Film production-fiction
Task 1
research
Horror
Horror is a genre of film and television whose purpose is to create feelings of fear, dread, disgust, and terror in the audience. The primary goal is to develop an atmosphere that puts the audience on edge and scares them.
Mise-en-scene
(settings and props)
Horror movies sometimes take place in a foreboding rural area or a deserted place where no one would be. The majority of areas are deserted and remote. This makes the movie mysterious and suspicious the entire time. Frequently included are locations with a sombre past, such as deserted homes and lone graveyards. As mystery and the supernatural are the primary themes in gothic horror movies, castles, cemeteries, and eerie homes would typically be used as the backdrops for such movies. The main props included in horror films would be weapons such as knifes, axes and chainsaws which would create a slow, painful death. The more violent the weapons are, the better the reaction to the film would be because horror films are supposed to be quite gruesome.
(lighting and colour)
Commonly, all of the gory parts of Horror films are set at night in the dark. Shadows and secretive humanly shapes create fear among the audience because they are unable to match an identity to the person. Shadows would be created through low- key lighting to add the effect of uncertainty of the attacker. The fear of the unknown frightens the audience. Black, red, grey and brown would all be colours considered for a horror film as they all signify danger and tragedy. Red signifies the most danger out of these colours because red can represent various things such as anger, aggression, blood, fire, war and violence. Whereas black signifies power, fear, mystery, unhappiness, evil and remorse. The colour white is often associated with supernatural horror movies. Therefore, the use of colour is a powerful form because it allows the audience to identify what type of message the film is sending.
(Costumes and makeup)
The majority of characters, especially the victims in horror movies, appear to be dressed simply, yet a lot of thought has gone into choosing their attire to hint at their personalities and roles in the film. If the victim was a teen female, her hair, makeup, and outfit would indicate that she isn't the movie's innocent victim. Although the villains wear specific outfits (e.g., some wear masks) to conceal their identities and instil dread in the audience.
(Facial expression and body language)
Since the primary point of a horror is to entertain through fear, a lot of the facial expressions employed in horror movies would be those of panic and terror. The malevolent characters' masks are probably painted with small smirks or scary smiles that seem to tease the victim. The victims' body language would indicate that they were fleeing from the nasty personalities out of fear. The villain would be standing over the victim with an authoritative and domineering posture. This demonstrates their ability to exert pressure on and frighten the defenceless person in the scene.
(Sound techniques)
Diegetic:
Screams, Knocking Doors, Whispers.
Non-Diegetic:
Scary, frightening soundtracks and other sounds made in post-production.
SFX:
1. Breathing
Breathing sound effects are one of many essential horror audio tracks. But filmmakers can play with all sorts of breathing to unnerve audiences.
If a character has been running but stops to hide, their heavy breathing might just give them away to their pursuer. Similarly, when a character is dying, the actor and even the sound designer can really play with how their breathing changes from second to second.
2. Monster vocalisations
In a monster horror film, the creature’s breathing will be an absolutely essential ingredient. Sound designers can also play with other non-speaking vocalisations, like roars, hisses (think Ridley Scott’s Alien) or calls to other monsters.
3. Footsteps
Nothing creates tension and terror quite like the footsteps of a killer or creature pursuing its victim. Sound designers can play with the volume and character of footsteps, and by adding reverb, delay and other effects to the audio mix, these footfalls can take on much more sonic complexity.
4. Ghost sound effects
Ghost sound effects can vary from whooshing sounds and a strange ambiance to abstract or indistinct vocalisations. Horror sound designers will typically heavily process sound to give the ghost sound effects an otherworldly vibe.
5. Stabbing, slashing, and other flesh wound sounds
Sounds for stabbing, slashing, impaling, and other mortal flesh wounds, sounds of gore.
(stereotypes)
The Killer:
Most important figure in most horror movies. Sometimes it’s a monster, sometimes it’s a ghost, and sometimes it’s just a person who seems to take an inordinate amount of pleasure in slaughtering people.
The Final Girl:
This figure is in some ways the most important and enduring one, particularly in the slasher films that were so popular during the 1970s and 1980s. She is typically the only one who survives the slaughter that takes place during the film, and she usually gets the opportunity to take down the villain. Although that victory is usually shown to be incomplete at best and futile at worst.
The Hunter:
These guys are what even the score for the slaughter. These guys might be the ones to come in and save the day, give the final girl a chance to escape or fight back, or they just might be outmatched by the killer and end up a victim themselves. Still, it's usually an interesting match.
(Types of angles/shots)
Birds Eye/High Angle:
Used to make the figure or object that is shown seem powerless and defenceless.
Close Up:
Used to see the reaction of certain characters' faces and emotions, Used to capture detail in a scene.
Tracking/Panning Shot:
Used to connote a characters movements from another person. Establishes a scene for the audience. Also used for building suspense.
Reverse:
Connotes the consequences of actions made and signifies major points in the film.
Tilted Angle:
Adds a lot of tension and mystery as it could signify a supernatural being entering the shot. also used to show weakness in a first person view of a character.
Action
Action film is a film genre in which the protagonist is thrust into a series of events that typically involve violence and physical feats. Action movies are capable of making audiences have physical reactions to the stunts on screen as well. Viewers get sweaty and their heart rates increase as they feel the excitement and thrill of the adventure!
Mise-en-scene
n action movies, the audience tends to see a lot of fight scenes and chases, whether it be in a car or just a run. this is used to grab the audiences attention so that they do not get bored of the film. Action films also tend to follow Todorovs narrative structure strictly and simply. This would consist of a main character who stereotypically has had previous training of some sort of major fighting experience and has given up the life of fighting and is forced to come back to his dark ways and save a loved one.
