Progress Report-31st January 2013
For the past few weeks in Media Studies, we have began working on our practical project, in which we have to make the first two minutes of a new film. In order to do this, each member of our group had to write the full storyline for an individual idea for a new film, but before we did this, we had to decide on which genre our new film was going to be. After weighing up the pros and cons of each genre, we eventually decided to make a horror film, as we felt this would be the easiest type of film to make. We each wrote our individual film ideas and then decided whose film idea to make the first two minutes of. The film we are making is called The Gift, a supernatural horror film about a vengeful spirit who kills whoever receives her "gift" which is passed from victim to victim. After deciding we were going to make this film, we have begun our research into similar films, which included watching and analysing the first ten to fifteen minutes of a similar film and researching our genre. The research included finding out the different conventions of horror films and looking at films similar to ours. We have also researched different certificates of films and what content of a film makes it fall under a certain rating. After this, we looked at the opening sequence of Seven, a horror thriller and analysed the clip we were shown and wrote the analysis up.
Our next step is to send out our film questionnaire, write up the results and research into a possible distributor of our film.
Thursday, 31 January 2013
Wednesday, 30 January 2013
Analysis of a Title Sequence
Seven
The title sequence of the film Seven begins with a close up of a book, which shows this book must have some significance to the film. Opening credits flash onto the screen saying "New Line Cinema Presents" and this will give the audience an idea about what kind of film this is, as New Line Cinema are known for making a certain type of film, these tend to be indie or edgy.
Extreme close ups are shown of a person's hands and what they are writing, suggesting that this person is planning something and thus complying to the paradigms of the horror thriller genre, as it may seem that this person is planning a murder and this is what the audience may be expecting to see in this genre of film. The sound is non-diegetic, eerie music that almost sounds like a scream, which relates to the film plot. The sounds almost become mechanical, suggesting that the person is doing what they are because they feel that they need to, as though they are a machine that does things becuase it has been programmed to.
A close up of a photo of a pair of strange looking hands creates a feeling of uneasiness, as it looks as though the hands are about to choke someone. Also, a red line can be seen running through the picture of the hands, suggesting that something is not right. The lighting has been underexposed throughout these shots, implying that the film is dark and mysterious. A close up of a razor blade is shown in order to signify death or murder and the white opening credits appear on a black background, again, like the underexposed lighting, suggests the film is dark. Also, the writing looks as though it has been scrated onto the screen, which could have been used to contrast with the screeching music and sounds. Most of the exreme close ups are out of focus, creatng a bigger sense of mystery to the films opening.
The shots are also shown in double exposure, where two things on the screen are being focused on at the same time. This implies to the audience that the persons who is writing in the book does not see the world normally, as though they have a split personality and therfore creating an uncomfortable feeling. This is done again through an exreme close up of the book, as it shows the writing upside down, implying the persons world is upside down.
The editing has mainly consisted to this point of fast-paced cuts and over-lap edits, as it looks as though the person who is writing in the book is doing so very quickly.
A red filter appears very briefly on the screen, signifying that death or danger is looming from what the person is doing. A scraping noise can be heard as the person drags their thumb across a piece of paper and almost sounds as though they are cutting someone or could signify they are planning a murder, as there is a picture above the paper where they scarped their thumb. This can be linked back to the earlier shots of the persons hands and what they are writing, as both of these suggest the person is planning a murder, again relating to the film paradigms.
The opening credits looking as though they are scratched into the screen almost make the writing look as though it is part of the notebook, so the audience may feel that what they are watching is part of the persons book and they are inside this persons head.
Non-diegetic screeches are heard as a close up is shown of a mans face being blacked out with a marker pen, suggesting that the character who cannot be seen is planning to murder the man n the picture, especially seen as a red filter appears briefly on screen after this. The music is now getting much louder and the screeches are becoming more intense as an extreme close up shows what looks like a needle being pulled out of a thumb, although, the needle is just being wiped, as there is blood on it, which signifies that something is wrong.
An image of a child is shown in the background while the unknown character fiddles with strands of hair, which may lead the audience to believe the boy in the photo has been murdered or has some significance to what the person is planning. The word "God" can be seen on an upside down dollar bill, linking back to the earlier image of the upside down writing and implying the persons world is upside down. The word God is then removed from the dollar bill and a voice says "You get me closer to God", which is the final shot of the opening sequence and suggests to the audience that the person is trying to bring himslef closer to God by doing what he is doing or may be trying to play God. This entire title sequence creates dramatic tension and mystery for the audience, so may make them want to continue watching the rest of the film as they may think it looks interesting and want to find out what the person with the book is up to.
