production pt1

 Soooooo last night at our beloved group member nick's house, was our first day of filming. Without blood for now we only filmed the scenes thats didn't include it but we made sure each detail was well thought out. Everyone featured in the scenes yesterday showed up in dark clothing to match with the color scheme of the film. 

Planningggg

 So we went to go find fake blood but I personally couldn’t find it anywhere and sooo another day i’m gonna have to go to find it myself at some costume store so we’ll be able to film those scenes. BUT I did make a day out of it even though it was a fail. 

script!!

 Soooo we now have our script and it’s pretty good if I do say so myself. 

Audio

 Audio: For the audio of the film we have a multitude of foley sounds that we wish to include. These are screaming, sirens, glass breaking, the sound of the parents being eaten, and slasher sounds when the knife is being used. In the beginning of the film the title and the credits will be shown and then by the end of the title the sound of glass breaking will be heard, following this will be sirens and then it will be cut to the first scene where the parents are crawling into the window of the house. We want to add the foley sounds of the parents getting eaten to intensify the actual scene. The slasher noises will be included so that we can hear every time a weapon is used it is just the loud pitch sound of metal slicing through whatever it may be.  I had the great idea that when the knife is being engulfed by the blood there should be a song that carries on from there until the last scene where the son is hiding and then it just cuts out when the film is over to add a little more intensity and also show a lose of hope since there will be no more words. 

foley horror sounds

Horror music

Mise-en-scene pt2

 Costume: For the costume of the characters in the film the parents are wearing torn up clothes of darker colors to emulate the mood of the horror that they are enduring. There will be blood splattered all over them, their clothes will be torn up as they break through the window. Their clothes will be darker because it matches with the other mise-en-scene elements such as the lighting and the fact that its the apocalypse. The son on the other hand would be wearing all black but will still have blood on him. Since he is the only survivor we feel as if his costume should be different in some sort of way even if it is just color. 

Composition: Everything will be placed in a certain way, and everything featured will have a meaning in the film. The knife that will be used will be shown in the beginning in a part of the frame to give subtle foreshadowing of the son soon wielding the knife as his weapon of choice. All of the blood splatters and and pools that there will be will not be random as they are going to emulate a story of their own. An example of this is the splatters on the clothes will show how they got injured and where. At the end of the film the knife will be placed strategically near a light source so that it could shine in a certain way and then a pool of blood will rush in engulfing the knife as a whole. This will all be planned and placed with all intention to make it look as real and dramatic as possible. 

 

Mise-en-scene elements!

Lighting: For the film itself we want low-key lighting to fit the mood  of the whole film. Most horror movies with that type of theme usually don't have bright lights a bunch of bright colors everywhere. We are using our group-mate nicks house because his house has actually a lot of dark and dim lighting all around and in some places the characters can slip into darkness smoothly. We are aiming for a scene like this for example. The lighting will play a huge role as it gives the mood and also implies a slight intensity to the scenes. We chose this style to help convey the seriousness and also slight vulnerability of the characters at times through the opening.  Through all of this paired with the other elements we hope to replicate at least even a good low budget horror film..!

Props: For the props we are going to make sure al the details are perfect and the blatant props good too. Of course with a horror film 9 times out of 10 there is blood smeared or splattered somewhere. We of course plan on doing this in a way that can also convey the emotions and plot well. We want to make a hand smear the blood as they are dragged off and the son covered in it to show what he had went through. There will also be a knife being the weapon of choice of the son during the apocalypse. 

 

Character development

 Essentially in the film we will have three characters. There will be a mom heather, the dad and a son, the parents die right at the beginning and then it will just be the kid left. He is going to witness the death of both of his parents and will be traumatized throughout the rest of the opening. He also has to work through the apocalypse after watching his parents die making him more mature and developing him mentally to grow up and get through what is going on.  

Dad: 

Name: Jason Gray 

Age: 41 

Birthday: 6/9/83

Mom:

Name: Heather Gray 

Age: 36 

Birthday: 4/29/88

Son: 

Name: Owen Gray 

Age: 10

Birthday: 10/31/14

The zombies do not have a particular identity but they are featured. The parents have an impact on developing the sons character and his traits yet don't have specific development of their own.

story board

My group and I came together finally after me being out of school for so long and we talking my ab the story and created a story board. But credit to luis with his amazing drawing skills. 

