Coursework Tasks

 Task 1 - Horror

Three professionally made films openings - 

Opening One: The Ring

This scene is set at the start of the film to hook the audience and introduce them to the monster.

In the opening scene, we see a young, vulnerable school girl, alone in a house (which is common convention of horror). It is set at night and has dark lighting, which is also a horror convention. We learn that she is scared of the TV and feels like someone else may be inside the house. The lighting and supernatural  affects, as well as the focus on the TV also gives the film a slight Sci-Fi genre hybrid. By the end of the opening, we see that the girl is possessed and/or murdered by an unseen thing.

The sound of the TV creates an eerie and distorted effect which makes it seem scarier and more menacing. The film is set at night inside a suburban house, which creates the contrast of fear and danger with safety and sanctuary. The scene is lit with a greenish light which imitates the supernatural enemy in the film. It is also similar to the tv screen and light that it produces.

The end of the opening, has a silent jumps acre, where the girl is possessed and/or killed. She screams in silence, adding to the horror, as she seems helpless. The modern aspects give the film a natural and modern look while also having a very scary and mysterious style, created by the ghost.

Opening Two: You're Next

This opening two kills are at the beginning of the film and act as a way to hook the viewer and let them experience the murders and gore that is throughout the film.

In this opening sequence from You're next, we are introduced to two unnamed characters, a man and a women. We also see for a brief moment, a man in a wolf mask, who kills both two characters. This tells us that the couple aren't important, but that the killer is. We can tell that the film is contemporary, from the stereo system and the automatic lighting. The setting is a nice, expensive house that seems to be isolated. It is also set at night, which, like many other horror films, is a common convention. By the end, the genre of horror is undisputable. This is because we see the dead, bloody body of the girl and we see the man being attacked. We see a large amount of blood, and the machete, which are common conventions of horror.

The film looks quite modern, but also old fashioned, as it has dull, beige and brown colours, rather than silver and white. It uses a smaller house, rather than a large city, which gives it an indie style. 

The opening uses a song, but despite that, to focuses in on the subtle sounds such as the dispenser, shower and workings of the cd player. This makes the scene seem normal and calm, so the few jump scares are mainly made by sound, such as the shower curtain, and the spike in sound when wolf-mask-man appears.

Opening Three: Halloween

The film is set at the beginning (about 15 years before the rest of the film) and sets up the story around the murder which helps the viewer follow the story more clearly.

In this opening, the scene, is shot from a POV (Point of View), from the perspective of the killer. We can see that it is set at night and that a boyfriend and girlfriend are kissing. This mirrors the cliché of the first kill in horror films. Seeing it from a POV makes the audience feel guilty and in the moment. We can see a knife and a clown masks which a common amongst killer in the horror genre. The scene is shot as a continuous long-shot which builds up the tension. The aspect of the two teens, sets up that the film has also got a very heavy teen genre hybrid along with horror. The score also works at increasing tension, as it creates an ominous and looming sense of doom. The small suburban house creates a stereotypical horror film setting. By the end, we see that the murderer, is actually a ten year old, and we can guess that he has just murdered his sister, once his parents get home. The reveal of the murderer being a child, creates an instant impact on the audience, as we see how irregular the situation is. The look of the film is very urban, which fits with the time period it was made in. It also makes the setting seem safe, which creates a false sense of security for the audience, making the murder seem more shocking.

Three Student-made film Openings

Opening 1: 

The opening is unknown as to where it places in the whole film, but seems like it would be at the beginning of the story to set up the 'first-kill' convention in horror films. The girls disappearance could serve as the plot for the rest of the story.

The opening has a sombre and gentle opening score to build suspense and tension. It cross cuts between a girl getting ready for a run, and a mysterious figure. The audience can instantly realise that these two characters symbolise the opposites of good vs evil and we can assume that they will meet at some point. We see from the clothes choices, a simple set of exercise clothes for the girl, compared to the muddy and more disgusting boots and coat that the villain wears. We then cut to the woods, which is a stereotypical of horror films. The score gives us tension until the characters meet. This builds tension for the audience. The score is interrupted when we see the disguised figure sitting in the car observing the girl as she begins her run. There is a sudden musical spike designed to act as a jump scare for the audience, but in my opinion it doesn't really work. The slow drawn out editing creates tension and makes the scenes seem longer.  The scene is set at day with lots of light which is different to our expectation of horror and the convention of darkness.

