FINAL CUT

GENRE RESEARCH & INTERTEXTUAL LINKS

The genre we have decided to use for our short film is Horror. Before we start to film im going to have an in-depth look at the Horror genre to see what its really about and how i can use it to develop my idea.

Horror Films are unsettling films designed to , cause dread and alarm,frighten and panic, and to invoke our hidden worst fears, often in a terrifying, shocking finale, while captivating and entertaining us at the same time in an Intense experience. Horror films effectively center on the dark side of life, the forbidden, and strange and alarming events. They deal with our most primal nature and its fears: our nightmares, our vulnerability, our alienation, our revulsions, our terror of the unknown, our fear of death and dismemberment, loss of identity, or fear of sexuality.
Whatever dark, primitive, and revolting traits that at the same time attract and repel us are featured in the horror genre. Horror films are often combined with Science Fiction when the menace or monster is related to a corruption of technology, or when Earth is threatened by aliens. The Fantasy and Supernatural film genres are not synonymous with the horror genre, although Thriller Films may have some relation when they focus on the revolting and horrible acts of the killer/madman. Horror films are also known as chillers, scary movies, spookfests, and the macabre.
Horror films go back as far as the beginning of film making, infact centuries before that. From a young age we have all imagined seeing 'something' out of the corner of our eye, shadowy shapes/ghostly images and have come to fear the unknown. Horror films give shape to this fear, an outlet for the essence of fear itself, launching us into a terrifying and disturbing world without ever being in danger at all.
Horror films, when done well and with less reliance on horrifying special effects, can be extremely potent film forms, tapping into our dream states and the horror of the irrational and unknown, and the horror within man himself. For example the Blair Witch Project which was a film that was created using only hand held cameras and no special effects whatsoever. It played on the fact that at the time no other films had ever been made like it using just hand held cameras. Also its storyline was developed on and incorporated the legend of Elly Kedward, a woman banished for witchcraft in 1785 in the Blair Township (latter-day Burkittsville) where the film was set which fooled the audience into thinking "could this actually be real?". The way it was amateurly filmed just added to this sense of ultra realism which opened the audience up to a whole new level of fear. I think that we will use some of the camera techniques from this film to try and recreate that sense of realism and fear in our own short film.
Horror films developed out of a number of sources: folktales with devil characters, witchcraft, fables, myths, ghost stories, Grand Guignol melodramas, and Gothic or Victorian novels from Europe by way of Mary Shelley or Irish writer Bram Stoker. In many ways, the expressionistic German silent cinema led the world in films of horror and the supernatural, and established its cinematic vocabulary and style.

Another film i feel builds up tension well is The Ninth Gate directed by Roman Polanski featuring Johnny Depp.(Based upon the novel The Club Dumas (1993), by Arturo Perez-Reverte)
Brief Synopsis: Dean Corso (Johnny Depp) is highly skilled at his work - locating rare books for wealthy collectors - a position that requires dexterity, cultural expertise, nerves of steel ... and few scruples. Corso is hired by eminent book-lover and scholar of demonology, Boris Balkan (Frank Langella), Corso's mission: to compare Balkan's newly acquired edition of the legendary manual of satanic invocation, The Nine Gates of the Kingdom of the Shadows, with the two remaining copies located in Europe, and ascertain the authenticity of the three books,

From New York to Toledo, Portugal to Paris, Corso immerses himself in a labyrinth full of pitfalls and temptations, disturbing encounters, violence and mysterious deaths. Protected by an other-worldly creature (Emmanuelle Seigner) and guided by a force more powerful than himself, the hunter solves one by one the mysteries of the dreaded book and discovers the real purpose of his mission ...(Quote from: http://www.movieweb.com/movies/film/FIqx9tvsQqritw/synopsis)

It uses a Great Soundtrack with lots of low sustained notes which makes the audience hold there breath subconsciously and builds the tension as it gives a sense of foreboding, like something terrible is lurking just around the corner...

Above is the Soundtrack from this movie.

Another movie which i feel is relevant is John Carpenters The Thing.

