music/references to other films.

The films “The Ward”, “Identity” and “The Hills Have Eyes” are both films which could be used as reference points to us. The ideas behind them all link in with our themes. The Ward uses similar techniques to portray madness and identity, as the main character suffers from multiple personality disorder. As well as The Ward, Identity follows a similar plot to this with the idea of multiple personality disorder. Both films are effective as they keep the audience in suspense which builds throughout the film. The use of the non-diegetic soundtrack’s of both films are equally important as well, as they mimic the action and sometimes fuel it.

One of the most important aspects of any horror movie is the music. As with most elements in the horror genre, especially the slasher genre, the importance of music emerged with Alfred Hitchcock’s ‘Psycho.’ The music in ‘Psycho’, and in particular - the shower scene music, is fundamental for the evolution of music in the horror genre. The violin in that scene is so effective because it is used as percussion, suggesting knife strokes. Similarly, in our trailer we are considering having the switching of scenes having the sound of the match being lit, to signal this being done- only at the beginning where we are showing the past.

discussion of target audiences

As a group, we have imagined a certain target audience for our film trailer. The successful connection between a film and its audience partly requires relation, whereby the audience can relate to films properties, and not just its characters. Firstly, in terms of Gender we believe it would appeal to both male and females equally as the story mainly involves both genders in both of the main types of roles; the antagonist and protagonist. 

 

The same principal applies to age as the ages represented range from 18-25, so with this in mind, we would expect the target audience to largely be, if not completely, in this age bracket. Along with the representation, personally I believe that this age range find Horror and Thrillers more appealing than any older age, whilst the violence portrayed throughout the plot would suggest that its not suitable for any age under 18 in accordance with the BBFC guidelines.

 

Next, the expected class for the target audience ranges from lower class to upper-middle class, again partly down to the characters represented, but also the content of the film trailer and the settings, which we believe would be best relatable with these classes. It must be noted however that this is a general assumption for the time being and does not suggest that their would be no interest from any other classes.

 

The interests of the target audience would depend entirely on where they apply in the first three sections of target audience, but if it was assumed on age, then one main interest could be film watching along with outgoing activities. If we assume this is true, then this works well with our film trailer as it is firstly a horror/thriller film which is stereotypically a favourable genre with the 18-25 age bracket, whilst it involves the road trip of youths and their reactions to an unexpected threat whilst being isolated.

 

It is now up to our group to devise questionnaires to determine our official target audience.

Shots 10 - 26 Scripted - First Draft

Shots 10 - 26 Scripted - First Draft

[CHARLOTTE is slowly reading a newspaper, and though we cannot hear her speaking we know from her expression that she is concerned. She mumbles something “One Year Ago” and looks off out the window. The camera pans and shows the other group members; MARK, who is sat next to CHARLOTTE driving and SARAH and LEWIS in the back holding hands whilst giggling under their breathes. The camera cuts to a medium shot of the car driving then quickly cuts to a low angle medium shot of the trees and bushes above. It then cuts to a medium shot of SARAH looking over at LEWIS, smiling. There is a slight slow motion to this shot as if to emphases the happiness of the situation. It then cuts to a medium two shot of the couple holding hands and then cuts to a close up of the hands. It quickly cuts to a close up of MARKS driving; his expression is slightly confused, similar to that of CHARLOTTE. 

Then Cuts to a Title Sequence.

There is a high angle long shot of the village and car in front of the camera. It then cuts to a medium shot of the car parking. CHARLOTTE is the first to emerge from the car. There is a medium close up on her face, and the camera pans as she looks around.]

 

CHARLOTTE [Point of view shot of the park square]: It’s definitely quiet…

 

[Close up on the swing as it moves back and forth]

 

MARK [Over the shoulder shot of CHARLOTTE looking off at the park, whilst MARK focuses on something in the distance, again MARK looks confused.]: You’re telling me…

 

SARAH [Cuts to a medium shot of her holding hands with LEWIS. Camera pans as she moves with LEWIS, bags in hand.] : I think it looks cute. [It then cuts to a wide shot of the group moving towards the B&B through the park] I’m sure we’ll have fun, besides you never know what’ll happen, you might enjoy yourselves.

 

[Close up of B&B sign, and then cut to Title Sequence. It then cuts to a medium shot of Lewis and Sarah in the bedroom of the B&B, the two are holding hands looking out the window. Cuts to an over the shoulder high angle shot looking at Sarah smiling out the window.]

First attempt at make up ideas for mental patients.

Media Conventions in Media Trailer (Group Work)

Media Conventions in Media Trailer (Group Work)

The conventions in our film will include:

• Blood
• Violence
• Weapons
• Sadistic violence
• The unknown
• Fire
• Darkness
• A forest
• A cornfield
• A mental asylum
• A group of teenagers

The use of these conventions in our film will help to define each character personally, whilst at the same time developing a realistic, conventional trailer. The use of darkness and a village in the middle of nowhere is useful to show the isolation of the characters, as well as using that isolation to play on some of the characters madness- while still being a conventional location. The sadistic violence will be effective, as it will be used to shock the audience and show the extreme nature of the patients and how far they are willing to go with their acts. The use of the forest and cornfield also portrays the idea of isolation, however the location can also be used to build suspense. 