A stereotypical colour theme that might be used could be some sort of camouflage colour which consists of Dark Green, Brown and Black. this could be used as many action movies would contain fights (whether it'd be with heavy weapons or just fists). So by using the camouflage colour, this would enhance the vibe of action. Another stereotypical point which could be accepted is that in many action figures, the primary colours are usually as stated.
Another stereotypical colour theme which can be stated is the grainy blue texture (similarly to the Taken poster below). this is used to connote that the character is NOT idle and is making the poster look more action packed and would automatically keep the audience on their feet.
Both Diegetic and Non-Diegetic sounds mix together, creating a soundscape to encapsulate their audiences so that, as stated in my previous point, they would not feel bored to the film. This would include a mix of Diegetic (bangs, crashes, gun shots) and Non-Diegetic (A fast-paced score, loud SFX).
(Sound techniques)
Diegetic:
Dialogue and background sounds such as people speaking and radio playing around the main characters. The Mode Of Address would be very loud and chaotic when the main characters are fighting so that it matches the vibe of the scene.
Non-Diegetic:
Rapid and upbeat score to enhance the action.
SFX:
Loud Crashes and more:
Loud Crashes, explosions, and even footsteps with many more that can be stated can be applicable in action sound effects as these effects could be the difference between what makes a good action movie and what makes a great action movie as these sound effects could reel in the audience, making them constantly attracted to the movie. this also means that students who study media like myself, could take inspiration to the variety of sound effects which are included in action movies.
(stereotypes)
The hero coming out of retirement:
An action hero is just about to enjoy his retirement (or a relaxing vacation) when he immediately gets roped into his next mission. It always seems to go that way, doesn’t it? Whether jaded by experience or wisened by age, many protagonists eschew a life of perilous action to enjoy some domesticity and peace.
Ticking Time Bomb:
The time ticking Bomb raises the stakes to sky-high levels. The real problem with it is how the amount of time remaining on the clock never actually coordinates with the length of the scene. While it can be chalked up to the magic of editing, it’s still pretty weird to have a scene stretch on when you know very well that the clock is nearly at zero.
Ending In Romance:
The main guy and girl almost always get together romantically after they’ve undergone the most traumatic experience of their lives. Movies in general tend to put a more romantic spin on life, so it’s not surprising that this bleeds into the action genre. As much as we love punching and gunfights, a well-earned kiss can cause an audience to cheer.
Speedy fighting styles:
In action, we tend to see many of our heroes giving the fast paced fights with such little breaks in between, this is used to indicate that the fight is very significant and that if you miss it, you gotta rewatch the whole movie again.
(Types of angles/shots)
High Angle:
Can be used to signify a greater threat which might be hard for the protagonist to defeat.
Over The Shoulder:
While the characters are fighting, the shot can show the protagonists/
antagonists side of the fight.
Establishing Shot:
Builds suspense by showing where the action might take place.
Tilted angle:
shows the danger/ threat going into a bigger and more harder phase, this can make the audience more hyped as it shows that there is more to the fight.
Two Shot:
Could signify the two who are fighting in that point which makes that area sealed off.
Romance
Romance films or movies involve romantic love stories recorded in visual media for broadcast in theatres or on television that focus on passion, emotion, and the affectionate romantic involvement of the main characters.
Mise-en-scene
In most romances, there are stereo typical places that they are set. They are normally set in an urban environment, a beach, and a school etc, places where a chance encounter would happen. When a romance film opens, it is likely that much of the setting will be shown to the audience from the use of establishing shots and wide shots showing characters and much of the setting and area behind them. Depending on where they are situated, this can sometimes help the audience interpret what they think is going to happen in the film.
There are few typical props you can expect to see some sort of flowers and gifts that will be given to one of the main character. The giving of gifts is commonly associated with the genre as it is the reflection of romance and commonly romance is represented as a relationship with giving and usually ending up with pair being married after the pair has some sort of disruption or disequilibrium. Moreover props help draw the audience in by putting sometimes tension, a twist or a hint of humor on the scene. Depending on what is being shown, some props shown in a romance genre film opening are very significant to the rest of the film and the story line.
The lighting in Mise en scene is vital as it helps to give an understanding of the genre from previous experiences and also could foreshadow what is yet to come.
(Sound techniques)
Diegetic:
Social noises (such as background speaking) which will be taking place in the back, giving the scene a little more integrity. The mode of address (tone) would be very light and elegant which would make the main characters' voices heard when they keep their voices low.
Non Diegetic:
A calm and soothing melody for the main characters to dance together in sync.
SFX:
Feet tapping lightly to symbolise the pair dancing, swoosh of the dress to give depth into the elegancy of a dance, Rhythmic piano to show that the scene is perfect for our characters.
( stereotypes)
Damsel In Distress:
Throughout many romance films, we tend to see that the female always needs the man to save her when she is in danger, making the woman vulnerable and the man heroic, this is why this technique is mainly used in superhero films such as Spiderman and Superman.
The Big Make-Over:
The only reason women wear glasses in romantic movies, it seems, is to remove them during their transformation scene and with just those two changes, our protagonist will become unrecognisable to everyone around her and irresistible to all potential love interests.
The Rush To The Airport:
The last minute rush to the woman of his dreams as she almost goes onto the aeroplane to go to another country stops her and tells her something so major that she ends up cancelling her journey and partakes in a new one with the man.
(Types of angles/shots)
Establishing Shot:
This shot is used to set the scene and location of the story; where everything will take place. In Romantic drama films these shots are usually shown from either the central characters point of view or are shown neutrally from no one’s point of view.
Long shot:
Helps audience to be able see the characters entire body along with some of the scenery. Long shots can determine how much space the characters have around them and how close the two main characters are to one another which can be a good judgment for an audience on how much they like/dislike each other at that period in the film.