Brief Synopsis:

A group of Norwegian scientists in Antarctica chance upon an alien spacecraft buried in the ice. Near the strange craft is the body of an alien being, frozen solid. Thinking they have made the find of a lifetime, the scientists bring the alien body back to camp and thaw it out. The alien awakens and proceeds to take over the identities of the scientists, the remaining humans try and destroy the creature before it reaches another camp but ultimately fail. Now the members of Outpost #31 soon find themselves in the same situation and must discover who among them is human and destroy "the thing" before it takes them all.

While the Scientists are trying to find out who the alien is impersonating the tension increases until it climaxs with a scene where Kurt Russell,the main character, forces everyone to take a blood test to make sure they are not "The Thing". I think that the special effects used in this are excellent but this isnt really that relevant for our film as we dont really have a creature in it.

The feeling of being isolated and alone with the tension building is relevant to our film though and i think this is another thing this film does well.







This is the Scene from the movie which i have uploaded.(Copyright of David Foster Productions,Turman-Foster Company and Universal Pictures) (Contains Strong, Bloody Gore)


  I took inspiration for the Severed limb part of our Film from the Evil Dead movies by director Sam Raimi. 
The way that he still creates the scariness of a Horror but it has comedy elements in it too. This is why they have become cult classics as they are so original and at the time they were made they were unique and mind-blowing to the audience as nothing like them had been made before. Here is a Definition of Cult Films.
An Example Scene From The Evil Dead 2.







(Copyright De Laurentiis Entertainment Group DEG and Renaissance Pictures)
Another bonus to adding a Comedy element to the Film is that it attracts a Comedy Audience too as it would appeal to them. This would lead to more people viewing the film and if we were making it for real to gain a profit we would make more Money.

 Top 20 Shockingly Chilling and Tense Horror Movies
This is an extensive top # list of the best scary movies ever made. The list was made after hours in dark rooms in front of big and small screens. It has been compiled with critic reviews and best-movie lists. Some are box office hits and some you may only find on VHS at the local rental store. If you like the feeling of being truly terrified and surprisingly startled check out this list of the top 20 scary movies of all-time.

1.	The Ring
2.	The Exorcist
3.	Campfire Tales
4.	Silence of the Lambs
5.	Seven
6.	Saw
7.	Mothman Prophecies
8.	The Blair Witch Project
9.	Exorcism of Emily Rose
10.	Scream
11.	Friday the 13th
12.	The Shining
13.	The Sixth Sense
14.	Texas Chainsaw Massacre
15.	Alien
16.	The Others
17.	Rosemary's Baby
18.	Hostel
19.	High Tension
20.	American Pyscho

(Extract from ListAfterList.com)
Judging by this list it shows just how crucial a good Plot is for the Horror film to be Great as none of these movies have the same storyline unlike many other horror movies who use an already existing Horror Storyline but just change an aspect slightly. For our movie we have tried to come up with an original storyline so the audience will be intrigued and not be able to just guess what will happen and become bored straight away.

A useful website for Horror Movies is http://www.allmovie.com/explore/genre/horror-654
It has an extensive list of Major Horror movie works which might be useful to look over at a later date.

PODCASTS

From now on every week we will be publishing a podcast of the progress we have made every week to keep you updated.

Podcast 1:



The rest of the Podcasts are in audio format due to the video podcast not being great quality.

WEEK 2


WEEK 3


WEEK 4


WEEK 5


WEEK 6


WEEK 7

ANALYSIS OF SHORT FILMS

What is a Short Film: A short film is defined as a motion picture that is not more than 40 minutes in running time (including all credits). (definition courtesy of - http://www.henrymiller.org/shorts.html)

Some Analysing.

The Black Hole

Directed by Phil and Olly (No Surnames Given)/UK/2008
Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5_Msrdg3Hk&feature=channel_page

•  Not high budget film as distributed via youtube by Futureshorts but some nice special effects used (the black hole effect).
• The whole movie has a grey effect which reflects the characters mood but when he decides to rob the safe the tint goes slightly darker to show his change in mood.
• The first character shown is the central protagonist (i.e. the office worker).
• The photocopier acts as the office workers heartbeat.
• There is a slight dutch tilt to the camera signifying somethings not right or something will go wrong.

