Lesson 1 on our Horror Movie Opening

In our first lesson, we got given our task of creating a horror movie opening. We got into groups of 3 and brainstormed ideas of the plot and main theme of our opening. After creating a brief plot we started to introduce characters and location.
Here is a brief first rough idea of our movie opening plot:-

• Mark (our main charcter), is shown in an offic environment and appears to be leaving for home in the late hours of the night. Mark's boss then wishes him a safe journey home.





• On marks long walkhome through the woods he hears rusteling in the bushes and feels as if he is being followed or watched.





• Mark walks home as fast as he can and is relieved when he arriveshome, although he feels that something is still wrong- maybe an unwanted prensence?





• Mark is then knocked out





• Mark comes to and realises that he is tied up to a chair in the villians workshop.





• A mysterious figure arrises from the dark and Mark then realises his capturer.

Editing in Movies

What does Editing do?
The narrative's order and story is brought together through editing. By editing something, you are linking clips together to make a whole continuous film.

How does it work?
Certain clips are cut to the appropriate length and our connected tightly together in a sequence. Once the basic sequence wokrs as one, effects, credits and most importantly a soundtrack can be added.

Cut:-
Is way of switching from one shot to the next. This is done very quickly, which creates an on going, continous atmosphere.

Dissolve:-
Is where one shot dissolves/fades out while another dissolves/fades in. Both shots are visible on the screen without cross-cutting

Fade:-
Is were a shot fades out completely to black. This initiates the end of a certain scene or section of a film. This particular form of editing gives the viewer or audience time to reflect on the scene which they have just witnessed.

Jump Cut:-
Is when different shots of the same thing are shown while the camera is less than 45 degrees.


How does the shot reverse shot help the narrative or generate meaning?
This particular shot technique is used to help keep up the narrative, by flicking between two characters, helping us understand the storyline.

Why is the 180 degree rule important?
The 180 degree rule is an extremely important way of filming, as it enables the audience to visually connect with unseen movement happening around and behind the immediate subject in a particular scene. If the line is crossed by the camera, this would alter the placement of the immediate subject and would confuse the viewer.

How and why is the point of view shot used?
A point of view shot is a scene which shows what a character/subject is looking at (represented through the camera). This shot is very effective as it lets members of the audience see events as they happen through the eye of the actor/subject in question, as if they are experiencing the events themselves. This helps the viewer empathise with the characterand feel a personal connection to them and their experiences.

How else can the P.O.V. shot be generated?
Point of view shots can be generated by using a handheld camera or a tracking shot. These techniques both can generate a point of view shot, however a handheld camera can create a shakey, more disorientating effect, whereas a tracking shot will give a smoother, clearer effect.

What is parallel or cross cut editing?
Cross-cutting is an editing technique used in films to establish action occurring at the same time in two different locations. In a cross-cut, the camera will cut away from one action scene to another, which can suggest the simultaneity of these two action filled events.

What editing techniques are used to generate suspense?
Many different shots are used to create suspense. For e.g. a close up shot of a character or subject can clearly show the audience their emotion and feelings. Split screen shots can also be used, showing alot of things going on at once, often at a fast speed adding to tension and excitement felt by the viewer. In horror films, the handheld point of view shot can be used very effectively to create great suspense, allowing the audience to see the action through the characters eyes, and almost feel as if they are in the film themselves. The handheld effect can add a disorientating and shakey effect which in its self creates suspense.

Explain in your own words how the mouse sequence generates tension

Why is timing important in editing?
Timing is important in editing as it inforces a sense on continuity to the particular scene. All elements, i.e. camera shots, music and audio work smoothly together to make the scene flow and appear more realistic to the viewer.

Explain in your own words what the continuity system is
The continuity system is a technique used in cinematic film were a scene cuts straight to another, flowing smoothly as one, with no noticable cutting breaks.

Why does editing strive to be invisible?
If done well, editing strives to be invisible as to allow the film to look as realistic and smoot as possible to the audience, creating a desired outcome as a whole.