Close Up:
Used in Romantic Comedies to show the central characters feelings and emotions. They allow audience to see just the characters face in order to make a judgment on what they might be feeling or thinking.
Two shot:
Used throughout romantic drama for the purpose of showing how the relationship develops throughout the film. A two shot is also used in order to show a particular relationship between two characters.
Comedy
Comedy films are films designed to elicit laughter from the audience. Comedies are light-hearted dramas, crafted to amuse, entertain, and provoke enjoyment. The comedy genre humorously exaggerates the situation, the language, action, and characters
Mise-en-scene
In a comedy film, the soundtrack would be more upbeat and positive as opposed to the sinister tracks that are used more often in action films or thrillers so that audiences can be happy and enjoy the experience even more.
The lighting in a comedy film would also be potentially brighter and is very natural to reflect the mood and tone of the film; the brighter, the happier.
The make-up that's shown in comedy films is also usually more clean and colourful. The costume designs in comedy films can vary. Although the films don't necessarily require certain shades of colours in order for them to be a success, some comedy films do use bright colours with lots of vibrancy in order to portray a sense of spontaneity.
There are lots of colours in comedy. The wall of magazines is a plethora of colors, providing the illusion of organized chaos.
Props in comedy films can vary in accordance to the tone of the film. Although, the most common kind of props are usually whacky or wild-seeming as to add to the "crazy" theme that may be involved with the film.
(Sound techniques)
Diegetic:
Social noises (such as background speaking and laughing) which will be taking place in the back, giving the scene a little more integrity and making the scene more alive. The mode of address (tone) would be very directed to the main character and would work around what the character says and does.
Non Diegetic:
Linking onto diegetic, a crowd laughter soundtrack could be placed within the film to ensure that a point in the scene is a time of laughter.
SFX:
Again relating to the audiences laughter created into a sound effect, giving consistency to a scene and making sure the audience feel more attached to the movie.
( stereotypes)
The Clown:
for this stereotype, the clown usually is the one to make the jokes and wear the white makeup and the big red nose to give a comedic effect for the audience, the clown will also have certain props and be very dramatic with every action he makes.
The short one acting tough:
A main example which can be used for this stereotype is Kevin Hart as. he
tends to work with many big actors such as The Rock and Ice Cube, giving him a height disadvantage. but what makes him very comedic is the fact that he tries to be as big and bad as the large characters.
(Types of angles/shots)
The Comparison/Two Shot:
You can really shine as a director by using this type of shot. It relies on similar or nearly identical shots being shown at different points in the video or film, with their direct comparison creating the comedy. It takes a lot of planning, but viewers will continue to appreciate all the differences the more they watch it and notice the subtleties.
The Quick Zoom:
The quick zoom is like a push in, but keeps the camera stationary and uses a zoom instead. It creates a higher energy level and an immediacy which follows with a punchline, giving a power duo.
The Pull Out:
A pull out accomplishes the opposite of the push in. It gives an overall context to the scene and usually lets viewers know that what we’re seeing right now isn’t the whole picture. It can also keep going and going to hammer the point home… and then go some more.
Drama
In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. The drama genre features stories with high stakes and many conflicts. They're plot-driven and demand that every character and scene move the story forward. Dramas follow a clearly defined narrative plot structure, portraying real-life scenarios or extreme situations with emotionally-driven characters.
Mise-en-scene
In a drama movie, we tend to see a lot of realism and producers like to stick to having normal locations and we come across basic people and we live with them as they live their normal lives, basing off of the stereotypical plot, whatever/wherever it may be. this regards to having normal props such as mobile phones or, relating to my own personal life, a football.
For lighting, high-key lighting will be predominantly used for drama movies as all the cast and their surroundings will be clearly shown so that the audience can understand and interpret what movie genre the film will be.
Similarly, props and other uses will also be presented clearly to, as mentioned through my last point, help the audience know what type of film they are watching. For example, if a knife is being presented through a close up shot, it is evident that the object will be used in a significant way, this then ensures that the film either belongs in the action category or the horror category.
NVC will also be very useful for picturing what genre a drama movie would also connect with. this could be through the way someone expresses themselves as if they were happy, they would express themselves in a positive and relaxed way, whereas if they were to express themselves in a scared manner, they would look very tense and shaky.
(Sound technique)
Diegetic:
Social noises (such as background speaking) which will be taking place in the back, giving the scene a little more integrity. The mode of address (tone) would be very light and elegant which would make the main characters' voices heard when they keep their voices low.
Non Diegetic:
A calm and soothing melody for the main characters to dance together in sync.
SFX:
Feet tapping lightly to symbolise the pair dancing, swoosh of the dress to give depth into the elegancy of a dance, Rhythmic piano to show that the scene is perfect for our characters.
(stereotypes)
The Main characters cry:
As the protagonists significant other leaves them, they start to reminisce life and look at all the fond memories they had together and we see the main character crying.
The girl who shouts for help:
This is when the girl is captured by the villain and is begging for help from the protagonist. This is used to show that the main protagonist is put on a task which only he can complete.
(Types of angles/shots)
Wide angle:
The lens is zoomed out all the way to see the widest view possible. Establishing shots are usually wide angles. These shots are good for showing off locations and crowd scenes or distancing the camera from the subject, which could be useful to see someones whole body language to enhance the NVC
Long shot:
When photographing a person, you see the entire person’s body from head to foot, with the subject filling the frame from top to bottom. Again could be used for NVC gestures such as running or dancing, or when you first introduce characters.
Over-the-shoulder
When two people are facing each other while talking, place the camera over one of the character’s shoulders to focus on the other person, who is speaking. In the framing, you should see the back of the head and part of the shoulder of the person in the foreground. This can be used to show that the moment is active and that facial expressions are presented.