Seven
Extreme close ups are shown of a person's hands and what they are writing, suggesting that this person is planning something and thus complying to the paradigms of the horror thriller genre, as it may seem that this person is planning a murder and this is what the audience may be expecting to see in this genre of film. The sound is non-diegetic, eerie music that almost sounds like a scream, which relates to the film plot. The sounds almost become mechanical, suggesting that the person is doing what they are because they feel that they need to, as though they are a machine that does things becuase it has been programmed to.
A close up of a photo of a pair of strange looking hands creates a feeling of uneasiness, as it looks as though the hands are about to choke someone. Also, a red line can be seen running through the picture of the hands, suggesting that something is not right. The lighting has been underexposed throughout these shots, implying that the film is dark and mysterious. A close up of a razor blade is shown in order to signify death or murder and the white opening credits appear on a black background, again, like the underexposed lighting, suggests the film is dark. Also, the writing looks as though it has been scrated onto the screen, which could have been used to contrast with the screeching music and sounds. Most of the exreme close ups are out of focus, creatng a bigger sense of mystery to the films opening. 
The shots are also shown in double exposure, where two things on the screen are being focused on at the same time. This implies to the audience that the persons who is writing in the book does not see the world normally, as though they have a split personality and therfore creating an uncomfortable feeling. This is done again through an exreme close up of the book, as it shows the writing upside down, implying the persons world is upside down. The editing has mainly consisted to this point of fast-paced cuts and over-lap edits, as it looks as though the person who is writing in the book is doing so very quickly.
A red filter appears very briefly on the screen, signifying that death or danger is looming from what the person is doing. A scraping noise can be heard as the person drags their thumb across a piece of paper and almost sounds as though they are cutting someone or could signify they are planning a murder, as there is a picture above the paper where they scarped their thumb. This can be linked back to the earlier shots of the persons hands and what they are writing, as both of these suggest the person is planning a murder, again relating to the film paradigms. The opening credits looking as though they are scratched into the screen almost make the writing look as though it is part of the notebook, so the audience may feel that what they are watching is part of the persons book and they are inside this persons head.
Non-diegetic screeches are heard as a close up is shown of a mans face being blacked out with a marker pen, suggesting that the character who cannot be seen is planning to murder the man n the picture, especially seen as a red filter appears briefly on screen after this. The music is now getting much louder and the screeches are becoming more intense as an extreme close up shows what looks like a needle being pulled out of a thumb, although, the needle is just being wiped, as there is blood on it, which signifies that something is wrong. 
Tuesday, 29 January 2013
Practice deciding which shots to use from a script
Practice deciding which shots to use from a script
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Analysis of title sequence
Se7en
The introduction to se7en is very dark, the images go past
so fast it’s hard to tell what your seeing. It’s mainly in grey scale, with the
directors names in white, against a black background. The cuts are very fast,
and some images seem to flash at you. It shows someone creating a journal, and
overall reminds me of American Horror Story, which is probably a pastiche of
Se7en. The music in it also reminds me of American Horror Story.
The first shot is of the journal, the words are blurred,
nothings still, and it very faced paced. This makes the journal seem to be
alive, and animalistic. It mirrors the man’s mind, and his animalistic urge to
kill. Between this and the next shot there’s a bang sound, and it goes to a
film negative.
The next shot is of two hands; this is a photograph, tuck in
a book. It represents age and disability. The position of the hands look like
they could be around someone’s neck, it flashes in your mind ‘choking’.
Because
the hands look frail, it makes you think it’s the victim being chocked. With
how fast the hands are on for it makes it look like they’re coming for you.
There’s a red line through the page, this suggests that something’s wrong, also
the camera angle is wonky, also making you think something’s not quite right. A
shadow moves over the image, and the light seems to be swinging behind them
this makes the viewer feel uncomfortable, like their being watched.
The next shot is a close up of a razor blade, a metallic
scream starts. It makes the viewer think ‘death’, the sound starts like a
scream, but them ends metallic. This hints towards the killer being a machine,
he kills because he needs to, he’s driven to. He isn’t human, no emotions, no
soul, empty and this makes him seem more dangerous.
Brad Pitt’s name pops up next, the font looks like it’s
written by a child, hinting towards innocence. The scratching sound sounds like
chalk against a blackboard, it’s not quite in focus, making the viewer feel
‘blind’, therefore powerless.
