Short film: Planning

Setting

My film will take place in an empty forest as to the audience it connotes a gloomy deserted place but filled with trees and obstacles in which things could be lurking. I feel it is a good space to film as I could create many interesting and different shots within a forest to improve the quality of my film.

Sound

There will be no dialogue in my short film to create suspense and enigma. The audience will therefore have to work out what is happening in the scene as no character is informing them. No dialogue will leave space for an eerie ambiance which will create the horror effect.

However throughout the short film I may include non-diagetic music to enhance the suspense at certain points.

Costume

I have decided that the costume will be casual clothing as the film is based on a young girl. I have come to this conclusion as using this girl in casual every day clothing will mean that the audience can relate to her and therefore create empathy towards her. This means that the horror elements will have a larger impact on the audience as they would feel they are in the film also.

Lighting

I have chosen to have natural lighting for my film as it is set in a forest which is known by most people and is a natural place where no artificial lighting will be portrayed. Also, having natural lighting will present the film as realistic and relatable to the audience making them feel more involved in the plot.

Plot

I have decided on a plot that is simple with the use of Todorov's equilibrium theory, however, with a twist. My previous research has informed me that some people feel the plot of horror films can be quite confusing, therefore, that is why mine is simpler. The young girl is walking in the park and gets followed by something unknown, she is then chased through the forest and just as the audience are expecting something to happen she wakes up as it is a dream. However, a man (shadow) appears in her house and she gets killed. As many have said they do not enjoy the gruesome side of horrors, I have not included any as you do not see the killing, only the shadow.

Audience research analysis

I asked a variety of people about their personal opinions regarding horror films through a questionnaire and received results that are able to help me produce my short film.
I found that the most popular film genre is romantic comedy, however, there is a niche audience who have a strong enjoyment with horror.
I also found that about a quarter of the people who completed the questionnaire watched and were familiar with short films where as the remainder were not due to reasons such as that they are not as advertised, they don't have a very good plot and because they were not aware of them. Finding this, I know that in order for my short film to be successful I will have to make it more accessible for the and create better advertisements to be recognised by the audience. As well as this, regarding the comments about the unappealing plots being featured in many short films, I know that I am going to have to be certain that my film has an interesting story line, perhaps with a twist.
In addition, I have also found that viewing films online is very popular. I will upload my product to a website featuring short films so people can access it as they do with other films. This means that more people will be able to view the film as it is easy for them to get to.
Through the feedback, I observed that the top three media platforms that films are advertised on are television, online and film posters. If I was to advertise my short film I would use these methods so that it is well known and the audience are aware of it.
The majority of the people that answered the questionnaire agreed that they do enjoy watching horror films with a few stating they don't. This suggests that using horror as my film genre is a good decision as it is popular. The reasons why some of the audience did not enjoy horror films was because a lot of them have predictable plots, they are too gory and they sometimes go "too far" in terms of seeing deaths on screen. I can take this information to ensure that my short film is not similar to many already created and that it is not too violent or gruesome.

Audience Research

Horror film research

I have done some research into the genre of horror and as to why people may like them or why not. I can use this research in order to produce my own short film so that it is successful in terms of the audience thinking it is enjoyable and effective.

I have browsed on a number of websites containing views of horror films and why people enjoy them. This is what I have found:

The question is: Why? If our best selves find the horrific so repulsive, why do we pay good money to watch it again and again?

It's not merely an attraction to blood and gore, experts say. People who liked the "Saw" series, for instance, wouldn’t necessarily derive such pleasure from watching a steer being slaughtered in a meat-processing plant. Researchers say one reason we watch is because the thrill calls up primal behavior, mainly in males, to assess threat levels. (The typical horror-flick viewer is a male adolescent between the ages of 15 and 45.)

"People go to horror films because they want to be frightened or they wouldn't do it twice," says Jeffrey Goldstein, a professor of social and organizational psychology at the University of Utrecht in the Netherlands. Goldstein edited a book on the subject titled, "Why We Watch: The Attractions of Violent Entertainment" (Oxford University Press).

