Pitch

Other Ideas:
Idea 1:
Cindy lives with her ‘evil’ stepmother who has a split personality however only Cindy sees her other side. When the old grandfather clock strikes 12 each night Cindy needs to escape from her evil stepmother and tries to run because every night at 12 something horrible happens to her. Cindy tells people but nobody believes her because they always see the nice side of her. In the end the evil stepmother splits in half and because they thought that Cindy was insane she feels free when she is put into a mental asylum.
Idea 2:
It’s Halloween and all the kids are trick or treating when they knock on the old mans house, the old man gives them their treat – which is a poisonous sweet that lures them in. Once in he kills them violently. The old man has a phobia of children he believes they are evil so he makes it his jobs to kill all the children so the world will be safe, the man moves round leaving no trail and no evidence, the parents are tricked and don’t suspect a thing, until one day when he comes to a town and finds a child who has the same feelings however towards old people.
Idea 3:
In the back garden of an old woman’s house is a graveyard full of open shallow graves where you can see all her victims lying covered in blood. At night the lady taps the old oak tree and brings the dead to life, there quest at night is to add one more zombie to her collection. However one night a victim doesn’t completely become a zombie its his mission to save the human population. In the end he kills the old woman and chops down the tree he believes he has saved everyone or has he?

Chosen Idea - Idea 4:
Some boy twins, who are your usual 9 year old boys getting into mischief when one day one of the twins see a mask in the water this possesses him and gives him the power to control people and things with his mind, he brutally murders people who seem to anger him, when he discovers his next task is to kill his brother, however the good twin realises the only way for him to save his brother is if he dies, so he dies to save his brother from the possession of the devil.

Storyline:
Adam and Ashley are playing outside one day when Adam sees a white mask in the pond in the back garden, after staring at the mask unaware to Adam he has become possessed by the devil, Ashley wonders what happened to Adam as he is quiet and appears spaced out. The next day they go to school, and Ashley being his usual self gets himself into trouble. Ashley gets shouted at by the Mrs Davison which angers Adam – Adam is still unaware of his supernatural powers to control people and objects and unknown to him makes the scissors in the classroom levitate and stab the teacher who dies in a pool of blood, the twins are seen watching the paramedics carry out the body bag carrying their former teacher. At home dinner that night is silent and they are sent to bed early, When everyone is asleep Adam in some kind of trance walks out to the pond where he originally saw the mask, writing appears explaining that he has been chosen, and its his destiny from the devil. The twins and their family are Christians and are very religious. Adam and Ashley go to the park they are playing on the swings when a spoilt child pushes them off and the little girl carries on playing on the swings Adam makes the swing twist resulting in the girl being strangled. They run off and it looks like an accident. Later on the two recent deaths make the news, this makes Ashley think that the deaths only happen around him. Adam is aware of what he can do, so when one day the are in the supermarket with their mom who they have a lot of respect for. A woman is quite rude to her this offends Adam has no one should be so nasty to his mother as being religious without her they wouldn’t have life, uses his mind he makes an empty trolley with speed push into the lady pushing her into the pyramid glass display she is shredded to pieces. The story continues with Adam brutally murdering anyone who upsets or angers him. When his murdering habits come to the household. At home Adam sees his sisters boyfriend hit her, he possess the family dog who attacks him and tears his limbs off. The family need to hide the dead body and throws the corpse in the pond. The Dad shots the dog to stop any repeat performances. After a tough family life the Dad threatens to leave and an abusive argument Adam takes it upon himself and takes the butchers knife and kills his Dad. The Mom is distraught but she knows she will be blamed she hides the body in the cellar. Adam returns to the pond and Ashley closely follows and hears him chanting that his next task is to kill his brother.
Ashley knows he needs to will fully die to really save his brother from the devil.

Character Profiles
Adam 19.08.00
Appearance:

• Black Hair
• Brown Eyes
• Preppy Look
• Dresses Identically to twin
• Fairly Tall
• Healthy Weight
• Centre parting hair, gelled back to sides
• Pale Skin

Attributes:

• Smart
• Religious
• Innocent Devilish behaviour
• Adores his mother
• Respectful
• Dominant Twin
• Likes: cars, building things, helping his Grandad, playing with Ashley, Jam sandwiches, Interested in animals, watches childrens tv
• Dislikes: things being unfair, people shouting at him, sprouts, doesn't like girly tv programs, going to school even though he is good at it!

