Key elements of my movie 9th Dec

Readers,

In the genre of horror-thriller there are some essential elements at the start and throughout the film that make this so distinct in the "movie world".

1. Atmospheric and dark. The darker the film is the scarier. This is a natural human behaviour to be scared of not knowing what is there, and in the dark you can't see so anything could be around you.
2. Dramatic music to heighten the emotions felt by the audience. This can also tell the audience that something is happening without the characters in the film realising. Example: Jaws with a minor 2nd repeatedly played to announce the shark is approaching unannounced.
3. The name of the film. The colours and font used along with the its meaning. Example: A nightmare on elm street. This films meaning is explained (in a way) by the title. The general story is that there is a group of young adults that live on Elm street and they all have the same man with metal claws trying to kill them and if they are killed in their dream they die in real life too. The colour and font/design is blood splatters while the writing is blood red.

4. Certain audiences will go and see a horror-thriller, not just anyone. You would typically find        people from the age of 14-50 who enjoy being scared and that like creepy circumstances. You would not find a four year old/young family going to see a horror-thriller because of the fear factor. You would typically find in this genre: scary make-up, A LOT of blood, creepy story line and probably action/fighting to save their lives (main characters).

5. Mystery is another key feature in this genre. What is going to happen? Who is the villain? Will anyone survive? These are all factors that make a good story line and help make the film keep people on their toes and wanting more.

Please post COMMENTS to give me feed back! Thank you!!

Props and costumes for actresses and actor 5th Dec

Readers,

As you know I have started filming my final piece (horror/thriller film 2 minute opening) but I haven't said what props or costumes am I going to use.

Main character: (Emily)
Costume: Smart black blazer with a skirt
Props: (At start) A wheely suitcase --> for clothes. Books/laptop for when she is at school

Mother of main character:
Costume: Smart/casual clothing
Props: Carries her daughters wheely suitcase

Teachers and pupils:
Costumes: Smart office clothes
Props: (for girls) books for school

Stalker of Emily:
Costume: Dark clothing to not be easily seen
Props: Non

Please post comments to give me feedback! This is part of my A level course! THANK YOU FOR READING!! 

Music used in the opening 2 minute sequence 1st Dec

Readers,

I have been set the task of finding or composing music for my 2 minute opening sequence. My initial thoughts were start with some gentle music at the start of the drive and as the car draws closer and closer to the main school the music builds to a dramatic aery/spooky music, then this dies away as the car drives away. The music can then change to a calm/uplifting melody when she meets the teachers and students. This will then continue while she is becoming accustom to her new school and her new friends. When the stalker starts to walk in the music will suddenly be replaced with a short motif of music that will be repeated/played every time the stalker's presents is felt. The final scene is of the main character in the 6th form common room having fun with her friends when she turns to see the stalker out side staring at her through the window. At this point the music will play the motif but crescendo to fortissimo (very loud) and then suddenly stop with silence from everyone in the common room as they all stare at the main character, there will be a black out straight after this.  

Examples of music for my 2 minute sequence:
Start of drive and going past the main school entrance: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4oIwIlRXV8
Meeting everyone: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qycqF1CWcXg

Motif for stalker (ideas)-
Jaws theme tune: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZvCI-gNK_y4
Silliness/fun in common room: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RbtPXFlZlHg

Updates on filming 30th Nov

Readers,

Last night 29th November at 5:45pm I filmed another part of my 2 minute film opening. I was filming Mr P (stalker) walking in the 6th form arch, standing in the courtyard looking round, moving towards the common room and looking inside through the window. He walks through the corridor, he then peers at another window and sees a girl that is walking into the common room so decides to make a run for it to a near by bush were he lurks to wait and watch from afar.

I will keep updating!

Please comment on my posts PLEASE!

Audience research 23rd Nov

Readers,

The website Pearl & Dean explains to us what age range and gender will most likely go and see a film at the cinema. I have categorized myself and the film I am making, in this area of: 15+ cinema-goers who are young and upmarket. My target market age range is 15-24 years and my gender market would be females because they can relate to the film as it is set in an all girls boarding school, but males also might like my film because of the stalker thriller element. I will also be targeting ABC1 social grade people. (A-upper middle class, B-middle class and C1-lower middle class) The reason I will be aiming at these specific people is that they are fairly well paid and they are more likely to go and see my film.

