Horror Poster Analysis

Screenshots of our footage

In this slideshow, I have screenshotted the footage that we had taken for our trailer. We took a large variety of footage so that we could have loads to choose from. Some of these were our test shots. We received loads of feedback from teachers and students which helped us to decide which shots to use for our trailer. There were little things that we as a group didn't notice but the teachers did. For example, some of the shots were not shot straight on and had a bit of a slant. Also, there was one shot that had a tripod in the shot which we couldn't have used. Screenshotting our footage also helped us when using Premiere. Looking at the number of the clip e.g. (MVI_0039), helped us to identify which clips we needed in Premiere. We also used them in our trailer shotlist. Writing down the exact clips we wanted to use (including timings), and putting them in order on paper made it much easier to put it straight onto Premiere and make any necessary changes from there.

Progress pictures

Our group making decisions on the 'Paranormal Pictures' logo.

Our group in one of the locations deciding which video was best out of the shots we had taken.

As we had only began our filming, we were doing test shots and hadn't had all of our props yet. Here I tried to make fake blood by mixing ketchup and barbeque sauce as the ketchup was bright. It smelt so much but I got used to it! 

                             

We had a little helper with us (my little brother) who wanted to gain some experience in filming! He was our little runner for the night. 

The actors (Casey & Michael) in action!

We would always refer to our storyboard to make sure we were keeping everything the same/similar. We'd make a few changes e.g. shot choices.

It was a coincidence that my sisters room had a red theme already. We drew this in our storyboard and it works well with the connotations of horror (red- blood/danger).

Steps to creating a good trailer

Making Paranormal Production Logo

The 'Paranormal' text had an annoying white outline which I decided to edit again and make it look much more neater. I also faded the text as our theme is based on paranormal type of activities and this gives it a ghost-like feel. 

This is an image of the paramount pictures production which we were inspired by. We wanted to make our logo recognisable and by using 'Paramount Pictures' as an inspiration I was able to produce this. The text that I found on dafont.com is also very similar to the 'Paramount Pictures' text. We have chosen the word 'Paranormal' as it plays on from 'Paramount'. It is almost like a horror version of Paramount Pictures.

This is our final production picture for 'Paranormal Pictures'.

Prop List

Final Girl

Carol J. Clover - Her body, Himself

This article expresses how woman are portayed on TV and how it keeps changing over time. Before, women were seen as sexual objects and victims of murders. Now they are becoming the 'Final Girl' in films like Halloween and Scream. Women on TV are usually being looked at constantly by men. The article suggested that men would rather see a pretty woman on TV being murdered than an ugly woman being murdered. Women are being portrayed as 'sex objects' but recently there has been the 'alpha female' which is a female that takes on a more masculine role.

The final girl theory is a convention in thriller and horror films. It refers to the last woman alive to confront the killer and be able to tell the story. According to Clover the final girl in many typical horror fillm plots share a common characteristic, she is typically sexually unavailable or virginal and they sometimes have a unisex name, such as, Teddy, Billie, Georgie, Sidney.

The term was coined by Carol J. Clover in her 1992 book Men, Women, and Chainsaws: Gender in the Modern Horror Film

EXAMPLES OF FINAL GIRLS

Research

Whilst scrolling through the Daily Mail, I found an article which talks about how trailers are becoming too revealing. This article adds to my research as it is clear that many people don't like when a trailer gives away too much. I will be using this when making our final trailer and consider trying to make the trailer less storytelling.

Todorov's Narrative Theory

Todorov in 1969 produced a theory which he believed to be able to be applied to any film. He believed that all films followed the same narrative pattern. They all went through stages called the equilibrium, disequilibrium, acknowledgement, solving and again equilibrium.