Ashley 19.08.00
Appearance: (identical to Adam)

• Black Hair
• Brown Eyes
• Preppy Look
• Dresses Identically to twin
• Fairly Tall
• Healthy Weight
• Centre parting hair, gelled back to sides
• Pale Skin

Attributes:

• Average Intelligence
• Religious
• Innocent Devilish behaviour
• Adores his mother
• Respectful
• Follows what Adam does
• Gets into trouble more
• Likes: cars, building things, helping his Grandad, playing with Adam, Chocolate, Interested in how things work, watches childrens tv
  Dislikes: people shouting at him, carrots, doesn't like girly tv programs, going to school, Mrs Davison

Location Ideas

For the opening scene, I will need a house with a backgarden pond I will more than likely use my Nan and Grandads house has there garden matches this description.

Idea of Opening Scene Sequence

• Begins with black screen and you can hear the creepy children singing ring a roses.
• For the credits, the names will look like they are appearing on the water.
• Then the film begins, you can see the twins playing with the pond in the background
• Zooms in and is just the twins playing with there toys its is set in at Dusk
• The camera move to the pond as it tilts in to show the name of the film 'Possession'
• There is brief conversation with over the shoulder shots and a match on action of giving a toy block
• There is quiet tension building music playing in the background
• The Mom shouts the boys in
• Ashley runs in leaving Adam alone
• You can see Adam with no expression looking into the pond
• After different angled shots
• We can see a mask appear and then disappear, the music rises
• Then there is a shot of use looking up at Adam as though we are in the water
• Mom calls Adam again and he backs away slowly

Genre can be identified through the opening sequence by the use of creepy sing song from the children and the quiet tension building music, as there is alot of features on the unknown as we are unaware what is happening in the pond and the use of the iconic mask is a key image. Twins are deemed as quite frightening to audiences and so is the use of children as I found this out in my questionnaires.

Research into Chosen Genre

Box Office History for Horror Movies
US Gross: Total: $9,550,597,924 Average: $22,210,693
Worldwide Gross: Total: $15,109,922,618 Average: $35,139,355
Budget: Total: $3,752,706,000 Average: $18,041,856

UK Film Council

UK film releases in the UK and the Rebulic of Ireland by genre in 2007 ranked by box office gross. Horror had 6 releases and was 5.6% of releases. Gross at the box office (£ million) was 9.8 and the % of gross box office was 3.7 the top performing title was 28 weeks later.

Proportion of releases by genre for UK films and all films, 2007

% of all releases: 4.7

% of UK releases: 5.6

Films on release in the UK and Rebulic of Ireland by genre, 2007, ranked by average box office gross per site.

Average box office per site: 7,266

Gross box office (£ million) 28.8

Total sites: 3,970

Films on release in the UK and Rebulic of Ireland by genre, 2007, ranked by average widest point of release.

Average number of sites at widest point of release: 165

Number of releases: 24

Gross box office (£ million) 28.8

Following is from a Love Film Article on 'What makes a good horror film' (I have extracted the important points)

• the stars of a horror film should look everyday and mundane
• the baddie has to be believable
• your baddie has to be realistically bad, and not someone that cause’s the audience to scream with laughter every time he appears.
• horror fans say that events based on a true story are often better than those made up.
• The setting is key, with deserted houses, woods and lonely islands the favourite.
• Music is also vitally important, as without some guy strumming on a violin

The following research is from slide share (again I have extracted the important points)

Origins - from Gothic tradition in literature dating from the 18th and 19th Centuries. Described at the time as Romantic literature, Mary Shelly’s Frankenstein and Bram Stoker’s Dracula are the most enduring, but the Werewolf and the Mummy can also be traced back to novels from this period. Film versions of these stories have been remade many times from Universal in 1930s, to Hammer in 1950s and 60s to recent versions by Coppola and Kenneth Branagh and Stephen Sommers’ ‘Van Helsing'. The American Gothic tradition derives from the work of Edgar Allan Poe and H.P. Lovecraft. Roger Corman made several films in the 1960s based on Poe’s novels.