Storyboard, shot list, props list 29th Nov

Readers,

Yesterday I started filming my course work. I have 5 scenes to film, 2 of which I was able to shoot yesterday. I was lucky enough to only need to take the 2nd scene twice and the first was done in 1 take. These scenes where the first two in my story.
Scene description:
1st scene) Arriving at the school gates, driving down the school drive, lingering on the front entrance of the school and on to the 6th form area to be met.
2nd scene) Walking in and being met by the 6th form house mistress, then being taken to the common room.
The actresses I used where: the main character, my media studies teacher as her mother and my music teacher as the 6th form house mistress. Due to the other actresses being in lessons and the stalker (my friend Mr P) I will have to arrange times next week to film them in their scenes. I have 3 weeks till the end of term so I will have fully filmed and edited (a little) of my final work. I have also started designing and putting together using Photoshop my own production company graphic. I will have to make all the other titles with the names of the actresses and actor on them and the titles with may name as the director, camera woman and writer. The film will be finished by the end of next term.

These are my different designs for my company logo.

This is my final design for my own film company graphic.

These pictures are of my story board, the scenes that I will use in my 2 minute sequence. I have used a camera for my first story board and have drawn the other.

This is my shot list I will use in my final opening 2 minute film.

Very handy websites for learning Media Studies easily

Readers,

Finding good sources of reference for Media Studies on the internet isn't as hard as you think, but if you are starting out and have never looked any of this up it is a little daunting. So I thought I would post and explain some very good and helpful websites in this subject.

This is a link for a brilliant site explaining about the different language used in the media. This covers all the different shot angles all the way to the key terms that you must understand and use in your course work and end exams. http://www.alevelmedia.co.uk/page26.php

This blog is especially for media study students, it is published by a teacher of the subject at a large school. The publisher is very insightful into what we as the students need to know and learn. http://mrsblacksmedia2.wordpress.com

This is the best website for explaining everything there is to know about media studies. The university of Yale are known to be one of the best universities in America. This site explains all the terms and definitions very well.
http://classes.yale.edu/film-analysis/htmfiles/basic-terms.htm

This website is called "Pearl & Dean" it specialises in explaining to the general public how and why films do what they do to sell as many tickets as possible. This also shows you what age range and gender go to different genres of films. Eg. family films are directed at a house wife and children aged 7-14. Research shows that most children this age are girls who go to the cinema instead of boys.
http://business.pearlanddean.com/audience_profile
I will keep updating this post with new URLs that explain Media as simply as possible.

Reasons for picking the Horror genre 11th Nov

Readers,

The reason I picked the genre of horror for my opening 2 minutes of my film, was that my school is a very large stately house with its own rumors and scary stories. We have (as we call it) a great hall and a large organ at one end. In this area there hangs several pictures of the past owners of the house. One of the pictures is of Lady Holford she was rumored to have hung herself from the organ, that is why there is a hole in it (at the top). Apparently every Halloween she is meant to come out of her portrait and swoop around all the dorms and go in to do this: "Over the first bed, under the second and kill the third" This is totally not true. I have been here on several Halloweens and nothing has ever happened to the third person. Even though I did use to choose the first or second bed just in case... The other stories are that if you stand in front of her portrait and stair into her eyes that her left hand disappears. And the final story is that her and her husbands eyes follow you around the room. The first is a trick of the eyes and the last is the way a picture was painted like the Monor Lisa. When I was first told about this I was so eager to try it out and indeed it does work. There are many more stories about how in the basement staff see on regular basis servants wearing old fashioned clothing walking through walls or disappearing into thin air. Ever since I arrived at this school I have always been interested by the supernatural and horror, that is why I though a horror genre would be ideal for my movie. 

This is my original idea for the whole plot of my film (if I were to film more than the first 2 minutes).

