Music/Sound

We are trying to find out what type of music and/or sound we need to combine with our film. we as a group were thinking thast we will use non-diegetic sound for the opening two minute seqence. We all fell that the muisic is one of the most important ascpect of making a horror film scary. If the music isn't eerie and spine chilling the whole scene will lose it's effect of being a horror film. In all great horror films the sound/music brings everything together to make it a scary film or scene. The sound creates tension within the audience which keeps them on edge and entertained. The music/sound that we plan to use will start off calm and normal but with a scary twist, but as things start to turn for the worst the music will become louder, jumpy and quicker. The music will fit into the shots as they will also be quick and jumpy to make the audience unsettles. We are thinking of creating a track ourselves with a friend of ours in his studio or we may use the internet to find something that we feel will suit our film.

Production

We have decided to use Rogue Pictures as the production company for our film, 'Detainment'. Rogue Pictures was originally launched by Focus Features under Universal Pictures. There goal is to produce "high-quality suspense, action, thriller and urban features with mainstream appeal and franchise potential". This is what our film is; supense action and horror and this one of the main reason in choosing Rogue to produce our film.They have over 25 films in its libary, four upcoming films and over 30 projects in development. Our decision to use Rogue Pictures as most of there film have been thriller/horror and as we are making a horror we thought it would be appropriate. They have made films like; Shaun Of The Dead, Seed of Chucky, The Strangers and White Noise: The Light. All of these films are well known and having Rogue as our production company will help us to make our film known and likeable but to a small audience but still makine a tidy profit.

'Detainment' Poster

I have decided to make a draft poster for our group and it could possibly the finished version to go with our film. The poster is very effective as the extreme close up of someones eye with cuts around it shows fear. The picture draws you in and makes you feel if the eye is looking at you for help, and using this picture is feels like you are involved with the poster.

On the poster i have put up the top the acting credits in white writing, just underneath that is our production company then below is the name of the film, 'Detainment' in big red capital letter so it stands out and people know what the film is called. At the bottom of the page i have put when the film will be released but for now we have just put 'coming soon' so it leaves viewers on edge waiting for the date of release. and lastly we have underneath the date of release, the production credits and the age certificate.

'Detainment' Age Certificate

A film rating system is designated to classify films with by the content invloving issues such as sex, violence, substance abuse, profanity, impudence or other types of mature content ands its suitability for the particular audience. We have decided to rate our film 'Detainment' a 18. Rating it a 18 will make sure we appeal to the really hardcore horror film fans. This still enable us to give a realistic gory horror storyline and lets us be creative with our two minute opening scene.

Language - Our opening two minute scene may include strong or explicit language. However throughout the whole film they might be some expletives and profanity which may be frequent and referred in a sexually manor.

Nudity/Sex - Our scene will not include any kind of nudity or will it included any sex or sexually situations at all as the setting is mainly at school and would be inappropriate to reveal any individual minimally clothed or fully unclothed.

Violence - In the two minute opening scene there small - medium amount of violence as there is a murder at the end of the opening scene, which will be gory. The viewer will be able to see that someone has been murder and there will be fake blood in use. The violence will carry on throughout the film and will be strong in some parts.

Drug Abuse - There will be no drug abuse in the opening scene nor in the whole film. The only thing is maybe someone smoking a cigarette to perhaps represent the personality of a character. We do encourage anyone to mimic this as it is only a film and drug abuse should not be tolerated.

Final Location

After discussing what location would be best for our horror film, we have chosen the old science block.

Story Board

This is the strory board of our two minute opening scene. The story board give us a general idea of what the film is about. It also allows us to play around with different kind of shots for our actual film.

The first picture shows how we will begin the film, a close up of someones feet that will create an air of mystery around what is happening and hopefully have the desired effect of unsettling the audience.

This second picture is a long shot which reveals who the mystery person was and shows that he is a student who goes to school. By taking the picture from behind and through a bush it gives the feeling that someone or something is watching him.

This is a medium shot picture and shows the character entering the classroom which he has detention in. The sign on the door suggest that the room might be dangerous or contain dangerous substances in there. By having the same character in the first three shots shows that he is the main character.

The fourth picture is a high anlge, over the shoulder shot which gives a good view of what is happening. By the characters body language it shows that he looks bored and would rather be somewhere else. It also shows that he is on his own with no friends around him.

This is when we become aware that he is in detention as we now have the teacher in shot telling him what work he needs to go through. At this point it would still be unclear to the audience that it is a horror and would allow to settle into a false sense of secruity.