"You choose your entertainment because you want it to affect you. That's certainly true of people who go to entertainment products like horror films that have big effects. They want those effects," Goldstein said.

He and other social scientists suggest we watch for different reasons, which include enjoying the adrenaline rush, being distracted from mundane life, vicariously thumbing our noses at social norms, and enjoying a voyeuristic glimpse of the horrific from a safe distance.

http://www.livescience.com/7949-horror-movies-people-love.html

This website has informed me that mainly sensation seekers are the type of people to enjoy watching horror films, This suggests that these people will be my target audience and in order to make the film enjoyable I will have to make sure the effects of it on the audience will be enticing and thrilling.

Short film practice continued

Mise en scene

The short film takes place in school classrooms and a hallway suggesting that it is about school children.

The film is set in natural lighting due to the surroundings of the school. The unedited natural lighting presents the naturalistic and simplistic school environment.

The costume is the school uniform as the film is set in school and the characters are school girls.

Sound

There is  no non-diegetic sound in the short film, only dialogue between two characters. Again, this presents the scene to be more realistic to the audience. The absence of non-diegetic sound also allows the audience to focus purely on the conversation between the characters which is the important part of the plot.

Editing

The editing within the short film is very minimalistic, there is a white blur in between the scene in the classroom to the scene to the hall way and vise versa. This bright blur represents the difference between imagination and reality as the character is day dreaming in a lesson. 

The other forms of editing are the jump cuts between all shots, Jump cuts are used to show the reaction of both of the characters whilst in conversation so the audience can see all of the action.

No other editing is used to keep the film minimalistic as the film is based on a persons life which would need to be relatable to the audience.

Short film practice continued

Camera shots/angles

Medium shots - Throughout the short films I have used many medium shots as this presents the character involved and also enough of the setting that is necessary. It also catches any important movement or facial expressions to be seen by the audience.

Long shots - A long shot is used to portray the movement of the character and the fact they are travelling to one destination to another. It also shows the subject in the setting (the school corridor).

 Medium close up - I have also used a medium close up, mainly to focus on the characters confused facial expression. The camera is also placed behind the door showing the character through the window to create a variety of shots within the film.

Reaction shots - I have also used reaction shots in the film to portray the conversation between two characters. It shows the facial expressions of the characters throughout the conversation capturing the feelings that they may have which adds to the plot.

Low angle - A low angle was used to emphasise the power of the villain in this film. Low angle shots portray a superior side to a character making the audience feel inferior.

High angle - A high angle was used to make a character look inferior to the audience, the high angle portrays the character to have a lack of power compared to other characters and is in need of help.

Short film practice

As preparation for the main task of creating a film or trailer, we have worked in groups to produce our own short film within lesson time to explore the different ways of camera use, shot angles and movements. This task has allowed us to test our own knowledge on our ability to use a camera effectively using many of the shots we have previously learnt about.

This was our finished result:


KATIE jess lucy from Bishop Walsh on Vimeo.

Character type and function

Vladimir Propp

In 1928 Propp suggested that in any story there are only ever a limited number of character types, each of which have their own purpose in the narrative.

Propp's main character types

Hero - The central protagonist off the narrative who drives it forward and has some kind of quest or mission to undertake in return for a reward. Traditionally male, e.g. Fireman Sam, but can be female in modern narratives.

Heroine/Princess - Acts as a reward for the hero succeeding in the quest. In older, more stereotypical narratives the heroine is a passive princess and female, e.g. Daphne in Scooby-Doo. In modern narratives the heroine can be more active and feisty.

Villain - Seeks riches, glory and/or power, and also seeks to stop the hero from succeeding in the quest or mission, while presenting a genuine threat. They can be male (e.g. Scar in Disney's The Lion King) or female (e.g Cruella de Vil in 101 Dalmations).



Donor/Mentor - Gives the hero important information or equipment to help him (or her) in the quest. They are often represented as wise or as having special powers, but are not able to do the quest without the hero.



Helper - Accompanies the hero for some or most of the journey of the quest, and can even help the hero to succeed, but cannot by themselves complete the quest.