There are five stages the narrative can progress through:

1. A state of equilibrium (All is as it should be.)

2. A disruption of that order by an event.

3. A recognition that the disorder has occurred.

4. An attempt to repair the damage of the disruption.

5. A return or restoration of a NEW equilibrium.

Narrative

Narrative for False awakening

  - Young girl (Casey Jane also know as CJ) lives with her boyfriend
  - She begins having dreams (e.g. being chased or stabbed vigorously by a mysterious figure).     However,  she starts to feel as if it is happening
  - She addresses her boyfriend, who thinks she is being silly/ pranking him

  - She sees spirits around the house but takes her boyfriends word that she’s probably just gone     crazy

  - She visits her parents who warn her about her boyfriend  
  - She proceeds to attend church for prayer but her boyfriend refuses to attend

  - She has another dream – more vivid (being stabbed) wakes up with blood but no wounds

  - She now fears her boyfriend could be the cause of her injuries (backs away from boyfriend       when  he tries to touch her)

  - In the bathroom, looking in the mirror blood appears on her neck whilst being strangled there is no reflection of a figure in the mirror. Although her boyfriend is in the room too, we soon learn he is not the killer but there is an unknown entity. The entity also kills the boyfriend. 

Casey stands for - brave, whilst Jane stands for - gift from God. In the trailer we will portray the fact that the 'gift' Casey has received, is more of a curse and not a blessing. Casey Jane (also known as Cj) is a young, bubbly girl who moved in with her boyfriend after high school. She is 22 and her decision to move away from her parents wasn't because of rebellion, it was because she wanted to prove to her parents she could be independent and could care for herself.  

She is very adventurous and loves to discover new things about the world and her surroundings; for example, the new house she moved into. The house wasn't the normal Morden day, suburban house, with a white picket fence; it was big and gloomy and quite too old for someone as young as Casey.   

The thing about big, old, gloomy houses is that they tend to come with secrets, some that could change Casey's life forever. Not knowing the house was full of spirits which were long ago trapped leaves a big impact on Casey's life.  

We decided to use a girl because we could portray different aspects of media, for example, voyeurism and the male gaze. In the modern world she is fond of alcohol and is sexually active with her boyfriend. She is the main protagonist so we will be able to see her character drastically change.  

In the horror genre girls who are not innocent and pure usually end up getting killed.  Casey is being portrayed as the final girl but we have decided to conform to the usual conventions of horror and kill her off. 

Propps Character Theory

Propp's character theory involves 8 characters which are conventionally used in films. However, I believe that this theory doesn't always apply to all genres. Most of the characters that Propp's theory talks about is included in all films but not all of them. This theory best suits fairy tale films which include all types of characters in his theory.

The typical characters that he found were:

The Hero - a character that seeks something/tries to save something or someone.
The Villain - who opposes or actively blocks the hero's quest.
The Donor - who provides an object with magical properties.
The Dispatcher - who sends the hero on his/her quest via a message.
The False Hero - who disrupts the hero's success by making false claims.
The Helper - who helps/aids the hero.
The Princess - acts as the reward for the hero and the object of the villain's plots.
Her Father - who acts to reward the hero for his effort.

With regards to horror films, I think that the most common characters we are likely to see are the hero, the villain, the false hero and the helper.

Conventions of Horror

Audience Theories

Hypodermic Needle Theory

The theory suggests that the mass media could influence a very large group of people directly and uniformly by ‘shooting’ or ‘injecting’ them with appropriate messages designed to trigger a desired response.

Copycat/Modelling Theory




This theory suggests that audiences will copy what they see in the media. However, this is not so much of a theory as opposed to an assumption that has been blown out of contrast by the press. The most notable example as discussed earlier is the Bulger murder case as they appeared to be imitating actions from the movie 'Child's Play 3'.


Cultivation Theory




Cultivation theory is a social theory which examines the long-term effects of television. "The primary proposition of cultivation theory states that the more time people spend 'living' in the television world, the more likely they are to believe social reality portrayed on television." Cultivation leaves people with a misperception of what is true in our world.

Uses/Gratification Theory





It is an approach to understanding why and how people actively seek out specific media.


Desensitisation Theory



This theory states that the longer we are exposed to violence, horror or any other shocking material, we eventually become less sensitive to it and any real life equivalents.

Reception Theory



Reception theory is a version of reader response literary theory that emphasizes the reader's reception of a literary text. It is more generally called audience reception in the analysis of communications models. 

