Planning: From Initial Ideas To A 60 Second Pitch

The first activity that we under took in the process of finding the best idea for a horror film aged at a teenage audience was initial ideas. This will help us when we decide what final ideas we are going to include within our 2 minute opening for the most consistant and successful opening .  These are our initial ideas in which we have brainstormed all possible ideas that we could think of at the time for a horror film plot these are our ideas:

Horror film initial ideas

Location:

• Forest
• Secluded area
• Lake
• abandoned house

Characters:

• Young teens
• Boy and girl
• Small group

Storyline:

Woods:

• Camping out
• Alcoholic beverages, messing around
• Group of teenagers, picked off one by one

Abandoned house:

• Exploring the house
• Squatting teenagers/ families
• Hiding from danger/trouble
• Children playing games
• Paranormal source lurking within the house

Secluded area

• Quiet long empty road
• Breakdown
• One by one killed off
• Chased through the unknown

Throughout this process as a group we thought about ideas and finalising them, the below photo shows us in the process of finalising our ideas.

We then moved on to finalise our ideas for the horror film plot we all decided on an idea and then went on to create a worded plot with the idea and what would therefore occur throughout the film. We created a 60 second pitch for our final idea that can be seen below starting at 5:22 in the clip below of our groups pitches.

Research : The Importance Of Sound In Horror Films

Music is used in horror films to create a suspense while watching the film, it creates an atmosphere which makes the audience sense the danger while watching it. Music is used within a hour film to make the audience feel tension when there is a build up to danger, this is effective because it makes the audience expect jump scare or a dangerous situation to occur. If music wasn't included within the films, the scenes wouldn't be as effective, you would hear more diegetic sound which would make the film have a smaller impact on the audience. However, sometimes silence creates bigger impact on the audience that music due to they mysteriousness of it, this can make the audience think that something is going to happen that may frighten or shock them.  

Prof Daniel Blumstein, who led the study at the University of California, Los Angeles, studied the soundtracks of 102 of the world's most popular movies. From war films and dramas, to horror movies and adventure films.

The study, which involved composer Peter Kaye at Kingston University, London, looked at the music in films, as well as special effects and screams. The analysis showed that horror films had the most noisy female screams while adventure films had the most screams from men. Horror films also had an higher than expected number of abrupt shifts up and down in pitch, he reported in the Royal Society journal Biology Letters.

Dramatic films had fewer than expected screams and lower pitched sounds than other genre of movie.

The study concluded that the use of these non-linear sounds was not random, but used to 'enhance the emotional impact of scenes'. An example of these effects are displayed within the film 'The Shining':

The Shining — 'Here's Johnny'

The sound within this film is so important as it is balanced out with the diegetic and non-diegetic sounds. the non-diegetic sounds create tension that only the audience can hear, this is increased when danger starts to strike, the music is increased to create a tension while the audience is watching the film.

Finding out this information will help me when creating my main task, it will help me when placing music into my task. It will also help me on choising which kind of music I will place in the opening  scene to make sure that it is suitable and effective within the scene. 

Research: The Importance Of Opening Titles

As I went through the opening scene, I noted down all of the titles that show and what time they had shown. I found out that there was a lot of titles displaying who was involved within the making and cast of the film. I wrote down every word that appeared on the screen including a the names of the cast and producers and the title of the film which appeared in the middle of the titles. 

For the typography, I looked at the various font sizes and styles and noted down what I seen when the text appeared. The text flickered throughout so I noted down the effects that were displayed when the text was shown. 

                                       

For the visual effects, I noted down all of the different things that appeared on the screen, his varied from the setting of the scene, the lighting and when it changed, the images that appeared on the screen, and the text that appeared including titles and information about the producers. I watched the opening scene various times to make sure that I picked up all of the visual effects that the film opening displayed. 

                                     

For the elements of sound, I closed my eyes in order to ignore the visual effects and elements in order to pick up every element of sound. I noted down all of the changes in music and any other various sounds that were packed in the background, the varied from a range of different sounds. I repeated this process a few times to make sure that I had noted down all of the element of sound that were presented in the opening scene. 