Two European Artistic Movements combined to create the classic horror film od the 1930s -

Expressionism: German theatre in particular featured low key shafts of light, sets that were off-kilter, often without right angles or with exaggerated perspectives, black and white make up. The idea of expressionism was to express emotions rather than external reality

Surrealism: Representing the unconscious and dreams. Drew from psychologist Sigmund Freud’s ideas on sexuality and The Uncanny. Represented in the horror film by the flow of disturbing imagery and the presence of a ‘monster’.

Narrative Conventions (themes)

• Hauntings and Demonic Possessions - These films play on our fear of the unknown, superstition and the idea that evil forces exist in the world. These forces can remain spiritual presences or can take the guise of witches, ghosts or demons. Fall prey to an evil force that is trying to victimise them in some way. Sometimes the evil force wants to corrupt its victims or the evil force wants to take control of its victim - take over his body or his mind or soul. Vampires and werewolves turn you into one of their own kind. The fight between good and evil in the Christian sense- temptation and sin.
• Apocalypse - Mankind is threatened with extinction by inhuman creatures, threat comes from outer space or the threat is a plague or virus, the threat comes form everyday traditonally harmless creatures. A set structure: there’s a sudden proliferation of these creatures as if from nowhere and they descend upon a group of survivors who have barricaded themselves in a house. Usually the story ends with the people dying and the creatures winning out.
• The Human Monster - With horror of the personality: psychopathology and murder (the serial killer) or psychosis and insanity. Audience is taken inside the mind of a killer or of a person who appears to be going insane. Often children are the subject, the idea that some people are born bad, with no sense of morality.

Iconography of the Horror Film - Symbolic images which recur throughout the history of the horror film include: The haunted house, Symbols of death, The disfigured face or mask, The screaming victim, The phallic murder weapon: knife, stake, chainsaw, Oppositions of good and evil, Darkened places where the ‘monster’ lurks: woods, cellars, Blood and body parts.

The Horror Film - Phases of Popularity

- Universal Studios Horror Films (1920-48)

- The Cold War Sci- Fi Horror Film (1950s)

- The Modern American Horror Film (1968-79)

- The Slasher Movie (1978-82)

- The Postmodern Horror Film (1983 onwards)

Changes in Audience Expectations

The Classic Horror Film:-

• Production Context
• Stars (Lugosi, Karloff, Chaney,)
• Studio Produced (Universal, RKO)
• Medium budgets
• Genre Narrative Conventions & Formal Signifiers
• ‘ Foreign Monster’
• Monster is a supernatural being
• Equilibrium is restored - ‘good’ triumphs
• Society ie. religion, science, family is ‘good’.
• The horror is suggested off-screen
• Expressionist lighting style, hard shadows
• Classical Mise-en-scene & continuity editing.

Modern American Horror Film

• Production Context
• Independent Productions
• Unknown Actors
• Filmed on location
• Low budgets
• Genre conventions and formal signifiers
• Indigenous monster
• Monster is psychopath/cannibal
• The horror never ends - nihilism pervades
• Society is to blame. The family is seen as an instrument of repression.
• Graphic on-screen horror
• Documentary realism, flat lighting, location sound.
• Post French New Wave camerawork and editing.

Why do audiences enjoy being scared to death by horror films so much?
Carlos Clarens believes that the horror film renders on film ‘the immanent fears of mankind: damnation, demonic possession, old age, death.’ Ernest Larson believes that horror films that incorporate the apocalypse theme ‘advance the notion that modern technology is so overwhelming that it tends to obliterate any possibility of its liberatory use...science has, in the hand-maiden of capitalism, created an uncontrollable monster.’ Charles Derry believes that films inaugurated by Psycho represent ‘ a response to the escalation of violence in American culture. Walter Evans attributes the popularity of horror amongst young audiences to ‘the most universal and horrible of personal trials: the sexual traumas of adolescence.’ Robin Wood argues the monster represents all the things we repress in order to function as ‘monogamous, heterosexual, bourgeois patriarchal capitalists’, namely sexuality (in its fullest sense) and creativity. The tensions caused by such repression and the threatened return of the repressed are siphoned off ‘through the projection onto the Other (the ‘monster’) of what is repressed within the Self, in order that it can be discredited, disowned and if possible annihilated

The Following Research is Key Notes from the book Film Art by David Bordwell and Kristin Thompson

• Horror is recogniseable by its intended emotional effect on the audience it aims: to shock, disgust, horrify

What can horrify us?

