Friday 30 September 2011
Thursday 29 September 2011
Narrative Theory: Barthes and Strauss
We had followed Barthes theory of binary opposites by conveying the contrast between good and evil, the girls and the presence. This theory is a common convention that is displayed throughout many horror films so we believed in order for the audience to establish genre, we believe that we needed this.
Camera Angles & Shot Research
Camera Angles
Camera angles are used to position the viewer so that they can understand the relationships between the characters.
A bird's eye angle: is an angle that looks directly down upon a scene. This angle is often used as an establishing angle, along with an extreme long shot.
A high angle: is a camera angle that looks down upon a subject. A character shot with a high angle will look vulnerable or small. These angles are often used to demonstrate to the audience a perspective of a particular character.
An eye-level angle: puts the audience on an equal footing with the characters. This is the most commonly used angle in most films as it allows the viewers to feel comfortable with the characters.
A low angle:is a camera angle that looks up at a character. This is the opposite of a high angle and makes a character look more powerful. This can make the audience feel vulnerable and small by looking up at the character. This can help the responder feel empathy if they are viewing the frame from another character's point of view.
A canted angle: is used to demonstrate the confusion of a character the aim is to disorient you as the audience.
Before going out and taking my photographs I had to look into camera shots. There are many different types of camera shots that convey different messages.
Camera Shots
Extreme long shot: So far away from the subject that they are barley visible, often used as an establishing shot.
Very wide shot: The subject is visible but emphasis is remains on the surrounding environment.
Wide shot: The subject takes up the majority of the frame, head to toe.
Mid shot: Shows the subject in more detail but tends to be cut of at the waist.
Medium close up: This is half way between a mid shot and a close up.
Over the shoulder shot: Looking at one subjects over the shoulder of another.
Close up: A certain feature of the subject takes up the whole frame.
Two shot: A shot of two people, framed similarly to a mid shot.
Point of view shot: A view from the subjects perspective
Extreme close up: Shows an area of the subject in great detail, taking up the whole frame.
Camera angles are used to position the viewer so that they can understand the relationships between the characters.
A bird's eye angle: is an angle that looks directly down upon a scene. This angle is often used as an establishing angle, along with an extreme long shot.
A high angle: is a camera angle that looks down upon a subject. A character shot with a high angle will look vulnerable or small. These angles are often used to demonstrate to the audience a perspective of a particular character.
An eye-level angle: puts the audience on an equal footing with the characters. This is the most commonly used angle in most films as it allows the viewers to feel comfortable with the characters.
A low angle:is a camera angle that looks up at a character. This is the opposite of a high angle and makes a character look more powerful. This can make the audience feel vulnerable and small by looking up at the character. This can help the responder feel empathy if they are viewing the frame from another character's point of view.
A canted angle: is used to demonstrate the confusion of a character the aim is to disorient you as the audience.
Before going out and taking my photographs I had to look into camera shots. There are many different types of camera shots that convey different messages.
Camera Shots
Extreme long shot: So far away from the subject that they are barley visible, often used as an establishing shot.
Very wide shot: The subject is visible but emphasis is remains on the surrounding environment.
Wide shot: The subject takes up the majority of the frame, head to toe.
Mid shot: Shows the subject in more detail but tends to be cut of at the waist.
Medium close up: This is half way between a mid shot and a close up.
Over the shoulder shot: Looking at one subjects over the shoulder of another.
Close up: A certain feature of the subject takes up the whole frame.
Two shot: A shot of two people, framed similarly to a mid shot.
Point of view shot: A view from the subjects perspective
Extreme close up: Shows an area of the subject in great detail, taking up the whole frame.
Wednesday 28 September 2011
Britsh Board of Classification (BBFC)
British Board of Film Classification
BBFC Research
All classification decisions are based on the BBFC’s published and regularly updated Guidelines. The Guidelines are the product of extensive public consultation, research and the accumulated experience of the BBFC over many years. They reflect current views on film, DVD and video game regulation.
In the most recent consultation over 8700 members of the public were asked for their views on classification – including consideration of issues such as language, discrimination, violence, sex and drugs in films, DVDs and video games, parental concerns about younger viewers and recent BBFC decisions. The Guidelines also take into account the various UK laws which the BBFC must consider and apply when making classification decisions.