I have learnt from this task that the music has large impact on the audiences reaction, for example if it is an every type of music, it can create an edgy feel. I have also learnt that changing the lighting throughout the opening scene can create a large impact due to the danger is portrays. I have also learnt that showing a bare minimal of the characters within the opening scene creates a mysterious effect, it makes the audience detect the danger without actually seeing any of it. I have learnt that in order to create a successful opening scene, you need to include a vast amount of opening titles to inform the audience on significant information such as the main characters. I have learnt that including effects that reflect the genre of the film sets the scene and makes the audience feel a tension earlier on the film.  

Research Essay: Codes And Conventions In Existing Horror Films Aimed At A Teenage Audience

A code in a film is a system of signs that can create different meanings; there are two different categories of codes - technical and symbolic. Technical codes are the equipment which is used to tell the story in a media text; this is the way the camera is used to work effectively in a film or editing the use of sound.  Symbolic codes are used through things like mise-en-scene. For example characters feelings can be portrayed through actions, a costume can be decoded to portray what type of person they are. Other props can also suggest other things to the audience.  Some codes fit both like music for example as it is both technical and symbolic. Conventions are ways of doing things in order to complete/perform something. There are different conventions in any type of medium. For example, during a horror film, conventions may include being split up from another  character in order to portray loneliness, they can also include falling or tripping while running away from the danger. Another convention that may occur within a horror film is when the characters are in sight with safety and something goes wrong. An example of a code is the way the camera follows the footsteps when the characters are running away from danger. They also use various camera angles top create tension such as point of view shots in order to make the audience sense what the character is seeing.

Dead Wood starts off with an opening scene of a man running through the woods and as the audience, we sense danger through the codes, these include music in the background to sense the predator even though we cannot see it. He eventually jumps over a ditch and grabs the other side but at this point he is grabbed from below and killed. The codes that are included within the opening scene are the music played in the background for the audience to sense the predator without actually seeing it. Another code that is used is mis-en-scene, the man’s shirt is ripped in order to show struggle. His face is also covered in blood to show violence and danger; these codes suggest to the audience that he has already come into contact with danger. Codes also include how the camera is filming the scene, in the opening scene of Dead Wood, the camera is seen to be moving up and down to illustrate a running motion, the camera angles also include a point of view shot to show what the character is seeing, this create tension while the audience watch the film as they are being put in the characters shoes. They also include a high angle shot when the man is hanging over the ditch to show how high up the man is, this is also used to show the danger. They also increase the tension within the music as the man starts the run faster in order to create an impact on the audience, they use various close up angles to show the fear on the characters face to show that the character is close to danger. Conventions that are included within the opening of the film include being in the woods, this indicates that nobody is around, a sense of loneliness. They also include the man running and tripping over, this is used to make the audience think they are going to be captured by the predator, and it is also used to create a worry. Also, the man is running on his own through the woods, and his partner is in a tent on her own, this creates a thought of loneliness as they are both on their own, another convention included in the opening scene is when the man is running away from danger, he doesn’t call for help from the other character, instead he keeps quiet, this creates a thought in the audiences head that they are on their own, safety is also in sight when the man reaches the other side of the ditch, he sees the tent where the other character is in.

Dead Mary starts off with the opening scene of a man and a woman in the middle of the woods while their car has broken down, it starts off with the woman being on her own in the car, the man then arrives shortly after with some petrol to fill up the car. The codes that are involved within this opening scene include the music that is played in the background while the woman is in the car on her own, this makes the audience sense the predator but we haven’t yet seen it yet. It creates tension within the opening scene. Another code that is used is the various different camera angles that create a sense of danger, these include a close-up to show the characters involved, it also includes a longshot to show another individual approaching the car, and they use a longshot so that the audience question whether it is a predator but we later find out it is her partner, they use a longshot so that the audience witness the scene where it is set. The mis-en-scene that is included shows a young woman who has very revealing clothing on, this suggests to the audience that stereotypically, she could be helpless during a dangerous situation. The sound include metallic sound as it increases when the predator is sensed, the sound also links in with the conventions as the radio breaks up and create a crackling sound to portray to the audience that they are in the middle of nowhere. The conventions that are used during the opening scene include the phones having no signal, this creates a sense of danger to illustrate to the audience that there is no way she can contact anyone easily. Another convention that is used is the scene where it is set, the sign that is shown states that it is the last gas station for a long time, this portrays to the audience that they are far away from anyone. They are also separated as well to suggest to the audience that they are both alone in the abandoned area.   