Task 2 Theory
Neale-Genre
Neale's work reflects on the concept of ‘Genre’, and how genres depend on their ability to change or adapt in order to survive. If films follow genre conventions too much, they become too predictable.
Todorv-Naratology
Todorov’s narrative theory suggest that any story will move through Five separate stages, in a chronological order.
1.Equilibrium:
• An initial situation – the ‘once upon a time moment’ that gives balance and stability.
2.Disequilibrium:
• The balance is disrupted by a problem/event, setting off a train or series of other events.
3.Recognition
• Acknowledgment that this disruption has taken place
4.Attempts
• Made by characters to repair the disruption
5.Resolution:
• The problem is solved, allowing reinstatement of the initial equilibrium/new equilibrium.
Fantasy
The exposition is the beginning of the story where the characters and settings are established. The rising action is a series of events that challenge the protagonist, building suspense for the climax, which is the ultimate showdown between the protagonist and the antagonist.
Drama
Dramatic structures can be linear, or non-linear with flashbacks to give it more depth. The most common plot structure in films and television is a three-act structure with a first act, second act, and third act. Two-act stories often include a climactic midpoint where the stakes rise or the protagonist's goal changes
Action
Horror
The story is the action of the movie, and the plot is how the story is told. The narrative structure can be either linear or nonlinear. Linear narrative structure is a movie that moves in chronological order.
Generally, most protagonist from horror movies/TV shows are usually teenagers/college students from US such as characters from IT and Stranger Things. In movies, they tend to make silly mistakes that end up getting killed which the stereotype of horror movies.
Sci - Fi
Sci Fi Movies Narrative structure: 1) 'big idea/concept like time travel/AI.
2) The science important to the story
3) Character's motivations - Makes story powerful and complex
Romance
In a romance, we have the external plot arc, an internal character arc for each protagonist, and the Romance Arc—the growth of the relationship over the course of the story.
Barthes-Semiotics
Roland Barthes Semiotics theory suggests that when we analyse any visual element, we don’t just see a collection of objects or scenarios, independently, we subconsciously attach meanings to them which help create our overall judgements and opinions.
Horror
The 5 elements of horror are suspense, fear, violence, gore, and the supernatural. These elements are used to create an atmosphere of horror and terror.
Romance
Hollywood has been a representative of romantic comedy genre and has provided on love and romantic relationships through what's have been shown. It has an influence on young people on romantic ideas and beliefs represented in romcoms.
Sci - Fi
Sci Fi tend to create very dystopian and very isolating world building with advance AI location/props and messed politics.
Drama
Drama tend to create conflict with complex characters which makes the scenes more powerful.
Fantasy
Fantasy tend to be unrealistic/exaggerate with world building which makes an interesting/unique narrative.
Comedy
Comedy movies tend to abstract and tend to use taboo subject to create its humour.
Action
The setting must be a disturbed, unbalanced physical and social environment that gives rise to conflict/action. Duelings hierarchies - The hero, The villain.
Levi-strauss-structuralism
In the mid-20th century, Claude Lévi-Strauss had the insight that how we understand certain words depends on our understanding of the difference between the word and its ‘opposite’.
Binary Opposition:
• Lévi-Strauss referred to this process as a ‘binary opposite’ (the process being called ‘Binary
Opposition’). For example, our understanding of the word ‘coward’ surely depends on the difference between that word and its opposing idea, that of a ‘hero’.
Social Validation:
• Levi-Strauss also noted an important feature of ‘binary opposites’ was that one side of the
binary pair is always seen by a particular society or culture as more valued over the other.
Examples (Binary Opposites):
• Good vs Evil. Black vs White. Peace vs War. Democracy vs Dictatorship. Young vs Old.
Protagonist vs Antagonist. Man vs Woman. Strong vs Weak. Ignorance vs Wisdom.
Action films you have the hero and a villain,
Horror - monster/killer and human,
Romance - Male love interest and female love interest.
Sci-Fi - Alien and humans
Drama - Conflict between people
Fantasy - Heros and monsters
Comedy - Hero and antagonist
Baudrillard-Postmodernism
Baudrillard’s post modernistic theory suggests when a sign loses its relation to reality, it begins to simulate a simulation - making it difficult to distinguish what is/is not reality.
Fantasy, also spelled phantasy, imaginative fiction dependent for effect on strangeness of setting and of characters.
Drama
The drama genre features stories with high stakes and many conflicts. They're plot-driven and demand that every character and scene to move the story forward.
Sci - Fi
Science fiction is a form of fiction that deals principally with the impact of actual or imagined science upon society or individuals.
A thriller is a type of mystery with a few key differences. As its name suggests, thrillers tend to be action-packed and fast-paced with moments full of tension, anxiety, and fear. Without fail, they are plot-driven stories.
Thriller
Romance
A romance novel or romantic novel generally refers to a type of genre fiction novel which places its primary focus on the relationship and romantic love between two people
Action
Action film is a film genre in which the protagonist is thrust into a series of events that typically involve violence and physical feats.
Comedy films are "make 'em laugh" films designed to elicit laughter from the audience. Comedies are light-hearted dramas, crafted to amuse, entertain, and provoke enjoyment.
Horror is a genre of literature, film, and television that is meant to scare, startle, shock, and even repulse audiences.
