This is the animatic for the Opening Scene of My Horror Film IDENTICAL. It is made up of many seperate drawing drawn by me, and put together in a long sequence with the chosen soundtrack playing on top of it.
Sunday, 28 March 2010
Friday, 26 March 2010
Tuesday, 23 March 2010
Sunday, 21 March 2010
Analysing the Hallway Scene in The Shining
CAMERA ANGLES/SHOTS
Tracking shot following Danny - carrys the effect that Danny is being followed whilst he is riding his tricycle down the corridors. It puts Danny in a victims position which makes him vulnerable to whoever or whatever is out to get him.
Close Ups of Danny's Face - to show Danny's scared face expressions and emotions. It puts the audience really up close to Danny, which may make the audience feel even more unconfortable because of being so close to Danny's face.
Long Midshot when the audience first see the girls down the corridor which quickly changes into Close Midshots as the girls get closer and closer to Danny - At first the girls don't seem to be much of a threat because they are so far away from Danny and the audience. However, as the girls get closer to the camera it frightens the audience because they don't see how the girls get closer. They see the girls at a distance and then at a closer distance really quickly. Scares the auidience as they question how the girls get from one place to another so quickly.
MISE EN SCENE
- Long and empty corridors - means that Danny is alone in this part of the hotel and puts more fear into the audience because Danny has no one to run in that area if he does run into trouble or danger.
- Red Top that Danny is wearing - connotes the blood and murder that Danny is about to see flashes of and witness when he bumps into the two girls on the corridor.
- The Two girls stood very still, stiff position, emotionless, blank face expression - shows that these two girls are not normal, they are not human beings. Can suggest that the two girls are paranormal; ghosts haunting the corridors that they were killed and murdered in.
- Danny sitting on his tricycle - emphasises his youth and innocence and adds a feeling that he is trapped and there's no way out. Casting Danny as a little boy also puts him in a vulnerable position because he is a child and children don't normally have the power and authority to take as much action as a grown adult would have. Plus, it puts the audience in a more scared position as they are no longer just scared for themselves but are also scared for Danny's life as well
EDITING
- Starts off as Slow Paced Editing of Danny riding his tricycle in the corridors - this creates a calm atmosphere as the audience just see the innocent Danny just innocently riding his tricycle and playing.
- Ends with Fast Paced Editing when Danny meets the two girls as they get closer and closer to him and the audience - This adds to the horror of what is happpening as the freaky and scary girls get closer and closer to Danny as well as the audience. It gives a sense of adrenaline rush because it is so fast in pace and the action is happening really quickly; even too quickly for the audience putting them in an unconfortable position.
- Cuts used when there is a change in corridor, Cuts of close ups of Danny's face expressions, Cuts as the two girls get closer and closer to Danny and the audience and Cuts to the bloodshed of the two girls - are used to put even more fear in the audiences mind because the cut is a fast transition rather than a slow fade or wipe. Adds to the horror of what is happening. And shows that the girls are coming closer at a rather fast pace.
SOUND
- Irregular and jarring "music" - sounds like someone is just banging on all the instruments. Instruments are not being played properlly. Suggests the bad things that are about to happen and is happening because of the badly played instruments.
- Wheels tunrning - The only main diegetic sound used on Danny's tricycle as he is riding down the corridors. Shows how alone Danny is on the corridor as no other sounds are heard. Really quiet and all that can be heard are the wheels turning can create the feeling that something bad is going to happen; something sinister and evil.
- Echoing voices of the two girls at the end of the corridor - tells the audience that the two girls aren't real and could suggest to the audience that they are of the paranormal and are ghosts that haunt that corridor. Makes it even scarier the fact that the two girls aren't real.
Friday, 19 March 2010
Analysing the Opening Scene of The Shining
CAMERA ANGLES/SHOTS
- Establishing shot used at the beginning from above the sea and then above the travelling car - carrys the effect of being put in the point of view of a bird like predator like an eagle chasing and swooping for its prey; in this case it could be the car.
- Aerial shot - exaggerates how isolated the hotel is when it is reached (so far away from civilisation and quick help from the outside world is not available). Also exaggerates the contrast between how small the car is to its landscape; putting the car and all its passengers in a vulnerable position.
- Tracking shot following the car's journey - following the car from behind gives the effect that it is being followed by someone or something (linking back to the idea of the predator hunting for its prey; the prey being the car).
- Quick Zoom In on car - has the effect that someone or something is closing onto their victim (the car); the predator is catching its prey.