This is a low angle/over the shoulder shot that reinforces to the audience that he is bored and looking at the clock to see if he will be able to leave without his mum knowing that he was in detention.

This is a long shot of the teacher leaving the room and trusting him to get on with the work. It suggest to the audience that he may get up to mischief or even leave once the teacher is out of sight

This shot shows the teacher gone and the door slammed shut leaving him alone

This is a medium shot and shows the whole character and what he is up to. As you can see he is trying to escape detention to get home quick.

The close up shot shows the character struggling to open the door and realising that it is locked from the outside giving him no chance of being able to leave the room.

This shot represents the lights going off in the classroom. Before the lights turn off they start to flicker which adds an eery effect and unsettles the audience

This is a medium and POV shot just after the lights come back on. In the actuall film there will be a message on the board in either red pen or blood that is for the main character.

This is the final shot at a high angle shot almost like a secruity camera. It shows the killer behind the main character and maybe suggest the killer has been hiding in the room all along.

Draft Script

Shaun walking to his detention

Shaun - I got a detention now so I'll be out later.

Friend on phone - Alright mate. see ya

Shaun enters the room

Shaun - Hi Sir

Mr Oswick - Sit down Shaun

Silence

Mr Oswick - I've just got to go to the staff room to pick something up

Shaun - Alright

Door closes as Oswick walks out, Shaun sits waiting, but then decides to get up and try and leave.

Shaun - The damn doors locked

Shaun pulls harder and harder try to open it, the lights flicker and go out but then come back on. He turns around as there is a sound from behind him, there's a message on the board.

Shaun - oh s***

He tries harder to get out. Amplified sound of foot steps coming up behind him. loud screaming of agony.

Character Profiles

Shaun Mcgee – Shaun is being played by Matt Davison. Shaun is 16 years old and lives local to the school in a rough area. Living in rough area and not having a great upbringing and is usually singled out by others because of this. He is regularly finding himself in trouble at school either fighting or being caught smoking.

Killer – The killer is being played by Chris Marskell. The killer is another student who Shaun Mcgee doesn’t get on with. They have had fights in the past and loath one another. The killer lives a good life and is liked by all throughout the school.

Mr Oswick (Teacher) – Mr Oswick is hopefully being played by Mr Oswick if not we will find someone to fill in. Sir is a usually fun respected teacher, dresses trendy and has a good relationship with his students but doesn’t let any student get away with not doing homework.

Possible Location Ideas

As a group we have discussed that we are going to film our two minute opening sequence inside and around school. The reason being for this is because it is convenient for us because we can film whenever we want without worrying about weather and other factors that could stop us filming. Filming in school also give us the option to use extras and other props we may not be able to use if we we're filming in the woods for example.

There are five possible locations where the main scene will be filmed, they are; the E corridor, N corridor, upstairs S corridor, the hut outside or the old science block.

Costumes

Shaun McGee who is being played by Matt Davison will be wearing clothes that fit a the typical teenage stereotype; hoodie/jacket, jeans and trainers. This will show that the film is modern and up to date with fashion possible letting the viewer compare themselves to the character.

Chris Marskell who is playing the killer will be wearing dark old clothes to show that he perhaps can't afford the latest fashionable clothes, on the other hand this could be a red herring leading the viewer away from who he actually is as he doesn't want to be known. He will wear a big black jacket with a hood to cover his face. He'll be wearing old ragged jeans and old trainers. The killer will be dressed opposite to the victim, Shaun McGee. this might show how their relationship is, for example clash of personalities which may tell us why he wants to kill.

Mr Oswick will be wearing smarter clothes compared to Shaun and the killer. He will be wearing shirt and tie maybe a blazer, trousers and smart shoes.

Camera Shots In Our Film

1. Tracking shot of Shaun walking towards the class room
2. Medium shot of him walking to his chair and of him sitting down
3. A close up of Shaun looking at the clock
4. Medium shot of the teacher telling Shaun that he has to leave
5. Tracking shot of him walking towards the door trying to get out
6. Close up of the handle with him frantically trying to get out
7. Low angle of him looking up towards the lights as they start to flicker before suddenly going out
8. Hand held camera of him then looking around panicking
9. Camera then arcs round as the lights then turn back on

The Plot

Shaun McGee is a 17 yr old boy who has been held back for detention after school with Mr Oswick. Shaun walks through the door ands sits down disinterested and annoyed. There is and awkward silence before Mr Oswick breaks the silence when saying he’s got to go to the staff room to collect something. He walks out the door. Shaun looks up as the clock and thinks I better get home before my mum finds out. So he walks up to the door and tries to get out only finding that it is locked. He doesn’t worry. He goes to turn back and the lights flicker and then go out. He starts to panic but then the lights come back on and he turns around only to see that there is a message left for him in blood on the board. He turns to the door yanking on the handle, the lights flicker again. The killer slowly walks up behind him before slitting his throat. Shaun hits the floor with a thud. Then in bold the name of the film comes up “DETAINMENT".