Plot!

 Two or three shadowy, growling zombies break into a house at night. The parents, in the dark, try to reach their son's room, where he has a pre-planned escape route. In the hallway, the mother is attacked and killed by a zombie. The father flees but is grabbed and dragged into the shadows, where sounds of him being eaten are heard. A pool of blood forms at the son's room entrance. The camera focuses on the blood and a slightly open closet, zooming in to reveal a child's eye watching, implying the son has witnessed his parents' deaths. This traumatic experience sets up the film's theme: humans, descending into savagery and abandoning societal norms, are a greater threat than the zombies themselves. The opening implies the zombie breach was caused by a violent gang of humans, who were robbing the establishment.

Media theory

 Cultivation Theory and Horror

Horror films often showcase extreme violence, supernatural threats, and psychological terror. Prolonged exposure to this content can lead to several effects on viewers: Exaggerated Perception of Danger: Those who frequently watch horror films may overestimate the chances of encountering violence or becoming victims of crime in their own lives. This can result in an increased sense of fear and anxiety, even in ordinary situations.

Desensitization: Continuous exposure to graphic violence and unsettling imagery can cause desensitization, where viewers become less shocked or disturbed by such content over time. This can influence how they perceive real-world violence and suffering.

Normalization of the Macabre: Regular exposure to horror can normalize the macabre and the supernatural, leading viewers to be more accepting of these themes in their daily lives. This can shape their beliefs about the world and their understanding of what is deemed "normal."

Cultivation of Specific Fears: Horror films often resonate with particular societal fears and anxieties, such as the fear of the unknown, fear of invasion, or fear of losing control. Heavy viewers of horror films may find themselves more vulnerable to these specific fears, believing that such threats are more common in reality. 

We want to include this theory to highlight some of the elements and challenge others to make the viewers confused and the most surprised. Those desensitized won't see it coming, exaggerated perception of danger will support their expectations of terror, and include fears that those didn't think they even had before.

Horror Mise-en-scene elements (research of my choice)

 1. Setting:

Location: Horror films usually feature settings that are remote, abandoned, or take place in dark history. This can include haunted houses, barren landscapes, or unsettling urban areas. These settings foster a feeling of vulnerability and tension, making the audience aware that anything could occur. Atmosphere: The overall mood of the setting is crucial. This can be achieved through elements like fog, shadows, and dilapidated structures. A sense of decay or neglect can imply that something horrific has already happened, or is on the verge of happening. Color: The color scheme significantly influences the mood. Dark, muted tones such as blacks, grays, and deep reds are commonly employed to evoke feelings of dread and mystery. 2. Lighting: Low-key lighting: This technique utilizes shadows and darkness to instill a sense of mystery and suspense. It can obscure threats and immerse the audience in a feeling of danger. Chiaroscuro: This specific form of low-key lighting highlights the contrast between light and dark. It can produce dramatic effects and draw attention to particular elements in the scene, like a character's sinister expression. Under lighting: Lighting from below can distort features and create an eerie, monstrous look. This technique is often used to accentuate the malevolent or supernatural qualities of a character. 3. Costumes and Makeup: Costumes: Costumes are vital for defining characters and their roles within the narrative. They also enhance the film's overall atmosphere. For example, ragged clothing can imply a character's isolation or fragility. Makeup: Makeup is crucial for crafting the visual representation of monsters, ghosts, and other terrifying beings. It can also be used to highlight a character's emotional state, such as fear or insanity. 4. Staging: Composition: The arrangement of characters and objects within the frame can evoke feelings of unease and isolation. For instance, characters might be positioned in a manner that makes them appear trapped or vulnerable.

Editing Sequences

 The Nun (2018)

• Opening: The opening sequence has a chilling tone with a lot of eerie visuals of the Romanian monastery and chanting in Latin. It introduces the audience to the primary antagonist, Valak, and the overall gothic sort of atmosphere of the film.