Codes and conventions of the horror genre

Analysing film trailers

Mise-en-scene

The Hunger Games

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMGRhAEn6K0

The mise-en-scene is effective within this part of the trailer as it has completely changed compared to the beginning of it. It began in the character's home town which was portrayed to be very green and rural and now is in this new futuristic setting. The colours used here for the setting are silver and blue. These colours portray a strong connotation for technology and sci-fi. This presents to the audience that there is a change in Katniss' (main character) life as not only is she moving away but is also completely different to her comfort zone, this helps to attract the audience as they also want to find out what is going to happen at this new place too. 

Katniss is also portrayed to be powerful in this scene as she stands out from the men walking next to her as they are in contrasting colours, the black may be suggesting she is not afraid to be different and also could represent her strong will in this film. Her head is also held high as she walks towards the camera again suggesting she is powerful and a strong person. This attracts the audience as you can already tell that she is the main character and the 'hero' of the film, therefore, the viewers are intrigued to see what happens,

The characters in this shot are all very serious as they are standing extremely still and tall. This may also engage the audience as they can see that something is about to happen and would want to know what this is, making the trailer successful.

Camera movement/shots

I Am Legend

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtKMEAXyPkg

There are many establishing shots used within the I Am Legend trailer. This is due to the fact the film is based on the disruption of New York city. Therefore establishing shots show the iconic city of New York and what is happening to it in the film. This intrigues the audience as the shots are very clear of what is happening and they would want to know what is happening to New York and why.

Low angle shots are also used in the trailer to connotate and highlight the superiority of the main character. Low shots suggest that the character is strong and powerful which would engage the audience as they can recognize he is the hero through this shot and the role that he is playing in the film.

Sound

The Conjuring

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgTUALaTvv0

At the beginning of the trailer, a happy family moving into a new home are presented to the audience. The sound at this point is non-diegetic music which is quite happy and upbeat. This suggests to the audience that at this point in the film there is an equilibrium and everything is normal to the characters, However, shortly after this changes. 

Shortly after, the sound changes to an eerie and spooky type of music. This is where the trailer presents genre clues as the common conventions of horror films is scary music and sounds such as floor boards creaking. This trailer is successful as the sound and music you would expect from a horror film is presented which engages the target audience. After seeing this trailer, horror film fans will be engaged and want to watch this film as the sound is a very key feature of a trailer and it is effective.

Lighting

If I Stay

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BtezcxOAnzw

In the If I Stay trailer, the lighting used is very effective as their is a clear contrast between it. The trailer shows that the film is split between reality and the main character being outside of her own body. The lighting shows this as the lighting to begin with is quite low key, natural and realistic of everyday life. However, when the character is out of her body, the lighting portrays the scene to be rather mystical and heavenly. This is effective as the audience are engaged by this as it portrays a change in the girls life creating enigma for the viewer as they want to find out which path she takes. Does she stay in reality, or leave the world to be with her family in this heavenly life? The audience would want to watch the film due to this trailer making it effective.

Film trailer research continued

What makes a good trailer?

There are many codes and conventions used within film trailers to help advertise the film.
To begin with, a typical code/convention of film trailers is how the genre is portrayed to the audience through out the trailer, this is a key convention due to the fact the viewers of the film depends on the genre and what target market it is aiming at. 
As well as this, an additional convention of film trailers is how the main characters are presented and how the famous actors are shown so that the audience are attracted to the film as they are a fan of that actor, therefore are a fan of the upcoming film.
Another convention is the title given to the film which is usually shown at the end of the trailer so people get a glimpse of the film and have a moment to think about it themselves before they know the full plot it includes, another reason for the title being at the end is because it then stays in the audiences heads and they are likely to remember it as it is the last thing they saw. 
Finally, as well as this another code and convention of a film trailer is the typography used, sometimes sub headings and on screen text can be used to help the audience understand what the film is about and also help them be attracted to it.

Film trailer research

Trailers are a very important feature of film making as they are what promotes the film to a wide audience in an attempt to lure them into watching. There are often large budgets for trailers as they are one of the most major ways of creating immediate interest before a film is actually released.