The film Wrong Turn starts off with the opening scene of a couple climbing a cliff, the man reaches the top first as the woman struggles below, she shouts for his help but she hears silence back. He is then hit as the audience can hear but not see and then he is chucked over the cliff and she is left cutting her rope in order for her to reach safety. The codes that are used in the opening scene include an establishing shot of the two people climbing the cliff, this shows to the audience that they are in a dangerous, deserted place. This indicates to the audience that nobody is around. This creates a sense of danger to the audience. They also use codes such as a high angle shot to show to the audience that they are high up and exposed to danger. The sound that is used is played quietly in the background while they are both climbing the cliff, however when he reaches the top and she is left dangling over the cliff, the music picks up to build tension. This makes the audience think the worst, when the woman is being pulled up by an unknown predator, the music increases even more in order to create a sense of fear to the audience. As the man is thrown over the edge, the music stops in order to create a sense of fear from the woman. The music is non-diegetic therefore the characters cannot hear the music while performing. The camera shots and angles create a feel for the environment surrounding them; it suggests that they are alone in the woods and that they are not very close to help. The conventions included in the opening scene include being in an abandoned forest area, it suggest that they are alone with no help close by, another convention is the woman can see the car which can bring her safety but instead she trips and is dragged back by the unknown predator. They are also separated from each other as the man reaches the top before the woman does, he is then out of sight in order to create a sense of mystery. The woman trips over which slows her down, this happens to create tension while the audience watch as there is a chance that she may not reach safety.    

Research: Codes and Convention Of Horror Films

Codes:
A Code in a film is a system of signs that can create different meanings. There are two different categories of codes - technical and symbolic.


A technical codes are basically the equipment which is used to tell the story in a media text, this is like the way the camera is used to work in a film or editing the use of sound.


Symbolic codes are used through things like mise-en-scene. For example a characters feelings can be portrayed through actions. A costume can be decoded to see what type of person they really are. Other props can also suggest other things to the audience.


Some codes fit both like music for example as it is both technical and symbolic.


Conventions:
These are the ways of doing things in order to do something. There are different conventions in any type of medium.


types of conventions in a horror film-


Secluded location
Generally, horror movies enjoy placing their characters in a locale where there's no one around to help them i.e. the woods, a ghost town, a summer camp, a dormitory during off season, anything abandoned or a house in the middle of nowhere, anywhere that only includes the cast and no one else in sight can be used in a horror movie.

Characters Forget About Threat
.Many times there is danger, death, a curse, or worse and people know about it, but they conveniently place it out of their minds.
.It is almost always a negative thing in a movie. 'So, lots of campers have been disembowelled here?' 'Yeah, and they found somebody's head a few days ago and foot tracks leading to the cave nearby.' 'Oh, that's too bad. Who wants to play truth or dare?'

Power Is Cut
At the scariest moment possible, the lights suddenly disappear. An ancient staple, probably leading back to a time before there was electricity.
 Note to would-be serial killers: MAKE SURE YOU CUT THE POWER BEFORE YOU BEGAN A MASSICARE, BUT DONT WORRY CHANCES ARE NO ONE WILL THINK ITS OUT OF THE ORDINARY.