This is my mind map of what could be put into my 2 minute opening: locations around the school, characters, times of day to film and also the plot and how certain characters would act.

Background research into horror movies 10th Nov

Readers,

For prep I was told to go and watch the opening two minuets of several horror movies to get a feel of what my first two minutes should or could look like. The films that I was studying were: The Blair Witch Project, The Mist, The Evil Inside, The Unborn and The Messenger. I have written about everything that happens in the first 2 minutes of each on a time line.

I have talked to my friend and she is a HUGE horror movie fan about what she likes in horror movies.

T's ideas of what a horror should have in it:

1. Dramatic music
2. Scary and believable make up
3. Good and gripping story line
4. Good acting
5. A scary child
6. Set in a forest or haunted house  

My teacher said to find out some film production companies then look at their designs and think up my own for my movie.

A list of well known production companies are:

• Paramount
• 20th century Fox
• Lionsgate
• Fact
• Dolby digital
• DMN films
• Universal
• Momentum pictures

"Why is the opening title sequences of a movie so important to the film industry?"

A graphic artist, Saul Bass once said, "Making a main title was like making a poster, you're condensing the event into this one concept, this one metaphor is a back story that needs to be told or a character that needs to be introduced".

In the film industry the first 2-3 minutes of the film is critical to lay out to the audience who made or was in this movie along with expressing the story line/character in these first crucial minutes. When this happens and the producer's name is shown it can explain to the audience what the movie might be like. Example: Michel Bay--> he likes big, loud movies with a lot of explosions in them.

Differences between: film openings and trailers 6th Nov

Readers,

Today I am going to explain the differences between film trailers and openings. 

In trailers have show clips from different parts of the movie and explain or complicate the story line to the audience. This gives us as the audience an overview of what is in the movie and whether we are interested in watching it. They use a lot of music to demonstrate the feeling of the movie. Dramatic for a building up tension or club music for a dance film. this gives insight as to what genre the film may be. (horror, comedy, sci-fi, ect.) Some trailers use voice overs with a line from the movie played over a shot that is at a different time to when this is normally said. The trailers all have titles in them the are used to break up the different scenes used and some tell you when the film is going to be released into the cinema.

Camera shots used regularly:
Panoramic
Close up
Mid shot
Crab
Low shots
Track

Trailers of movies used to gain information:

Robocop: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4ukwHdACDw

Hobbit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfflhfn1W-o

300: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=leXo4-QLNVc

Riddick: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zH3O-CeZckE

Frankinstien: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCUZd1iuq3o

Vampire Academy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RcNHWXujGG0

Godzilla: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iAO7BIeMR-Y

Step up: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEasHztgvh8

In the opening of films play along the same lines. They all use titles to show who has made and acted in the movie. They all use music but every so often you get the odd one that has no music at all. The pictures used in the opening give you an insight into how the movie might be. Example Spiderman 2 shows you the comics of him saving the day on different occasions.

Camera shots: uses a wide range of shots but the main ones are; close up, panoramic and ped up and down.

Openings of films used to gain information:
Aliens vs Predator: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nYj8pI94z9c
Girl with the dragon tattoo: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sY4f_83t_rw&list=PL4BA48B9F49F8158C
Spiderman 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iSDU2tu7rpk&list=PL4BA48B9F49F8158C
James Bond- Quantum of solace: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfYC_CBNtiM&list=PL4BA48B9F49F8158C

Finish of preliminary task and start of horror film 4th Nov

Readers,

Today I have started and finished my preliminary task for my AS level course work. This was to film and edit a character opening a door, crossing a room and sitting down opposite another character, with whom they exchange a couple of lines of dialogue. This task should show match on action, shot/revers shot and the 180-degree rule.

In the next couple of weeks I will start to film my main course work for media studies. This will be based on the genre of horror/thriller. I will film this in the school grounds as the school lends itself to ghosts and horror stories. My first thoughts on this is a dark shadow that is prowling around the houses unseen to others except certain people. I have said before that there are a few features that make good ingredients for a horror movie, they are: music, real life story line, strange and scary setting and not being able to see clearly what the creature/thing is.

