Research and planning - actors and actresses.

-  The use of mis en scene for the victims ( me ) hair is going to be down, the reason why we chose this is because it shows the victims ( me ) identity and makes it clear that the audience that the victim is like a normal girl and it doesn't give to much away about the victim ( me ) which makes it more of a suspense opening two minutes. We researched horror genre films which had the same character as the one we have used in our opening two minutes and they tend to have there hair down this was included in the ring which we decided to have our victims ( me ) hair like as it shall link with a horror genre film.



- In horror films the victims come across as innocent and vulnerable. The character ( me ) has long brown hair which fits the criteria for our storyline. The picture above shows how the characters going to be portrayed in the opening two minutes. 

- For our opening two minutes we won't reveal the identity of the killer. However, a black out of the killer shall be shown. The reason why we chose Jordan is because he's the right shape and build for the character and matches what we want to include in our storyline and narrative.

Research and planning - location

- We have chosen to use this location as it makes it more mysterious as it looks like its in the middle of nowhere and anything could happen. As we are going to film our opening two minutes and edited to look like we filmed when it was dark it shall make it look more scary and horror film like rather than it being light which is when the use of mis en scene lighting is used in our opening two minutes which is an aspect included in films and the lighting of horror genre films tends to have a decrease in brightness effects when theres a victim about to be approach from the antagonist which creates more of a mysterious effect within the opening two minutes.

- The location we have chosen shall make our horror more of a horror genre film and make it more unpredictable as anything could happen and the audience shall want to know what happens for the rest of the narrative and storyline. 

- These pictures of the location we have chosen links with our chosen film name which is 'pathway'. The use of mis en scene location used in our opening two minutes shows a pathway which is quiet. As the victim is on her own down the pathway and is being watched by the antagonist without her knowing shall make it more of a suspense towards the audience and create more tension which is what horror genre films include and in opening two minutes it sets the storyline and narrative which is include in opening two minutes. 



Research and planning - the name of our film.

Research and planning - names for our horror film.

Research and planning - horror genre

- Horror films genres aim to create a sense of fear, panic, alarm, and dread for the audience. These films are often unsettling and rely on scaring the audience through a portrayal of their worst fears and nightmares. Horror films usually center on the arrival of an evil force, person, or event. Many Horror films include mythical creatures such as ghosts, vampires, and zombies. Traditionally, Horror films incorporate a large amount of violence and gore into the plot. Though it has its own style, Horror film often includes fantasy, thriller, and science-fiction genres.

Research and planning - horror genres.

-Comedy-Horror
-Comedy-Horror combines comedy with traditional horror movie themes and characters. Because of the subject matter, Comedy-Horror films can cross over into the Black Comedy sub-genre. Comedy-Horror films aim to scare the audience, but also provide comical outlets that let the audience laugh at their fear.
-Examples: Beetlejuice, Zombieland, Shaun of the Dead.
-Teen-Horror
-Teen-Horror is a sub-genre that revolves completely around a teenager or a group of teenagers. Typically, these movies have a large cast and a clear hero or heroine. Teen-Horror films often play upon traditional teenage issues, such as dating and prom, and turn them into suspenseful and thrilling situations.
-Examples: I Know What You Did Last Summer, Scream, Texas Chainsaw Massacre.
-Monster-Horror
-A Monster film is sub-genre of Horror that centers on a struggle between human beings and a monster.Often, the monster in the film has been created in an “experiment gone wrong.” The monster usually serves as a villain, and the film portrays a hero or heroine that ultimately saves the world from the monster. Although these movies commonly fall into the Horror genre, Monster films have a long tradition within Science-Fiction and Fantasy film as well.
-Examples: Aliens, Godzilla, Creature from the Black Lagoon.
-Slasher
-Slasher film is a sub-genre of Horror film that revolves around a psychopathic killer. This killer stalks and murders his victims in extremely violent and memorable ways. Though it centers on a specific killer, the violence is what sets Slasher films apart from other horror films. A Slasher film will devote more screen time to portray murder and mayhem than a traditional Horror film.
-Examples: Halloween, My Bloody Valentine, Black Christmas.
-Supernatural-Horror
-Supernatural-Horror film is a sub-genre that includes ghosts, demons, or other depictions of supernatural occurrences. Often, Supernatural-Horror films combine elements of religion into the plot. Common themes in Supernatural-Horror films include the afterlife, the devil, and demonic possession. Unlike Religious Thrillers, Supernatural-Horror films are not limited to specific religious elements and can contain more vivid and gruesome violence.
-Examples: The Exorcist, The Ring, The Omen.
-Zombie-Horror
-Zombie film is a sub-genre of Horror film that portrays mindless human beings who are raised from the dead. These films often include a Zombie invasion, and center around Zombies feasting on human flesh. The plot of a Zombie film then revolves around the struggle between the living, and the living-dead. Zombie film not only falls into the Horror genre, but Sci-Fi, Thriller, and Comedy as well.
-Examples: Night of the Living Dead, Shaun of the Dead, 28 Days Later.

