Media A-Level Blog
Sunday, 15 May 2016
Thursday, 21 April 2016
Font and Credit Study
What makes a font/credit style important in a film?
Having a specific font for a genre of movie can set the film up for the entire movie because the colour and the style of the credit gives off the impression of what type of atmosphere the movie is going to be. A good example of this is in 'The Exorcist' (1974), as the font colour is red and the style of the credit is right in the centre of the screen and the credits being very symmetrical and stiff. This makes the atmosphere of the film very unnerving and tense because the colour of red has connotations of death and danger, and with the credit being directly in the centre of the screen, it implies a sense of importance about the film, which can make the audience tense because it makes them wonder why there is an importance about this film.
1. Loverboy (1989)
1. Loverboy (1989)
- Colour of credits are bright - implies the show is very family friendly because bright colours imply warmth and fun.
- Font style is very cartoonish - large lettering and different sizes of letters highlight that this is a comedic and very exaggerated show.
- Credits positioned in different places - conveys the fact that the show's characters are all over the place like the credits.
2. The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)
- Colour of font is bright red - highlights the connotation of blood, makes the audience feel uncomfortable and tense because they don't know why there is blood.
- Font of the credit makes it look like the credit is written in blood - makes the atmosphere tense because the audience don't know who's blood that is or why there is blood.
- Style of the credit is very bold, highlights that this show/movie is very exaggerated - makes the audience feel unnerved because the bold writing makes the blood more prominent, as if it will feature a lot in the film.
3. We Steal Secrets: The Story of WikiLeaks
- Colour of the font is white, contrasts from the theme of the show because white has connotations with innocence and truth, whereas the show is about spreading lies.
- Font makes the credits look technological (technological meaning conservative and important) - makes the audience feel involved with the show because it's almost like they are watching from a computer.
- Credits are primarily centre of the screen, implies that this show has some importance to it - makes the audience feel comfortable because they feel privileged to know about the importance of the topic of the show.
Wednesday, 20 April 2016
Location Plan
All our filming is taking place on the one site and we have been granted access to the entire site. We chose this suburban site to convey the feeling that the scenario can happen in any home, in any suburban life and that it is not always in isolated locations where danger and hunting take place.
Area 2 is located along the hall way of the house. Apart from the shot of Chloe walking through the front door all other scenes shot in this area can only use artificial lighting as there is very little access to natural lighting here. The area is quite small in width so we will need to utilise the area in the doorways to film from into the hall. Also, the flooring is tiled, which may mean that there will be echoing, but we should be able to reduce the background noise and thus the echoing post production.
Site Layout
The location (highlighted in green) has road access and parking at the front and rear of the building, but there will be some filming at the front meaning we may have to move vehicles. There are toilets and catering facilities on site.
Aerial View Shot
Drawn out map of house
Area 1 of filming
Area 1 is an outside location with easy access. It is an area where only natural light can be used. This is part of one of the parking areas which may mean that when filming in this location we may have to move any vehicles parked here. This area is located next to a road, which may mean there will be background noise. This will be taken into account when filming in this area, but most of the scenes shot in this location will have music placed over them post production.
Area 2 of filming
Area 2 is located along the hall way of the house. Apart from the shot of Chloe walking through the front door all other scenes shot in this area can only use artificial lighting as there is very little access to natural lighting here. The area is quite small in width so we will need to utilise the area in the doorways to film from into the hall. Also, the flooring is tiled, which may mean that there will be echoing, but we should be able to reduce the background noise and thus the echoing post production.
Area 3 of filming
Area 3 is where the main section of filming will take place including the exorcism and the murder. Artificial lighting is accessible from the ceiling light, candles and from lighting equipment. Natural Light is also accessible from the window. The room is quite small and we have decided to film with several camera at the same time from different angles so we need to be conscious of the camera being able to see one another from the different positions.
Area 4 of filming
Area 4 is a lot darker even with the artificial lighting, but this is alright as dark lighting conforms to one of the conventions of a horror film. As you can see the area is quite cluttered so we need to be conscious of making sure there is no irrelevant or distracting objects in the shots.
Props & Costume Research/Plan
Props List
Costuming of each character
Tabitha
For the character of Tabitha, who is played by Erin, we would like to have her in a loose white t-shirt and black leggings, whilst her hair is in loose plaits. This is our plan because the white contrasts with the black, with the white meaning innocence and goodness and the black meaning evil. Also, the loose plaits can be portrayed as very childlike, highlighting the innocent part of the character
Example of clothing choice
Priest
The character of the priest, played by myself, is dressed in a black shirt, black trousers, white socks and black shoes. This is because this is a stereotypical outfit for a priest, so we want to highlight the religious aspect of this character.