Horror movie good and bad points 29th Oct

Readers,

Today for my half term I have been set prep which is to look at and examine 5 different horror movie trailers and describe what is good and bad about each one.

Jeepers Creepers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AuNI06Kzm4Y

Good Points

1. Don't see what the creature/man is until he is trying to kill them.
2. Creepy area with horror stories told by the locals about this creature that kills and eats people.
3. Starts with two people alone driving in the middle of nowhere.

Bad Points

1. Not enough scary music used.
2. Make up of the creature is over the top, looks too fake and made up.

Night mare on Elm Street https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZuYoEtEI_go

Good Points

1. Scary music used to create tension
2. Real life- set in modern day America
3. Horrific factor that if you fall asleep you will be killed by this man in your dream.
4. Use of killers claws. The killer always uses his claws to terrify and kill his victims.

Bad Points

1. Not believable- Supernatural element. Eg. One of the girls is lifted in the air in real life by the killer in her dream.
2. You see the killer too soon.

Orphan https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ywOPNNii9w

Good Points

1. Real life scene used. Eg. Orphanage used and a family want to adopt.
2. Scary music.
3. Secrets of who and what she is and where she has come from.
4. Jumpy elements to the film. The suspense in some of the film built up by the music it suddenly just stops and then something tragic happens. Eg. the mother runs over her other daughter.

Bad Points

1. Not real story line. An older women inside a young girls body is superficial.

The Ring https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TuH5FaUpFm4

Good Points

1. Scary stories told about the video tape and how if you watch it that you will die in 7 days after you have a phone call saying this.
2. Creepy music used to create uneasiness and anticipation. This also has the effect on us as the audience of us being easily frightened or spooked.
3. Scary voices used. Eg. the phone call saying that you will die in 7 days.
4. Real life. Scene set in up state America.

Bad Points

1. Supernatural elements to the film. Eg. this fact that you will be dead in 7 days by watching the video tape.

Aliens vs Predators https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBqxeqmx0nk

Good Points

1. Music used to show something was about to happen and also used for tension.
2. Noises- before the aliens and predators are introduced there are several spooky (diagetic) noises used to show that the creatures are waking up.
3. Use of camera when seeing through the creatures eyes gives the film another perspective and shows us how the creatures are seeing and what their next point of attack is.

Bad Points

1. Sci-fi-Use of things that are not real. Eg. Aliens and the Predators.
2. Costume-They are supposed to be "out of this world" but they are very fake.

The main factors for a horror movie are:

• Scary music to create suspense.
• Real life story used.
• Not seeing or knowing what the horrific creature is or could be.
• Scary setting with strange things happening. Eg. disappearances and deaths.

Things NOT to do:

• Do NOT use cartoons/bad make up. This spoils the "fear factor" of the film.
• Do NOT use too much fake blood.
• Do NOT see the creature or thing too early in the story.

I will use these factors in my final AS level media studies piece.

Research for 2 minute opening of my own film 21st Oct

Readers,

This is my initial research for my AS course work- the opening 2 minutes of a film.

Today I used Youtube and 'The art of the title' to gain ideas into what I could do for my opening.

AS media studies horror trailer course works:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Lcgc3iJQXY


Horror films:
The Awakening: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iB8UAuGBJGM
The Women In Black: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXXRS3Kghh4

10 scariest movies:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6NKZQ4cqh0

1. Jeepers Creepers
2. The Ring
3. The Collector
4. Inside
5. Orphan
6. Freddy vs. Jason
7. Halloween
8. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre
9. Night mare on Elm street
10. Friday the 13th

Preliminary task 19th Oct

Readers,
Yesterday in my Media Studies lesson I managed to start and finish filming my preliminary task for my A level course work.
My filming consisted of: My media studies teacher walking down a path, through two doors and into a room with my music teacher. She sits down and exchanges some dialogue with my other teacher. The discussion is heated as she is angry at the other for putting her on duty again this weekend.
I will be editing this in my next couple of lessons.  