The Guidelines are updated every four years and the current version was published in June 2009.
’15′
Suitable only for 15 years and over
No one younger than 15 may see a ‘15’ film in a cinema. No one younger than 15 may rent or buy a ‘15’ rated video work.
Discrimination
The work as a whole must not endorse discriminatory language or behaviour.
Drugs
Drug taking may be shown but the film as a whole must not promote or encourage drug misuse. The misuse of easily accessible and highly dangerous substances (for example, aerosols or solvents) is unlikely to be acceptable.
Horror
Strong threat and menace are permitted unless sadistic or sexualised.
Imitable behaviour
Dangerous behaviour (for example, hanging, suicide and self-harming) should not dwell on detail which could be copied. Easily accessible weapons should not be glamorised.
Language
There may be frequent use of strong language (for example, ‘fuck’). The strongest terms (for example, ‘cunt’) may be acceptable if justified by the context. Aggressive or repeated use of the strongest language is unlikely to be acceptable.
Nudity
Nudity may be allowed in a sexual context but without strong detail. There are no constraints on nudity in a non-sexual or educational context.
Sex
Sexual activity may be portrayed without strong detail. There may be strong verbal references to sexual behaviour, but the strongest references are unlikely to be acceptable unless justified by context. Works whose primary purpose is sexual arousal or stimulation are unlikely to be acceptable.
Theme
No theme is prohibited, provided the treatment is appropriate for 15 year olds.
Violence
Violence may be strong but should not dwell on the infliction of pain or injury. The strongest gory images are unlikely to be acceptable. Strong sadistic or sexualised violence is also unlikely to be acceptable. There may be detailed verbal references to sexual violence but any portrayal of sexual violence must be discreet and have a strong contextual justification.
BBFC Research
All classification decisions are based on the BBFC’s published and regularly updated Guidelines. The Guidelines are the product of extensive public consultation, research and the accumulated experience of the BBFC over many years. They reflect current views on film, DVD and video game regulation.
In the most recent consultation over 8700 members of the public were asked for their views on classification – including consideration of issues such as language, discrimination, violence, sex and drugs in films, DVDs and video games, parental concerns about younger viewers and recent BBFC decisions. The Guidelines also take into account the various UK laws which the BBFC must consider and apply when making classification decisions.
The Guidelines are updated every four years and the current version was published in June 2009.
’15′
Suitable only for 15 years and over
No one younger than 15 may see a ‘15’ film in a cinema. No one younger than 15 may rent or buy a ‘15’ rated video work.
Discrimination
The work as a whole must not endorse discriminatory language or behaviour.
Drugs
Drug taking may be shown but the film as a whole must not promote or encourage drug misuse. The misuse of easily accessible and highly dangerous substances (for example, aerosols or solvents) is unlikely to be acceptable.
Horror
Strong threat and menace are permitted unless sadistic or sexualised.
Imitable behaviour
Dangerous behaviour (for example, hanging, suicide and self-harming) should not dwell on detail which could be copied. Easily accessible weapons should not be glamorised.
Language
There may be frequent use of strong language (for example, ‘fuck’). The strongest terms (for example, ‘cunt’) may be acceptable if justified by the context. Aggressive or repeated use of the strongest language is unlikely to be acceptable.
Nudity
Nudity may be allowed in a sexual context but without strong detail. There are no constraints on nudity in a non-sexual or educational context.
Sex
Sexual activity may be portrayed without strong detail. There may be strong verbal references to sexual behaviour, but the strongest references are unlikely to be acceptable unless justified by context. Works whose primary purpose is sexual arousal or stimulation are unlikely to be acceptable.
Theme
No theme is prohibited, provided the treatment is appropriate for 15 year olds.
Violence
Violence may be strong but should not dwell on the infliction of pain or injury. The strongest gory images are unlikely to be acceptable. Strong sadistic or sexualised violence is also unlikely to be acceptable. There may be detailed verbal references to sexual violence but any portrayal of sexual violence must be discreet and have a strong contextual justification.
Synopsis
Left alone in House 42 for the night, Natalya and Hannah (Played by Hannah Molloy-Herat and Natalya Martin) are oblivious to the unexpected visitor that will be taking them from their home. However, this is no ordinary visitor, but one which was born in the very same house and vanished when she was 7 years old.