My Horror Survey

Editing 'Scream Again' (2014)

Scream Again (2014) : The Bloopers

We decided to show our audience some of the things that went wrong when filming. We learned a lot from our mistakes and we were able to improve them.

Prelim task: Scream Again (2014) by Paranormal Pictures

Here is our final remake clip of 'Scream' (1996). Casey is a young girl who is home alone and receives a call from an unknown person who appears to be watching her movements. She then becomes paranoid and fears she could be facing her death. We decided to rename our clip and call it 'Scream Again' as it is a remake and has been done... again.

Shot List/Prop List

Blaire Witch Project

The Blair Witch Project is a 1999 American found footage horror film written, directed and edited by Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sánchez. The film was produced by the Haxan Films production company. The film relates the story of three student filmmakers (Heather Donahue, Michael C. Williams, and Joshua Leonard) who disappeared while hiking in the Black Hills near Burkittsville, Maryland in 1994 to film a documentary about a local legend known as the Blair Witch. The viewers are told the three were never seen or heard from again, although their video and sound equipment (along with most of the footage they shot) was discovered a year later and that this "recovered footage" is the film the viewer is watching.

This film is an example of a mockumentary as the footage was said to be 'found'. The poster below, which was placed in several areas in America, made audiences believe that it was based on a real story which is common with most horror films to make their audiences more frightened. The poster had no reference to the film that was made which led to viewers believing the story. 

Alien (1979)

Scream (1996)

Scream is a 1996 American slasher film written by Kevin Williamson and directed by Wes Craven. The film stars Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, Drew Barrymore, and David Arquette. Released on December 20, 1996, Scream follows the character of Sidney Prescott, a high school student in the fictional town of Woodsboro, who becomes the target of a mysterious killer known as Ghostface. Based partly on the real-life case of the Gainesville Ripper, Scream was inspired by Williamson's passion for horror films, especially Halloween (1978). 

This is a typical 'slasher film' as a knife is used as an iconic weapon which we see constantly throughout the movie. 

Hidden Identity is an obvious theme throughout the film as we as the audience struggle to find out who the masked killer is. There is also blood and gore which is a typical convention of horror. I liked the way Scream chose to mention relevant and current horror films of that time e.g. Halloween (which it was based on), When A Stranger Calls, Prom Night, Friday The 13th and A Nightmare On Elm Street.

The final girl in this film is Sidney Prescott as she is the killer's target however she manages to survive.

What are you scared of?

I went around asking the people with my target audience (approximately 15 people), "What are you scared of?". The reason why I asked my actual target audience is because it would make it easy to narrow down my results in the end and still be able to appeal to the correct audience. My audience had different answers to this question and I think this will help me as the common things that were said (e.g dolls & demons), could possibly be a main theme for my horror trailer as I would like to please my audience. One answer was extremely detailed as she said "...when you just see a swing moving by itself, or a roundabout." I found her answer quite useful and interesting as I have seen this myself in a horror film and it works really well. I will be noting down all the answers from this clip as it will add to my research and help me when it comes to knowing what the audience would like to see.

Reaction Video to Ouija Official Trailer 2014

I videod a friend and I watching the Ouija Official Trailer 2014. I found that sound was a major factor in horror trailers. When a noise suddenly increased in sound, it made the clip more frightening. I also worked out how to add the actually trailer clip into my final video after watching a YouTube tutorial. I did this by converting the YouTube clip first of all, adding the clip ontop of my initial reaction clip and then clicking the 'picture in picture' option. I was able to move it around and place it in a suitable place. I found this quite useful as people watching the reaction video would be able to see the trailer at the same time and possibly have the same/similar reaction. I was also able to help other classmates with this.

Research Rationale

For my research, I will be appealing to young people aged 15-19. The reason why I have chosen this target audience is because this is the age range I have access to the most and will be seeing on a daily basis. Most of these people attend my college which will make it much easier to carry out my research. I will conduct my audience research by doing focus groups, surveys and interviews. One thing I thing is important is to find out first of all if my target audience enjoy horror. If not, I will not be using the ones who don’t enjoy it for my focus group.