Preliminary task- Planning 14th Oct

Readers,

Preliminary task:
Continuity task involving filming and editing a character opening a door, crossing a room and sitting down in a chair opposite another character, with whom she/he then exchanges a couple of lines of dialogue. This task should demonstrate match on action, shot/reverse shot and 180-degree rule.


Initial planning:
I decided to film two of of my teachers having a convocation/ argument in my classroom.

1. Ask teachers to be here on friday first thing
2. Make sure I have the camcorder fully charged with sim card
3. Find Tripod
4. Arrange chairs to make a dolly tripod
5. Have some dummy runs
6. Make sure teachers know their dialogue 
7. Shoot more footage than I need
8. Have back up plan in place if weather is bad

 

 

Westonbirt 6th form film- FINISHED!

Readers,
I have finished my short film describing life in Westonbirt school 6th form.
I have made and edited several video clips that I have filmed myself. I have used the programs: Final Cut Express and Photoshop. I have learnt a lot from using these two programs. I never used these two programs so this has been a major learning curve for me. What I have learnt from this experience is how to use transitions, import clips and title slides, split music up from the video and delete the film and use the music underneath another video. e.g. having the school sing in hymn practise and then use that with a pan round the 6th form court yard.
I will post my mini movie on my blog next week. :)

Genres of movies

Readers,
A few youtube clips here about different genres:
Sci-fi: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPEsf1oq6zE
This video is all about how sci-fi is a rapidly changing genre moving from badly made make up and props to green screens and drama that bring the film and genre to life. The main point of sci-fi is that it takes the watcher/audience to another world not seen by anyone. Normally sci-fi starts with everything is normal then suddenly something happens. eg. alien invasion on earth or the death star is made- Star Wars. There is normally goodies and baddies (like western) then after the invasion a huge battle scene takes place and the goodies win. 
Western: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eeTRDjK_sR0
This film depicts the wild west by the use of cowboys, guns and setting. Western film types are always about goodies and baddies fighting with a helpless maiden being taken or needing to be rescued by the goodies.
Romcom: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFLQAXo4fRg
Romantic comedy has the same style every film. eg. a girl wants to find love then finds a guy she hates, then a problem happens and the guy saves the day. They both suddenly fall in love with each other and they live happily ever after, the end.
War/historic: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ihl0F320QgY
Saving Privet Ryan is a good template for war genres because it is about WW2 and the landing on the Normandy beaches. These films are usually about past events that have happened.

List of different genres used in films

Readers,
This is a great site for explaining film genres: http://www.filmsite.org/genres.html
The main genres are:
-Action
-Adventure
-Comedy
-Crime and gangsters
-Drama
-Historical
-Horror
-Musicals and dance
-Science fiction
-War
-Westerns

Finishing 6th form film update

Finishing 6th form film. Today added in all the transitions and on Friday I will add in all the titles and then be finished on Friday afternoon. :) HURRAY!!

Working on 6th form film and been given preliminary task CW

Readers,

Editing 6th form movie in lesson to be done by Friday. Just been given first proper assignment for my A level.

"Preliminary task: Continuity task involving filming and editing a character opening a door, crossing a room and sitting down in a chair opposite another character, with whom she/he then exchanges a couple of lines of dialogue. This task should demonstrate match on action, shot/reverse shot and them 180-degree rule."

I will start this next week after my 6th form movie is finished.

Theory- Camera shots, movement and angles

Readers,

Today we have been doing theory in my lesson going through some basic camera shots, movement and angles. These links below explain these really well.

Camera/ camcorder movement and film making

Basic shots:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=fe2PqbUkobU
Basic movement:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGHGYHJogk0
Basic angles:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fd2YUPGovQw

Youtube post- Film posters explained

Readers,

This is a great youtube film about explaining film posters and how they are designed especially to temped people to go and see the movie.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSTzM8p4tVE

Media studies- Course explained (how it will be marked by examiner)

Readers,

This little clip is from youtube explaining to me (and everyone else) what is in my Media Studies course and it explains how the whole year is split up and marked by the examiner.

Watch away! :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18iH0WHLvrg

Media studies blog!!