Editing

I have been editing the rest of my footage to add into the gaps in my film. Most of it is for the scene where my main protagonist, Ruby is running away from the antagonist. This scene will be used to create tension and I have done this by using quick cuts and shaky footage from the view of the protagonist. I have one more scene to reshoot which will be when my antagonist is walking past the camera when the protagonists have gone off into the woods. I did try to re-shoot this but when I uploaded it onto the editing suite it didn't fit in with the rest of my footage. Instead I am going to use the green screen to try and do this as, due to the location I have filmed in, I will be unable to go back and shoot there now.

13/12/10

I have been capturing the rest of my footage and I have started editing. I hope to add the titles and music to my film this week so that I have most of it done by the holidays. I have found the music for my titles but I need to find some non-diegetic music for the film itself, as well as sound effects.

Work

I have filmed the rest of the footage I need for my film, and I now have all the footage I need. I have also been carrying on with editing my film, adding in different transitions. This week I will capture the rest of my footage and start editing it, and I will also start looking at adding sound to my film

This is the song that I would like to play at the end of my film, as the credits roll. The song itself is eerie and quite dark and I think it would fit in with the nature of my film. I got the inspiration for the song from another video I have uploaded of the character of Effy from Skins when she is running through the woods. I will perhaps use the song somewhere in my film, but if not I will leave it at the end credits.

Short Film

This is a short film called Craw Lake that I would like to take elements from to use in my own film.
   The quick jumpy cuts that start at around 0.16 - 0.33 seconds are effective in creating fear and tension. Not much is actually shown in these cuts because they are so fast but they connote panic. Also, the sound creates meaning too.There is no non-diegetic sound, something which I am using in my film, which I hope will create tension, adding a more realistic feel to it. The clip is linked with shots of the man cuddling a girl, presumably his daughter. These shots are tender and loving and contrast starkly to the shots of the man calling out through the woods of who we presume to be the little girl. Also through the film, the monsters are rarely shown, apart from at quick, unexpected shots. However, because these shots are so fast and are edited so quickly, we only see the threat for a second or two. This would fit with the conventions of the psychological horror that I am focusing on for my own film - the tension and suspense created in these films comes from the fear and emotional instability of the characters, rather than actually revealing the object of horror.
The colours are dark - it's filmed at night, with little lighting yet the colours of the characters are light. The father and daughter are wearing light colours, connoting their innocence. The colours in the cabin are very natural, warm showing that this place is of no danger. However, the darkness outside suggests the safety doesn't continue beyond the cabin. The creatures are red, connoting violence and danger, although they are only shown briefly. Then at 7.43 the man then wakes up in the morning. The colours are warm, soft - it makes it difficult to believe that the horror of a few hours ago actually happened. Because this place looks so serene, we cannoot believe that something awful could happen there. I hope to use this to an extent in my film. The woods are a calm place, with warm colours and it doesn't seem as if something so violent could happen there. In the film the shots are of nature - the trees, the sky, the lake - everything is calm and serene. This then contrasts sharply with the next shot. It is a close up of the man laid unconscious, his face bloodied.
The shot of the shoe is significant, although used on it's own it would be insignificant. The fact that the shot of it is a close-up and it juxtaposes with the shot of the man shows its importance - it is obviously his daughter's.
I think the film has helped me because it's also a short - the narrative of it works well and is easy to follow, even though the film is only 10 minutes long. The use of the elements of film - the mise-en-scene, sound, editing, performance, cinematography all help to create meaning and all works well, something which I hope to achieve in my short film.

Today's work - 19/11/10

Today I have been working on more editing for my film. I have been adding dissolves and cutting down my footage. It is now at around 5 minutes 10 seconds but I still need to re-shoot some more scenes and my titles in. I will soon be uploading a photo to show my editing.

Props

These are 2 of the props I have used in my film. The gloves belong to Lily, who goes missing first. Olivia and Ruby find them hung on a tree in the forest and go in search of her. I thought they would be a good prop as they are something that stand out, they could be Lily's but they're something subtle enough that they may not be - they make the girls scared and fearful for Lily who seems to have gone missing, coupled with the notice and the scream they hear in the woods.