Task 3 Narrative
LAA:core assessment
Horror
The Smiling man
The short film opens with a low angle establishing shot of the house where it is set; this choice of setting is typical when creating something in the horror genre because most people associate their home with safety and other positive feelings, therefore placing a threat or intruder in a persons home makes the audience uneasy and afraid, it also helps them connect with the situation and makes them think that something life threatening could happen to them. Since most people also associate the dark with uncertainty, unknowingness, and other negative emotions, having the short film take place at night makes scenes more suspenseful. Additionally, because it's late and most people are asleep, the darkness is also associated with being alone or by yourself and the fact that you have nobody to turn to for assistance reinforces the fact that it is a horror short film. Also It's a typical practise in horror to take the viewpoint of either the protagonist or antagonist, or frequently both. You can also imagine the killer entering the house from the low angle they employed for the opening shot. The use of darkness is a popular and crucial tactic in the horror genre because, when done well, it can provide a constant feeling of suspense. This is because darkness is a place of unknowing, and the perfect camera angles may make it appear as though the victim is being watched. The short film also uses the fade transition here to transition to the next shot, which starts from the darkness and slowly tracks left to see the victim sitting in her room watching tv. This sets up the idea that the antagonist is in the darkness because of the slow movement of the camera that I feel is a good and common use of the darkness. The first scene we see is a young girl watching a cartoon in her room, and using Todorov's narratology theory, we can infer that this is the equilibrium. This equilibrium is used in most horror short films, and it typically establishes the protagonists' normal lives as them going about their business at home while watching television, etc. Most people think youngsters to be innocent, venerable, and naive, therefore if you make them a target in the film and get the audience to see them get lawed away etc. That's another common convention for horror short films.The audience is likely to be aware that it is a trap, but they are also aware that the kid dosent know its a trap, making them feel uneasy.The disequilibrium is the next scene, which occurs when the routine is disturbed by something threatening. Typically, the disequilibrium in a horror film involves someone noticing something that isn't supposed to be there, implying that there is an intruder in the current location they are at. The disequilibrium in the short film begins when the shadow of a balloon appears, and we hear a noise that is non diegetic; this noise disturbs the viewer's sense of security because up until that point, all we have heard is the television, and the rest is silent, almost breaking the silence. The use of noise as a starting point is a common practise in horror films.We cut to a zooming shot of the balloon in the hallway, the zoom adding a layer of depth and making us think that it's a bad thing. This is a common thing to do in the horror genre as you want people to be on the edge of their seats so when doing this suspense on the balloon and then showing the girl in the hallway, it creates a sense of eeriness.The innocent protagonist then approaches the object directly. This is a popular technique in horror films. They choose an innocent character, someone the viewer is already predisposed to like, and have them do something foolish that the rest of us think will endanger them. We could also use the balloon to illustrate Barthes' semiotics theory because balloons are associated with happiness and children, so when they are used to entice children away, it has a spooky vibe to it because they are intended to bring children joy, so using them for something bad has a creepy vibe.The suspense is high right now, therefore this is typically when horror films prefer to tease the viewers by giving them glimpses of the object that is making them nervous and giving them the impression that the antagonist may be anywhere. We see this convention used in the short film after the protagonist picks up the first balloon and looks at it for a few seconds; during this time, we get a panning shot of her; the shot slowly moves to the right while also keeping the girl in the shot. This plays into the idea that they're not intelligent, etc., making the audience worry for them.The scene at the bottom of the stairs, where we see a hand dropping a balloon and then removing it, isn't meant to frighten the viewer; rather, it's supposed to heighten the tension because we now have a better idea of who the enemy is, but we still don't know what they are capable of.Another typical horror convention is the use of sound. A crucial component of the horror genre is the use of no diegetic sound to heighten suspense during scenes and to frighten viewers. This is done when there is a jump scare, where loud music or noises can be used to amplify the effect.We see this when the girl goes to pick up the second balloon; they gradually build up the music as she approaches it. This is a good time to use it because they show us before the antagonist places the second balloon there, so putting the music there as she approaches the balloon increases the tension in the scene by making us anticipate bad things. The music builds up until she picks up the balloon; then it goes silent, giving us, the audience, the idea the threat has gone.The girl then has her attention diverted to the creaking of a door up the stairs, and the camera shots switch twice between her perspective and an angle looking down at her from the top of the stairs. The second time, we hear a loud burst of music as the antagonist's hand appears behind the girl. The misdirection of focus is a convention for horror because a big part of horror is uncertainty and confusion.It's common practise in horror films to add ominous music after a jump scare to maintain the suspense created by the jump scare. A good horror film must keep viewers on the edge of their seats. The music continues until the girl picks up the third balloon, at which point it stops. She then enters the kitchen and takes notice of the shopping bags on the floor there with food spilled inside, hinting that the antagonist may be present. The girl moves slowly forward and notices the antagonist peeking out from behind the counter. She stops before moving forward to investigate.When the girl passes the counter and the antagonist is crouching on the floor, we can apply Lévi-structuralism Strauss's theory and binary opposition to these two characters. We can tell these characters are binary opposites from their costumes and how they act from what we've seen. This is also when the music starts playing again to build back up that suspense, almost telling the audience something is going to go wrong.The girl is wearing overalls, a pink shirt, pink shoes with gold sparkles, and she has pigtails for her hair. This is a stereotypical outfit for an innocent girl, and this type of outfit is frequently used in horror if they have a character that is a child and a girl because people will already link them to being innocent without you having to say anything.The antagonist, on the other hand, can be seen as a binary opposite based on their attire and body posture. We first see him crouched on the ground covered in chalk or ash, as well as having a large dark ring around his eyes and sharp teeth. These features give him a monster-like appearance and a creepy vibe. Additionally, because of the darkness in the area around his eyes, they stand out and appear to be glaring at us. Also the the antagonist is twitchy and noisy, producing strange noises that enhance to his creepiness, in contrast to the girls, who is silent and still.Next, we have the recognition and the attempt from Todorov's narratology theory. The recognition occurs when the protagonist recognises what the issue is, and the attempt occurs when they make an effort to fix it. We see this in a short film when the antagonist uses magic to pull out a red ball and rolls it over to the girl. The girl then realises that the antagonist may not be a terrible person and picks up the ball in an effort to make friends. The resolution, the final component of Todorov's narratology theory, tells us if the endeavour was successful and is often found at the conclusion of the movie. The antagonist in the short film plays with red liquid and puts it on his face to imitate a clown. We then see that the red liquid is blood from a dead woman's body. The girl is shocked when she sees the body, which suggests that the woman could be her mother or other relative/carer. The antagonist then tells the girl to be quiet, and the screen goes black, which is a common way to end a short horror film as it leaves the audience guessing what happened to the protagonist.