• Monstor - typically dangerous breach of nature, violation of our normal sense of what is possible, vioulate boundry - dead/alive. Charatcter convention: threatening and innatural monster

Horror Plot

Monsters attack on normal life -> characters need to destroy it -> various ways -> attacks -> authority non-believers -> blocking characters effect

Iconography

Settings: Monsters may lurk in dark house fill of victims, cemeteries and Laboratories.

Heavy Make-up

Horror - emotional impact with make-up and other low technology special effects is favoured by low budget film makers.

Continuity Piece

Questionnaire: Results

After asking willing volunteers to answer my questionnaire this is the following analysis of my results. In total I asked 31 people, 14 of these were male and, 17 female.

Within the different age groups I asked 22 people aged 15-24, one person 25-34 and one person 35-44 and for 45+ I asked 7 people.

My next question was crucial to how the attitude to there responses was determining on them watching horror films or not. 24 watched them and 7 don't the reasons for not watching them were they found them traumatizing, they don't find them exciting, it will keep them up all night! Generally don't like them or would prefer to watch a different genre.

Question 4 asked what do they usually expect to see when watching a horror film this was an open question and produced qualitative data. People who didn't watch horror films popular choices were darkness, blood and generally scary things. Other answers were, ghosts, horrific images, music, suspense, trees and gore.

People who do watch horror films popular choices were: blood, things that make them jump or shocked, gore, a culprit, suspense, murders and death, the unexpected and zombies. Other answers included vampires, the scare factor, mystery, weapons, ghosts, masks, element of evil, and to do with the UN-natural.

Question 5 wanted know what element of a horror frightened you, people who didn't watch horrors answered: unnecessary jumping, true stories, seeing gory images, the unexpected, people sneaking up on others. People who did watch horrors popular answers included the unexpected, making them jump, psychological aspects, gory parts, suspense and the music. Other answers included were, vampires, silence, possession, fast pacing and true stories.

The next question asked what they like to see a popular answer from people who answered no to watching horrors said comedy/humour other answers were: people getting back together, no blood/gore, a decent plot, originality, psychological games and nothing. A popular answer from people who do watch horrors were, tension/suspense, good ending which is well explained, a good twist, along with a good storyline/plot, the unexpected and blood. Other answers included, vampires, nudity, something different, a happy ending! scenes shot in daylight, death, cliffhangers, shocking items, zombies, and the ability to empathise with the characters.

Question 7 asked what people disliked to see when watching a horror a popular answer from people who didn't watch horrors was gore other answers included unnecessary nudity, cliches, blood which was another popular answer, children and everything in general!

Answers from people who did watch horrors were: predictable this was a popular answer along with, unrealistic, gore, blood, boring plot and bad endings other answers were, stereotypes, love, not understanding the genre, sci-fi, murder, unnecessary things, too much violence, and body parts.
I wanted to find out the what characters to use so I asked the next question giving them options they are presented bellow in the pie charts:

I also gave an option for other 4 people ticked this and some commented vampire or monster.

The last question asked whether they watched the same horror film again, 21 said yes and 10 said no.

After receiving all the answers to the questionnaire the results will help me when creating the film as it will let me make my film better for the different ages.

Research: Questionnaire

These are the questions which I will ask on a questionnaire to help undersatnd the opinions of horrors based on my target audience:
1) Are you male or female,
2) How old are you?
15-24 25-34 35-44 45+
3) Do you watch horror films?
4) What do you usually expect to see in a horror?
5) What element of horror frightens you?
6) What do you like to see in a horror?
7) What don’t you like to see in a horror?
8) What characters do you like to see? (you may tick more than one)
Female victims
Male victims
Child/teen victims
Adult victims

Female culprits
Male culprits
Child/teen culprits
Adult culprits
Other
9) Do you watch horror films again?