The next shot is a close up of fingers, taking off dead skin
with a razor (this could be glue) but with how fast it is, and with the
previous images of fingers and razors and the razor sounds it appears dark and
scary.
Then there’s a close up of something, it’s blurry, unrecognizable It could be a developing picture. Then the title appears,
Se7en, and it’s scratched.
Next you get a quick shot of a bandaged finger.
The next shot is of the journal, and the man writing in it,
the lines look repeated, and it doesn’t look like words (more like symbols).
This is achieved by a double exposure; you don’t see things in focus. It then
goes back into focus, and the words are upside down. This shows the image is
important, not the words. It’s also implies that the world is upside down,
making you feel weird.
The next shot has a red tint, which ripple, it looks like
blood. This could be the liquid used to develop pictures.
You then see the man cut some film with some scissors, and
he sticks this under the words sexuality and homosexuality.
It then goes to some notes, and his fingers again. He then
sticks a picture down.
He then goes through some documents and blacks out some words, which he finds inappropriate, like sexuality and pregnancy.
Next you have a close up of a face, which looks like a
ghostly face against a window, it’s hard to make out as a face. You hear the
scraping noise again, which relates to the razor. There’s another close up of
the book, but it’s unreadable. The man then runs his finger across the edge of
the picture, but it sounds like a razor. The viewer gets the impression he’s
cutting someone up.
The next scene is of a boys face, and the man crosses his
eyes out. This means you can no longer tell what his face looks like, he’s lost
his identity. Maybe he’s dead. Suddenly it jumps to the same picture but now
his entire face is crossed out, at this point the music becomes a lot darker
and louder. This makes the view think that now he’s killed someone, everything’s
been building up to this.
Then there is another red tint, which makes the viewer think
that he definitely has killed someone.
The fingers are now dirty (he’s done something to make them
dirty, killed someone?) He then starts to bind his note book, but when watching
this for the first time you don’t know what he’s doing. The binder is metal,
and looks similar to many razors.
There’s then cut up pictures of body parts. This mirrors cut
up bodies, and restablishes the fact that he has killed someone. The pictures
move away, showing that one of the pictures of a head has something stuck into
the back. Because of the dark nature of the intro this seems very dark, and
like a torture (instead of a medical procedure, which it probably was).
The next scene shows the man wiping a needle, but it looks
like he’s pulling something from his finger. It’s not until the next shot when
you can tell that he was cleaning the needle, because then he threads it.
The next shot is a a extreme close up of a one dollar bill. You can’t tell what it is the first time you watch it, God sticks out from the bill. At the end of the intro the a voice sings ‘you get me closer
to God’. This shows that the killer thinks he’s equal/ above God, or that he is
God. He can take a life when he wants to.
The music has a rhythm that sounds like a/ mimics heart
beat, which pulls the viewer in more.
Similar Films: What other films have the actors been in?
The Grudge
Sarah Michelle Gellar: She was known for playing the main role in the TV series of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. This shows that this actress has previously starred in something that holds a convention of the horror genre, meaning she may play a good role in a horror film. She has also starred in other horror films such as:
The Ring
Naomi Watts: she starred in the sequel, The Ring 2, but overall is not known for being in horror films, as she has starred in films that vary in genre, including dramas or romantic films. Despite not being an actor familiar with the horror genre, she still received positive reviews for her performance in The Ring, with critics saying "She is excellent in this leading role, which proves her stellar performance in Mullholland Drive was not a fluke. She strikes a perfect balance between sceptism and the slow realisation of the truth in regard to the deadly power of the videotape."
This proves that actors who have not been in a horror film before can exceed the expectations of the audience and the critics.
The Crow
Brandon Lee: He was not known for making films outside the genre of Kung-Fu action, like his father, Bruce Lee. However, making the supernatural horror fantasy The Crow gained him critical acclaim, especially after his tragic death before the filming finished. The Crow proved to the critics that Brandon Lee could act in other films as well as Kung-Fu action and that he could potray emotionally damaged characters.
Tony Todd: played a villain in The Crow. This actor has been in several horror films including:
Drag Me to Hell
Justin Long: This actor starred in the film as the victims boyfriend. He is mainly known for starring in comedy films or family films such as:
This shows that actors who are well known for only starring in a certain genre can sometimes pull away and star in something that is of a completely different genre to what they are known for.
