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?
Thursday, 19 November 2009
Wednesday, 18 November 2009
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.
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.
Friday, 13 November 2009
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'.
Thursday, 12 November 2009
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. Whils
t 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.
t 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.
Tuesday, 10 November 2009
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.
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.Sunday, 8 November 2009
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 pla
yed 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?
Dark Corners use an effective opening it begins with a constant creaking noise whilst the opening credits pla
yed 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?
Sunday, 1 November 2009
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 be
gins 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.
The beginning of The Host is black background with white text, there is no music so the silence already be
gins 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.
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