A survey will allow me to find out what different people like when it comes to horror.I will also be analysing and deconstructing different horror trailers as I will be able to find a pattern in all of them which will allow me to create my own successful horror trailer. Looking at best selling films will also give me a rough idea of what my target audience would like in a horror trailer.

When creating my questionnaire, I will be very careful about the questions that I include. E.g. What do you like about horror? What scares you the most?

For my focus group, I will be choosing a number of people from my target audience and asking them to watch a few horror trailers. I’d note down their reactions (e.g. which bits make them jump or scream), and I’ll ask them a few questions about the trailers. This will help me when making my own trailer as I will be aware of what I should and should not include.

I will need a camcorder to film my audience when asking them questions. I will use a camera aswell in case I need any pictures of something I have come across.

Carrie (1976 & 2013) Review

Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)

1.  
   
   
2. A group of teenagers on the road in Texas stop off at the wrong farm and encounter a family gone awry. Once abattoir workers, the decay of the Southern rural economy has left them unemployed, and the directionless father and sons take to using their butchering skills on passing people. One by one, the kids encounter members of the grisly family.
3. The opening scene describes the events of the film and explains that what is about to happen may be disturbing. 

The opening scene features the friends driving in a place which is unknown to them when a stranger is stranded and asks for a lift. This character is unusual and immediately begins to show conventional codes of horror. He cuts himself and proceeds to cut one of the friends. Blood is already a main prop in the opening scene which tells us that it is a horror.

Psycho (1960) Vs Psycho (1998)

I found this clip quite interesting. It compares the two films right next to each other. By watching this I was able to see what both directors did the same and also the differences.

Psycho (1960) Analysis

Above is the famous shower scene from 'Psycho' (1960). The film is a very unusual film. Just like other horror films, it is very jumpy and leaves viewers anticipating. There are many things about this film that make it very special and difficult to recreate.

I like the idea of the black and white colour being used for the film as it creates suspense and makes it just a bit more scary. What I found extremely amazing about the shower scene itself is that it featured 77 different camera angles!

I also watched a remake of the shower scene which was a part of 'Psycho' (1998). For some reason, I didn't get the same feeling that I did with the original film. It didn't look as realistic. When the curtains were drawn by the killer, there was no music to accompany his actions straight away so I was less frightened by this. Alfred Hitchcock uses chocolate sauce for the blood in the original movie but in the remake, the blood looks extremely fake which makes it even harder to believe.
However, there were some things in the remake that were added that worked quite well. For example, as she was dying, we were shown her pupil's dilating which was something that Hitchcock mentioned he forgot to add in. Everything was done nearly the same but I still think the original was much better than the remake.
When I watched both of the clips, I paused it on the shots that were made to look exactly the same and this is what I discovered. The shots were almost identical.

Propp's Character Theory

Let The Right One In (2008) Review

                                                 


Let the right one in (2008) is a movie about vampires. It included all the bloody and gory scenes that you would stereotypically find in a vampire film. The storyline is basically about a young boy who is being bullied at school and manages to find comfort in a young girl not knowing she is a vampire. The young girl named Eli becomes the 'final girl' in the movie as she is the last one left to survive. I found it quite surprising that the girl was the superior character who had more authority than the others, Usually it is a male character or someone older who takes this role.
There is a lot of blood in the film and this is common in vampire films as the aim for the vampire is to drink human blood.

                                  

Analysis of 3 horror magazines

Jessable Horror Film Trailer

I decided to watch the 'Jessabelle' horror film trailer. 

The first scene starts in a dark, gloomy corridor where a paralysed girl sits in a wheelchair at the end. This represents isolation and we can tell straight away that she is the main character or the victim as the next camera shot is taken close up and from a high angle which makes her look vulnerable and week.

The house seems like an old antique house which is usually a main theme in horror films that involve some sort of paranormal activity.

I noticed that most of the shots were close up shots. This helps the audience to focus on the subject given in the scene to make us understand what is going on. However it also makes the viewer unaware of what is going on behind the scenes and creates a sense of anticipation.