Contributor Release Form

I made my own contributor release form for the actors staring in my film to sign. This gives me consent and permission for me to upload the film online to YouTube. This also clears me legally in the case of injury and/or death of a person during production.

Director Analysis: Wes Craven

I decided to do a textual analysis of perhaps the most well known and best horror film directors: Wes Craven.

Craven was best known for creating the A Nightmare on Elm Street franchise featuring the Freddy Krueger character, directing the first installment and Wes Craven's New Nightmare, and co-writing A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors.

Craven also directed all four films in the Scream series, and co-created the Ghostface character. Some of his other films include The Hills Have Eyes, The Last House on the Left, The People Under the Stairs, Red Eye, The Serpent and the Rainbow, and Vampire in Brooklyn.

Craven's works tend to share a common exploration of the nature of reality. For instance, A Nightmare On Elm Street focused on the consequences of dreams in real life. I had a similar idea for one of my proposed films as I'm wanting to create the same effect of 'real life horror'. 

In Scream, the characters frequently reference horror films similar to their situations, and at one point Billy Loomis tells his girlfriend that life is just a big movie. This is an exceptional use of 'reverse psychology' on the audience and creates the exact effect of 'this isn't a movie, this is real life' that I'm going to try and recreate in my film. 

Cravens work tended to share a common exploration of the nature of reality. Night mare on elm street focused on the consequences of dreams in real life. In Scream the characters constantly reference other horror films that are similar to the situation they're in.
I want to do this as well as I believe true horror films leave a lasting effect on the audience and make them go home believing what they have just watched could happen to them. 

StoryBoard

I drew my opening scene of my short horror film. My artistic work is appalling so I may use another method for storyboarding the rest of the film however this was just a trial method and helps me to film regardless.  

What I've Learnt From My Music Video

Music video knowledge from 09loweja

Lights Out Short Horror Film

Lights out is a short horror film that is roughly 2 minutes long. It was produced by the public and wasn't part of any major production/ distribution company therefore being made on a very little budget. It was first brought to my attention via Facebook as it was shared on my news feed. I instantly made a connection with the film and decided to do an analysis of it as I am in the exact same shoes as the people who made it, in terms of budget, actors, equipment etc.

The story starts with an establishing shot of a block of average flats, setting the scene for the audience. This also enlightens me on the fact that the producers haven't gone to any extravagant locations to film, they've literally used their own living space.

Next we see a mid-shot of the actress coming out of what appears to be the bathroom and walking along the hallway to the light switch. The mine-en-scene is her dressed in ordinary female bed wear and what you would expect to see in your average flat, i.e a coat stand.

As the actress turns on the light, that is when we first see the appearance of the 'villain' in the dark at the end of the hallway. We see no details, such as the face, gender, clothing, or figure of said villain, just a silhouette in the dark. This is the exact same effect Im trying to achieve as it 'plays on peoples everyday fears'. It will also make the viewer jump at the same time, but not in the incredibly dull way jump scares do as in the paranormal activity films. This also stays with the audience and leaves a lasting impression with them when they get home. Oddly, theres also no music played throughout the film, amazingly this actually adds to the suspense even more as it kinda makes the viewer feel like they're actually there in the film!

Im considering using this similar effect in my film as I think it gives the film a unique twist and creates a more realistic feel for the audience.

We then see the actress turn the light on, to find the figure gone, she turns it off to see it return, this happens a few times. The camera angle is that of an over the shoulder shot, giving the impression that we are stood behind her, this camera angle also doesn't change throughout the 'light on, light off'. This creates the effect of being frozen in place and unable to take your eyes off the hallway. Id like to use this effect to in my short horror film as it creates the 'as if you're actually in the film' feel Im aiming to create.

On the fifth time she turns the light off, the creature appears in a different but closer spot, making the audience jump again but not as a cheesy jump scare.

We then see the horror in the actresses face via mean of a close up camera shot. Out of fear she tapes the light switch shut to leave the light on as she sleeps, this also plays on peoples fears, especially kids as they leave the light on as they are afraid of the dark.

Film Network- Film Making Guide

I was sent a link to a film making guide on the BBC website about how to make a good short film.

Reading the website has helped me decide on my final film idea by telling me what to do and what to avoid. To avoid involve: using friends who aren't talented actors in my film as apparently one bad actor can ruin a film considerably, thankfully, lots of my friends study drama and performing arts so I have no worries there.

I was also told to avoid clichés as it will ruin the film and make it predictable and subsequently boring. So, I have used original ideas of my own anyway and I said in my pitch that I would avoid clichés such as jump scares like they did in the paranormal activities. However, one interesting piece of advice I found was: even if you are using an unoriginal idea, try looking at it from a different perspective and use the idea to tell your version of events rather than recreate the original directors story, by doing this you could possibly end up with a completely different narrative altogether.

When it comes to script writing for short films, its harder because you no time/ have to develop your characters quickly and condense your story. Short films are ruined by over written/ under developed scripts all the time. Once the script is written, I've been told to ask strangers and friends. I can do this by posting my script on social media sites etc and ask friends in person. I've been told to ask strangers as well as friends as friends may be to scared to give constructive feedback, in case of offending me.

I've also been put at ease on my target viewers, as the article tells that audiences are mostly subjective and only appeal to a certain niche over a mass audience.

Another and perhaps the most important piece of advice on the website, is that short films have to grab the audiences attention from the start, I've taken this on board and consequently changed my film idea. I had originally intended on having a gradual build up however my new idea opens on a high to capture the audience then gradually build up again to its final climax.

Feedback on pitch

 

This is the feedback I got back from my pitch for the short horror film I'm going to produce.

 

I'm going to edit my pitch and upload it to my blog soon, however this is a quick 'things to consider' at the minute.

I was told to consider my settings on where to film, with proposed scenes shot in London, I was told to take into account the fact that London is a more populated area so people may be more likely to take action against something they perceive as dangerous. This goes against my original idea, as I felt that people in London would be less likely to be shocked at the sight of someone filming because London is one of the 'film hubs' of the world.

However, with the current threat level being 'severe' of a terrorist attack in London, I've decided to not film there as people may be a bit more cautious and likely to call the police should they see something out of the ordinary- https://www.mi5.gov.uk/home/the-threats/terrorism/threat-levels.html