Action
Retribution
A big city with enormous buildings and skyscrapers is shown in the first shot, which serves as the scene's setting/establishing shot. This helps set the scene for the movie's opening by showing where it will take place. The fact that this movie is situated in a city and that police sirens can be heard in the background further serve as indicators that it is an action movie. Police cars are frequently depicted in action movies as being used to catch criminals after they have committed a crime, so this helps it reinforce the idea of an action film. This is a long take because it helps set the scene for the audience and gives them a good idea of where the film is set. Not only can we hear police sirens, but we can also hear non- diegetic tense music, which helps set the scene for an action movie, as action movies are known for their high levels of violence and action. The camera then fades to black to aid in the transition to the next scene, in which the camera tilts up from the ground to reveal a guy exiting an elevator. To introduce this character, panning is utilised. The use of panning here provides the feeling that this man is more than a side character; he could be a primary character, requiring the audience's attention. The strange man is dressed entirely in black, which gives the spectator a mysterious sensation, as black is associated with mystery and distrust. The suspenseful music continues from the beginning of the movie to this scene, setting the tone for the rest of the movie. The man then walks gingerly across what appears to be a hotel corridor to a suite room. He checks behind and in front of him while walking to make sure no one is following him, making him appear suspicious as to why he doesn't want to be followed. We next show a close-up of the man's hands as he puts on a pair of elastic gloves, implying that he doesn't want to leave any fingerprints behind, which corresponds to the suspicion that has surrounded him. The man then uses a hacking device to enter the suite room, as we get a close-up of the equipment with various coding to help open the suite room. The word; Hacking, is a huge theme in action films, especially when it comes to antagonist characters, because it connotes danger because they utilise various hacking equipment to hack into computers, shops, cameras, and other places, which can put people in risk. The fact that an unknown stranger has hacked into the room leads us to conclude that he is the adversary. The man then cuts wires, unscrews plugs, and clips in new plugs, which activates the TV and displays the security cameras. Even though the man isn't speaking, we get the feeling that he's doing something wrong from his facial expression and body language that we see from the close ups of him, since he appears worried and uneasy. The binary opposite has also been used here since knowing that the man is attempting to be quick with the suspicious thing he's doing would quickly alert/tell the audience that he's being pursued. The man then receives a text message from someone named 'Raven,' telling him that he only has 30 seconds to do this task. Whilst he is hacking into the computer, we keep seeing close ups of the man’s hands where we can see him frantically rushing with hacking into the computer, as people are after him. The man gets another message, from Raven, informing him that his time is up and that people know he is there. The camera then cuts to the security cameras, where we can see a group of people making their way to the building. As we see an over the shoulder shot of the computer screen displaying different codes as the man tries to hack into something, this message indicates that the man has to hack into the computers for him before people enter into the room. This adds to the suspense for the spectator because we don't know who is chasing this man or whether he will be captured or not. We can hear the man whisper 'Jesus' under his breath, indicating that he is nervous and telling us that he must go before they catch him. Also the use of dialogue creates suspense for the action film as dialogue is very important because it needs to glue the story together for the audience . When the man is staring out the window at the city, an over the shoulder and point of view shot has been used. This not only gives the viewers the impression that they are the ones looking out the window, but it also implies that the man intends to go outside. The same group of people can be seen making their way down the same corridor as the man. Because the viewer doesn't know if the man will be apprehended, and we don't know what both persons are wanting, this tactic serves to build suspense. As they're ready to enter the hotel room, we see a close-up of a gun being held by the other group chasing after that man.This demonstrates their dominance, as all three guys are dressed in suits, wearing dark glasses, and keeping their hair clean, which is indicative of a strong male personality.