MISE EN SCENE
- Although it is a natural landscape that surrounds the car, it can suggest a sinister atmosphere because of the dangerously high mountains, small roads and the car being on the road alone. Can suggest abandonment, loneliness and any danger that could happen in the landscape, nobody would know about it because the landscape is so isolated from civilisation.
- Landscape surroundings changes from lush green trees and grass to snowy, cold and barren -This change could suggest the logic of a long and tiring journey as well as the long distance that has to be travelled from destination A to hotel. But also because the landscape at the beginning was full of life and then the atmosphere changes to nothing living, it could suggest the death of something or someone; hinting to the characters life.
EDITING
- Slow Paced Editing - could hint to the audience the long journey and long distance there is to the hotel. A sense of a calm, relaxed and normal atmosphere as the journey is calming and slow. Although, audience expect something bad to happen because everything is too calm. Audience begin to wonder where it is the journey will end and what will happen once the destination has been reached.
- Fade Transition - first introduces the car to the audience and its long journey ahead. Shows the audience that time has passed as the journey is being made. Also, shows the difference and change in landscape to the audience; from lush green to cold winter.
SOUND
- Long String instrument and repetitive chanting - The repetition suggests that something bad is about to happen again, something that has already happened in the past; reacurring danger that the car is entering when making it's journey to the hotel.
- Faint sound of a woman screaming - Telling the audience of what will happen further into the film and narrative; the screaming of the wife when her husband is breaking through the bathroom door with an axe.
- Sombre and imposing music in a deep toned beat - could symbolise the beating of a heart. Also because the beat is fairly deep, the deepness of the beat could symbolise the sinister and evil doing that will take place in the hotel further down into the narrative of the film.
Monday, 15 March 2010
Making the Correct Lighting for The Filming of Identical
In this picture we see Amanda holding the lighting technology. This is not a scene in the actual opening clip of Identical. However, the red lamp pictured is the red lamp that is used to give the lighting of the scene in Amanda's bedroom when the audience along with Imogen Simmons first sees Amanda in a possessed state. I wanted this scene to be dark and gruesome but I found out that with the camera it was ver hard to see what was happening in Amanda's room because of the lack of light, therefore I knew I needed to have some sort of light to be able to see the action on screen properlly. When I found this red lamp I thought it would be perfect to use to add some light to the scene in Amanda's Bedroom, not only because it shed some light on the actual scene but because of the colour of the light; Red. The Red colour of the lamp carrys many connotations, some of which include Danger, Caution, Blood, Evil and Sinister. These are all moods that I wanted to create in this particaular scene as I wanted the audience as well as Imogen to feel a sense of caution and danger when enetering Amanda's room and also I wanted to create an atmosphere just around Amanda full of Evil and Sinister feelings.
Making the Props for The Filming of Identical
This is the door of Amanda's room and the prop that is made in this picture are the letters on flourescent pink paper that spell out Amanda's name signifying that it is Amanda's room behind that door. This prop initially didnt take very long to make as it was jus made simply by cutting out the pink flourescent card and writing on the letters with a black marker. I decided to use the colour pink as the card colour because the colour pink carrys connotations of girls and this was a girl's room. Instead of using a more subtle pink I decided to use a more vibrant and flourescent pink. This is mainly because I wanted the colour to represent the personality of Amanda as a person before the audience took a look at Amanda in a possessed state. I think the flourescent pink portrays Amanda's personality as vibrant, outgoing and maybe even as a rebel because of the vivd contrast of the Pink against the Black. In the corner of each letter, even though it is not clear in this picture, I have also added a small black coloured love heart. This is because love hearts are normally associated with girls and teenagers falling in love. Also, instead of using a red colour to colour in the love heart, I used black because the black can suggest the darkness and abandonedment of Amanda which is the main reason of Amanda's possessed state.
Identical Location Reccee #3
This is the last Location Reccee that is seen in the Opening Clip of Identical. In the clip, this is seen as the room of one of the twins; the possessed twin Amanda and this is where the audience along with Imogen first see Amanda in this state. In the picture it is not clear, but I have used a red light to create a sense of danger and caution when entering this room. The red of the light can connote the change in mood as the lighting before hand was more naturally lighted. Also, the colour red carrys connotations of blood, evil and sinister doings and this is the exact atmosphere that I wanted to create as Amanda is evil and possessed.
