Location Test

We visited our location as a group to test our camera angles, lighting and run through the final plan for the opening sequence.

Report from Proposal

The proposal today was very succesful, and our idea is signed off by Miss Blackborow.

Things to think about:

• Possible plan B location in case of problems with shooting out doors
• Think more about exact style with camera/editing/lighting etc.

Preperation for Proposal

As a group we have discussed and finalised the following aspects of our film for our proposal tomorrow.

• Target audience
• Opening sequence plot
• Film plot
• Characters and actors
• Location
• Influences
• Institutional identity

We then put all this together and summarised it into a handout for the class to read during our presentation. We thought a flow chart was the easiest way to summarise the plot and a sketch of the characters best purveyed our ideas.

Joe, Jacob, Wanda, Claire Proposal

Target Audience Research

Horror films primarily appeal to teenagers and men. As our horror film features teenagers, they will be our target audience.

This means we need to think carefully about certification as we do no want to alienate our audience

• A 12 certificate would increase our potential audience in cinemas, however will decrease its potentcy to scare older audiences
• A 15 certificate seems ideal as similar films in the genre (e.g. paranormal activity) have gone for the same rating as it keeps it scary without alienating their target audience
• An 18 certificate would allow for maximum horror, however may cut out a big proportion of the teenage audience, who are proved to be the most frequent cinema goers and so a big section of cinema profits may be cut out

Genre Themes and Characteristics

Having decided and reviewed our groups rough initial ideas, research into the THEMES is required to choose the finalised idea.

The chosen genre is horror, and the themes included are:

• Obsession
• Voyeurism
• Stalking/tracking
• Mystery
• Murder/death

Initial Ideas

Initial Idea 1

• Influences: Recent success of Paranormal Activity and The Blair Witch Project
• Plot (for opening): Young artist/film maker explores the location with a camera. A figure can be seen in the corner, curled in a ball, rocking forwards and  backwards. Protagonist tries to communicate, but lack of response causes them to back away. As they turn to get out, a sillhouette can be seen blocking the doorway. This immediately cuts to the title, possibly with a scream effect. This sets up for the plot of the rest of the film where a group find the camera and footage and try to track this villain down
• Location: Abandoned changing room in middle of forest (as seen below in stills taken at night of location

Initial Idea 2

• Possible Title: Bugged
• Themes: Stalking, tracking, obsession, voyeurism
• Plot (for opening): Woman walking around house, seen through the view of various cams (fridge cam, door cam, tv cam etc.) A 'voice over' is heard following her movements, muttering, breathing. She then goes into a room, and her boyfriend is seen on a computer, and his voice is recognised as the one tracking/stalking her movment

Moodboard of Film Victims

Possible features we could use:

• Young and teenage - provides a connection between the character and the young target audience
• Often female - suggests vunerability against the male villain
• Light coloured clothing, hair and skin - all features that connote innocence and vunerability

Moodboard of Film Villains

Key siginfiers/possible features we could use:

• Long/greasy bedraggled hair
• Masks
• Gloves
• Knifes/weapons
• Smart clothing (long coat/suit)
• Hats
• Face paint
• Sallow/pale/yellowing skin

COURSEWORK STARTS HERE

Here on is my film opening coursework and I am working in a group with Wanda, Jacob and Joe