Evaluation Part One (Post-Production)

Conventions:
Our title sequence doesn’t directly challenge the codes and conventions of horror, it  more complies with them. We wanted to stick to the traditional ideas of horror, as we now they are popular, especially with the younger audience.
We filmed most of the clips on two or three separate occasions, therefore some of the lighting in the clips is different. When on avid we found some tools which would allow us to change the effect on the clips to make them flow and transition better. We put the same effect over all the clips to make them the same tone. Having the setting as dark it makes it more eerie, scary and intrigues the audience. This is a subtle convention of horror, most opening sequences include it however when researching horrors myself I noticed that not all of them have it in the title sequence as they have the equilibrium in the beginning.
In almost any conventional horror film, where the murderer is a human, they will be male. The females are seen as the victims, more vulnerable, and this appears to be an extremely common but popular convention of horror.         
Breaking Christian Moral boundaries is included in our title sequence because again it is popular with our audience. Our main character Ainsley Moore has been brought up by a Christian family, however he commits crimes which are not accepted by the bible and are seen as unforgivable by God. Although Ainsley’s intentions are supposed to be good, he is troubled and confused as to what sins are and what aren’t.
Even though our film fits in with several conventions, it has a human serial killer, which is a slightly unpopular horror genre. Recently physiological horrors have been well-liked, or satanic stories with supernatural beings. This is one recent convention which our horror doesn’t follow along side with. Having a human and to the other people in the film appearing normal makes it more realistic to the audience watching as they could also be surrounded with people like the main character Ainsley, whereas supernatural beings are seen to be non-existent in many peoples eyes. 

Representation of social groups:
Our Horror is based around teenagers to young adults. We haven’t presented them as rebellious or people who constantly drink and are careless which many horrors do, as we have gone for a different approach. Our serial killer is mentally ill due to his horrific childhood: Ainsley witnessed his father murdering innocent young girls on their family farm, and therefore once his father dies he believes that he has to do the same.  Our title shows very little about the characters but instantly the audience know that the girl is in danger and is venerable.  We did discuss the whole story-line, and what we had planned what that one of his next victims has a chance of surviving because Ainsley develops a liking towards her, which is a representation of young people as being sexual. 

Our Final Production - Horreum, Title Sequence

Here is a link to our final production which we have worked on for several weeks. It took lots of planning, paperwork, editing and effort, so we are all pleased with the end result.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZo-rSJfxR0

Title - HORREUM

We thought a lot about what to call out film, we needed and wanted  name which would instantly make the audience know what genre it was. Eventually we decided to call it 'Horreum' which is Latin for barn, as originally we were going to film the killer Ainsley, taking the victims back to an old isolated barn. The Barn was part of the farm in which Ainsley grew up on with his family, and where in fact his own father killed young girls too. Ironically and conveniently Horreum sounds like horror, so it makes it easier for audiences to establish that it is horror.

Other Horror's have symbolic title appearances. The Ring has childlike writing because the film is a physiological film with a child killer, the writing is also surrounded by a ring, similar to a moon.

 

Our Title is shown written in newspaper cuttings, which implies a mystery about the film, as the idea of a letter written from newspaper letters cut outs is recognized as hidden identity, threats and the unknown.

Editing

Once we had the majority of our footage, we started editing our rushes. Using avid software we started peicing our footage together by shortening clips and slotting them in. As everyone in our group is new to AVID we couldn't be extremely fast, so it takes a lot longer than we had originally expected. After what we thought was all the clips put together we realised it was under two minutes long which is quite short for an opening and decided to make it longer, as most opening title sequences weall analysed were between 3 and 6 minutes long. Also because the shots were filmed at different times of day and we did not have much lighting equipment, all of our shots were different shades and colours of light. Therefore we decided to put an effect over all of the effects to make it flow better, and look well put together and effective. Some needed to be brightened and some needed to be darkened, as we wanted it fairly dark to create the horror tension although light enough to see the scenery and characters. 

Our film is called horreum and instead of writing this in text we decided to have the murder, walking away from newspaper clippings spelling it out. After this shot we want to change the music and make it more upbeat, showing more the equilibrium stage of the film and where everything is happy and good. This is a key part of horror films because it makes it more realistic to the audience as then when their life is good, it could suddenly go bad like this. We still need to develop the audio, because the music is a key element in our production and we wanted to make sure we made the right decision when choosing it. 