Continuity Piece - Filming

After completing my storyboard in the next session I was able to film.

There were five of us made up of different groups this was so that we could all help each other out when it came to their turn to film. I needed a setting which was a basic classroom type location all I needed was a door, table and chairs. After having access to a empty classroom, I set the tripod up and got the camera ready for action it wasn't very busy at the time of filming so I had no problem getting the shot of person A (Lee) walking through the door without interruption of any passer by's. After a few rehearsal shots so I could learn how to move the camera, in a smooth angle I recorded the shots. It was good working with other people because we could help each other with where to get the camera how to get a better shot and keeping an eye on what hand was used to open the door so they it all matched etc.

The basic synopses of the continuity piece was someone walks into a room sits and has a conversation with his friend, in the storyboard it was a handshake however on day of filming it was changed to Lee passing Beth something over the table to get the match on action required, they then leave heading for Starbucks.

It was good practice using the camera because when it comes to filming my main project I will not be so inexperienced and won't be making the actors wait for me. For the main project I will need to write a script as for this piece I let the characters just have a random conversation.

Tools for Analysis

When doing my textual analysis on the opening scenes of my chosen genre, I need the essential items to make notes and then be able to write up my analysis afterwards:

• The films either on DVD or recorded from TV - this is the most important as without it I would have nothing to watch to analise
• Pen and Paper to make notes and when I watched to opening scenes again to make extra notes
• Computer - this was needed to write my draft onto a word processor then copy up onto my blog

These are the basics tools needed when writing an analysis, when watching the opening scene I needed to be looking for

• Camera Angles - how they were used, the effects, what they helped portray
• Editing - was it invisible or made visible
• Special effects
• Sound - digetic or non- digetic, soundtrack
• Representations - how are the characters being portrayed
• Mise en scene
• Verisimilitude
• Movement
• Pacing

And many other key features which I needed to pick up on when writing my textual analysis'.

Continuity Piece: Storyboard

Before filming, I needed to create a storyboard this allowed me to plan my ideas and understand which camera angles I would need on the day of filming, and how I would capture it, to practice before my main project I tried to included as many different camera angles and movement possible so I could experiment and learn how to use the equipment. Whilst drafting my storyboard I was shown how to set the tripod up the key features and what must be done to enhance the quality of my short recording for example the spirit level section so the camera would always be level.
In my short sequence I required a match on action, in my planning stage I decided to shoot a handshake however when filming this was changed as thoughts from the actors said it would look better if they passed something across the table as it would look less formal.

Textual Analysis on Bridget Jones's Diary [Romantic Comedy]

Bridget Jones’s Diary
The opening of Bridget Jones is effective because it engages the audience with the humour from the beginning. It begins showing us a ‘winter wonderland’ picturesque scene already using a convention of a romantic comedy being set some where romantic. The establishing shots allow us to see the snow and the house of where the first scene is going to take place. The pan movement allows us to follow the character as she walks towards the house, it has a running commentary throughout the beginning of the scene allow us to hear what the character is thinking at the time of things as though we are in her head this is due to it being based on someone writing their diary. When she enters the house another cheery Christmas love songs play in the background, there is an high angled shot which looks as if it’s shot from the top of the stairs allowing the audience to look down and see what is going on. A mixture of MS and MCU shots are used in the various conversations the editing is made to be invisible to allow it to flow and show that she is socializing around the room. A full length shot is used to highlight the embarrassing outfit she is forced to wear, when she is introduced to her future love interest which is played by Colin Firth which if we didn’t know anything about the film we would know that it’s a Romantic Comedy because he is in it. There is an ECU on the reindeer jumper he is being forced to wear and here is our ‘meet-cute’ situation a must convention in a romantic comedy, the conversation is awkward as the Bridget starts to ramble making herself embarrassed, later in the scene when she over hears Mark talking to his mom, she pretends not to have heard the mean sayings and walks towards the camera as it follows her it then uses a freeze frame to highlight the moment in which the character narrates and then fades into another wintery scene.