• Mid-credits: A brief scene shows a photograph of the Warrens, with a shadowy type figure of a nun briefly appearing, hinting at a connection to the broader "Conjuring" universe.

• Post-credits: This scene is the most significant, revealing that Frenchie, who was seemingly possessed and then saved, is once again showing signs of demonic influence. This directly links "The Nun" to the first "Conjuring" film, as it shows the Warrens lecturing on the case.

The Conjuring (2013)

• Opening: The film starts with a chilling scene of the Warrens dealing with the Annabelle doll, establishing their expertise in the paranormal and the dangerous nature of the doll.

• Mid-credits: There isn't really a mid-credits scene.

• Post-credits: A short scene shows the Annabelle doll in its case, with a slight rustling sound, leaving the audience with a lingering sense of unease and worry.

Annabelle (2014)

• Opening: The opening credits roll over a montage of a bunch vintage footage and images related to dolls, creating an unsettling atmosphere and hinting at the doll's dark history and being.

• Mid-credits: There also is no mid-credits scene.

• Post-credits: This scene directly connects "Annabelle" to "The Conjuring" by showing the Annabelle doll being placed in the Warrens' artifact room, where it was seen at the beginning of "The Conjuring."

Update!

 Me and my group are a tad distressed… We are trying to come up with a definitive plot and we are changing things around because we want this to be the most interesting project we’ve made. My group and I have a groove if you will and we work great together we’re all very creative so I do think that we can come together and make a really good plot if we try hard. We’ve been talking a lot about everything and trying to figure out everything so we stay on top of everything while keeping things interesting! But I do know we got this we all have assigned jobs in the group so all things  will come together nicely. We’re going to continue working together and planning out all the little details leaving nothing out like location lighting all props and mise-en-scene elements as I personally think they’re the most important because the little details tell the biggest story to be honest. Overall things are going well though and hopefully they continue that way. 

Schedule

 To stay organized and on track with this project, I've created a detailed schedule. I'm starting with the blog this week to help solidify my ideas and identify any potential roadblocks early on.

Here's an overview of my main tasks:

1. Research:

   • Extensive research on my chosen genre (likely horror).
   • Analysis of various film openers to inform my project's direction.

2. Planning:

   • Finalize the genre.
   • Develop the overall story in a document.
   • Create a storyboard.
   • Cast characters and assign roles.
   • Scout locations and schedule filming dates.
   • Write the script.
   • Select music for the film.

3. Production:

   • Plan the filming schedule for each scene.
   • Record Foley sound effects.

4. Editing:

   • Edit the film opener.
   • Add the title sequence.
   • Create and incorporate credits.

5. Revision:

   • Review the entire project multiple times to ensure quality.

The project deadline is March 25th, giving me eight weeks. To allow for potential issues or delays, I'm aiming to complete the project by March 20th, leaving five days for final revisions and troubleshooting.

Week 1 (January 29th - February 2nd):

This past week served as a transition from regular blog posting to the Cambridge portfolio format. I conducted preliminary research exploring two potential genres.

Week 2 (February 3rd - February 9th):

• Finalized genre selection (likely horror/psychological thriller).
• Confirmed group members: Luis, Hannah, Nicholas, and myself.
• Developed the movie plot.
• Created a storyboard to visualize the plan.
• Began casting considerations.
• Scouted potential filming locations.

Week 3 (February 10th - February 16th):

• Meeting with Ms. Stoklosa to review our plan and ensure we're on track.
• Commenced filming.
• Recorded Foley sound effects (if needed).

Week 4 (February 17th - February 23rd):

• Began the first edit of the film opener.
• Re-recorded Foley sound effects (if necessary).

Week 5 (February 24th - March 2nd):

• Reviewed the first edit.
• Created a second edit.
• Compared both versions and selected the stronger one. 

Week 6 (March 3rd - March 9th):

• Conducted a final review and analysis of the chosen edit to ensure its quality.
• Completed the project reflection.
• Drafted the first question for the CCR post.

Week 7 (March 10th - March 16th):

• Drafted the remaining questions (2-4) for the CCR post.