'House 42' opens 10 years before the present time. with a home recording of a young girl playing with her teddy bear. Although she may appear to be an innocent, fragile child she is also the young girl who had gone missing from her home and had returned to take all those that enter her house, with her. After the home recording has finished, the film then transforms into the present day where two teenagers (played by Hannah Molloy-Herat and Natalya Martin) are awoken by a strange noise they hear on the lower ground of their house. Startled and determined to know what the noise is, they decide to leave their bedroom together to find out.
Whilst entering the living room, one of the girls, Natalya, decides she will go upstairs to retrieve her phone and call the police, leaving the other young, scared individual on her own. Hannah suddenly hears a loud banging coming from the corridor, so runs towards it in order to catch whoever it may be. On grabbing a stick to protect and defend herself, she notices the remote control from her bedside table lying on the floor. Shaking and trembling whilst bending to pick it up she is suddenly grabbed from the side of her face by an unknown character and vanishes.
Natalya is now coming back down the stairs on search from her friend, still weary of what may be in the house. She notices the wooden stick lying on the floor and the basement door wide open. As she is slowly descending down the staircase, the presence suddenly grabs her, with the movie ending on a cliff hanger with the sound of her scream.
'House 42' opens 10 years before the present time. with a home recording of a young girl playing with her teddy bear. Although she may appear to be an innocent, fragile child she is also the young girl who had gone missing from her home and had returned to take all those that enter her house, with her. After the home recording has finished, the film then transforms into the present day where two teenagers (played by Hannah Molloy-Herat and Natalya Martin) are awoken by a strange noise they hear on the lower ground of their house. Startled and determined to know what the noise is, they decide to leave their bedroom together to find out.
Whilst entering the living room, one of the girls, Natalya, decides she will go upstairs to retrieve her phone and call the police, leaving the other young, scared individual on her own. Hannah suddenly hears a loud banging coming from the corridor, so runs towards it in order to catch whoever it may be. On grabbing a stick to protect and defend herself, she notices the remote control from her bedside table lying on the floor. Shaking and trembling whilst bending to pick it up she is suddenly grabbed from the side of her face by an unknown character and vanishes.
Natalya is now coming back down the stairs on search from her friend, still weary of what may be in the house. She notices the wooden stick lying on the floor and the basement door wide open. As she is slowly descending down the staircase, the presence suddenly grabs her, with the movie ending on a cliff hanger with the sound of her scream.
Tuesday 27 September 2011
Treatment
Product:
We will be creating a short film, with the genre of a horror and the sub genre of a psychological horror.
Genre:
Throughout our primary research such as creating brainstorms, we decided that we wanted to base our film within the horror genre. We decided to go with a Psychological horror based on our own interests, coming to the conclusion that these were the sort of horror films that we were most likely to watch. We followed our personal interests as this factor was important due to the fact that are target audience will be around the same age ranges as us. We had chosen the horror genre because we believed it was the most challenging and interesting to do, having the ability to come up with various unique ideas. For our research, we also looked at other horror films such as 'The Ring' and 'The Grudge' as they are known to be two very popular films within the film industry. We watched these films as well as other short films that were on YouTube and looked at the conventions that we could incorporate into our own piece in order to draw out the horror genre such as the location, Time, Characters, Costumes and Props. As well as looking at these conventions we also made note of the various shots and angles that were used so that we could portray to our audience the same creepy, chilling effect.
Target Audience:
Our film is aimed at a 15+ audience because we believed that this would be the most suitable rating for our film. We took into consideration the idea that viewers younger than this age may be frightened by the content that will be displayed. The age range of 15+ are the ages of viewers which would be interested in this type of film, also being an appropriate rating due to there being no aggressive language, sexual content or blood and gore. Our protagonists will be aged around 16-18 which means that are target audience will be able to relate to them. There is not a specific gender that are film is for, although horror films are generally aimed at young males, we will be catering for both genders.
Context:
Our film will be available to view within cinemas as well as TV channels such as Film4 and Sky Thriller. Our film will also be uploaded onto YouTube for our audiences to watch.
Representation:
Within our film we have used two young females showing them as fragile which reinforces the stereotype of women being seen as weak and vulnerable. We done this based on the idea that we wanted to follow the conventions of known horror films. We also want to show a contrast between both good and evil with our main protagonists and antagonists.