Call sheet

Here is a photo of our assigned roles within the group: 

Filming

We decided to film in Dover at a barn as originally we decided that it is where the killer in our film was brought up, and where he kills his victims. A member of our group went and took some photos of the place: 

 

However once we went to film there we only managed to get a few shots and it got dark extremely quickly. 

Therefore on another day we scheduled to do some more filming although at another location. This is where we got most of our filming done, and came up with some more ideas whilst we were there. Not all of the filming has been used but short clips have been added to create effect. We again had to film quite quickly because it was rapidly getting dark however we managed to get some key shots including the shots which are made to look like they are from the killers view. 

Here you can see the victim and the camera does a whip pan shot which shows the initial attraction for the girl. We used this location to do this because it had a bridge which will show the authority and dominance of the male killer character. 

Target Audience, Log Line, and Blurb

Our target audience alike many other horrors is people between the ages of 15-30 specifically, however open to older audiences also. The main way we intend to interest our audience is by having actors of a similar age therefore they can relate which makes the whole film more interesting but also scarier as they believe it could then happen to them. We have a stereotypical storyline which includes a male villain and a female heroine. Although it is stereotypical and conventional which could drive some people away as they might believe it to be a predictable storyline, we know it will be popular as horror is a mainstream genre gaining many viewers because it is a type of film we know people will and do go to see. We have including some religion in our film so it links in with the convention of breaking Christian moral boundaries, and this convention we feel will interest our target audience. The certificate on many films is 15, and we intend to do the same. 

Log line:

Ainsley Moore has an average childhood being brought up on his family farm until one afternoon he whitnesses his father doing an unspeakable things... Following in his fathers footsteps can anyone change or stop him? 

Blurb:

Ainsley Moore (Ainsley Jones) was brought up in a typical Christian family, on their farm in Northern England. Until he whitnesses his father committing the greatest sin of all. In later years Ainsley continues his fathers legacy believing what's wrong is right. After years of slaughtering, slashing and secrets can his next victim Lacey Jonhson (Hannah Smith) finally bring an end to this madmans reign? Will she be able to stop him before he stops her... 

Story Boarding

We came up with several ideas for our production. We have stuck to our story board quite closely and have used it as a template which made it clearer for us actually start filming and putting it together. 

As the killer in our filming is troubled from their childhood we wanted to show some clips that resemble childhood, so we have filmed swings and other play park objects. 

We wanted to show some shots from the killer's perspective, so that it was like he was watching her, it will also create an enigma for the audience of "who is she?". 

The camera will follow the girl, so the audience know it is her that something is going to happen to. 

We want the camera to be inside the car and to be now focused on the muderer. We will have a shot of the boot being closed on the girl, as if it is from her point of view. It is also very dark, using the conventions of a horror film. Being dark creates tension for the audience and we are hoping it makes them feel scared so they are obliged to find out what happens next. 

To try and include match on action we had two shots of the muderer going into a shed. 

 

The killer goes into a shed which creates mystery and shows him being quite natural about how he has just killed someone implying that he has done it before and he might do it again. We are having a shot of turning the lamp on so it goes all white, which then transitions into the next shot. 

These were originally the final shots of our film but after discussion we decided to make it longer. The shots include the killer walking away from the desk with newspaper letters spelling out the name of our film 'HORREUM' (which is Latin for barn). We think this is an effective title and instantly makes people know it's a horror, as it's short, unexplained which creates mystery and overall is similar to the word horror. 

We decided to add these shots to create normality, start the storyline and to fully introduce the muderer. He enters his home, and straight away washes his hands which indicates he has just gone and committed the crime which was vertually showed in the beginning. It's a clue to the audience to let them know that he is the killer. 

The last shots are of Ainsley (the killer) at the table with his family, which shows how much of a normal life he leads leading the audience to be more horrified and connect with the film more because it implying anyone is a killer. 

About Me

The media I consume include: 

Social networks (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram) 

TV 

Internet 

Camera 

Phone. 

I have also created some forms of media myself excluding the production in AS media I am currently producing: 

GCSE media 

Editing my photos 

Having and creating a social network profile. 

Media is all around everybody and Is widely and frequently used. In the recent century it has been updated and made more aware of and every generation use some form of it. 