Research and planning - answers to questionnaire

- For our questionnaire we had 20 respondents. We asked different people so we could gather more information about what makes a good opening two minutes and what people like. By asking a mix of people shall show that everyone likes different things in a horror. However, this wasn't the case. The majority of people we asked had similar feedback and similar answers. The results showed that everyone we asked likes similar horror films. We asked eight questions which were included in the questionnaire, these questions would give the information we need for our opening two minutes.

1. For question one we asked 'Do you like to see the killer in the opening two minutes?' the answers we got from the respondents varied on this one

- ' yes, i like to see the killer during the opening two minutes as i know who to look out for during the film so i'm not in much of a suspense, as i don't like the tension of the horror.'
However, the majority of the respondents said

-' I don't like knowing who the killer is until the bit wear the person gets killed or whatever. I like the suspense and the tense moment of it. I like the way it builds up and makes it more of a horror.

2. For question two we asked ' What do you think should be included in a horror film?'
-Death scene     6/20

- Gruesome       7/20

- Violence         4/20

- Others             3/20 - paranormal activity.


3. For the third question we asked ' Which horror genre do you find the most scariest?'

- Thriller            

- Comedy horror

- Teen horror

- Monster horror

- Slasher

- Supernatural horror

- Zombie horror

- Others
- Out of the horror genres i asked supernataural was the most popular horror genre. This is the horror genre we have chosen for our horror film as it allows us to experiment with different ideas.

4. For the fourth question we asked ' Do you think the sound and music used gives me of an effect within the horror?'

- Yes      20/20

- No        0/20

- All of the respondents answered that music gives the horror film and the opening two minutes more of an effect. As it creates tension and builds up to the significant part of the film.

5. For the fifth question we asked ' How often do you see horror films? ' 

- Whenever i feel like it 16/20   

-Every month  1/20

- Every two months  2/12

- Whenever theres a new horror out. 1/20

- From this question you can infer that people watch horrors whenever they feel like it.


6. For the sixth question we asked ' In an opening two minutes what would you like to see?'

- For this question the majority of people answered with similar answers. That they like to include the victims so the audeince get to know them so they feel more engaged and involved within the horror film.

7. For the seventh question we asked ' Would you like the opening two minutes to give much away about the narrartive and the storyline?'

- The majoirty of people said that they like it to build up to the most significant scene as its more of a mystery.

8. For the eighth question we asked  'Do you think there should be a single antagonist or more than one?'
- The respondents said that they would prefer there to be one anatagonist.

- From this questionnaire its given us more information about what people like for a horror film.

Research and planning - questionnaire.

-For our questionnaire we are going to be asking people there opinions of our opening two minutes. We are hoping to find out the advantages and disadvantges of the opening two minutes so we can improve it more and make it more of a horror genre. Its a good way of knowing what people like and think should be inluded in a horror film.

1. Do you like to see the killer in the opening two minutes? (tick the box which is appropriate to you)

- Yes

- No



2. What do you think should be included in a horror film? (tick the box which is appropriate to you)

- Death scene

- Grusome

- Violence

- Others
.........................................................................................................................................................
........................................................................................................................................................


3. Which horror genre do you find the most scariest? (tick the box which is appropriate to you)
- Thriller

- Comedy horror

- Teen horror

- Monster horror

- Slasher

- Supernatural horror

- Zombie horror

- Others

4. Do you think the sound and music used gives me of an effect within the horror? (tick the box which is appropriate to you)
 - Yes

- No

5. How often do you see horror films?   (tick the box which is appropriate to you)

- Once a month

-Every two months

- Every year

- Whenever theres a new horror out.


6. In an opening two minutes what would you like to see?



7. Would you like the opening two minutes to give much away about the narrartive and the storyline? (tick the box which is appropriate)
- Yes
-No
- And why? ............................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................................................




8.  Do you think there should be a single antagonist or more than one?

-Yes
-No
-And why?..............................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................................................

Research and planning - certificate U film

-The ‘U’ symbol stands for ‘Universal’. A ‘U’ film should be suitable for audiences aged four years and over. However, it is impossible to predict what might upset a particular child, especially at this lower end of the category range.
- Only mild language shall be included in the U films.
- No strong sexual or violent scenes shall be shown.
- Films that would pass a U certificate film are targeted at a younger audience like the film toy story.
- No drugs shall be shown unless there shown in a anti- drug way.
- People who are more of a young age tend to watch these films.