Media Language:
Throughout our film we will want to create visual language through the use of Mise-en-Scene. For instance through the location due to it being an empty, detached house, we believed that this alone would allow the audience to establish our film as a horror. Other aspects would consist of the costumes that our characters will be wearing, especially the protagonist as she will be wearing a blood stained nightie. She will also have white and black makeup on in order to give her the ghostly creepy affect. These will be following the conventions of a typical horror film such as 'The Ring' and will allow the audience to establish genre and narrative. Other visual language that we want to convey throughout our film is the aspect of lighting, conveying a dark creepy atmosphere to reinforce our horror genre. A great aspect of our film will be consisting of Aural language from the use of non diegetic sound such as the music and the sound effects. We will be using a lot of chilling sound effects such as the sound of footsteps and breathing to enhance the suspension as well as slow creepy music to bring in the atmosphere. Throughout our film we would like to also use zooms as the transition from one shot to the other in order to portray the intense emotions of fear that the characters may be feeling. As well as all of these types of media language, non verbal communication will also be highlighted. For example through the use of the characters body language, such as constant fidgeting and gripping of one another or themselves in order to keep the audience frightened and enticed.
We will be creating a short film, with the genre of a horror and the sub genre of a psychological horror.
Genre:
Throughout our primary research such as creating brainstorms, we decided that we wanted to base our film within the horror genre. We decided to go with a Psychological horror based on our own interests, coming to the conclusion that these were the sort of horror films that we were most likely to watch. We followed our personal interests as this factor was important due to the fact that are target audience will be around the same age ranges as us. We had chosen the horror genre because we believed it was the most challenging and interesting to do, having the ability to come up with various unique ideas. For our research, we also looked at other horror films such as 'The Ring' and 'The Grudge' as they are known to be two very popular films within the film industry. We watched these films as well as other short films that were on YouTube and looked at the conventions that we could incorporate into our own piece in order to draw out the horror genre such as the location, Time, Characters, Costumes and Props. As well as looking at these conventions we also made note of the various shots and angles that were used so that we could portray to our audience the same creepy, chilling effect.
Target Audience:
Our film is aimed at a 15+ audience because we believed that this would be the most suitable rating for our film. We took into consideration the idea that viewers younger than this age may be frightened by the content that will be displayed. The age range of 15+ are the ages of viewers which would be interested in this type of film, also being an appropriate rating due to there being no aggressive language, sexual content or blood and gore. Our protagonists will be aged around 16-18 which means that are target audience will be able to relate to them. There is not a specific gender that are film is for, although horror films are generally aimed at young males, we will be catering for both genders.
Context:
Our film will be available to view within cinemas as well as TV channels such as Film4 and Sky Thriller. Our film will also be uploaded onto YouTube for our audiences to watch.
Representation:
Within our film we have used two young females showing them as fragile which reinforces the stereotype of women being seen as weak and vulnerable. We done this based on the idea that we wanted to follow the conventions of known horror films. We also want to show a contrast between both good and evil with our main protagonists and antagonists.
Media Language:
Throughout our film we will want to create visual language through the use of Mise-en-Scene. For instance through the location due to it being an empty, detached house, we believed that this alone would allow the audience to establish our film as a horror. Other aspects would consist of the costumes that our characters will be wearing, especially the protagonist as she will be wearing a blood stained nightie. She will also have white and black makeup on in order to give her the ghostly creepy affect. These will be following the conventions of a typical horror film such as 'The Ring' and will allow the audience to establish genre and narrative. Other visual language that we want to convey throughout our film is the aspect of lighting, conveying a dark creepy atmosphere to reinforce our horror genre. A great aspect of our film will be consisting of Aural language from the use of non diegetic sound such as the music and the sound effects. We will be using a lot of chilling sound effects such as the sound of footsteps and breathing to enhance the suspension as well as slow creepy music to bring in the atmosphere. Throughout our film we would like to also use zooms as the transition from one shot to the other in order to portray the intense emotions of fear that the characters may be feeling. As well as all of these types of media language, non verbal communication will also be highlighted. For example through the use of the characters body language, such as constant fidgeting and gripping of one another or themselves in order to keep the audience frightened and enticed.