The notice is what Olivia finds pinned to a tree when the girls are carrying out their research in the woods. She finds it and shouts of Ruby, which Ruby then dismisses as being a stupid message some kids have probably left. However, they hear a scream in the woods and the girls become scared. I wrote it in red, matching the colour of the gloves as they fit in with the mise-en-scene of red signifying danger or a foreshadowing of horror.

Sound effects

These are some of the sound effects I would like to use in my film;

http://www.sounddogs.com/sound-effects/44/mp3/609035_SOUNDDOGS__im.mp3 - this is for the sound of the antagonist walking past the camera in the woods

http://www.sounddogs.com/previews/50/mp3/567346_SOUNDDOGS__te.mp3 - this is for the "white noise" when the camera cuts out. I will also use it for the final shot when the camera cuts out and will leave it playing for the end of my film

http://www.sounddogs.com/previews/3192/mp3/527283_SOUNDDOGS__om.mp3 - I would probably use this for when Ruby first sees the killer, or when he is walking up behind her at the end scene

http://www.sounddogs.com/sound-effects/2106/mp3/280767_SOUNDDOGS__wi.mp3 - I would possibly use this as well for when Ruby sees the killer through the trees, keeping it fairly quiet

Filming

The work I have been doing in the last few weeks has been shooting my film and starting the editing. I have shot most of my film, but I need to add/re-shoot some scenes. I will be including more close-up's and more Dutch Angles to fit in with the conventions of the psychological horror genre I am basing my film on. In the footage, I have used an intertextual reference - the Blair Witch Project. In what I have filmed, I have used two perspectives - the hand held footage filmed by the main protagonist, Ruby and "real" footage. To show the difference I may edit the colour, if necessary.
I have started to edit my footage, mostly just cutting down and choosing the clips I want to use. I currently have around 6 minutes of footage which obviously needs to be cut down but I still need to add more. I have added a "white noise" effect in between my hand held footage as an edit between my different shots, but I do need to choose a variation of transitions, especially between my "real" footage. I also need to start looking at sound and how I can use that to create tension within my film.
I aim to get my filming finished over the next week so that I can concentrate on editing, and finishing my film.

Screenplay

Half term work

This week I have been working on my storyboard which I have completed and my screenplay, but I have been unable to upload my screenplay to my blog. Below is my storyboard:

Script

This is a rough copy of my script which I will be typing up properly into my screenplay. I think I will change some of what I have written and also obviously add more detail, but this is the original plan I have come up with.

Photos!

These are some pictures I have taken that I will be using to help with the setting of my film

This week's work - 15/10/10

I have been focusing this week on writing a script and doing a screenplay for my film. As I have just been writing a rough copy of my script I haven't yet uploaded it to my blog. I have been looking at the format of a screenplay and the elements that should be included in it. I have also been developing my characters - I have looked into costumes, props and mise-en-scene and I am also going to create a mood board to show different ideas for the setting and "feel" of my film.
    Another thing I have been doing is looking at film clips for ideas for my own project. For example I have uploaded a clip to my blog from the TV series Skins, where one of the characters Effy is running through the woods. As I am setting my own film in a wood/forest I found the clip useful, especially in the use of colour, editing and cinematography.
     I have also been finalising the ideas for my film. As well as using footage filmed on hand-held cameras which the characters have filmed themselves - the footage is for the science project they're doing - I will also be using the traditional way of filming and using them both. However, for it to work I will have to look at ways that this can be done for it to work properly, such as the ways it will be edited.
    I have also been planning on when I am actually going to shoot my film. I hope to get all the planning done by the end of October - my script and screenplay and details including props and costume - so that I can shoot my film through November. I hope for it to take no more than 3 afternoons to film so that I can leave the rest of my time for editing.

Woods

From 0.31-0.37 is the part of the video I would like to take influence from in my film, especially the editing and the cinematography and how it's used to create meaning

Characters

Ruby - Leader of the group, she is the one filming - things have to be done her way. She is the one who is most focused on the project and manages to keep level headed when things start to go wrong. She keeps the group - who are all best friends - on track with what they're doing and is intent on them getting the best footage. It's her idea to go and talk to the park wardens to find out where the best place to do their study is and she is the one that's organised the project

Olivia - she is the more calm, laid back character out of the four. She is the closest to Ruby and insists that they abandon the project when the equipment starts going missing. She's similar to Ruby, also focused on the project but she isn't as intent on getting everything done perfectly. She is the one to tell Ruby to keep filming when the group splits up in case they find anything important, especially when Chloe and Olivia go missing.