Week 8 (March 17th - March 25th):

• Performed final checks to ensure all elements are polished and ready for submission.

3 Horror Film Openings

 My group and I have leaned more towards horror so Im going to discuss 3 openings form that Genre. 

The beginning of "Hereditary" is a real master class in building suspense and preparing the audience for the unease to come into the atmosphere. An extreme close-up focuses on the miniature house, gliding seamlessly onto the actual Graham home a theme of manipulation and control, insinuating that lives are in the presence of unknown forces. With the quiet and eerie atmosphere comes distinct visuals along with a subtly off-putting soundtrack, creating some sort of impending sense of dread. This intro subtly suggests certain key plot points, such as the family losing control and their matriarch, Ellen, dominating the family, which comes subtly through these miniatures. We also know the character Peter, who acts quite detached and thereby foreshadows his sad demise. Emphasis on the replica house strengthens the theme of heredity: traumatic inheritance, the idea of preordained fates, all contribute to the themes of burdens inherited and disturbing secrets kept by the family. 

Another opening I would like to mention is a film I really enjoyed, "Talk To Me."  This chaotic and somewhat unnerving opening immediately takes viewers into the movie's world as it shows one house party full of disorientation, just as shaky camera movements and dialogues that intertwine create this sense of confusion among teenagers acting mindless without any realization of risk. Notice how casually this central object of supernatural power is introduced the embalmed hand and hints that it has quite a different character in this storyline. This party setting, together with casual use of social media, finally grounds the film in contemporary Gen Z culture. The horror becomes more visible. The opening is a foreshadowing of important themes that are touched upon throughout the movie: the dangers of playing with forces beyond one's control, an appeal for escaping reality, events getting out of hand, and a hint toward deeper emotional issues in the lives of the main characters. Ultimately, through this seemingly harmless opening, there is a setting of high stakes and possible consequences to the teens' actions that their games with the hand might prove deadly. 

And lastly the film that still slightly haunts me, "Long Legs." The opening immediately shows the isolation of Lee Harker in a large, remote house instills vulnerability and unease, the scale of the house accentuating her exposure to threats unseen. As she explores, tension builds through subtle sound design, camera angles, and shadows, hinting at an unseen presence. Longlegs is shown in a gradual, mysterious way, his obscurity and glimpses adding to the fear factor. The suspense is heightened with shifting perspectives of Lee's view and what seems to be Longlegs' point of view. The sequence then culminates in a shocking, though not graphic, violent act that confirms the audience's fears and tees up an unsettling narrative throughout the film. The camera focusing in on certain elements like the house Harker chose to investigate, adding an unsettling feeling with the veiwers. This effective opening relies on atmosphere, suspense, and subtle detail to play upon the audience's imagination, making a powerful impression of dread. It sets an eerie tone in the film as the viewers then become eager to unravel the mystery surrounding Longlegs and his association with Lee. 

Film opening

 Continuing on.

My group and I have been discussing in class and texting in a groupchat on what we want to work on. We have discussed working on a horror almost like a slasher, or a psychological thriller. Both interest us the most but we are still considering which one would be best for us.

Slasher films are a subgenre of horror that involve a masked or otherwise hidden killer who stalks and murders a series of victims, often in graphic and violent ways. Commonly, many slasher films also include a cast of young adults or teenagers who are punished for transgressions against social norms, particularly those related to sex and morality. The setting is usually a place that is isolated or confined, such as a summer camp, a suburban neighborhood, or deserted building, adding to feelings of vulnerability. Violence in slasher films is usually explicit, meant to shock and terrify the audience. some example include nightmare on elm street, and Friday the 13th.

 

Psychological thrillers rely on less gore and violence to create suspense and tension through the evaluation of the character's mind and motivations.Most of the time, these movies have mind games, manipulations, deception, and other elements that include unreliable narrators, which hold the audience in their thoughts, guessing over what really is going on and what character is reliable. Suspense builds up through psychological means, moving into the internal struggles and hidden agendas of the characters. Twists and turns are kinds of signatures from the genre:many plot developments that could hardly be foreseen, shocking denouements questioning the view from the onlooker. Some examples are midsommar and hereditary.