Indepth Analysis of 'Scream'

Twisted Pictures (Film Institution) Research

Twisted Pictures is an independant production company, who specialize in producing films of the Horror/Thriller genre- particularly famous for producing the Saw series. The company was founded in 2004 by Evolution Entertainment's Mark Burg, Oren Koules and Greg Hoffman.
The company was formed after the box office success of Saw in 2004, which lead to a nine-picture distribution deal with Lionsgate.The company went on to produce six sequels in the Saw film Series.
In June 2007, the company formed a joint venue with RKO Pictures to remake four films out of RKO library. The remakes include, Five Come Back (1939), I Walked with a Zombie (1943), The Body Snatcher (1945), and Bedlam (1946).In October 2009, Twisted Pictures landed a deal with the The Texas Chainsaw Massacre rights-holders Bob Kuhn and Kim Henkel after discussions with Platinum Dunes fell apart. The deal is for multiple films.
Films produced by Twisted Pictures include:-

• Saw II



• Saw III



• Catacombs



• Dead Silence
  


• Saw IV



• Vlog



• Saw V



• Repo! The Genetic Opera



• Tortured



• Saw VI



• Mother's Day



• Chain Letter



• Saw 3D

Halloween Analysis

Halloween is a 1978 American independent Horror film.
The film starts with opening credits with just a black background to orange text. The simple but effective black background indicates the dark and sinister nature of the films narrative. The orange colour could symbolize the holiday of Hallowe’en (pumpkin colour).The first information distributed is the film institution ‘compass international pictures’. A glowing Hallowe’en pumpkin lantern fades into the shot along with the main actor’s name. The eerie glow coming from the pumpkins sinister smile and eyes adds a spine chilling unease to the opening. The credits then reveal the directors name, followed by the film title. The film title then gradually fades from orange to red, indicating that events in the film may occur in which blood will be shed. The credits then introduce the producers name and each actor/actress indicating which characters they play throughout the film, film editors, music directors, producers, designers etc. As the credits are being shown, the camera slowly zooms into the pumpkin, gradually just showing the eye glowing in the darkness. This may symbolize the dark and eerie atmosphere of the film.

The words Haddonfield, Illinois, followed by the words Hallowe’en and the date 1963 are shown on a black background, clearly indicating to the audience where about the film takes place and when it takes place. Children’s voices are then heard in the backdrop, chanting a famous Hallowe’en trick or treat tune. The opening cleverly has the ability to make an innocent fun and child- friendly song into a creepy, chilling element, adding tension and fear in the viewers head.The camera then travels through an intimidating, large, dark wood up to a small innocent looking white house, situated all alone with the lights glowing through the window. The pure, innocent image of the house creates a sense of vulnerability to its inhabitants. The camera shot used throughout the clip is a point of view shot. This shot is cleverly used as it creates an unsteady mode of travel for the viewer, as if they are seeing exactly what the unknown and mysterious character is looking at. The wobbly handling of the camera makes the film seem more realistic, as if the character is actually carrying the camera along with them. The camera creates a sense of confusion, disorientation and suspense as they sit on the edge of their seats, wondering where they are being led. The camera then zooms into a window, as the character is spying on a young couple inside the house. As the lights in the house go off, the eerie haunting music begins and as if in a panicked frenzy the camera begins to pan the house at high speed in darkness. The camera then enters the house and the only trace of the character is the dark shadow which appears on the wall. The character picks up some sort of mask and places it over his face(camera) to mask his identity, which continues to hold an air of mystery to their identity, indicating something bad is about to occur. Through the eye holes, we see the character spy on a half naked young girl in the comfort of her room. The masked character then proceeds to stab the young woman multiple times in the chest as she screams and begs for mercy. The film uses a typical, naïve blond haired young women who seems very dependant, innocent and unable to fend for herself, adding to the sympathy felt by the viewer. The camera shot then reverses from the characters point of view as his mask is removed and his identity is revealed. It is a young boy dressed as a clown. Clowns are often used in horror films as many people fear their strange appearance and uncontrollable actions. The onlookers appear shocked that a young boy would be capable of pulling off this crime. As the audience are allowed time to take in what they have just witnessed, the camera begins to float off into the distance, as if attached to a balloon, revealing an aerial shot of the boy, the house and the setting. The ending of this scene is very powerful and also unconventional as the killer or villain is not usually given away right at the beginning of a film. The killer is such an unexpected twist in the story that it fascinates the audience, and wills them to continue viewing to find out where the story will turn next.