Identical Location Reccee #2
This is the second location reccee that the audience see on screen in the opening scene of Identical. The picture is taken from the top of the stairs to create a high angle shot. This picture is taken how it is seen in the Opening Scene of Identical. I chose to use this particular shot with Imogen stood at the bottom of the stairs because it makes Imogen look vulnerable in her position; which she is considering she is about to find out about her possessed twin; Amanda. Even though in the narrative Imogen is normally seen as the superior of the two twins, having this shot puts her in the opposite position and becoming inferior to her twin Amanda. Again the lighting in this shot is fairly normal as I didn't want to create any horror quite just yet in this part of the Opening Scene. The Green Carpet suggests the normal situation that Imogen is in and the calmness of the atmosphere as the colour green carrys connotations of something being neutral and calm. The White of the walls and the stair banister also carrys connotations of peacefulness and tranquility which again keeps the atmosphere calm.
Identical Location Reccee #1
This is the First Location Reccee that is used in the Opening Scene of Identical. It is an ordinary looking living room and this is where Imogen would be sat on the floor doing her college work surrounded by papers. Surrounding Imogen with the papers tells the audience watching that Imogen is a committed college student who is intelligent and inquisitive. Making Imogen have this personality trait will attract my target audience of teenagers between the ages of 15-17 year olds because they can relate to Imogen as to what she is doing and what she going through. This photo may not look scary but that is because I didnt want to create horror in the beggining of the Opening Scene of Identical. I wanted to make sure that the audience at first felt calm and relaxed in an environment that they are most likely to be familiar with.
Thursday, 11 March 2010
Timeline History of the Movie Genre of Horror
1919 - The Cabinet of Dr.Caligari (Directed by Robert Weine) : Introduced standard Horror conventions; German Expressionism, exagerated black around eyes, scared face expressions, damsel in distress.
Late 1950's - Advance in Cinema technology attracts other audiences as well as teenagers. For example: CinemaScope, Cinerama, Stereophonic Sound, 3D and Smell-O-Vision. An example of advanced technology being used in the cinemas was in the film, The Tingler 1959. Audience's seats vibrated to scare audiences at scary parts in the film. Mutant Horror slowly became popular; Sci fi, UFO's and Space. Invasion of the Body Snatchers 1956 is an exaple of a film based on Mutant Horror.
1980 - Paramount releases Friday the 13th. Sean S. Cunnigham, who also made Last House on the Left. Stanley Kubrick releases the terrifying The Shining starring Jack Nicholson. Italian film Cannibal Holocaust is banned in many countries around the world due to it’s scenes of sexual violence and real animal torture.
1999 - After a decade of new ideas in the horror genre business, a low budget movie shot on a handheld camera becomes a worldwide phenomenon. Costing an initial $35,000 dollars, The Blair Witch Project grosses $248 million dollars worldwide. The improvised scenes and documentary feel of the film generate an atmosphere of terrifying realism and the film goes on to become the most successful independent film of all time.
Sunday, 7 March 2010
The Representation of Teenagers and Gender in I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997)
I will be looking at the Representation of Teenagers and Gender in this scene from I Know What You Did Last Summer because it links to my horror film opening as I have used Female Teenage Twins as my main characters. The scene begins at 2.34 - 8.25.
REPRESENTATION OF GENDER
Barry is really incredibly drunk. The fact that he is drunk and not any of the girls suggests that males in general are irresponsible as they drink way too much than they can handle. Suggests that in society, it is normally teenage males that get childishly drunk, not the females as they are more responsible than the males.
After Barry says to the group to just leave, Julie still takes a closer look at the damage they have caused. Shows that again females are more responsible than males as she wants to make sure that everything is ok to just leave. Also suggests that females are more caring than males are, as she seems concerned about whatever they hit with the car, whether it be a deer or a person, to check that it is alright.
Barry is the one who suggests that they should just leave the crime scene and make a run for it while they still can. The fact that he is a male and a male is saying this than a female suggests that he is avoiding the problem, which is what most males would do. It suggests that males don’t want to face the problem because they are scared of showing their reactions and emotions of what the reality is.
Helen and Julie insist in calling the police or at least an ambulance to help the man that they have hit. This connotes that females would still choose the sensible option, even under pressure. This suggests that females are more sensible than males, as Barry tries to talk Helen and Julie out of doing the right thing.
In the end, the group of teenagers decide to dispose of the body and this was the initial idea of Barry’s. This can probably suggest that in pressured and panicked situations, the males have the dominancy over the final decision that is made.
REPRESENTATION OF TEENAGERS
Barry is being immature because he is so drunk by standing up in the car whilst its moving and shouting as loud as he can waving around his bottle full of alcohol. This suggests that teenagers are immature as Barry drank too much alcohol than he can handle and he is putting his life at risk anyways by not being sensible and not sitting down with a seatbelt on.
When it comes down to making a decision of what to do with the body that they have hit with their car, although there was a lot of discussion, they eventually made the wrong decision by disposing the body at the pier. This could represent teenagers in a bad light as it is insinuating that teenagers always make the wrong and bad decision.