Chloe - is the quietest, camera-shy one of the group. She prefers to keep working in her own way but is close to the other three. She would prefer to get the project over and done with as quickly as possible. She tries to stay away from the camera as much as possible but is the one that first notices things going wrong. Is the first one to go missing

Lily - the loudest of the group but is also focused on getting the project finished. She is the one to talk to the wardens along with Ruby and is paired up with Chloe when they split up. She doesn't mind the camera being there and acts up to it, sometimes annoying Ruby but she does help to find the place where the group sets up camp

The characters will wear neutral colours to fit in with the mise-en-scene of the woods. Their clothes will consist of browns, greens, greys and reds - natural colours - that reflect their surroundings. As they are carrying out a school project they will be wearing wellies/boots, coats, and lots of layers which will also show that it's set in the autumn.

Examples of psychological horror films

These are all examples of psychological horrors, and in all three, although the antagonist/threat is never shown, the tension built up throughout the films is such that it isn't necessary for this to be revealed - an aspect I would like to achieve in my own film

Animatic

Synopsis


 
The protagonists in my film are four girls - Lily, Ruby, Olivia and Chloe who are in the woods filming research for a science project. They're researching wildlife and habitats at different times of the day and have been getting help from the park rangers to find the best places to find wildlife and where to film. They've been to film several times and this is their evening shift, where they've set up a small camp.
The group then split up to collect research individually and this is when they start to hear noises, see things and their equipment starts to go missing. They meet back at the camp to tell each other what they've seen/heard and then decide to split up into groups so that they feel safer - Chloe and Lily in one group and Olivia and Ruby in the other. Instead of trying to collect research it turns into a race to find the other two before it gets dark but then Lily and Ruby get split up. Ruby is left alone with the camera whilst hearing more sounds and seeing things. It ends with her being chased by the antagonist and the final shot will be the camera on the floor - you see the feet of the antagonist and Ruby screaming. The camera then cuts out and this is the end of my film.