Textual Analysis on Dark Corners [Horror Genre]

Dark Corners
Dark Corners use an effective opening it begins with a constant creaking noise whilst the opening credits played on a black background to white text similar to ‘The Host’ it uses a ghostly text effect which plays on the audiences minds. It the uses a long shot showing a women dressed in black rocking on a rocking chair the source of the creaking noise, we can also hear the ticking of the clock enhance the importance of time possibly for the rest of the film there is no camera movement it then fades black and quickly grabs the audiences attention with dramatic opening music revealing the title of the film with the same ghostly text effect.
It then fades into a long shot of a church decorated with candles the mise en scene is effective at this point as it sets the scene. As the female character enters it uses a CU and diagetic sound is present e.g. the echo of foot steps on the stone floor etc. as she sits down the camera tilts up to show a religious statue and focuses on the writing saying ‘The lord praise him’. It then goes to a ECU of the women asleep and blood dripping onto her face it shows the confusion in her face, we then see a body covered in blood and is generally disfigured, tension building music is playing in the background quick camera shots of the woman, the body and the religious quote. The music is getting louder showing us an increase in tension we then see the woman running away trying to escape through the door, she turns around a sees a man with a knife there is a mixture of MCU and ECU as the man walks towards her, she turns around and the man is not there, and appears to be on the other side of the door she is trying to escape through, she then backs away and backs away into the killer, he grabs her a slits her throat we are then shown an ECU of her bloody throat using the element of the unseen. It then shows the man walking through the camera shot. It the shoots to a shot of a man and woman who is blindfolded in a car, playing on the theory of dreams?

Textual Analysis on The Host [Horror Genre]

The Host
The beginning of The Host is black background with white text, there is no music so the silence already begins to make the audience uneasy and confused. The wide angled establishing shot allows the audience to see where the opening sequence is taking place it uses diagetic sound which you would expect in the science lab setting. Within the conversation over shoulder MCU shots are used, to allow flow it then gives and ECU of the bottle of poison which shows the relevance of this for the rest of the film as the two characters disagree in the disposure of the harmful substance and ECU is used to show the emotion in their faces and the concern in one character. As it then fades into later on in the night due to darker lighting used showing the intenseness, there is an element of danger because of the character wearing safety clothes, the sound is enhanced as the liquid is poured into the sink, it then zooms in onto the empty bottles the slow pan movement express the importance of what is happening which will impact the rest of the film the audience want to know the consequences of these actions as the music begins to build tension it fades into a new scene. From watching the opening of this Korean film we can see that as music is important so is the use of silence, lighting can create a tense atmosphere and that beginning the film with the problem e.g. the harmful bottles can create curiosity within the audience.

Textual Analysis of The Horror of Frankenstein [Horror Genre]

The Horror of Frankenstein
The opening of Frankenstein is effective because of the focus kept on the drawing on the picture intrigues the audience making them want to continue watching to understand what is going on.
The opening credits watch someone draw dashed lines on a naked picture of a woman this provokes curiosity in the watcher as they want to know what the lines demonstrate. The fonts used looks old and fancy informing us that the film is set a log time ago from present day, the typical red colour already shows us that it is going to be horrific. The music played through opening titles is subtle but still creates suspense in the different key changes. The sudden change into reality allows us to see that the film is set in Victorian times because of the mise en scene seen in the wide angled shot. When the two characters are having a conversation MCU shots are used over looking Frankenstein’s shoulder the editing is intended to be invisible to show a flow, the high angled shot from the teacher looking down shows power and authority which the teacher initially has. It then uses CU shots to show the emotions on the characters face which allows the audience to see and empathies with the character. The pan movement of the camera allows smooth transition of movement. The full length shots allows us to see what all the characters are doing and wearing which had to the reality which has been created, The opening is slow paced.
By watching this opening scene I can see the benefit of using a tempting device like the dashed lines on the picture used in The Horror of Frankenstein because it creates the element of aversion of the unseen.