Weekly Update - week 2
In this week we made a production schedule, we allocated roles to each other so that the work load is even. We watched films that we wanted ours to be like and got ideas and themes to make sure our film matched the right genre and style. We then made a pre questionnaire and uploaded it to our blog.
Monday 26 September 2011
Socio Economic Groups
The population is divided into 6 socio-economic groups or social grades ,which are based on the occupation, or job. These 6 groups are:
A- Higher managerial, administrative, professional e.g. Chief executive, senior civil servant, surgeon
B - Intermediate managerial, administrative, professional e.g. bank manager, teacher
C1- Supervisory, clerical, junior managerial e.g. shop floor supervisor, bank clerk, sales person
C2 - Skilled manual workers e.g. electrician, carpenter
D- Semi-skilled and unskilled manual workers e.g. assembly line worker, refuse collector, messenger
E - Casual labourers, pensioners, unemployed e.g. pensoiners without private pensions and anyone living on basic benefits
Our Target Audience will be based around the socio-economic groups C1, D and E as these groups consist of the supervisory, skilled and unskilled manual workers. We believe that all 6 socio-economic groups will be able to watch our films but it will appeal to those stated above due to it being a low budget film and may not suit the tastes of those within the higher managerial, administrative groups.
A- Higher managerial, administrative, professional e.g. Chief executive, senior civil servant, surgeon
B - Intermediate managerial, administrative, professional e.g. bank manager, teacher
C1- Supervisory, clerical, junior managerial e.g. shop floor supervisor, bank clerk, sales person
C2 - Skilled manual workers e.g. electrician, carpenter
D- Semi-skilled and unskilled manual workers e.g. assembly line worker, refuse collector, messenger
E - Casual labourers, pensioners, unemployed e.g. pensoiners without private pensions and anyone living on basic benefits
Our Target Audience will be based around the socio-economic groups C1, D and E as these groups consist of the supervisory, skilled and unskilled manual workers. We believe that all 6 socio-economic groups will be able to watch our films but it will appeal to those stated above due to it being a low budget film and may not suit the tastes of those within the higher managerial, administrative groups.
First Photoshoot
These are a few of the pictures that we had taken just before our first filiming session. All of these picture consist of the antagonist which can be used within the Ancillary tasks.
This week I created a facebook account for our production. This will allow us to gain feedback from our target audience. As you can see we have uploaded our question on a polling system this will enable us to gathering the data in a shorter amount of time then it would take to use printed copies we are also able to see the results in a bar graph automatically.
Test Pictures
Below is a slide show of pictures that I have collaborated as 'test pictures' for our sub tasks. These also show work that has gone on whilst on location and filming was taking place. I have used the software called Photobucket to upload my images that can be seen below.
Sunday 25 September 2011
Saturday 24 September 2011
Weekly Updates - Week 1
Today we sat down and started to plan/brainstorm our ideas. We had looked into various aspects of a short film such as the genre. The majority fo the gorup decdied that they wanted to do a horror based film which meant that we had to the brainstorm other aspects of our film such as Location, Costume, Colours, Titles etc. We used bubbl.us as this allowed us to present our ideas in a presentable and organised way.
Wednesday 21 September 2011
Brainstorm 1
This is our first brainstorm of idea's, we thought of different genre's and any words that came to mind. After creating this brainstorm we decided that we would use a duel genre for our production. This would be a 'Psychological Horror'
Tuesday 20 September 2011
Health & Safety
Potential Hazards:
• Tripping over equipment
• Working with and around the public
• Working with electrical equipment
To prevent any `accidents whilst filming we ensured all leads wear taped together to prevent tripping over. No liquids were allowed on set as they could cause both harm to the equipment or become a slippery floor hazard to cast and crew. We also signed an equipment realise form to ensure responsibility of the camera, tripod and leads. As well as this a first aid kit was available on location at all times.
Monday 19 September 2011
OCR A2 Media Studies Brief
For Our Advanced Portfolio G334 we are required to make:
A short film in its entirety, lasting approximately five minutes, which may be live action or animated or a combination of both, together with two of the following three options:
A poster for the film;
A radio trailer for the film;
A film magazine review page featuring the film.
A short film in its entirety, lasting approximately five minutes, which may be live action or animated or a combination of both, together with two of the following three options:
A poster for the film;
A radio trailer for the film;
A film magazine review page featuring the film.
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