The Grudge
Sarah Michelle Gellar: She was known for playing the main role in the TV series of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. This shows that this actress has previously starred in something that holds a convention of the horror genre, meaning she may play a good role in a horror film. She has also starred in other horror films such as:
- I Know What You Did Last Summer
- The Grudge 2(sequel)
- Scream 2- in this film, she played a ditzy soroity girl who became a victim of the killer because she ran upstairs instead of getting out of the house. This shows that Sarah Michelle Gellar does not always play the main role of the protagonist, as in Scream 2, she was playing the role of a character paradigm, as audiences of horror films will be expecting the film to include a ditzy blonde female character.
- The Return
The Ring
Naomi Watts: she starred in the sequel, The Ring 2, but overall is not known for being in horror films, as she has starred in films that vary in genre, including dramas or romantic films. Despite not being an actor familiar with the horror genre, she still received positive reviews for her performance in The Ring, with critics saying "She is excellent in this leading role, which proves her stellar performance in Mullholland Drive was not a fluke. She strikes a perfect balance between sceptism and the slow realisation of the truth in regard to the deadly power of the videotape."
This proves that actors who have not been in a horror film before can exceed the expectations of the audience and the critics.
The Crow
Brandon Lee: He was not known for making films outside the genre of Kung-Fu action, like his father, Bruce Lee. However, making the supernatural horror fantasy The Crow gained him critical acclaim, especially after his tragic death before the filming finished. The Crow proved to the critics that Brandon Lee could act in other films as well as Kung-Fu action and that he could potray emotionally damaged characters.
Tony Todd: played a villain in The Crow. This actor has been in several horror films including:
- Night of the Living Dead (1990)
- Candyman
- Candyman: Farewell to the Flesh
- Candyman: Day of the Dead
- WishMaster
- Hatchet
- Hatchet 2
- The Final Destination franchise
Drag Me to Hell
Justin Long: This actor starred in the film as the victims boyfriend. He is mainly known for starring in comedy films or family films such as:
- Dodgeball
- The Break-Up
- The Alvin and The Chipmunks live action films
- Herbie Fully Loaded
- Funny People
- Pineapple Express
- Going The Distance
This shows that actors who are well known for only starring in a certain genre can sometimes pull away and star in something that is of a completely different genre to what they are known for.
Monday, 28 January 2013
Film Ratings-15
No themes are limited in a 15 certificate film, as long as the treatment is appropriate for people over the age of fifteen. Violence in a film rated 15 may be strong, but should not involve or consist of the infliction of pain or injury. Strong, gory images are unlikely to be shown in a film under the 15 certificate and sexual violence is also unlikely to be acceptable. Drug use can be shown in a 15, but cannot be promoting or encouraging drug taking. Many horror films are rated 15, which can contain strong threat, horror, disturbing images and menace as long as it is not sadistic or sexualised. Dangerous behaviour such as hanging, suicide or sefl-harm may be allowed to be involved but should not be shown in alot of detail, as it could be copied by members of the audience. Any other dangerous behaviour that may be copied will be cut from a film under a 15 certificate.
Examples of horror films which are rated 15 include:
No themes are limited in a 15 certificate film, as long as the treatment is appropriate for people over the age of fifteen. Violence in a film rated 15 may be strong, but should not involve or consist of the infliction of pain or injury. Strong, gory images are unlikely to be shown in a film under the 15 certificate and sexual violence is also unlikely to be acceptable. Drug use can be shown in a 15, but cannot be promoting or encouraging drug taking. Many horror films are rated 15, which can contain strong threat, horror, disturbing images and menace as long as it is not sadistic or sexualised. Dangerous behaviour such as hanging, suicide or sefl-harm may be allowed to be involved but should not be shown in alot of detail, as it could be copied by members of the audience. Any other dangerous behaviour that may be copied will be cut from a film under a 15 certificate.
Examples of horror films which are rated 15 include:
- Sinister
- The Grudge (2004 remake) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0391198/parentalguide#certification- link to the parental advisory page for The Grudge on IMDB
- The Ring (2002 remake)
- Paranormal Activity http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1179904/parentalguide#certification - link to the parental advisory page for Paranormal Activity on IMDB
- Insidious
- When A Stranger Calls
- Chernobyl Diaries
- Drag Me To Hell
- Boo
- House of Wax (remake)
Film Age Ratings-18
Films which are rated 18 may contain strong horror, blood and gore, very strong violence, drug use and strong portrayals of sex, including sexual violence.