Textual Analysis on Halloween [Horror Genre]

Halloween
The opening of Halloween is effective because it keeps the audience very interested and on the edge of their seats. It does this using many different techniques such as, Point Of View shots and constant music.
The opening credits uses the symbolic Halloween image of a pumpkin whilst the opening titles and credits are playing the font used is regular and uses reds and oranges which are typical Halloween colours representing fire. The famous Halloween theme is played merging into non diagetic tension building music when the film begins. The black screen with the creepy use of children singing is used which plays on peoples minds. The opening shows a house in the dark on a Halloween night within a ‘normal’ neighborhood as the text gives us this information a handheld camera and POV shots are used allowing us the viewer to be in eyes of the character we are yet unknown off, this makes the viewer curious. We are taken round the back of what we assume to be the house of where the action is going to take place, it looks on at a couple because we are in the eyes of the character we presume these are the victims. The non-diagetic sound continues as well as the diagetic sound of light switches and the grandfather clock chimes. When the character enters it focuses on the butchers knife they collect as an audience we know something terrible will happen due to the couple upstairs and the ‘stranger’ which as entered the house now equipped with a knife. The constant music keeps things tense which is effective because the audience are always wondering what is going to happen next, has the male character leave we are taken upstairs picking up a clowns mask which gives connotations of people fears of clowns. Our vision is then restricted to the two eye holes in the mask, the female character recognizes her killer and we are shown the repetition of the stabbing action, we then see the bloody dead body on the floor as the character leaves we see that the killer is a child dressed in a clown suit which already provokes peoples fears of clowns and children. In addition because there are no cuts until the end it makes it feel as though everything is happening in real time which adds the reality that this ‘could’ happen, also the usage of the POV vision makes it seem more like the audience are the one who is killing the girl.
From watching the opening scene we see that using powerful music throughout is important as it can make things appear tenser. We have also seen the effect of using POV shots and how it adds to the suspense and horrific genre.

Task 2: Research into Existing Products [Thriller]

Research into the genre of Thriller

Thriller is a genre of fiction in which tough, resourceful, but essentially ordinary heroes are pitted against villains determined to destroy them, their country, or the stability of the free world. Part of the allure of thrillers comes from not only what their stories are about, but also how they are told. High stakes, non-stop action, plot twists that both surprise and excite, settings that are both vibrant and exotic, and an intense pace that never lets up until the adrenalin packed climax. The Thriller fiction genre is a genre of literature that typically entails fast-paced plots, numerous action scenes, and limited character development. One example is that: the hero, who may even be an ordinary citizen drawn into danger and intrigue by circumstances beyond their control faces danger alone or in the company of a small band of companions. The protagonist may be a law enforcement agent, a journalist, or a soldier, but typically he or she is cut off from the resources of "their" organization. Part of the allure of thrillers comes from not only what their stories are about but how they are told. The plot of a thriller is usually driven by the villain, who presents obstacles that the hero must overcome.

sources: http://www.findmeanauthor.com/thriller_fiction_genre.htm

Task 2: Research into Existing Products [Horror]

Research into the genre of Horror

This genre of film works on the emotions of fear, horror and terror from its audience. Their plots involve themes of death, the supernatural or mental illness and generally feature around a central villain. [wikipedia]