The idea of not knowing whom the killer is will be effective as it keeps the audience guessing. The use of masks has allows been effective in the horror genre  and the idea of people not being who they portray themselves to be. Examples of this are Friday the 13^th and Halloween, which have captivated and scared millions of people through the years, "hide and seek" where emilys dad has mulitple personality disorder, and "identity thief."

However we want our film to portray two different kinds of masks. A physical one, where the patients remove the faces of another and wear them; and lastly a mask over ones own psyche. The idea of having another identity behind the one you already have which you don’t know about will be effective in keeping the audience in suspense. 

MIS EN SCENE.

Another group member has ordered a straight jacket to help create the character of a metal patient.


I have also purchased fake blood and various makeup palettes to ensure that our characters look realistic. We have also contacted the local hospital and enquired about borrowing some blue scrubs to also create our characters. We have collectively decided our prop list including:
glasses
fake blood
blue scrubs
straight jacket
smart/casual clothes for actors.
old boots
a bedroom
small village ( park in the middle.)
cornfield
makeup palettes.
axe
scapel
knife
face mask
injecting equipment. ( syringes/bottles of liquids)
stiches
fake teeth/teeth staining kit
newpaper (we created)

hard candy trailer analysis

•       Hard Candy was released in 2005 at Sundance Film Festival

•       The Film focuses around the idea of dangers facing teenagers on the internet from paedophiles. However the plot turns on traditional connotations as the suspected sexual predator gets tortured by the fourteen year old girl.

•       The film was described as unique and controversial because of its plot

•       Psychological thriller

•       The genre of the film is portrayed through the trailer by the non-diegetic soundtrack, diegetic dialogue/ sounds and the cutting rate.

•       As well as this the trailer creates a sense of tension and feelings of wrongness due to the idea and plot behind the film.

•       The film portrays sadistic violence which is shown briefly in the trailer, helping to portray its genre.

•       By switching the roles between the man and the girl it shows something that is unconventional and for some creates a sense of mystery behind the females character, as the transition from the her first appearance in the trailer as being sweet and innocent to the hard and cold character makes the audience question her motive for targeting this man.

•       The first shot of the trailer portrays the logo of the film company; however the mixture of the non-diegetic soundtrack and the diegetic sound of blinds moving creates a tense atmosphere. This tense atmosphere is also created through the visual effects during this first shot. This also helps to portray the type of genre of the film.

•       It then cuts to a close up of a computer screen with the message “So we should finally hook up, baby?” shortly followed by “NOT a baby, I keep telling you”. This introduces the idea of a flirtatious and sexual relationship which was formed online between a man and a teenage girl; this is made clear through her writing style and user name portrayed “thonggrrrrl14”.

•       It then cuts to a medium close up of a man and alternates from a long angle to a high angle shot through the shot reverse shot. From shots in the trailer, such as this one, the character of the man is shown to represent a seemingly average middle aged male. However as the trailer progresses it portrays him as more of a victim, even though he is the supposed “predator”.

•       The young girl is portrayed as naïve and innocent during the beginning of the trailer, shown through her diegetic dialogue of “I’m reading a ninth grade book”, suggesting that she is trying to impress the man and to seem older than she is. This as well as the dialogue of the man saying to her “you look older than you are and you certainly act older than you are” which in contrast to her reply “really?” makes her seem even more childlike.

•       However similarly to the man, her character becomes more cold and violent, which is mimicked through the non-diegetic soundtrack of the bass gets louder and the cutting rate becomes faster, which seems to mimic her actions.

•       The dialogue of “You thought since we’ve been talking for three weeks you know everything about me” which in the next cut showing a medium shot of her dressed in a grey vest top, makes her appeared hardened, which is also shown through the lighting and her body language.

•       The relationship between the two characters is at first portrayed as happy and slightly sexual, shown through the medium close up of the man touching the girls lips.

•       However in parallel to this, towards the end of the trailer we are shown through a fast paced cut sequence of medium close ups and close ups of her attacking the man. The editing technique used here bridged with the non-diegetic soundtrack portrays the genre and the relationship between the two characters as being violent, as if he was going to kill him.

•       The trailer lasts two minutes and thirty three seconds, which for most movies is the average time given. In that time though we are shown a variety of different shots, which tells us a story without giving away too much information, whilst at the same time promoting the film.

•       The film is an effective form of promotion as the reviews shown in the trailer give positive feedback, such as “will provoke audiences into a debate that will set word-of-mouth on fire.”

•       The poster for the film also portrays the genre of the film, as it shows the small girl dressed in red, similarly to that of red riding hood, with a bear trap around her, symbolising that maybe she is dangerous and is leading someone into the trap.