Wednesday, 3 March 2010
Analysing a Horror Thrilling Scene from I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997)
The Horror Thrilling Scene that I am going to analyse from the film I Know What You Did Last Summer starts from 8.44 - 9.40.
SOUND
Long Violin Notes – slow and very low in tone but still can hear it in the background. It creates a sense of suspense and mystery. The audience see that Helen has got away from the Fisherman Killer and is now safer than she was as she is now with her sister, however the music tells the audience other wise and says that it’s not over yet.
Music with a Lady Singing – its a calm and slow song, which confuses the audience as they expect something bad to happen even though the atmosphere does seem very tranquil. Sounds like its background music but soon afterwards the audience realise it’s actual the music being played in the store; Non-Diegetic Sound to Diegetic Sound.
Diegetic Sounds – of Elsa’s keys fumbling whilst she locks the door, Helen running up the stairs and Helen scrambling for the phone and dialling for the police, the shut of the door, Elsa walking towards the doors to lock them, sound of the Fisherman’s hook being drawn, Elsa’s scream and the sound of Elsa’s body slam against the window of the door when she gets slashed by the Fisherman’s Hook. All exaggerate the horror of what is happening in the scene and the murder of Elsa.
The Long Note - faded at first and gets louder and louder as its being played, as the Fisherman gets closer and closer to Elsa to end her life. This creates quick tension as the note gets louder really quickly. It gives the audience a sense of "it’s getting closer." Wants the audience to shout at Elsa “Look Behind You Before it’s Too Late!”
MISE EN SCENE
Pathetic Fallacy – The dark night outside sets the mood of the action that is about to happen. It creates the atmosphere of something sinister and ghastly is about to happen.
Inside the Store is Dimly Lit – The dimness of the store connotes the sinister side of the what can happen next or what will happen next. Hardly any light, so hardly anyone will see or suspect that anything bad is happening in the store.
The Store is full of Stuff –manikins, shelves, draws, cupboards, tables, chairs, just general furniture. It seems to be crammed inside the store. It gives loads of hiding places for anything “sinister” to hide behind, just like it gave the Killer Fisherman somewhere to hide whilst Elsa walks towards the door.
CAMERA WORK AND SHOTS
Zoom in – into keys as Elsa is locking the doors, to exaggerate to the audience that the sisters are locked inside the store and there is no way to get out. As later on in the scene, it becomes a barrier for Helen to get away from the Killer Fisherman.
Fast Tracking Shot – of Helen running up the stairs. This adds to the emergency of the situation that she is in and that there is no time to lose and she needs help as soon as possible.
Fast Left to Right Pan – from the door to Elsa. Shows the audience the door closing, suggesting that someone has come inside, but Elsa comes straight after so that she misses the door being closed and isn’t aware that there is someone in the room with her. Dramatic Irony; the audience know something the characters don’t. The audience knows that the Killer Fisherman is in the room but Elsa doesn't.
Tracking Shot – following Elsa walking into the room and walking towards the door to lock it. It leaves Elsa with her back turned to the camera and puts the audience in the eyes of the Killer Fisherman and puts Elsa in a position where she is very vulnerable as she can’t see the Fisherman behind her.
Slow Zoom – as Killer Fisherman gets closer. Creates the effect that the Fisherman is slowly creeping towards Elsa to murder her as the audience are still in the position of seeing the action through the Fisherman’s eyes.
Extreme Close Up – of Elsa’s eyes. The Extreme close up of Elsa’s eyes doesn’t only show the horror in her eyes but because Elsa is wearing a pair of glasses we see the reflection of the Killer Fisherman in her glasses getting ready to kill her with his hook. This adds to the horror as we can’t see the identity of the Killer Fisherman, as he is only a reflection to the audience.
EDITING
- Simple Cuts- are used to keep the film looking realistic. No fancy transitions are used as it will make the film less realistic and maybe even less horrifying for the audience to watch. The cuts are from seeing Helen and Elsa talking from the other side of the door, to Elsa locking the door, to Helen running up the stairs and dialling for the police.
- Fast Paced Editing – The editing is at a slightly faster pace than normal in the beginning of this scene to create the panic of Helen being chased by the Killer Fisherman. However, the editing becomes slower as the Killer Fisherman is getting closer to Elsa and then quickly changes to Fast Paced editing as Elsa sees her murderer and gets killed by him. This jolts the audience as they were first a little calm as Elsa walks around locking doors and the sudden change of pace scares and shocks the audiences as it is unexpected.
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