Cast and Roles

The cast of the film and the roles of different member of the group are stated as follows;

Shaun McGee - Matt Davison

Killer - Chris Marskell

Mr Oswick - Mr Oswick

Directors - Dan Zammit-Lewis & Ben Horley

Producers - Dan Zammit-Lewis & Ben Horley

Music/Sound - Jamie Gamache

Final Ideas

Our group have decided that our film will be filmed on the school grounds. The reason why we are doing this because it is a prime location and it will be a lot easier to film inside school rather than filming outside in a different location as weather could effect when and how long we can film for. The name we have decided to use for our film is "Detainment". we are going to have 3 actors in the opening scene, the teacher, student and the killer. An advantage of filming in school is that we can use many different objects so we can use different camera angles to create tension throughout the audience. The only props we will use is the knife for the killer and fake blood apart from that we have everything we need inside school.

First Ideas

After thinking and discussing what genre of film to produce we chose to do horror. horror is a popular genre with many people, young to old. Reason being that horror movies inject fear and mess with the viewers emotions. This allows the viewers to almost enter a fantasy world and imagine what it would be like to be in these gory situations.

Mise En Scene and props

Many horror films are low budget films which is one reason for why our group decided to do horror. The choosing the right setting is one of the most important things to do in a horror film. The surroundings set the tone of the film and let the viewer know that it's a horror film. Popular choices for settings used in horror films are; woods, empty warehouse, school at night time, prison or an old house. Our group have decided to film in a school when it's quiet. This will make the viewer uneasy as the school should normally be busy and buzzing with students.

Not many horror films use many props unless there are bug horror films such as Saw. In Saw they use many props including death traps, pit full of needles and a playground roundabout which people are strapped to and killed. Typical horror film might only use props like;include are a knife, gun or some other kind of weapon and maybe a costume or mask for the killer/villain along with other normal everyday props. As we don't have a Hollywood budget we will be using props such as the ones listed above.

Plot

People are mostly frightened when they are watching horror movies because of the films thrilling plots, which are main things in this movie genre. A strong character is often used to make a thrilling plot. A lot of horror movies also haunt people by using plots which are related to supernatural. Also, a murderer or someone who is looking to get revenge is often a main character who kills other characters one by one, making people feel excited all the time they are watching. These are three typical horror elements found in many horror movies.

Our group haven't yet decided what the final storyline is going to be but we have got rough idea. One plot we have come up with is either a student or teacher is at school most properly after school. Someone else not sure who yet will be wandering around school trying to find the other person and once found them will end up killing them. We have not yet decided if they friends or if the killer chases after the victim etc.

Camera Work & Sound

The camera work and sound plays a huge part in making a successful horror film. Camera work can add to the tension and also make the viewer feel like they are part of the scene. In most horror films a popular camera angle is close up or POV (Point Of View). A close are often used to show tension and emotion on an actors faced. It can also be used to highlight something important in the scene such as a clue to the murderer or the murderers weapon. POV is often used to make the viewer feel like there are inside the character. This shot would often be used when the villain is being killed. By doing this it allows the viewer to seem more involved with the scene adds gives them an opportunity to see a murder through the killers eyes.

In horror films sound is a key part to add tension and put the audience on edge. How much suspense is added to a scene by sound is to do with how fast/slow and how loud/quiet it is. For a scene where the murderer is looking for the victim, the soundtrack might be slow and quite as they are tip toeing about. Once the murderer has found the victim and maybe chasing after them the music would change and now be quite loud and have a fast tempo getting the audience heart racing and adding tension. Sound effects are also used frequently in horror films, for example the victim is being stabbed they might amplify the sound effect to make the scene seem more gory. A classic example of a sound effect in horror films is the creaking of the door, adding this in adds suspense and makes it seem eerie.

Our group have not yet decided on camera work or sound. These will most likely be done once the plot and settings have been finalised.

Inspiring Pictures

View more presentations from danzl.

These are just a few pictures that inspired me and my group members to do a horror film and help us write a good scary script.

First Time Filiming

This is our first minor film project. This was our first real chance just to get used to using the cameras and also using the editing software - Adobe Premiere Elemts. I think that for our first go it is not to bad, the cuts may not be 100% perfect but we can still learn and there is time to improve before we start filming our actually film project.