Scream Opening Analysis

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1eKHE5Mjaqs
For part of our Horror topic we were made to analyse a horror film opening on movie maker. We had to note key codes and conventions of this specific genre throughout the clip. I have chosen to analyse the opening of Scream.

Sweeney Todd: " Demon Barber of Fleet Street" Opening Analysis

The film opening begins with the ‘DreamWorks’ clip institution being displayed on the screen. As the short clip begins to play, a low, mysterious sounding violin follows. The tempo of the strings gets faster and faster as the volume increases and the strings sound more vigorous and violent and the sound of an organ emerges, creating great tension and suspense in the viewer, almost foreshadowing dark and sinister events to come.
This then leads to the ‘Warner Bros’ (film institution) logo enlarged on the screen. The sound of the organ in a minor key is played in the backdrop. The high pitched, screeching noise of the organ keys all being played at the same time creates a sense of confusion, unease and discomfort for the viewer, again adding to the sinister and dark contents of the film.
The deafening and piercing sound of the sharp organ is then all of a sudden completely cut off as the screen fades to black. A few seconds pause takes place before the white text quietly fades into the shot. The pause is unexpected and creates further tension and anxiety in the viewers mind. The context of the text is the two major film institutions that created the film.
This leads to an establishing shot of a Victorian London, allowing the audience to know the location and time period in which the film is set. The camera then slowly pans the skyline, showing the roof tops and chimneys of the City, along with the low and menacing sound of a repetitive violin playing. The scene is at night, with dark and dingy weather. Lightening and thunder strike as drops of rain and also blood are pictured falling from the sky. The music’s tempo and tone, dark night sky and fear-provoking weather all foreshadow the menacing nature of the film, whilst the disturbing site of blood dripping from the sky may foretell the possibility of terror, torture or death in the course of the film. The names of the producer and production company fade in and out slowly as the camera continues to pan the night sky. A white, serif font is used for the text, contrasting with the dark backdrop, allowing the text to be easily read and visible to the viewer which is important.
The camera slowly zooms into a dirty, broken window, focusing on a solumn barbers chair in the middle of the spot light. The lonely, chair could represent the isolation sweeney todd feels as he is rejected from society. The name of the director fades into the centre ontop of the chair, giving it main focus and importance. This shot then cuts to a close up shot of a portrait of a young man hanging on the wall. The old fashioned style of the portrait and surroundings again echo the 19th century time period in which this narrative is set. the picture gradually fades, dripping with blood. This foreshadows the tragic deaths and disappearances that may occur throughout the film. The portrait is positioned on the right hand side of the frame, which is leveled out with the name of the actor playing the main character (Johnny Depp) on the left hand side, displayed in the same, simple white serif font. The camera pans to show us a similar portrait of a young woman, which may suggest an emotional link between these particular characters (perhaps a tragic love story). The name of the main actress (Helena Bonham Carter) is shown in the same font creating an even balance across the frame. During this clip, a single, weak, innocent sounding flute is just heard over the masking whine of the piercing violins.
Following this shot, the camera continues to pan, revealing the famous barber’s chair. The focus on the chair introduces the main element of the narrative, concerning the profession of this films villain. Blood is clearly show dripping down the chair, suggesting violent activity associated with the chair and its owner. The murky, shabby atmosphere of the setting, as well as the ragged state of the barber’s chair echoes the grim, testing times these people had to live through in the past.
The camera then travels in a downwards motion, revealing a contraption connected to the chair, which allows Sweeney T odd to dispose of his customers by pulling the latch and watching them fall to their doom. Blood dribbles down the mechanism behind, reinforcing the idea of death and torture throughout the films narrative. The camera trails after the dripping blood into pure darkness. The blood transforms into the form of text, revealing the title of the movie; Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. During this sequence various well-known names of the main stars appear on the screen, in the continuous simple, white font. The credit is very effective in starting off the narrative, inviting the audience into an experience filled with death, blood, gore and despair. It clearly shows the dark, disturbing nature of the story, whilst keeping distance and not giving too much away, just enough to grab the audience’s attention and keep them on the edge of their seat, longing to find out more.