Phone Lines Are Out
The killers always take out the phones, even in their own home (Miser-1990) so that no one will attract the attention of any pesky policeman, concerned civic leaders, zombies killers, or vampire hunters. Almost all horror films where a phone can be seen will have the phone lines cut, It seems like a law for horror movies.
In the recent age of cellular phones, things have changed- the mobile phone is damaged, a phones battery has run out, someone goes somewhere where there is no service, or the phone disappears

Someone Investigates A Strange Noise
This is one of the most unbelievable, yet most overused horror movie convention. Still
image that all of your friends have been horrifically murder by a unseen killer. You hear a loud or strange noise coming from a dark room or escaping from the depths of the woods. would you go ALONE,UNARMED AND WEAK to investigate and probably end up with your guts on the end of their knife. No? I wouldn't either but it seems that every horror character does or gets half way, trips up and the murder magical appears and brutally kills them.

Someone Runs Upstairs Instead Of Outside
You will frequently see potential victims running past open doors to the outside world (and safety) in a desperate attempt to get upstairs where they can lock themselves in a 'safe' place where the murder some how breaks in, appears with out breaking in or is all ready in the room even thought they were chasing the victim upstairs.

Victim Cowers In Front Of  A Window Or Door
An old , easy scare in 'Slashers' is to have someone hiding from, the killer against a door/wall/window only to have the killers hand break through the hiding spot and grab them.
The victim looks out the window, sees nothing and when they turn away the killer jumps thought or as soon as they look out the window or thought a crack in the door the killer somehow pops up at the exact time. This time of convention can be very effective but usually its not.

Victim Inexplicably Falls Over
Why? Just why. When ever there is a murder chasing them the victim always seems to fall over the smallest object to find them self's crying and abandoned by friends to be greeted by death.

Vehicle Won't Start
This can happen to any vehicle, from snowmobiles to motorcycles to spaceships to the chain falling odd a bicycle. But this seems to only happen when the murder is right behind them but when they enter there location is works perfectly fine with no signs of it breaking down later on. This is a classic scare then normal appears near the end of the film or in the middle, depends on the killers mood.

The Fake Scare
A fake scare is one of the oldest and most over used conventions in horror films. They can take on any shape and size, but in general, any scare in a  film that is not connected to the threat ( A friend jumps out, a door slams, someone looks into a mirror, someone new enters the room unnoticed, the phone rings, someone bumps into a department store mannequin, a bell rings, something falls, Someone is tapped on the shoulder or grabbed, a policeman knocks on the car window or door, a balloon pops, a bird files out of the tries or window or closet , something falls out of the closest that made a noise earlier on, a car alarm going off, someone cell phone rings, music turns on, the tv turns off or on, anything turns on or off unexpectedly and so on.) is a fake on. They are easy to do and can be very effective or completely stupid.

Warning Goes Unheeded
It is human nature to go where one is told not to go and do what one is advised against. This can be achieved in  many ways: someone has a dream that something nasty will befall all who go on that ski-trip ( yet they go no matter what), there is a rumoured curse regarding a discovered object( and they take it anyway), there is a sign which clearly states not to go in the abandoned house. (but they still go in anyway)...

Someone Is Killed In The First 5 Minutes
This is a handy convention as it helps the audience understand what the story line will be about quicker. This scare is normally in 'Slashers' but can appear in some paranormal films. Jaws, House, Halloween and Scream used this convention very effectively.

X Years Before/Later
This convention either indicates a prologue, setting up the events that happened before out story (such as the first couple minutes of Halloween or The Descent), or a film where we see the latter effects of an incident (Like I Know What You Did Last Summer), or an extensive flashback used to explain things (why the boarding house is haunted, why Jimmy is in the mental institution, why Carrie cant remember her parents, what lurks in the crawlspace under the house etc.,). A lot of 5 years later or 2 weeks will be superimposed on the screen.

The Stormy Night
Since the days of Victorian Horror, and even before, this has been one of the genre's most overused clichés. It may stem from he fact most people have a childhood fear of thunder. or that lighting and rain can create a horrific atmosphere.

The Short Cut
Most horror character take the short cut thinking that it will lead them to a happy, beautiful place but instead it leads them to hell. Normally the killer is waiting at the end of the road but if the killer isn't then the characters most likely get stuck in mud or water , or find a abandoned building to investigate what leads to all the other conventions to occur.