Saw VI Trailer

Saw VI is a horror film and is part of a trilogy. The saw films are usually about a man who puts people who don’t value their lives through horrific task and test their nerve.

The trailer for Saw VI is only 50 seconds long but in those 50 seconds it grips the audience with a lot of jump cuts, this makes the film seem fast and a lot happening and puts the audience of tender hooks waiting for something scary to appear.

The first 10 seconds of the trailer there is a high pitched eerie sound which is non-diegetic. This sound is playing of the top of fast jump cut shots of a clock ticking, an old guy with a mask on and another guy expressing he is angry, upset and confused, acting as a sound bridge. Other non-diegetic is Jigsaw who is the guy who controls the ‘game’ is one of the two voiceovers, the other being the narrator promoting the film. This gets the audience involved and tries to scare or worry the audience, as it feels like he is talking to you. The use of diegetic sound works effectively to capture the audience in suspense and horror. The diegetic sound is people screaming, shouting and crying. This suggest people who are in the ‘game’ are worried and desperate and almost draws you in to the film and makes you side with them and put yourself in their position.

In the whole trailer there are not many camera shots/angles/movement/composition. The most used shot of the trailer is close up shot. This is the best shot for a horror film as it really show how petrified and general emotional the actors are. In most of the close up shots you can see sweat running down the faces of the people, suggesting it’s hot and they are uncomfortable as well as knowing their time will be soon. There is a couple of establishing in the clip which gives you an idea of where there are and what is around them (mise-en-scene). The other couple angle they use is an aerial shot. This makes them seem small and vulnerable and makes you feel big and in control of them as well as you are watching them.

The set design is quite simple and plain but effective. The set looks like a big warehouse with lots of cages and mazes and death traps. The whole place gives an uneasy feel which is needed when watching the trailer. The warehouse is huge as but seems bare when there are quite a lot of props in there. The colours used are, for danger and blood, not for love in this case, and black, for death and depression. This projects a negative image. The clothes people are wearing are normal everyday clothes which could suggest they may have been taken unaware off the street or from their home, or possible been tricked into visiting the warehouse.

180 Degree Rule

The 180 degree rule is a well known filiming methos in the film industry. It states that two characters or elements in the same scene should always have the same left/right relationship to each other. If the camera passes over the imaginary axis connecting the two subjects, it is called, 'crossing the line'. If you do this you must show the viewer you have done so. The new shot after crossing the line is called revers angle.

Knowing this enables us to use the 180 degree rule correctly at the correct moments in our film, say, when someone is having a conversation with a friend.

Technical Terms

These are some technical terms that may be useful to our group so we can understand each one and how to incorpriate them into our two minute opening scene.

CAMERA SHOTS
Aerial Shot – A camera shot taken from an overhead position. Often used as an establishing shot.
Close Up – A head and shoulders shot often used to show expressions/emotions of a character. Also can be a shot of an object, filmed from close to the object or zoomed in to it, that reveals detail.
Extreme Close Up – A shot where a part of a face or body of a character fills the whole frame/dominates the frame. Also can be a shot of an object where only a small part of it dominates the frame.
Establishing Shot – A shot that establishes a scene, often giving ther viewer information about where the scene is set. Can be a close up shot (of a sign etc) but is often a wide/long shot and usually appears at the beginning of a scene.
Medium Shot – the framing of a subject from waist up.
Two Shot – A shot of two characters, possible engaging in conversation. Usually to signify/establish some sort of relationship
Point-Of-View Shot (POV) – Shows a view from the subject’s perspective. This shot is usually edited so that the viewer is aware who’s point of view it is.
Over the Shoulder Shot – looking from behind a character’s shoulder, at a subject. The character facing the subject usually occupies 1/3 of the frame but it depends on what meaning the director wants to create (for example, if the subject is an inferior character, the character facing them may take up more of the frame to emphaise this)
Overhead Shot – a type of camera shot in which the camera is positioned above the character, action or object being filmed.
Reaction Shot – a shot that shows the reaction of a character either to another character or an event within the sequence.

CAMERA ANGLES
Camera Angle – the position of the camera in relation to the subject of a shot. The camera might be at a high angle, a low angle or at eye level with what is being filmed.
High Angle – A camera angle that looks down upon a subject or object. Often used to make the subject or object appear small or vulnerable.
Low Angle – A camera angle that looks up at a subject or object. Often used to make the subject/object appear powerful/dominant.
Canted framing (or oblique) – camera angle that makes what is shot appear to be skewed or tilted.