The Ring title sequence analysis

Firstly the dreamworks title clitches like a video tape would, which then links in later with video tape references in the title sequence. 

The girls are young, which is similar to the target audience of around 15-25 year olds. It is certificated a 15 so we ax see it is for people of the age group being shown. 

The lighting is dark which fits with the rain sound and this allows the audience to instantly determind genre as horror. 

Close ups of the face are shown making the audience feel as if they were there with the characters, engaging them even further.

The television turns on by its self, which then makes the audience remember the dreamworks title. It also scares the audience letting them know exactly what genre it is. 

The liquid on the floor could be blood, the audience then want to know where it is coming from and as the close up below shows, they want to know what is behind the door. 

The girls face scares the audience engaging them as it is a long opening sequence. 

Finally our (the audiences) screens go like how the girls television went, making us feel more involved. 

The Conjuring Title Sequence Analysis

The first image is a family which instantly creates an enigma: who are they?. The pictures are in black&white suggesting it is either set in older times or is about then.

Blackouts are used throughout this opening sequence which create a dark and scary feeling for the audience. 

This image of the house is creepy and associated with horror because it's at night time and a shot of the house from low looking up at it, giving it some sort of authority. 

The newspapers are effective as the headlines are giving an insight into what the film is about. This lets the audience know definitely that it is horror/thriller as it mentions the words 'haunting' and 'ghost hunter'. 

Graveyards are shown which foreshadows death, and also sets the mood for the audience, building up tension. 

The dolls faces are used to scare the audience and make them jump. 

The title comes up with the background of a house which had a rope hanging down from a tree which is used to hang people with. 

The Cabin In The Woods

In the Cabin In the Woods, it starts off with blood pouring over walls which have carving on it. This instantly lets the audience know they are watching a mystery or horror. The credits are also in red, associated with the blood and danger theme. 

The title comes up in red, which fits with the name credits. It is played with music of firstly the sound of someone screeching and then dark gloomy music. Which really engages the audience and makes/keeps them interested as the title sequence is 5:48minutes so they need to ensure the audience want to carry on watching it. 

Next is the equilibrium, it's all happy in the street with teenagers which appeals to the target audience as they are of a similar age. The credits are still appearing at this point however contrasting from the scene as they are red and pouring alike blood. 

The young girl in her underwear appeals to the male audience as it attracts them to the screen. The camera comes from outside to inside her window, making the audience know she is a main character. 

Stereotypes are used on the characters. This is a young male playing rugby/American football who is appealing to the female audience. 

More characters are now shown and they are seen to be the main characters to the audience. This then creates the enigma if what is going to happen to them. 

Preliminary Production - Final Video

Planning

Today we discussed what genre our group are going to do (horror) where were going to film, who we are going to film etc. We came up and settled on ideas really quickly and easily planned out the whole story line. By knowing the whole story line the opening sequence becomes clearer and easier and we know what shots we will want to include. for example the setting will be where the 'murderer' grew up and we want to have a panning shot of old toys and teddies. These shots will then create enigmas and we will know the answers. Deciding on location was simple and we will go and visit out chosen place as a group to see if it completely fits our ideas and criteria. 

I made a mind map so I could clearly see all of our ideas. 

We thought it would be fairer for none of us to be acting/playing a character in our title sequence as that way everyone can film equally. As during our preliminary production Drew and Lauren were acting and unfortunately did not get to do much camera work. We are going to use a friend to play the 'killer' however still need to arrange other characters as our idea includes a group of youthful people which sets the equilibrium. 

Preliminary production

Four our preliminary production we had to film someone walking through a door, sitting down at a table, opposite another person. The point of this was to explore different camera angles and to practice not breaking the 180 degree rule.

We filmed character 1 walking through the door, and also a close up of them pushing down the handle. I think when these shots are then put together they will have continuity and the whole piece will look much better. 

Because the door we were using had a clear window in it, we placed the camera at a slightly low angle and filmed character two who was sitting, waiting at the table for character 1 to arrive. She looks at her watch, showing she is waiting for someone which then creates the enigma for the audience of who is she waiting for?

 At the end we filmed a zooming out shot, although i'm unsure if we will use it because it was slightly out of focus as the cameras we were using were not great for zoom.