ET7: Progression from Preliminary Task

Since my preliminary task at the start of the AS year, as a group we have improved majorly to this point (after making our film opening). We have learnt about camera shots and how they can be used effectively and can create an atmosphere. In our final film we include lots of close ups and over the shoulder shots, however in the preliminary most of the shots were point of view shots or mid shots. These didn't help make the scene interesting as the camera didn't move around much therefore the audience wouldn't be as close to the characters as we want them to be.

We have learnt mostly about editing and how sounds can be made synchronous and stand out so that the audience notice them more than you usually would. Adding in non-diegetic music had helped create an atmosphere (which we could not do in our preliminary). The preliminary task helped introduce us to making a video and how we would use a camera down to the basics. However at this point, we all know how to use the editing machine to cut clips down, make noises louder (synchronous), add in free sounds from http://www.freesound.org/ and where to place them to make the noise effective. We also know more details about shots and how they can improve the audience's relationship with the characters.

Overall, our knowledge of using a video camera, making shots effective, adding in suitable music and sound effects and making a video in general has improved since the preliminary task and this has helped make a successful film opening.

ET6: Importance of Skills Development

This is the tripod we used when filming our video, the tripod alters to different heights meaning we can get low angle shots and high angle shots. It is also helpful when we need a steady shot as the tripod keeps the camera still unlike if it is handheld and would keep shaking.

This photo shows the camera on the tripod, it is fitted firmly to the camera slot which allows stability with the camera. The handle on the side allows us to tilt the camera left and right and also to pan around the room. It also shows the lens cap which must always go back on the camera when we're finished with it.

This shows the camera from our point of view, it shows the settings of the buttons that changes the white balance, lighting etc. We could view our footage by pressing the green play button and delete it using the trash can button.

This is the camera case, the camera fits in comfortably and helps us manage our equipment safely. We carried the camera and charger in this to protect it from rain or dropping it etc. We learnt how to care for the camera as it was expensive and everything had to go back in its place once we'd finished with it.

These photos show our group using the camera, tripod and editing machine. It shows the angle we have the camera to create either a low angle shot, mid shot or close up. These photos show the lighting we used to film in and what we left in the shot. We did not use the tripod in this shot as we wanted a hand held effect of the camera shaking.

 

The photo of the editing machine shows us making our promotional video. We learnt how to use Premiere Pro, how to add in free sounds and how to elongate or shorten them. We learnt how to cut clips down if we didn't need certain parts, and how to drag other clips in. We also knew how to make sounds louder or quieter to suit the time of the film.

ET5: Importance of Audience

My original voki was based on a girl of my age who enjoyed watching horror/thriller movies. This is Hanney and she has similar qualities to my voki. I showed our film opening to her and asked her some questions - this was her feedback:

• Did you enjoy this film opening in general? Why?

"Yes I did. The title image of the film & music was dramatic and drew me in wanting to know more. The girl was dressed for the part - Made you want to know where she had been before coming home that evening."

• Did our film suit the genre we intended? Why or why not?

"Yes it did. It was tense & suspense filled - not knowing what was going to happen next. It was filmed in a dark-ish setting which added to the atmosphere. It was quite abstract and the way it was put together gave an erie mood to the film."

• What specifically did you like/dislike about our film opening? Why?

"The music (dramatic). The camera work being distant and then close up was good. I liked the names of those acting and being involved in making the film - Made it look proffessional as the full length film would do this. Disliked how the scenes went a little too fast but I realise time prevented the tension being built over a long period."

• Did the actors/director do a good job? Why or why not?

Yes Chloe did. She looked the part of the good looking hollywood blonde - typically Alfred Hitchcock! She moved slowly and didn't rush, looked scared - especially when walking up to the front door and in the kitchen. She smiled a little too much - but she might smile when she's nervous? Involuntary reaction to being scared. Also the horrorman was very good as we did not see his face and was elusive.

• How could it be improved? Why would particular changes help?

Darker lighting at times perhaps, also could include more horror rather than just one ghostly figure, eg lights going out, windows shattering or bats in the kitchen? Could have included some mystery in the house eg radio turning on, tv turning itself on etc.

• Did you feel like you wanted to watch more of the film? Did it give suspense? How?

Yes I did. I wanted to know who the figure outside was - what he looked like - how he got in the house from the garden etc. The suspense was not knowing what was going to happen next & in that sense, the music was good. The ending was good, I wondered where she was being taken & why = suspense. Didn't know whether she fainted or was murdered, that gave good suspense.

• Out of 10, (10 being excellent) where would you rate this film opening?