As she starts to run we see her pass the man leaning on the tree. We see them laugh which we can assume is fake but it creates an image of disease and ill-health. We can see him hold a bottle and a clothe which is clearly meant to be chloroform which shows how this figure clearly has evil intentions. However, there is also uncertainty as to what is in the bottle which leaves the viewer ins suspense. It ends by having the girl be apparently kidnapped and the cliff-hanger it leaves the audience on makes them want to watch more to know who the figure is and what happened to the girl.

Opening 2:

The narrative here is unclear, as we aren't able to tell if this is showing the opening of the film, or weather this a part of the middle or end.

In the beginning of the opening, we meet a girl who seems to live in an ordinary the house. The setting of the house which appears regular and colourful, suggests that she is a regular teenager and that nothing bad should happen, as home is where people feel safe. This idea is undercut, by the sinister and mysterious score that puts the viewer on ease and slowly builds tension until we see how the opening ends. We see shots of her in casual clothes around the house to once again try and show the normality of her life. We don't assume that anything bad could happen, but know that something will. It then takes a dark turn when we see a close up of her reaction to her nosebleed. This creates a mild gory image but her reaction show us that this is unusual or strange to her and so it should be to the audience.

We then cut to two locations: a heavily graffitied, dark tunnel, and an abandoned warehouse. Both settings create an ominous tone as they appear scary and unusual to us. We cut between the blonde girl, who's facial expressions show that she is scared and confused as to where she is, as well as a brown haired girl who appears to be looking for the other girl, in order to help her. As well as close ups on a figure in a black coat and white mask, which are common props in horror movies We then cut to close ups of toy dolls, with their eyes crossed out, which creates a very menacing image of death, that scares the audience and makes us worry for the girls. We see the blonde girl run out alone with blood on her face which suggest something bad has happened. The audience get hooked from this and end up wanting to know more about what happened, but we also feel relief that she is safe.

The final is shot is of a bloody knife which is a very common convention of horror films and leaves the audience with an ominous and menacing image. The opening has a very dark and cryptic look which helps build the suspense.

Opening 3:

Here, the narrative point of the opening (beginning of film, middle of film, end of film) is unknown which adds both mystery to it but also makes it a bit harder to understand when the scene is on its own.

This opening does a great job at building suspense and creating a tense environment for the character. The first few shots are are shot from a low-angle-shot looking at our main character. This tells the audience that this is the person we should focus on. The shot and light coming from the monitor almost makes the watcher seem as if they are watching the character through the monitor, almost spying on them, which creates a creepy and ominous tone for the viewer. We then meet another character, who is most likely his brother/ or father. The inclusion of family creates an innocent and safe setting. We can tell that it is most likely night tie as the curtains are drawn. This and the single artificial yellow lightbulb adds to the ominous tone. The opening has the credits being typed into a google search-bar. This is a smart and unique way to show credits and shows the type of film it is. 

We see shaken cam footage creeping towards the front door and hear the sound of something trying to bash in. The makes the audience fear for the character. We see him move the bins which shows the audience how he is a realistic normal person which makes us connect with him more and thus, makes us worry for him. Intercut with him doing chores, shows a hand reach out of the monitor. Although it doesn't grab the boy, the audience suddenly become much more heightened with fear as we know more than the character does. The hand makes the audience questions what it is and whether or not the boy summoned it by using his computer.

Task 2 - Planning 

- Idea Generation: I started off with a completely different idea, but once I watched the film Unfriended (2014), I got the idea for the film. I really liked the blend of cyberbullying but mixed with a horror and supernatural aesthetic, and realised that I could make a tense and suspenseful opening, that fuses the common conventions of horror with modern day problems and issues.

- Location Recess: Night Time: Room (dark), Attic, Stairs, damp, mould patch, Single orange light.