 Maybe One Day

a Rankin & Chris Production / Directed by Chris Cottam / UK / 2009
Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fn0lhsXHEhc&feature=channel

•   An inspiring film that tells us to break out of the regular life and live if only for a day.
• Starts off with quite a dark blue tint to signify the characters sadness but when he escapes the tint turns to bright and yellow to show his change of mood to happiness.
• A steadi-cam is used to show everything from the characters point of view.
• The whole film is like in a Documentary style of the characters everyday life.
• The non-digetic music used in the background at the start is quite slow and sounds like a lullaby sort of and the narrators voice reminds me of a schoolteachers in a history lesson where it makes you feel tired.
• When the character decides to escape the non-digetic music becomes faster and more lively plus the Narrators voice becomes more passionate which draws you into the film and you can relate to the characters emotion.

Taken

Dir. Adam Phillips / Australia / 2008
Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Q7vqvRZg4M&feature=channel

• Starts off slow and simple. The character has no expression on his face due to the film being an animation so its hard to tell what they are feeling.
• The way the monster/creature smashes through the window and grabs the man is shocking as its totally unexpected.
• Has an unusual storyline.

2 Truths + 1 Lie
Dir. James Coulson / twenty120 / USA / 2008
Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6CKYU1LCQ4&feature=channel

• Strange, not really any storyline, more like a documentary.
• Digetic sound in the background is the sounds you would hear in an office so i guess its meant to be like getting to know your fellow office worker.
• Quite unnerving as people are revealing there secrets whereas this would only normally happen if you knew the person really well so i guess this is Binary Opposition too.

Nov 14 2003

Dir. man vs magnet (Matt Smithson) / USA / 2008
Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQygBM8Hcr8&feature=channel

• Documentary style animation.
• Digetic sound of the Camera film rolling makes it feel like the film is old but it was made in 2003.
• No real storyline.
• Quite strange/confusing.

Wrong side of the Bed
Director: Not Stated.Winner of 2006 One Minute Wonder Competition.
Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uR_PzFZgsHU&feature=related

• Binary opposition shown by the split screen. One screen is fine, the other everything is going wrong.
• Split screen shows characters alternative motives.
• A simple title sequence is used overlaying the bottom of the first shot.

This is Me
By Sam Arthur / UK / 2006
Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YrcMDsmc_Dc&feature=channel_page

• I expected it to be sad as it started off in a hospital ward but it turned out to be a comedy.
• Its not a very low budget film as they used a lot of people to help make it and also the location must have been hired out but its not as much as a huge blockbuster film.
• The london accent of the narrator and the main character (who are the same) add to the comedy element of the film as the cockney accent is assoiciated with cheekiness (like Derek Trotter off Only Fools and Horses). 

Summary of The Common Codes and Coventions of Short Films

From all the Short Films I have watched these are the Common Codes and Conventions ive seen:

•  Short films tend to take one or more aspects of a real life situation and alter it in a way that seems surreal making the films seem stranger than normal or alternatively there is some sort of twist at the end of the film.
• The short films usually have non-digetic music made by an indie artist playing through the whole time in the background to add to the atmosphere/emotion of the film.
• Short films tend to be between a minute and 10 minutes although some can go up to 40 minutes (this is due to a difference between the North American definition of short film and the British definition).
• Normally the first character shown is the Central Protagonist.
•  
  

COURSEWORK OPTIONS

2. A promotion package for a new film, to include a teaser trailer, together with two of the following three options:

• a website homepage for the film; [disregard this option]
• a film magazine front cover, featuring the film;
• a poster for the film.

10. A short film in its entirety, lasting approximately five minutes, which may be live action or animated or a combination of both, together with two of the following three options:

• a poster for the film;
• a radio trailer for the film;
• a film magazine review page featuring the film.

My group has chosen to do the latter, a Short Film as we feel that we could produce a much better piece in this medium rather than a Film trailer. A Film trailer is a short montage of clips that are important to the plot
of the fim the trailers for. Normally these shots involve lots of special effects that will be hard to reproduce at our current level and also due to a lack of necessary equipment. Plus we would have to think up a good plot for a whole film otherwise the piece would not be strong and would not draw the audience into the film and make them want to see more.
Whereas we think that we can put a lot more thought and emotion into creating a short film with an interesting storyline which will gain us a good mark in the unit of work but also ultimately something that people will enjoy to watch.
Also after attending a 'How to make a Movie Trailer' workshop at The Coop Young Filmmakers Festival i decided that it wasnt really for me.