Film Opening - 9
Film itself in totality - 9
Suspense - 9
Lighting - 9
Actors - 8
Music - 8/9
Ghostly figure - 7
Setting of film - 8
Ending - 8

ET4: Using Audience Feedback

I interviewed Shannon Hall after she had watched our video and this was her response to the questions I asked her.

ET3: Importance of Instutution

I would choose Alliance films to distribute our film as they have distributed many films similar to our film such as;

• Sinister
• Piranha
• Let Me In
• My Soul To Take
• Don't Be Afraid Of The Dark
• The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo
• Halloween 2
• The Last Exorcism
• The Woman In Black
• The Possession
• Prom Night
• Insidious (1,Chapter 2)
• The Lords of Salem
• Inside
• Disaster Movie

All these films contain gore, mystery, thriller, haunting - similar to our film. These films fit in the same genre of horror and thriller and being distributed by Alliance Films, they have become a big success in the film industry and therefore we would want our film to share that success. Alliance Films are a big distributing company therefore it would allow our film to get into cinemas.
For example, the film we had the most inspiration from was Scream, Alliance films distributed this film and according to IMDB, the ratings for this film were high at 7.2. The description is suitable for our film as we wanted to use a similar plot to Scream - therefore Alliance films would be very suitable for distributing our film because they make similar films to the one we made.

ET2: Knowledge of Representation

Planning

• Editing - Connotations of blood when the titles are written in red writing and sketchy font. Title 'Fragments' written in black and white sketchy font. Production video includes creepy (tip toe) music giving it a spooky atmosphere. Titles come in at 00:50 seconds - suitable amount of time to introduce the film before the title comes up.

• Mise En Scene - Outfits of both characters represented their character, Chloe was wearing party clothes (dress and heels) to signify that she has just come home from a party. The killer was wearing a white boiler suit (white to signify ghost-like connotations and being haunted) also didn't show his face which showed an anonymous character.

• Camera - Point of view shots/over the shoulder shots when Chloe is in danger (when the killer suddenly appears right in front of her, when she drops the glass and see's the killer at the door) Camera shot inside the fridge, to show that Chloe's being watched? Lots of extreme close ups (phone ringing, keys on floor, keys in door, opening door handle, tap dripping, feet getting dragged out of shot etc) these make us closer to the location and details of Chloe's character.

• Sound - Synchronous sounds for significant noises that we may not notice if it were quiet (keys dropping, tap dripping, footsteps walking back, locking door, smashing of glass, windchimes, breathing down the phone). Non-diegetic music crossing over when Chloe walks through the front door, tense music to create a creepy atmosphere. 

Textual Analysis
The opening scene starts with a long/pan shot of a teenage girl walking down the road, from this shot we can see her outfit, time of day and location. Her outfit symbolises that she has just returned from a party and that it is early hours of the morning. The location is in a housing estate therefore we know she is returning to her house. In terms of representation of gender, this makes the girl vulnerable as she is dressed in limited clothing and is walking on her own when it is dark. The following shot shows an over the shoulder shot of the killer in the car, watching the girl walk past through the window. We hear synchronous diegetic sound of the man heavily breathing and we see the condensation on the window - this creates suspense and creates a creepy atmosphere. This creates a traditional dominant representation of the male role beause at this point, the girl is put in a dangerous position as she is unknowingly being watched and stalked. The male is carrying the danger and therefore carries more power than the girl.

While the film opening is running, 35 seconds of titles are placed in that introduce some of the casting crew, director and music composer. The colour of the titles match the production video at the beginning as they are written in the colour red - showing connotations of blood. The names of the titles are evenly handed out to both male and female - this creates a modern representation the production is shown to be equal for both genders and not dominated by male roles.

At the time of 50 seconds into the clip, the title 'Fragments' fade into the shot and fade out after a few seconds. The title is written in black and white, capitalized and ironically 'fragmented' font to give the film a distressed atmosphere. In relevance, a few seconds before the titles come in, we are show a long shot of the killer stood watching the girl as she walks through the door. Therefore the titles come in at perfect timing to make the atmosphere tense. The shot of the killer stoof behind the girl creates a traditional representation of the male role as he again is the dominant one. The girl would be unprotected at this point as the killer knows exactly where she lives and therefore puts her in a place of great danger.