 Room

 Attic

 Hatch

The film is horror, so I want to film at night to add to the fear and mysterious tones of the opening. The single orange light I want to use, is to provide a low level of light, a common convention of horror, to make the scene seem ominous. I want to use orange, from the lamp on the desk, as I think it gives a feeling of fear and danger, as oppose to blue with is more peaceful and calming. The use of an upstairs attic, is because it is the highest point of a house, which in films means that once someone goes up, they can easily be trapped. This is the thought I would want to make the audience feel, as like many horror films, they know that going upstairs is always dangerous. I want to use the mould on the ceiling, to give a feeling of disgust to the audience, which I hope will put them in an uncomfortable mood.

- Character Profiles: Short, Skinny, Male, Vulnerable.

A teenage boy that seems to be quite cruel to people as he can abuse his anonymity .Trying to make them seem vulnerable which makes it easier to believe that they would be attacked and preyed upon, but it also shows why the act and treat people the way that they do.

- Casting Justification (COVID-19 AFFECTED): Tom: Short, Male, Vulnerable, Skinny, 16-17 years old.

Comfortable on camera. Fits the part.

- Props List: Phone, Laptop, Baseball & Bat, Catcher's glove, Fizzy Drink, Dollar

I want to try and set the opening in America, as I personally believe that American media, allows for more bullying. I also think America has more cases of murder due to different laws and restrictions. To make it seem American. I want to try and and use American dollar bills, and baseball gear, to show how this is set in America. I also want to use a baseball bat, as it can be used as a weapon, something I want to use as a Chekov's gun, as it will come back and be referenced throughout the opening. Both the phone and the Laptop, are designed to be used by the main character as weapons used to bully and attack people. I want to build a dislike for the character, so that although his supposed murder is awful, it feels somewhat deserved, and builds mystery into why, what happened, did.

- Costume List: White Top (Baseball Tee), Jeans, White socks.

The clothes are contemporary, to show that the opening is set in a modern world. This allows for the aspects of cyber bullying to occur with is an integral part of the story. I wanted to make the clothes seem casual to show that it's a teenager, but also wanted to give them a sense of style to show how the main character still cares about their looks. Minimalistic and natural hair and make-up. 

Storyboard - 

1st Draw - 

Plot Synopsis:

A teenage boy enters his home and stares at an odd stain on the ceiling. He walks up stairs and enters his room. We see on his phone that he is starting to bully and argue with people online, under an anonymous username. He hears a few bumps coming from the hatch entrance to the attic. He goes to the toilet and as he passes, we see that the bat he put down in the opening is gone, and that the sensors outside have set the light off. When he comes back, he opens his laptop and proceeds to continue to bully. Eventually the bumping from the attic becomes too much and he goes up. He gets up there and eventually sees what appears to be shoes behind a box. He investigates and sees that there isn't anything there, and the opening cuts on a figure standing behind him.

Later on in the story, it would go on to show that the teen's bullying led to a girl's suicide, and that the boy has been missing for the last week. It would eventually be revealed that it was more than just one murder, and that all the friends and family of the girl, grouped together to kill the teen boy.

Script 

[NIGHTTIME, HOUSE] -  

-Teen Boy enters the house.  

-Puts down a baseball bat by the door.  

-Looks up at a stain on the ceiling.  

-Walks up the stairs and enters his room. 

[NIGHTTIME, ROOM] -  

-Puts drink on desk. 

-Looks at phone. 

-Messages something cruel. 

-Hears a bump and looks at the attic. 

-Opens Laptop. 

[NIGHTTIME, INSIDE – LOOKING OUTSIDE] -  

-Boy passes past window and camera. 

-Light outside turns on. 

[NIGHTTIME, ROOM] -  

-Sits down at desk and access laptop. 

-Proceeds to cyber bully on the internet. 

-Hears another bump. 

-Gets out of chair and lowers the attic hatch. 

[NIGHTTIME, ATTIC] -  

-Boy checks through the attic.  

-Finds a bloody knife. 

-A figure appears behind him. 

END 

Shooting Diary - 

-    Night-time [From 8 pm to 9 pm].

Rough Images -