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

Research and Planning must be presented in electronic format. Where candidates have worked as a group, the research may be presented collectively, but teachers are asked to differentiate the contributions of individuals within the group in arriving at a mark and justifying individual marks on the assessment sheet. As part of the moderation sample, the moderator will request some research/planning material.




Level 1 0–7 marks
There is minimal research into similar products and a potential target audience.

There is minimal organisation of actors, locations, costumes or props.

There is minimal work on shotlists, layouts, drafting, scripting or storyboarding.

Time management may be very poor.

There is minimal care in the presentation of the research and planning.

There is minimal skill in the use of digital technology or ICT in the presentation.

There are minimal communication skills.




Level 2 8–11 marks
There is basic research into similar products and a potential target audience.

There is basic organisation of actors, locations, costumes or props.

There is basic work on shotlists, layouts, drafting, scripting or storyboarding.

Time management may not be good.

There is a basic level of care in the presentation of the research and planning.

There is basic skill in the use of digital technology or ICT in the presentation.

There are basic communication skills.



Level 3 12–15 marks
There is proficient research into similar products and a potential target audience.

There is proficient organisation of actors, locations, costumes or props.

There is proficient work on shotlists, layouts, drafting, scripting or storyboarding.

Time management is good.

There is a good level of care in the presentation of the research and planning.

There is proficient skill in the use of digital technology or ICT in the presentation.

There are proficient communication skills.



Level 4 16–20 marks
There is excellent research into similar products and a potential target audience.

There is excellent organisation of actors, locations, costumes or props.

There is excellent work on shotlists, layouts, drafting, scripting or storyboarding.

Time management is excellent.

There is an excellent level of care in the presentation of the research and planning.

There is excellent skill in the use of digital technology or ICT in the presentation.

There are excellent communication skills.



Candidates will evaluate their work electronically. The format of the evaluation has some flexibility and its form can be negotiated between teacher and student: it may take place with individual candidates or with the production group as a whole, or each individual candidate or production group may make a formal or informal presentation to the whole class.


The questions that must be addressed in the evaluation are:

In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

How effective is the combination of your main product and ancillary texts?

What have you learned from your audience feedback?

How did you use new media technologies in the construction and research, planning and evaluation stages?

Ideas for the format for the presentation of the evaluation can be found in the Guidance Notes.



Level 1 0–7 marks
There is minimal understanding of the forms and conventions used in the productions.

There is minimal understanding of the role and use of new media in various stages of the production.

There is minimal understanding of the combination of main product and ancillary texts.

There is minimal understanding of the significance of audience feedback.

There is minimal skill in choice of form in which to present the evaluation.

There is minimal ability to communicate.

There is minimal use of digital technology or ICT in the evaluation.




Level 2 8–11 marks
There is basic understanding of the forms and conventions used in the productions.

There is basic understanding of the role and use of new media in various stages of the production.

There is basic understanding of the combination of main product and ancillary texts.

There is basic understanding of the significance of audience feedback.
There is basic skill in choice of form in which to present the evaluation.
There is basic ability to communicate.

There is basic use of digital technology or ICT in the evaluation.




Level 3 12–15 marks
There is proficient understanding of the forms and conventions used in the productions.

There is proficient understanding of the role and use of new media in various stages of the production.

There is proficient understanding of the combination of main product and ancillary texts.

There is proficient understanding of the significance of audience feedback.

There is proficient skill in choice of form in which to present the evaluation.

There is proficient ability to communicate.

There is proficient use of digital technology or ICT in the evaluation.




Level 4 16–20 marks
There is excellent understanding of the forms and conventions used in the productions.

There is excellent understanding of the role and use of new media in various stages of the production.

There is excellent understanding of the combination of main product and ancillary texts.
There is excellent understanding of the significance of audience feedback.

There is excellent skill in choice of form in which to present the evaluation.
There is excellent ability to communicate.

There is excellent use of digital technology or ICT in the evaluation.

ANCILLARY TEXT FINAL PRODUCT (2)

all pictures used here were taken by ourselves.