Research and planning - certificate PG film

-PG’ stands for Parental Guidance. This means a film is suitable for general viewing, but some scenes may be unsuitable for younger children. A ‘PG’ film should not disturb a child aged around eight or older. Parents should consider whether the content might upset younger or more sensitive children.
-There could be mild lnaguage included but not strong language which isn't inapporpriate for the younger generation ears.
-PG’ works can explore challenging issues such as domestic violence, bereavement or racism. Smoking and drinking shall'nt be seen as something good and won't be promoted in a good way and if it does appear in a film it shall be seen as a bad thing. Also they shouldn't include detail of violence and it could effect the audeince.

Research and planning - certificate 12A film

- In a 12A there isn't expected to show much as its for children who are 12 and over. In some scenes there might be some sexual and violent scenes but nothing to bad which is inappropriate for 12 year olds.
- In 12A films they've just got to be careful with what they include.
- Horror films are included in the 12A films as long as its not too disturbing for the audeince to take.

Research and planning - certificate 15 film

-The issues you find with a 15 film

-examples of this

- strong violence
- strong language can occur
- portrayals of sexual activity
- strong verbal references to sex
- sexual nudity
- brief scenes of sexual violence or verbal references to sexual violence
- discriminatory language or behaviour
- drug taking

- For a horror there can be gory and grusome scenes which aren't suitable for under 15s.

Research and planning - certificate 18 film

- Noone under 18 is allowed to see an 18 film at the cinema or by or rent one as its not suitable for children.

- There are many issues you can find in a film with an 18 certificate
-strong violence
- strong language

- strong portrayals of sexual activity
- sexual violence
- horror
- blood and gruesome

Research and planning - 1980s poster analysis

-The Fog, this movie would be suited for an adult audience for the16-24 age group, because theimage of the main character looks like a young adult and it feels like it would suit that age group. Firstly, we see 4 main colours, red being the main colour, which had made the title of the film, represents blood, passion and just pure evil, to make the audience feel uneasy or scared and it also makes it stand out, the red drips from the the title also represent blood which represents the blood dripping from a victim, which could also represent violence and harm and will inflicted onto the victim from the killer -We also see a mixture of grey, green and black in the background, which makes it feel its a sort of graveyard, misty feel, which drags the audience into the poster, making them feel that they are there within the poster.

-The facial expressions in the poster show horror, excitement and astonishment, these are essential to a horror movie, as it brings in the target audience into the movie. The face on the poster takes up a third of the poster which highlights the presence of fear, which will surround the presence of fear in the movie.
-There is one main character in the film, which shows the importance to bring in a huge audience as they wouldve heard of the name before. In movie posters, the celebrities name is at the top, stereotypically for the 'star factor' and for the celebrities name being at the top is so the audiences eyes would be drawn to the name.
-This film has followed the convosations of being a horror genre as the victim in the poster as being female. This is cause females are often chosen as victims in horror movies as they are thought to be vulverable and that they are weaker than men, therefore still being vulnerable to the actions of the villian.

Research and planning - analysis of poster

 

A lot has changed over the last 30 years, horror movie wise, as the movies get more scarier and the budgets get higher and also as technology grows everyday, we see that there has been a huge difference on how the film industry presents their movies on posters, from the 1980's to the present day.

Insidious was produced and released in 2010, and was made by the makers of Saw and Paranormal activity, as we can see at the top of the poster.

Insidious is in the horror movie genre and the target audience for this film would be teenagers/ young adults e.g 16-24. The film poster for 'Insidious' follows the codes and conventions of a horror film poster; The audiences eyes moves straight to the main image, which is the boy, it dominates most of the page. He is wearing a red shirt, which could represent blood and death. The shot is a medium close up, clearly showing his face and eyes, which stand out the most. They look like they have been scratched out by the nails of the evil spirit. They are also white, which usually represents innocents but in this case would represent the supernatural. He has a very blank facial expression, he almost looks numb which links in with the fact that in the film, he is in a coma. The tag line is placed at the bottom of the page, just beneath the film title. It's a light blue colour, representing a the feeling of coldness and emptiness, it also links in with the colours of the background which is also mainly light blue. It's placed in a location where the audience would look next, after they see the title of the film, that way they will know what it is that they should fear which is the boy as the tag line is 'its not the house is haunted'which gives clues as to what the narrative is, and tells us it's the boy that is possessed. On the film poster, we see ratings from a source, probably film critics, who has watched the film before hand, this would also attract the audience because the critics have given the film 5 stars which will bring in a bigger target audience as it has good reports.