Example of clothing choice
Tabitha's mother
For the character of Tabitha's mother, played by Amber, she will be dressed in a very large cream coloured jumper with black leggings. This is because the overbearing jumper implies that Tabitha's mother wants to hide in her sorrows, as her jumper takes up most of her body.
Example of clothing choice
Chloe
Chloe, who is being played by Chloe, is dressed in modern day clothing: army green jacket with a grey top, black leggings and white shoes. This is because we want to highlight the time difference between the first part of the opening sequence and the second part of the opening sequence.
Example of clothing choice
Tabitha
For the character of Tabitha, who is played by Erin, we would like to have her in a loose white t-shirt and black leggings, whilst her hair is in loose plaits. This is our plan because the white contrasts with the black, with the white meaning innocence and goodness and the black meaning evil. Also, the loose plaits can be portrayed as very childlike, highlighting the innocent part of the character
Example of clothing choice
Priest
The character of the priest, played by myself, is dressed in a black shirt, black trousers, white socks and black shoes. This is because this is a stereotypical outfit for a priest, so we want to highlight the religious aspect of this character.
Example of clothing choice
Tabitha's mother
For the character of Tabitha's mother, played by Amber, she will be dressed in a very large cream coloured jumper with black leggings. This is because the overbearing jumper implies that Tabitha's mother wants to hide in her sorrows, as her jumper takes up most of her body.
Example of clothing choice
Chloe
Chloe, who is being played by Chloe, is dressed in modern day clothing: army green jacket with a grey top, black leggings and white shoes. This is because we want to highlight the time difference between the first part of the opening sequence and the second part of the opening sequence.
Example of clothing choice
Focus Group + Analysis
Focus Group
Analysis
What have we learnt?
From the process of doing this focus group, we have learnt about the essentials of making a horror film. An example of this is when we asked the question: "What is your memorable horror film and why?" We have learnt about the essentials of making a horror film from this question because when the participants of the focus group answer the question, it can give us an idea of what we need to include in our film. Also, if more than one of the participants say the same horror film, then as film makers, it gives us an idea of what films we can use for our inspiration.
Another thing we have learnt from this focus group is what things to avoid when filming our horror film opening credits. An example of this is when we asked our participants to watch trailers of different types of horror films, examples include: The Human Centipede; The Ring; and Shutter and looking at their responses to each trailer/scene from each film. Using this method helped us learn what things we need to avoid including in our horror film opening credits because the participants are our target audience, so if we were to include elements which our target audience don't like, then they wouldn't want to watch our film.
How can we improve?
One way we can improve our focus group video is by filming it when the background is quieter so there is no interference or distractions. An example of this is through the reaction process, it wasn't clear to distinguish what was the film they were watching and what was the background noise. Taking away the background noise will help us improve our focus group video because then the focus will solely be on the participants in our focus group video, so when it comes to analysing their opinions, it makes it easier for us as film makers to take their opinion and apply it to our film.
Another way we can improve our focus group video is by asking more questions to our participants. An example of this is by asking the questions: "What don't you like to see in a horror film?" and "What is your least favourite horror film and why?" Asking these types of questions to our participants, therefore adding to our total amount of questions will help us improve our focus group video because it will add to the information we are getting from our target audience, which will lead to making our horror film suitable for our target audience.
What have we learnt?
From the process of doing this focus group, we have learnt about the essentials of making a horror film. An example of this is when we asked the question: "What is your memorable horror film and why?" We have learnt about the essentials of making a horror film from this question because when the participants of the focus group answer the question, it can give us an idea of what we need to include in our film. Also, if more than one of the participants say the same horror film, then as film makers, it gives us an idea of what films we can use for our inspiration.
Another thing we have learnt from this focus group is what things to avoid when filming our horror film opening credits. An example of this is when we asked our participants to watch trailers of different types of horror films, examples include: The Human Centipede; The Ring; and Shutter and looking at their responses to each trailer/scene from each film. Using this method helped us learn what things we need to avoid including in our horror film opening credits because the participants are our target audience, so if we were to include elements which our target audience don't like, then they wouldn't want to watch our film.
How can we improve?
One way we can improve our focus group video is by filming it when the background is quieter so there is no interference or distractions. An example of this is through the reaction process, it wasn't clear to distinguish what was the film they were watching and what was the background noise. Taking away the background noise will help us improve our focus group video because then the focus will solely be on the participants in our focus group video, so when it comes to analysing their opinions, it makes it easier for us as film makers to take their opinion and apply it to our film.
Another way we can improve our focus group video is by asking more questions to our participants. An example of this is by asking the questions: "What don't you like to see in a horror film?" and "What is your least favourite horror film and why?" Asking these types of questions to our participants, therefore adding to our total amount of questions will help us improve our focus group video because it will add to the information we are getting from our target audience, which will lead to making our horror film suitable for our target audience.
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