films than older people. Young people generally try to live their life the best they can at that age and attempt to do that by seeking a thrill. Horror movies are one of the best ways for them to receive that thrill which allows it to excite the younger audience easier than the older ones. The younger audience are not bothered about the blood and gore scenes which will often put the older audience members off from wanting to watch it.

On a female to male ratio it will lean more towards the males in the way that they are more likely to want to watch a horror than females. This is due to the stereotypical thoughts that males are more likely to be thrill seekers than females and can relate more to characters on the screen. Also stereotypically males enjoy watching violence more than females which horror films tend to contain a lot of.

Horror films tend to be aimed more towards the working class people. This is normally because of the thrill they can receive off the film for a low price. Middle class audiences tend to seek a high level of satisfaction from watching films which is why most of them prefer to watch romance or action which may sometimes have a sub genre of horror.

Quite often one of the categories of people who watch horror films are couples on the first date. This is because it can not only be a good start to a conversation but also because the comfort needed after watching a horror is at a level comfortable enough to make the date successful.

Moodboards for Protagonists (Research+Planning)

This is a moodboard of some protagonists in horror films. I will base my protagonist in my trailer around these ones to help make it better.

Moodboard for Antagonists (Research+Planning)

This is a moodboard of the antagonists of many different horror films. From films like Scream down to films like Sinister. This will help my research as i know what many antagonists tend to look like in a good horror film. This means i can base my antagonist on factors I like about these ones.

Lighting and Sound

Lighting - My film will mostly consist of dark shots with a few natural light shots in the beginning to give a feeling of calm before the storm. The darkness in the film will relate to the isolation the character will be feeling. It will also affect the audience as they will have to watch intently at the screen to see what is happening which will emphasise the shock that will happen.

Sound - Part of my trailer will consist of a voice over which will explain to the audience the story without giving everything away. There will also likely be many sound effects such as the sound of a swing creaking, the wind howling and/or people screaming.

Editing

CUTS - this is probably the simplest editing technique and also the most effective. Cuts are used to keep the audiences attention by moving from one viewpoint to another. This is because if the film//trailer constantly stayed in one viewpoint then the audience would get bored. There are a few different cuts that can be very effective in a horror film. The first one is a jump cut where the camera quickly cuts from one thing quickly to create a dramatic point.

Jump Cut Examples

The cutting rhythm indicates the speed in which the scenes are cut and can be quite a main factor in making a film a horror. If the cutting rhythm is quick and frequent then this helps install fear and suspense into the audience.

Quick Cutting Rhythm Example

Then there are things such as cross cutting, parallel editing and a cutaway shot.

Cross Cutting Example
Parallel Editing Examples
Cutaway Shot Example

CAMERA MOVEMENT - Sometimes in a horror film you will find that the camera movement seem to be very still during the calm parts and suddenly much more energetic around the scary parts. This causes the audience to react as they get used to the normal camera movements so the more energetic movements around the horror parts unsettle the audience causing them to feel fear along with the film.

Camera Movement Example

Soundtrack Organisation

I may use one or more of these in my trailer.

Nox Arcana - Lullaby

Nox Arcana - Night of the wolf

Wiccan Chant

However I may use one of the songs out of this link too.

Random songs

http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/

http://www.audionautix.com/index.html

Poster Flat Plan

Magazine Flat Plan

OR

Photoshoot Planning NEW

Are there any potential hazards that could pose a health and safety risk where your filming will take place? (Trailing cables/traffic/other objects)?

Some of my filming may take place in just a normal building. This may have a few hazards such as tripping over things however its a very low risk. Some of my filming may take place outside in the college however if it gets dark then there is a risk of something bad happening. This is due to the fact I will be out at night with equipment such as a camera. Also if I do the shoot at night then the area will be very dark so I will have to make sure that, when not doing to actual filming, the area is well lit (probably by using a flashlight). 

Will the time of day/weather affect the outcome of the videos? Have you allowed for this?

I believe that I would be able to do the filming in any type of weather however, as my film trailer is a horror, it would likely be best if it was not too sunny and maybe raining to suit the theme. My trailer will have to be set at different times of day and weather so I will just film whichever part suits the weather.

Have you considered the background to your videos, particularly if taken outside? How will you ensure you will get the background you want?