Genre and Conventions

The genre I am looking at for my short film is psychological horror. The stories told in psychological horrors rely on the problems of the characters to generate horror rather that the use of external supernatural elements.
Some of the stylistic conventions include a build up of tension leading up to "shock shots" usually depicting gore or violence, which create discomfort in the viewers, another convention. Also, the films usually include evil that hides behind normality which are usually an invincible menace. Psychological horrors also typically include the use of body horror and they tap into the basic human fears.
     The first films to really use psychological horror were Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho and Michael Powell's Peeping Tom. Unlike many horror films before them, they focused mainly on the "monster" in the film, presenting evil as something very real. Both the lead characters in these films appear to the audience as lonely young men who appear polite and reserved and both films have female victims.
    It could be argues that psychological horror isn't part of the horror genre - that in fact has more of a resemblance to the thriller genre but its aim is to frighten the audience mentally, though this isn't the case in thrillers. The sub-genre was used firstly in the 1960's, especially through the films of Alfred Hitchcock who's use of suspense was a key factor in his films. This is when the horror genre moved towards more non-supernatural horror.
    Sound is also important in the psychological horror with eerie sound effects often used. In Alfred Hitchcock's films, they were notable for their unconventional soundtracks - the strings in Psycho (Hitchcock, 1960, USA) were ahead of their times and the music in The Birds (Hitchcock, 1963, USA) used no conventional instruments. Elements also include ambient music and sinister music. The editing in psychological horrors includes long, continuous shots as they contribute towards building up fear and suspense. This is also done through sharp cuts, fades, extreme close-up's for emphasis, Dutch tilts to create disorientation, and graphic matches. Hand held cameras are also used, especially in more recent horror which produce a jerky movement, creating a sense of reality and chaos.
    Colour is also important in psychological horrors as it helps to establish the mood - greys, blacks and shadows, which comes under lighting which is usually low key. The films are often set in isolated locations. Stanley Kubrick's The Shining is a key example where the main character, Jack Torrance is the caretaker of the isolated Overlook Hotel in the Colorado mountains for the winter, along with his young family.
    In psychological horrors the object of horror doesn't always appear as a monster or stalker for example, but usually another person or supernatural presence whose identity is often not revealed until the end of the film, if at all. Sometimes the audience never really discovers the plot of the film or is often left to make their own mind up as to what the outcome of the film is. However, we're sometimes shocked by a completely unexpected twist in the story - another convention of the genre. The films create discomfort by exposing common fears and vulnerabilities that most people either repress or deny.
    Another convention is that psychological horrors often contain less physical harm than other types of horror - tension is built up throughout the story and the primary effect is to play upon the anticipation of a perceived threat or to confuse the viewer regarding the nature or existence of the threat being there.
    Emotional instability is another factor - an example being Christian Bale's character, Patrick Bateman in American Psycho (Harron, 2000, USA). His character shocked so many people as he appeared to be completely normal to the outside world, yet he is really a complete psychopath.
    Psychological horrors also have themes of the thriller genre, one example being Rosemary's Baby (Polanski, 1968, USA). Nothing is revealed in this movie until the very end and even then there is little shown, but the fear is there throughout. The audience can easily relate to the lead character of Rosemary Woodhouse, asking what is real and wanting her to get away from the everyday conspirators - another convention is a lead character the audience can empathise with.
    Archetypal shadow characteristics - the original idea that something is based on - in this case it will be typical horror characteristics - and tension is built up throughout the story, with viewers often being confused as to what is happening in the film. The audience's perception is sometimes altered by exposure to an insane viewpoint also.
    Psychological horrors also exploit human fears of the abnormal, disease, experimentation and suffering. Examples of psychological horrors are The Silence of the Lambs (Demme, USA, 1991), Alien (Scott, 1979, USA/UK), The Shining (Kubrick, 1980, UK/USA) and more recently The Blair Witch Project (Myriack, 1999, USA) and Paranormal Activity (Peli, 2007, USA).
    A film from the psychological horror genre is The Blair Witch Project which provided a new twist on the horror genre. It has elements of a mock-documentary where the narrative is presented as a documentary pieced together from amateur footage and filmed in real time, but it also manages to defy a specific genre.
   Therefore, I would say that the main conventions of the psychological horror genre are to frighten the audience mentally by creating tension, eerie sound effects, dark colours and shadows, and the threat being a person or supernatural force, rather than a monster. They also expose people's common fears and vulnerabilities and confuse the audience.

Aims and Context

Aims - the aim of my creative project is to make a short film using the conventions of the psychological horror genre

Context - My film will be aimed at the mainstream target audience - 16-24 year old's. It will appeal to this age group as the actors used will come into that age group and the storyline - of the students originally filming a project for college will also. As I am using cinematography to create the sense that the students are making the film on a hand held camera, I will be one of the protagonists in it - I will be doing the filming. After researching the psychological horror genre and looking at films such as The Blair Witch Project and Paranormal Activity for example, I hope to take influence from them. As creating tension is one of the main aspect of psychological horror, I hope to use cinematography to do this, through the use of camera angles, lighting and camera movement. As I want my film to appear as if it is done on hand held cameras and is actual footage from the characters, I won't be able to rely on non-diegetic sound to create tension. Therefore, whatever sound I use will have to come from the footage itself, something I know I will have to plan carefully for it to have effect. I will also be undertaking the role of directing my film, and I hope that I can incorporate the conventions of the psychological horror genre into my film. I am looking forward to creating my film as well as learning and being involved in each step of producing it. I will use what I learnt from the previous year's coursework and focus on stylistics to help me with this, especially the focus on cinematography I used. 
      I have a location planned for where I am going to do my filming, but I am going to visit it first to find an exact place to film and make sure that it is suitable for what I want to achieve, such as the lighting and what the setting would connote to the audience for example. I hope to get my filming done over three afternoons so I can focus mainly on editing, though I will have to make time for if any footage needs re-shooting. 

Brief of Creative Project

It is comprised of three elements

• Aims and context

The aims and context must be made clear. Aim of the extract/short film and the context of the production

• A creative product (a short film or film extract) (45 marks)

This is a film extract or a complete short film (3-5 minutes) which engages with the issues raised in the production of meaning and the study of film stylistics and theory

• A reflective analysis (15 marks including aims and context)

The reflective analysis should select key features of the creative product and reflect critically on both the creative process and the product