CAMERA MOVEMENT
Pan – Where the camera pivots horizontally, either from right to left or left to right to reveal a set or setting. This can be used to give the viewer a panoramic view. Sometimes used to establish a scene.
Track - a shot whjere the camera follows a subject/object. The tracking shot can include smooth movements forward, backward, along the side of the subject, or on a curve but cannot include complex movement around a subject. ‘Track’ refers to rails in which a wheeled platform (which has the camera on it) sits on in order to carry out smooth movement.
Crane – A crane shot is sometimes used to signify the end of a scene/ programme /film. The effect is achieved by the camera being put onto a crane that can move upward.
Stedicam - A steadicam is a stabilising mount for a camera which mechanically isolates the operator's movement from the camera, allowing a very smooth shot even when the operator is moving quickly over an uneven surface. Informally, the word may also be used to refer to the combination of the mount and camera.
Tilt - where a camera scans a set or setting vertically (otherwise similar to a pan).
Zoom – Using a zoom lens to appear to be moving closer to (zoom in) or further away from (zoom out) a subject/object when in fact the camera may not move (so, strictly not camera movement). Can be used for dramatic effect.

EDITING
Editing – the stage in the film-making process in which sound and images are organised into an overall narrative.
Continuity Editing – the most common type of editing, which aims to create a sense of reality and time moving forward. Also nick named invisible editing referring to how the technique does not draw attention to the editing process.
Jump Cut – An abrupt, disorientating transitional device in the middle of a continuos shot in which the action is noticeably advanced in time and/or cut between two similar shots, usually done to create discontinuity for artistic effect.
Credits – the information at the beginning and end of a film, which gives details of cast and crew etc.
Cross Cutting – the editing technique of alternating, interweaving, or interspersing one narrative action (scene, sequence or event) with another – usually in different locations or places, thus combining the two: this editing technique usually suggests Parallel action (that takes place simultaneously). Often used to dramatically build tension and/or suspense in chase scenes or to compare two different scenes. Also known as inter-cutting or parallel editing
Cutaways – A brief shot that momentarily interrupts continuous action by briefly inserting another related action. Object, or person (sometimes not part of the principle scene or main action), followed by a cutback to the original shot.
Freeze Frame – the effect of seemingly stopping a film in order to focus in on one event or element.
Eye-line Match – a type of edit which cuts from one character to what that character has been looking at.
Flashback – a scene or moment in a film in which the audience is shown an event that happened earlier in the film’s narrative.
Graphic Match – an edit effect in which two different objects of the same shape are dissolved from one into the other.
Juxtaposition – the placement of two (often opposed) images on either side of an edit to create an effect.
Linear Narrative – a style of storytelling in which events happen chronologically.
Montage Editing – the juxtaposition of seemingly unconnected images in order to create meaning.
Parallel Editing – a type of editing in which events in two locations are cut together, in order to imply a connection between the two sets of events.
Visual Effects - visual effects are usually used to alter previously-filmed elements by adding, removing or enhancing objects within the scene.
Match on Action - A shot that emphasises continuity of space and time by matching the action of the preceding shot with the continuation of the action. (For example a shot of a door opening after a shot of a close up of a character’s hand turning a door handle)

SOUND
Diegetic Sound – sound that can be heard by the characters within a scene/ sound part of the imaginary world.
Non-diegetic Sound – sound that the characters cannot hear and is not part of the imaginary world of the story. This includes a musical soundtrack or a voiceover (however this excludes a narration by a character within the story – referred to as an internal monologue and is diegetic).
Score – The musical component of a programme’s soundtrack, usually composed specifically for the scene.
Sound Effects – sounds that are added to a film during the post-production stage.

OTHER KEY TERMS
Artificial Light – A source of light created by lighting equipment, rather than from natural sources.
Convention – a frequently used element which becomes standard.
Disequilibrium – the period of instability and insecurity in a film’s narrative.
Enigma – the question or mystery that is posed within a film’s narrative.
Equilibrium – a state of peace and calm, which often exists at the beginning of a film’s narrative.
Framing – the selection of elements such as characters, setting and iconography that appear within a shot.
Genre – a system of film identification, in which films that have the same elements are grouped together.
Iconography – the objects within a film that are used to evoke particular meanings
Intertextuality – reference within a film to another film, media product, work of literature or piece of artwork.
Mise en scene – a French term, which literally means ‘put into the frame’. When analysing a sequence the term refers to everything you see in the frame (props, costume, lighting, colour, makeup etc.)
Narrative – a story that is created in a constructed format (eg. A programme) that describes a series of fictional or non-fictional events.