I have a few ideas on backgrounds to my videos. I want most of the trailer to be set around a normal building which wouldn't be too hard to get. If anyone is in the way during the filming then I would just ask them to leave the room for a little bit.

Do you need permission to take videos in the place/venue you have in mind?

As both places im thinking about filming are available to the public, i will not need permission to take the videos there. I will most likely use the college as the main place of filming so i will also not need permission to take the videos.

Are other people/crowds likely to be an issue for you? What have you done to ensure that it will not spoil the effect?

I will go to the place to take the filming at a time when there wont be many people around so it will not be an issue to me. However I may use the people in the background in my video if i get their permissions.

Are you reliant on lifts/props/friends' equipment/models? How have you planned that these things will come together at the appointed time? Plan B?

I should be able to get to any of the locations at any time i need to so that shouldnt be an issue. The props, if i will be using any, should be easy to get. As I have already told the people in question that they may be needed to act in my film trailer I should be able to make a time that suits everyone.

Institutions

Most of the time if a company creates a film then they will also make the trailer to go with the film. There are generally 6 main companies in the film business as shown in the picture below. These are all conglonerates meaning they own smaller companies so almost every film in Hollywood will have something to do with one of these companies.

However it costs just as much money to make a trailer so only companies with lots of money can create a trailer too. Smaller companies are less likely to make a trailer because of the money issues and if they did it would likely be not as good.

I have created another post detailing smaller film institutions and which one i would more likely use. See link below.

Small Film Institutions

Last year students work

Last Years Students Work

This link shows a youtube playlist of previous students work.

These trailers use many of the chosen conventions which i wish to incorperate into my own work, such as in the Ominous trailer where the writing comes up on the screen and explans the story, in Possessed it has a dark scary atmosphere throughout most the film and in Supernatural Encounters it has reviews placed on the screen part way through the trailer. The other trailers are msotly good however i dont wish to do what trailers such as Paranoia do where it seems too similar to other trailers, as in this case of Paranormal Activity.

Film Poster Deconstructions

This poster has a large image on the whole page which is one thing i will use in my own poster. Also it has writing on it which is shown on the first part of the trailer which i am hoping to do with my own poster to intrigue the audience more.

The main image is shown on the whole page and there is barely any writing on this poster relying on the image itself to appeal to the audience. I dont want to put too much on my poster as it would distract the audiences attention however the name of the film will be placed at the bottom as in this poster.

I am going to swap some of what this poster does in that the slogan will be placed under the name of the film and the other information will be found at the top.

Film magazine deconstructions

This magazine inspires me as there is many different things on the front cover which is a common conventions in magazines. The name of the film is placed across the middle of the magazine on a slant which intrigues and grabs the audiences attention. The main image covers the magazines name which is one of the most common conventions used on magazines. The slogan is placed in the top third of the magazine which is often one of the first places people read and will therefore attract the audiences attention.

                                                                                           This magazine inspires me because the main image is directly in the centre and attracts the audiences attention. Also the magazine name is changed to fit in with the image as it is red and has flames on it. This is different to normal mastheads which would persuade people to read it.  

      On this front cover there isnt a lot on it however it still attracts the audiences attention as the image is directly in the centre and the name of the film is quite large meaning its one of the first things that the reader will see. Also the main image covers the masthead which is a convention i would like to incorperate into my own magazine.

Film Trailer Deconstruction - Blair Witch

The Blair Witch Project - Trailer from SamW1

I will use words in my trailer as it has done in this one including non diabetic sound to make the audience more curious. I will hopefully have a dark atmosphere throughout my trailer too to give a feeling of fear.

Oculus Trailer

This trailer has given me an insight on what works well in a horror trailer. I will use a few of the techniques used in this trailer. For example there will likely be many quick cuts in my trailer to create suspense. I will also add many close ups of the main character to add sympathy. I will also add a small sting at the end to give a huge shock to the audience.

Alien Trailer deconstruction

Alien trailer from SamW1

From this deconstruction i have found out that even the simplest trailers are quite good which will be good for me as i will not have good enough resources to construct a long, complicated trailer. I will use the slowness of the beginning of this trailer in my own and add many quick clips towards the end. Hopefully this will shock the audience as my trailer is a horror.