The Horror Genre - Exploring Conventions

Here are some horror conventions:

Mise en scene:

• Isolated settings, domestic settings, often during the night
• Dark atmosphere, created by expressionistic lighting, shadowy lighting

Camerawork and editing:

• Cross cutting for suspense sequences
• Faster cutting for violent action
• Point of view shots for those being watched
• Hand held shots for chase scenes

Characters

• Hedonistic teenagers
• Innocent girls
• Victims become heroes
• Monsters
• Final girl
• Psychologically damaged adults

Narrative based on issues/themes emerging

• Good triumphing over evil
• Conflict played out as a battle between good and evil
• The supernatural haunting an individual
• Unfinished business with a villian coming back for revenge
• Confusion with identity
• Unsolved murders
• Unexplained events

Narrative Structure

• Conforms to Todorov's equilibrium, disruption, resortation of equilibrium
• Propp's character theory
• Binary oppositions between good and evil, life and death, supernatural and natural, leading to resolution of those conflicts but often with a twist at the end suggesting all is not well
• Victims using their skills to solve the crime and reveal / overthrow the murderer.

Icons

• Blood
• Gore
• Knives
• Shadows
• Darkness
• Masks
• Ghosts
• Deformities

Music and Sound

• Heartbeats
• Atmospheric suspense music
• Psycho strings
• Loud bangs and crashes
• Screams
  

Time Schedule for Shots on Tuesday (2)

Time Schedule for Shots on Tuesday (1)

Synopsis of the Movie

A reserved, quiet and religious young girl is traumatized by her family life as she grows up without a mother and a mentally disturbed father. Elizabeth hardly has any friends, she tends to spend time praying in front of her late mother's photograph. Until one night she receives a mysterious phone call. Evil, destruction, murder and rage falls upon Elizabeth's life as a turn of events causes the biggest tragedy of the century.

Checklist for Movie Trailer

1. Development

• Brainstorm
• Research Ideas
• Pitch Ideas
• Write Scripts

2. Pre Production

• Create Storyboard
• Survey and select locations
• Create Scene Breakdown
• Create Shooting Schedule
• Create Shot List

3. Production

• Obtain Equipment
• Film Required Scenes
• Log Footage
• Return Footage
• Prepare Evaluation PowerPoint

4. Post Production

• Review Footage
• Create Paper Edit
• Import Footage to Computer
• Edit Footage
• Export for Viewing

5. Distribution

• Present with Main Evaluation PowerPoint and Finished Film
• Organize for Screenings
• Additional Screenings
• Produce Publicity Material - (Advert and Poster Campaign)

Final Production Name

Chosen: 666 Productions
This is a possible logo design for 666 Productions

Possible Production Names and Result

As a group, we listed the possible names for our production company. We found the following names most appealing:

• Dark Child Productions
• Bloody Productions
• Necropsy Productions
• Omen Productions
• Triple6 Productions
• 666 Productions

Possible Locations/Settings

We have allocated different locations for certain scenes for the filming our trailer:

• Tooting Bec Park
• Graveyard - West Norwood cemetry
• Mariam's house
• My house
• My shed
• My car
• Unused house

Props List

We will need the following items for the mise-en-scene of our trailer:

1. Candles
2. An old woman's picture
3. A White nightgown
4. Imitation blood
5. An antique knife
6. Make-up
7. White sheets
8. Torches x 2
   

Task : The Recreation of Movie Trailers

Our task was to recreate iconic scenes from different horror movies of our interest. I was able to test out my skills in directing, producing editing and filming which helped me understand my strong areas in the creative sector. As a group of four, with four different scenes to film, we divided our tasks in order to explores the possible roles. I learnt that the lighting, timing and editing are factors that require accuracy to receive the best results. Some of our footage lacked quality, such as the 'Faculty' scene. This made it difficult for the viewer to understand the events in the scene. However, with scenes from 'The Exorcism of Emily Rose' and 'Halloween' worked well to create the effect that we aimed to acheive. Whilst editing, we learnt to use a new software, Adobe Premiere. I was able to experiment with the different effects and sounds and was able to apply my knowledge to the footage. I was then able to combine the parts of the scenes that I wanted to use and make the final result. We all took turns to do this so that the group was fully aware of the features and method of editing the footage.