This confirms that they government employees/dangerous people. When the men realise the man isn't there anymore, we watch him escape out of the building, disguising himself by wearing a beanie and gloves and dropping his bag in the garbage. This fulfils the audience's expectation of the man not being caught. After that, we move to the exterior of the hotel for a change of scenery. This allows the audience to see where the film is located and that it isn't merely set in a hotel. The penultimate view is the Independence Plaza, which is where the drop-off point is, and we witness a series of fade to blacks. This shows the audience what the drop-off location looks like and where the man will go once he has checked out of the hotel. The camera then moves down from the man's face to his phone, which he is holding since he has just received a message. This strategy allows the spectator to comprehend what is going on between the guy and Raven, as well as where the package needs to be left. The camera then cuts to a man sitting on a bench in front of him, dressed entirely in black and reading a newspaper. Because of the dark attire he is wearing, we can tell he is spying on him, which gives the audience a strange impression of this man. When the man leaves, the strange man on the seat takes shots of him, revealing that he is spying on him. Spying is related to the genre of action since there is always someone spying on the protagonist character, generally the adversary. This position could also indicate that the man carrying the item is the protagonist rather than the antagonist. The man then walks into a different building and stands near a window, staring at the memory stick. Then there's an over the shoulder shot of the man spying on him as he approaches the building. This indicates that the man desires the bundle he possesses, and the fact that he mutters "Jesus" and walks away fast indicates that he is aware of this. After knocking out the man on the stairwel l, there is a wide shot of a parade taking place on the street as the man races towards it. This means that he may seek refuge in the parade to avoid being apprehended by the assailants pursuing him. Following that, we see many fast cuts of the man hiding and the men chasing him down and retrieving the package. These shots add tension to the scene and draw the viewer in because we don't know where the man is or if he will be apprehended by the men hunting him. The brutality of an action film is then reinstated with a fight sequence between both men. Various camera methods are used during this combat sequence, such as high perspectives, mid-shots, close-ups, and so on. These specific camera techniques aid in capturing all of the activity, facial expressions, and body language that both of these men emit. We can also plainly hear both of them punching each other, indicating that there is violence. When the presumably protagonist male character is unconscious on the floor, he reaches for a metal rod on the floor and, using a close-up, hits and impales the antagonist character, killing him. This reinstates the Levi- Strauss theory; Structuralism with the binary opposite of Protagonist v Antagonist and also good v evil. This allows the spectator to choose who the hero and villain are in this
situation. We get a close-up of his hand, which is stained with blood, indicating that he was murdered. The gore in this horrible shot may make some audience members wince, which link s back to the film's genre of action. The lengths of these shots are short, which serves to speed up the action in this scenario and keeps the audience engaged. A tilting up shot of a parking lot building follows, followed by many fade in and out shots of Raven driving a car to the drop-off area. As the protagonist character is setting up a sniper's gun before Raven appears, seeking revenge, this helps state that there is a change of location and that there will be some sort of showdown between the protagonist character and antagonist character, which is a common narrative pattern in an action film. A close-up shot of the protagonist
figure staring through binoculars while holding a gun, looking for Raven, is seen. utes to the audience, this demonstrates his power and masculinity. We next show a tilting up shot of Raven stepping out of his car, capturing his demeanor , in which he appears tense because he has no idea where the lead character is. The protagonist character then calls Raven to let him know he is there, and when Raven realises he's being called, an intense sound plays that conveys his emotions at that very moment, as we can tell by his facial expression that he's tense from seeing his name flash up on the phone. We witness a flashback to the beginning of the film, when the protagonist character was in the hotel room, indicating that Raven was on the documents and just wanted them to cover his tracks. This confirms Raven's status as the adversary throughout the story, once again referring to genre theory and the familiarity of innovation. We don't know what will happen to either individual, therefore the music stays tight throughout the stalemate.The audience is subsequently shown a close-up of the protagonist character after he has loaded the gun with bullets, indicating that he would most likely shoot the antagonist character. Because of how focused he is on where Raven is standing, this photo shows the concentration in his face. Because it is being shot at night, the lighting has dimmed, giving the audience an ominous impression that corresponds to the current circumstances.We hear the antagonist character say 'goodbye' as he turns around since he doesn't think the protagonist character is going to shoot him, and then we see him push the gun trigger, murdering Raven. This is related to the genre theory, as the protagonist character was expected to murder the antagonist character, which is exactly what happened in this circumstance.
LAB: core assessment
Task4
Proposal
Task5
Final narrative structure
Task 6
Planning
sound log
shooting script
Task 7
Shooting
video log sheet
shooting schedule
Equipment booking
risk assessment
Shot list
Script
location recce
story board
Lac: core assessment
Task 8
Individual edit log
I think the editing went pretty well and that I produced a very decent short video after finishing the editing. The positive and negative aspects of my final decision are listed below.
Positives:
Despite the hurdles, I managed to produce a short film that fits the guidelines and use a variety of captivating camera angles. Also by placing additional footage in a more accessible position that may further develop the overall film's plot, I believe I have effectively addressed the issue of overall length of the short film due to the me adding more footage.
Negatives :
A major issues was that we lost three of our crew members, which reduced our final product to only two pieces. This issue also meant that my colleague and I had to do more work with fewer opportunities for error, which definitely made the process harder, however we coped.
Final film
Task 10
Evalution/witness statment
How i met the brief
I think I did a fairly good job of following the brief, which called for me to make an 8–10 minute short film. My short film lasted for 10 minutes. There were moments when I was a bit concerned about the length, particularly before I had finished the second half of the short film because, before the short film was ever considered, my entire video had a runtime of about 6 minutes. The five sections, which follow Todorov's narrative arc, were shortened due to the film's overall duration. Audiences may notice the difference between the five stages of the film, so I don't think I was as successful in meeting the brief . Regarding the various shots, the brief called for five different locations as well as a broad variety of different viewpoints and angles, and I think I was able to accomplish that by incorporating close-ups, midshots, and low angle shots throughout the entire short film. As I have included a variety of settings, including the room where two of the victims are isolated, the toilet where one of the victims was found dead, and other rooms, this supports the horror convention of having a vast house.The use of the colour red and how it may represent danger in addition to blood, in my opinion, has also complied with the norm of horror. I've also used darker tones on occasion throughout the film. For example, when he is washing his hands or requests to leave the room to use the lavatory, the scene is made darker by using low-key lighting, which creates more suspense. One oversight that I discovered after the fact is that I might have added blood to the killer's hands as he washes them to establish a clear connection between the perpetrator and the victim. However, there is a counterargument that many viewers might not see the blood on his hands since the bathroom's illumination was dim, making it challenging for viewers to examine the finer details, however the dialogue tells the audience he is worried about the blood on his hands.
settings
Since the idea we were going for was a high class, wealthy theme, we chose to use a mansion as the setting instead of a typical residence. As the size of the house is considerably larger than the stereotypical size and appearance of the house, I had used it to ensure that it conveyed the social position. Due of the environment, Darrel, the primary character, can appear differently to the other attendees. With Insidious as a prime example, where people go to liven a high-status house with a dark twist, I had meant to specifically build the location in a large house to create a relationship to archetypal horror movies. One distinction between my movie and others is that the dark twist in my movie involves the actual employees rather than the house. big homes or even big spaces are frequently used in conventional horror films to represent vulnerability and isolation.The main point of the video is that the rich are too focused on being rich rather than caring for the poor, so Darrel's purpose was to open their eyes and make them more sociably aware of their surroundings. To further explain the differences between Darrel and the others, I had set the second half of my film in an interrogation room to show how the other characters would feel in another environment apart from what they are used to. This was filmed at the end to finish the duration of the film. This would help the audience comprehend that not everyone is the same and that everyone's upbringing is unique, but that we should always show tolerance for how other people behave because we never know how they were raised or what they have been through.