Examples of horror films which are under an 18 film certificate are:
Films which are rated 18 may contain strong horror, blood and gore, very strong violence, drug use and strong portrayals of sex, including sexual violence.
Examples of horror films which are under an 18 film certificate are:
- A Nightmare on Elm Street
- Friday the 13th
- Halloween 1978-if this film was released today, it may be released under a 15 certificate, as the film did not contain much blood or gore.
- Halloween Uncut
- The Excorcist
- The Crow http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0109506/parentalguide#certification -link to the content advisory page on IMDB for The Crow
- The Last House on The Left- this film was rated R18 in some countries because of how explicit it was seen. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0068833/parentalguide -link to the content advisory page on IMDB for The Last House on The Left
- The Devil's Rejects
Sunday, 27 January 2013
Practise Script condense
As part of practising writing our scripts and storyboards for our film, we were given an extract from a script of a ten minute film someone had made. We then had to read through it and annotate it saying what camera angles, shots or transitions we think would be used, as seen in the image below.
Friday, 25 January 2013
Similar Films
Supernatural Horrors
Some examples of supernatural horror films are:
Supernatural Horrors
Some examples of supernatural horror films are:
- The Grudge- This film was originally a Japanese horror but was remade by American filmakers in 2004, making the new version a pastiche. The plot centres around an American college student studying with her boyfriend in Japan who falls foul of a deadly curse after entering a house where a woman and her son were killed by her husband in a grip of rage. Because of this murder, a curse was born in the house in which the woman's vengeful spirit kills anyone who enters her house, even following them to their own homes or place of work to kill them. This causes the curse to be born repeatedly, passing from victim to victim in an endless chain. The American remake had many different components than the original Ju-On: The Grudge, as Ju-On used several Japanese actors who were relatively unknown whereas the remake used recognisable actors such as Sarah Michelle Gellar and Bill Pullman, so the main charcter was a "pretty" girl, which is what the American audiences may have been expecting. Also, the remake cut a few scenes and subplots from the original and in the original, the ghost of the girl looked human, so it was more terrifying for audiences to watch because it looked so realistic. The Japanese version did not rely on the creepy music to create dramatic tension, whereas the American version did.
- The Ring- Just like the Grudge, this was originally a Japanese horror film which was remade by American film makers, making the new version a pastiche. The film involves a mysterious and cursed videotape, which contains seemingly random but disturbing images on it. After watching the tape, the viewer receives a phone call where a girls voice tells them they will die in seven days. Both The Ring and The Grudge link to the film that we are making, as the story contains the vengeful spirit of a girl who was killed and to get revenge for her murder, her ghost is present in a gift which is passed from victim to victim in an endless chain. Similar to the remake of The Grudge, the Ring remake relied on suprises and not tension and was overdependent on the special effects and music, which again shows that the conventions of horror can change with thr nationaility of the film. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TuH5FaUpFm4 - link to The Ring 2002 movie trailer
- The Crow- A 1994 supernatural, action fantasy film about a poetic guitarist who, after he and his girlfriend are brutally murdered, is brought back to life by a mysterious crow so he can avenge their murders by killing off their murderers one by one. This film relates to the film that we are making because the spirit is out for revenge for her murder, like Eric Draven, the main character in The Crow. Seen as The Crow is based on a comic book series of the same name, audiences will have expected the film to be more action-packed than scary, despite the fact that the film was supposed to be a "revenge horror".
- Insidious- This 2010 horror film tells the story of a family in search of help for their son, Dalton, who has fallen into a coma after a mysterious incident in attic. Little do they know that there is much more to this coma than meets the eye as they explore the paranormal, and rediscover the past; the key to getting their son back once and for all. The supernatural elements of this films link in with our film The Gift. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1YbOMDI59k- link to Insidious official movie trailer
- Drag Me To Hell- This 2009 Horror Thriller is about a young loans officer who falls foul of a deadly curse after refusing an extension on a loan for an old woman. Out of revenge, the woman, who turns out to be a gypsy, places a curse on the girl in which she will be sent to hell in three days time. The girl spends the following days trying to prevent the curse from falling into place with the help of a psychic, but faces many obstacles in her way as a demon torments her. This is a very similar film to ours, as the teenager in the film who receives the gift spends the following days after receiving the gift trying to find a way to prevent the spirit coming for them.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTja60P2ytc- link to Drag Me To Hell official movie trailer.
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