After the titles come in and the door closes, the music switches to a slow, low key of the piano. This is a great contrast to the music that opened the film as it was faster and tension building - we could see that the girl was being stalked therefore the tension was high, however as soon as she walked in the house, we knew that she was in more danger therefore the switching of the music at that point was indicating danger. This music continues for the rest of the film opening and helps keep the momentum of being watched. Extreme/Close up shots are included (such as hands opening doors and turning on lights, picking up keys, grabbing a drink out of the fridge) are significant as they create a relationship between the audience and the girl's character. These shots make us familiar with her house and feel closer to her character. We feel sympathy throughout the film as we can see things that she cannot, this creates a traditional representation of women as they tend to be the gender that most often are unaware of being in danger.

The camera pans as the girl closes the fridge and walks into the next room, this shows connotations of being watched as the camera follows her. The fact she walks into a dark room symbolises the sense of danger as we do not know what is in there. The following shot shows a low angle shot of the girl's legs walking around the room, as the phone rings she turns around to pick it up. This surveillance shot shows someone sneakily watching her, of which she is still unaware. This shot creates a traditional representation as she is still vulnerable and the male role is still dominant.

The close up shot of the phone ringing shows an unknown number calling, this puts the girl that one step closer to the killer and allows her to gain some awareness of what is going on. Another close up shot of the girl on the phone allows the audience to be close to the phone call (as well as the girl), we hear synchronous heavy breathing noises on the other end of the phone conversation - this creates an anonymous reference of the killer.

His costume also symbolises his anonymity as we are not shown his face - only a black mask. The use of the colour white in his outfit associates with ghostly-like features and being haunted. The fact the killer is anonymous creates a traditional representation as the male role has authoritive power over the girl without having to hold an identity. After the phone call we hear synchronous wind chime noises from the other side of the door, at this point, the girl becomes scared and spooked. The following over the shoulder shot shows her trying to shake it off and get a glass, however danger becomes closer than she would expect as we hear a diegetic synchronous sound of the door creeking open. This sound is followed by the non-diegetic sudden, erie shuddering noise of the killer appearing at the doorway makes the audience jump as we become more frightened. The synchronous sound of the glass smashing on the floor associates her fear and gasping in freight. This reaction is traditional of a woman being belittled by the man, it shows the girl being frightened and fearful of the opposite sex. However when she runs to slam the door, this becomes a modern representation of women as she is braving up and fighting back.

While the girl walks backwards slowly and fearfully, the killer is behind her in the window. During this mid shot, we hear the synchronous sound of glass being walked over from when she previously dropped it, this creates suspense as we do not know what is going to happen next. The shot cuts to a close up/over the shoulder shot of the girl looking behind her in the window, and no-one is there. It cuts again to an over the shoulder shot of the killer stood right infront of her. These fast cuts contrast against the rest of the film (being quite slow) and show the death to be quick and fast. The close up of the tap dripping shows connotations of blood as the girl is being killed, the scream also helps represent this. The sound of the scream is synchronous and fades out after a few seconds - this helps show that the death was quick. The end shot shows a close up of the girls' shoes getting dragged out of the shot. This shot alone shows us that the man has won the battle of the genders, as the girl is dead. This is a traditional representation of gender as the man is more dominant than the woman, and in the end what the man intended, did happen.

ET1: Knowledge of Genre

1. Phonecall - In the film Scream, the opening includes a young girl on the phone to a mysterious man, we don't know who he is therefore he is anonymous. We included this similarity in our film with the young blonde girl, however the phone in ur film is more up to date with technology than the phone in Scream, also we don't hear a voice on the other side of the phone, we only hear deep breathing.  
2. Outfit - In the film Prom Night, the girls all get dressed up in prom dresses, in our film opening we wanted to make it look like I had just come back from a party (hense the party clothes). Although I'm not wearing a ball gown as like Prom Night, we wanted to add a twist and make it seem as if i've been to a house party or in to town clubbing instead of coming back from Prom.
3. The title of scream is in blood red, scribbly font using the connotations of blood. We used this technique in our production video with the red scribbly handwriting on the wall. We also used the technique in the opening credits of our film however this shows more similarities of the Scream title as the font is capitalised. 
4. To make our film opening scarier, we wanted to re-inact the scene from Prom Night where the killer appears behind Donna in the bathroom. We re-did this scene where Chloe is in the kitchen and while she is walking backwards, the killer is behind the window behind her.
5. When including the opening credits, we wanted to include the names of characters that were going to be killed, we got our influence from the film Return to Horror High as they include the actors in the opening credits aswell.
6. At the end of our film opening, we included a close up of my shoes getting dragged out of the shot, in the symbolisation of death. I got this influence from the film Paranormal Activity 2 when the mum gets dragged down the stairs, however in this circumstance I only get dragged out of the room for all we know.