Three types of trailer

• Teaser trailer - The shortened version of a trailer, shown in advance to the release date. It's purpose is to tease the audience and to interest them into the film.

EXAMPLE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJNaTZAjyR4

• Theatrical trailer - These are usually shown in the cinema a few weeks before the release date.

EXAMPLE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FovFG3N_RSU

• DVD trailer - These are shown  on television and on the internet in advance of the DVD release date to intrigue the audience into actually buying the DVD copy of the film.

EXAMPLE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EzWXyV_kygM

Short film research continued

Post-it Love

Mise-en-scene:

• The film is set in a stereotypical office environment filled with photocopiers, printers, desks, filing cabinets etc...
• There are a few lightly coloured walls such as green and purple portraying a slight twist to the working environment which could lead the audience to think there is a twist in the film too.
• Both the male and female characters are wearing stereotypical work wear presenting them as smart and hard working people - also showing them to be similar in clothes linking to their similarity in personality.
• The props include the frequently displayed work facilities however the main used props are the post-it notes.

Sound:

• The sound throughout the film is non-diegetic music
• The music is upbeat and jolly portraying the love that is about to blossom as it is a happy time for both the male and female characters
• There is no dialogue therefore the focus is not on what the characters are saying but in fact the actions in which they are doing - creating pictures for each other.

Lighting:

• The lighting is quite high key throughout the film and does not dim at any point.
• The bright lighting emphasises the happy theme being shown and how both of the characters are happy with each  other.

Camera shots:

• The camera shots vary a lot in this short film.
• There are many medium close ups showing the expressions of the characters throughout the film so the audience can see how they are feeling at each stage.
• There is also a long shot of both of the characters at either side however the screen is split - this shows the similarity between the characters and how they act in the same way.
• There is also an extreme close up of the females eyes when she finds one of the post-it note pictures - this is effective as it shows the happiness in her eyes at what she is looking at before the audience can even see the picture.

Narrative:

• The narrative is very straight forward in a sense that there is no disruption in the middle, or anything messing up the narrative flow.
• The small post-it note pictures all lead to a big image of both the characters at the end which is effective as the audience can sense the build up at each image but do not know what will happen at the end.

 Link: http://www.filmsshort.com/best-short-films/Best-UK-Films-1.html#.VCHcavldW2U

The Black Hole

Mise-en-scene:

• The male character is wearing a stereotypical shirt and tie to his work suggesting his working life to be like many others at this time.
• The film is set in an ordinary dull looking office filled with many office supplies such as printers, photocopiers and filing cabinets.
• The male character seems to be rather worn out as his uniform is beginning to look quite shabby as if he is coming to the end of a long working week

Sound:

• There seems to be no non-diegetic or music or sound in the film suggesting that the film may be quite realistic despite the plot.
• There is also no dialogue so that the audience is able to fully focus on what the character is doing not saying.
• We only hear diegetic sounds such as a printer constantly printing work which seems to add tension throughout the film which emphasises the environment that he is in.

Lighting:

• Straight away the audience can see the low key and dim lighting representing the boring and un-thrilling lifestyle that working in an office may entail.
• The lighting stays the same in the whole of the film suggesting nothing changes in the office and most days are the same.

Camera Shots:

• The camera shots are rather simple in this film as it is set in an office which is portrayed to be a quite simple place.
• The shots are mainly medium close ups showing the man and his reaction to everything that goes on.
• This allows the audience to understand how the character is feeling at each stage in the film by looking at his face and the expression he is pulling.

Narrative:

• The narrative is quite simple to begin with as a simple man is shown going about his daily work.
• He then comes across this black whole on a piece of paper which turns out to be an actual hole and he ends up getting stuck in a safe whilst trying to steal money out of it through the hole.
• The narrative is effective as it involves an unexpected twist keeping the audience interested.

Link: http://www.filmsshort.com/best-short-films/Best-UK-Films-1.html#.VCHcavldW2U

(3rd one down)