Elements of Aversion

Aversion is an essential element in a Horror because of the thrill and excitement we enjoy from living on the edge. The Horror genre reminds us that the world we live in isn’t always what it seems and is not always safe.
Elements of Absence
· The unknown: This is the central fear because it contains all the others, its based on the concept that anything could happen in reality there are guidelines and natural laws which allow us to predict events; within fiction authors often suspend those rules. Leaving our imaginations to run away with us and therefor us clinging to the edge of our seats.
· The unexpected: From the unknown comes the known and how we expect reality to function however when something happens which destroys our expectations, we are shocked and feel distress enabling us to feel uncomfortable.
· The unbelievable: When nobody listens or believes them we fear ourselves being put into a situation that sets us beyond belief, and we question their own sanity.
· The unseen: When we see blood and guts this instantly grabs our attention because in reality we never/rarely see them therefor that is why slasher scenes work so well because they are showing us something we rarely see however with every repeat the effectiveness decreases, with the unseen our curiosity holds us captive.
· The unconscious: Because we are interested in inner worlds, we then have lack of control of what happens equalling in us not being able to escape their effects. We are victims to subconscious urgings, we fear ourselves but also at the same time we are compelled to explore the unfamiliar regions.
· The unstoppable: We all understand entropy and believe that in nature things will come to an end humans and animals wear out eventually. Therefore when there is an endless pursuit this upsets our expectations that this isn't going to end.
Elements of Presence
· Helplessness: The worst feeling is the inability to control or affect your own fate. In horror, this is where the attraction is found when you are in complete lack of power.
· Urgency: When something can't be done but it must be or the price of failure is always dramatic e.g. death of a loved one or world destruction therefor the characters cannot just walk away we are then drawn into the urgency as well and this the central conflict of most horrors.
· Pressure: Works with suspense, the slow build of tension comes impacts the increasing need to do something, urgency is combined with pressure encouraging the characters greater accomplishments, whilst amplifying the audiences involvement. The pressure builds, peaks and then disperses.
· Intensity: When danger becomes the most intensive awareness, it enhances all positive and negative emotions and draws attention to every detail. Our sense pick up far more than usual; making the world more immediate and real.
· Rhythm: The following elements combined create a rise and fall of tension. The use of rhythm is vital to horror in that is allows the intensity to build to a higher peak. It sets the pattern of action which draws the audience in, alternatively some horrors succeed though a lack of pattern, again playing on our innate desire for the world to make sense.
· Release: We known that every story comes to a conclusion, in horror we may see the world return to "normal" or is change beyond recognition but the promise of resolution offers refuge from the stress of everyday life

[What Makes Horror Horrifying?by Elizabeth Barrette]

Task 2: Research into Existing Products [Romantic Comedy]

Research into the genre of Romantic Comedies

I found my research from wikipedia
Romantic comedies are films with light-hearted, humorous plot lines which are based around romantic ideals for example true love which overcomes all/most obstacles. Romantic comedy is a sub-genre of comedy and romance films and often includes elements of screwball (feature farcical situations, a combination of slapstick with fast-paced repartee) and stoner comedies (cannabis used in a comic and positive fashion). They are primarily aimed at a female audience.

A Basic plot of romantic comedies is that two protagonists (usually a man and a woman) meet, part ways due to an argument or other obstacle and then usually reunite.
Sometimes the two protagonists meet and become involved initially, they then must overcome challenges to reinforce their union. Sometimes the two protagonists are hesitant to become romantically involved because they believe that they do not like each other, (because one of them already has a partner, or because of social pressures). However, there are always clues suggesting that the two are 'meant to be'. The protagonists often separate or seek time apart to sort out their feelings or deal with any other external obstacles to their being together.

When being apart one or both usually realise that they are ideal and are in love. After their realisation there is a grand gesture where there love is declared perhaps with some comic friction or awkwardness and then the film ends happily. However the couple don't have to marry or live together the ending is used to affirm the primary importance of love in their relationship even if it doesn't last.

Variations

• instead of the two lead characters ending up in each other's arms, another love match will be made between one of the principal characters and a secondary character.
• the film may be rumination on the impossibility of love.
• some comedy films, combine themes of romantic comedies and stoner comedies, creating a sub genre that appeals to both men and women. These types of films usually use sexual content which brings the two characters together.
  

The following information was researched from Film Bug

One of the conventions of romantic comedy films is the contrived encounter of two potential romantic partners in unusual or comic circumstances, film critics have called this a "meet-cute" situation. During a "meet-cute", scriptwriters often create a humorous sense of awkwardness between the two potential partners by an initial clash of personalities or beliefs, an embarrassing situation, or by introducing a comical misunderstanding.

In many romantic comedies, the potential couple comprises polar opposites, two people of different temperaments, situations, social statuses, who would not meet or talk under normal circumstances, the "meet-cute" gives the opportunity for these two people to meet.
The attraction between the lead characters must be established quickly. The subject matter of romantic comedies are the obstacles that the potential pair must face before they can acknowledge their love, and the audience must care about the relationship enough to finish the movie.

Use of "meet cute" situations
Certain movies are entirely driven by the meet-cute situation, and contrived circumstances throw the couple together for much of the screenplay.
An example of a "meet cute" is in Notting Hill, the character played by Hugh Grant accidentally spills orange juice on the character played by Julia Robert, which leads them into a conversation.

Resources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romantic_comedy_film and http://www.filmbug.com/dictionary/romantic-comedies.php