Editing
In order to show that there is non-continuity in that section of the film, I used an flash forward to introduce the character at the beginning of the clip.
Cuts and transitions: I intended to use fewer transitions and more straight cuts to make the movie more suspenseful and hold the audience's attention. This way, I could build a scary but effective film. When there was little suspense, such as during the house's first appearance, I incorporated transitions to create a cosy atmosphere. Also to achieve the 8 to 10 minute mark, I additionally lengthened some of the shots.
On screen time: towards the end, when some of the characters are presented in the interrogation room, I decide to switch between midshots and low angles to make the audience experience more realism in the short film.
When conversation is being delivered and when the audience's attention is required, music will begin to fade in. What I mean is that the sound of the score is significantly lower when people are speaking and considerably louder when the house is being displayed. To maintain the audience's attention at all times is another application of this editing approach.
Costume
Darrel was supposed to wear formal attire, and the other characters were supposed to wear less formal attire. However, there was a small amount of miscommunication between myself and the cast members, which left the cast members unsure on what to wear. As a group we had planned to go with this strategy because I wanted a central element in my work that would allow audiences to focus on the smaller elements. This suggests that spectators might have been more motivated to choose the suspect in the murder than just a generalised distrust of their behaviour.Although this issue didn't affect my composition as a whole, the recording's momentum was off as a result of the mistake, and I believe that the outcome would have been better if the mistake hadn't been made.I wasn't sure what to add for the costumes other than to make a difference between Darrel and the others because there isn't much of a costume in casual Murder Mysteries.Considering the colours of the costume, it might have been advantageous to dress the killer entirely in black. This would allow the audience to assume that he already knows someone will die because black represents death.
Non verbal communication
I have incorporated various close-up shots to analyse the characters' reactions throughout the short video. During the scene where Kizzy was showing the house and everyone was paying attention and also when we see a view of Joshua glancing at Darrel. This fits perfectly with his personality since later on in the film, when Joshua is being questioned, he tells the viewers that he had been wary of Darrel from the start. This aids in the audience's comprehension of the traits of the characters since even later in the movie, Joshua admits to the police that at the time he had suspicions about Darrel and explains why he is dangerous.The constant hand on Kallum's head during his interrogation is something I initially decided not to include due to the fact that the audience could barley see his face however it could of brought more emotion to his role and showed how much he looked up to darrel.
Sound
I included a non-diegetic soundtrack that plays continually and serves as a recurring element in my short film. I clipped the audio tape to make adjustments to the sound, making sure that the score's sound was louder in moments with no characters.This enables the viewer to perceive the notable distinction between the passage of time and how time moves in my short film. SFX is another sound component that has been utilised frequently. The sound of the clock ticking has been used in my short film to build the suspense for the grand reveal of the killer in which an anti-climax effect had been placed to subvert the audiences attention, it was also there to help go over the B rolls. It was not my initial idea to create the film with this method, however after reviewing the full film in post production, I think it was a beneficial decision to make.One way to explain this is in the scenes that the ticking is not present, all characters are not angry and scared and when the SFX is present, the characters are panicking and are eager to find out who the killer is. An exception to this may be towards the end of the first shooting location, when we see all characters in a room and one of the characters say that they do not know what to do.
Props
Only the scissors and the fake blood were used as props in my short film to recreate the death of one of the victims. To make it look more realistic, I planned to have Nathaniel say his final words while dying, however i decide to leave that out as i thought it didn't work well with the overall short film.I also planned to have Nathaniel possibly get depicted as being stabbed in the neck with the scissors, with blood (red paint) pouring from the point of the stab and covering a portion of the shower.By using scissors instead of a knife, I was able to make the scenario seem more plausible because anyone might own a pair of scissors without it being suspicious. If it had been a weapon, however, it would have raised suspicion for the suspects and put everyone at risk. Although I think using scissors was preferable because using a knife would have also been a decent choice. The fact that horror movie icons generally use very cunning and meticulous killing techniques further promotes horror conventions. I have included this into my own work, and in relation to my earlier argument, this enables the audience to comprehend that the killer is not only frightening, but also inventive in what he does, which can heighten the suspense.
Camera Techniques
To include as many individuals as possible, I used a combination of wide and mid shots. In order to maintain continuity, the wide viewpoint is also employed to show the two people speaking side by side. This gives the viewers a chance to feel like they are taking part in the talks while yet maintaining their anonymity.I used a blackout to depict Nathaniel's importance and how his passing changes the movie's calm tone to a dangerous one. As the scene fades to black and the new stage in Todorov's narrative begins, the zoom in to the shot where the victim is lying in the bathtub shows his life departing the mansion and the characters carrying on without him.I added additional close-up shots to the short film to examine the characters' responses. Like in the living when josh becomes suspicious of darrel and says "i don't trust you". This fits with his attitude pretty well since later on in the film, when Joshua is being questioned, he informs the audience that he had had his doubts about Darrel from the start, (which is typical for horror films), this aids the audience in understanding the traits of the individuals who are present.