Delayed Filming

 Today was supposed to be our first day of filming, but, unfortunately, we had a bit of an issue. Our male lead within the film, was grounded, and is now unable to film/ be apart of our opening. Although I am aware that within the sphere of filmmaking, unexpected issues and challenges happen all the time, having to recast a lead role seems to be on the larger side of the spectrum. 

Instead of panicking, me and my group took this as an opportunity to refine the character, and maybe even potentially improve the film, and so the recasting begins...

Since horror films rely heavily on emotions, especially their expression, choosing the right ator as a replacement is crucial. As a group, we decided to line up some priorities for us, and what we deem as non-negotiables in a leading actor within our opening.

Firstly, we want to make sure he has a solid emotional range, in order to convey the feelings of fear, paranoia, and psychological depth, something which is essential in our opening. Along with this, we want the character to be able to have strong reactions through their body language. And the obvious, our actor must have a bit of chemistry with our other lead, and fit into the openings dynamic, or else the rest of the opening will be ruined.

Although we may also have to slightly adjust our script to better fit the new actor, I doubt this will be a large issue, as the script was pretty egeneral, and meant to fit all kinds of actors.

I would also like to emphasize that, although annoying, recasting is not the end of the world! A number of horror films have successfully had to recast their characters, and continued to be equally successful. For example, In the Exorcist, the role of Father Karras was originally supposed to go to another actor, but Jason Miller took over, and successfully created an interesting character, alongside a very successful movie.

Another key example is from the classic horror film, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2, in where the iconic Leatherface had to be recast, but the new actors performance continued to maintain the originals terrifying presence.

All in all, rather then seeing this recast as a setback, I choose to see it as an opportunity to improve my opening, and further elevate my final product through the use of fresh energys, better chemistry, and an even better performance.

Getting Bloody

  In order to prepare for filming my project, me and my group realized that we were going to need blood, and lots of it at that!

 For the opening scene of our film opening, we planned to start off with the main couple watching a movie, and in order to make our lives easier (and not have to go through the process of getting permission to include another film in ours), we all decided we would create that scene ourselves. Since we planned to make it a murder scene, part of the issue at hand was figuring out the overall logistics for how we would create it, without actually hurting one another. When we went to talk to our teacher, and ask her for advice on how to make fake blood, she went a step further and provided us with some she had leftover from halloween time.

Our other concern, mainly, was the logistics of the scene, and how to go about making a kill scene, with an effective budget of $0.00. After a trip through the internet, as well as a review of my media studies notes, I came up with a number of way to execute the scene.

#1) Using angles to our advantage, we may be able to show the victim being stabbed, by assuring we cut away at the last minute, as opposed to showing the weapon hitting the victim, this allows audiences imaginations to automatically fill in the blanks, while creating a risk- free way of filming a kill scene. We can also go ahead and use POV shots, from both the victim and the killers POV, increasing tensions within the audience, while distracting form the fact that no actual harm is being done within the scene. Another possible way we can film it is by shooting against the light, in order to create a stabbing or slashing effect through shadows.

 

#2) Another important factor is the overall LOOK of the blood. For example, to emphasize the gore of a kill scene, I am going to fill a spray bottle with fake blood, in order for the blood splatter to look more realistic. We are also going to pre-pour blood on the clothing, so that the blood loss looks more realistic. And, using the small blood dropper that I have, I'm going to drip a small amount of blood out of my mouth, to recreate the look of internal bleeding, a common injury associated with stabbing.

#3) Editing wise, the use of fast cuts in order to not linger on the attack are crucial, along with the fact that the fast cuts help to create chaos, and realism. Also, sound design can become our best friends through the use of special sound effects (squelch, crunch), the sounds can either be made by us, using foley, or can be found on an online database of copyright free sounds. 

Finally, the importance of  good acting, with painful facial expressions is vital, especially when paired up with all other elements of the scene- such as the sound, editing, and angles.

setting the stage (or set, with props!!!)

 Within horror films, props and set design play a crucial role in establishing a mood, storytelling, and creating tension within audiences. The smallest of details can contribute to audiences fears, such as a drop of blood, or even a flickering light. When carefully thought out, props can help to create an immersive "world" in which a film takes place.

 For example: Small and cluttered spaces can create a feeling of claustrophobia, while large, empty spaces give feelings of isolation.

 vs. 

Using broken, old, worn down furniture, along with dusty objects makes the setting feel eerie and forgotten.

Usually, props can also be used to create some symbolism, such as a creepy empty swing, or a broken clock, all of which hint to viewers about a dark meaning associated with the items.

Also depending on the different style of horror, different subgenres rely on various visual styles. Supernatural horror tends to rely on more Gothic symbols, candles, and religious symbols (as seen in Insidious),

while slasher films rely more on isolation, cabins, basements, and streets( as seen in Halloween),

 Psychological horror films tend to use more elements of clean, minimalistic spaces, with strange- yet subtle distortions (such as in Black Swan).

Props usually help to define characters, build suspense, and create iconic moments within horror. 

Some more common horror props include dolls and mannequins, mirrors, blood and gore( severed limbs, rotting corpses), and a simple household item turned deathly- such as a knife, a phone, or even a chair.

For our film, we decided to DIY some of our props by using methods such as fake blood, burning old candles so they look used, and shopping at thrift stores to get the most authentic creepy props that we could.

In order to control fear within our audiences, we use different elements such as hidden threats, like an unsettling object within the background which is barely noticeable (very well done in hereditary) 

Another way to do this is with a shifting environment, done through flickering lights, moving shadows (something which we have already planned to incorporate into our film), and also, contrast, which can be used in opposition to a horrifying situation, making it even more scary.

Finally, In order to make a horror film great, or in my case, an opening, i plan to incorporate the element of props and set design in order to create an atmosphere of dread and unease.

dun, dun, duuuuunnnn....

 Sound design is one of the most vital, and effective tools within horror films. This element is used often in movies like "A Quiet Place", where the silence is unsettling, and in "Psycho" Where the string stabs create fear within audiences, showing that audio has the power to dictate audiences emotions, psychologically.

Link to hear the sound effect: https://memesoundeffects.com/psycho-sound-effect/

While I cant include evidence of the sound in "A Quiet Place", or rather, lack thereof, i'm sure you can imagine the absolute silence, which after an hour and a half of, begins to make audiences unsettled.

For my opening, I plan to use a combination of ambient noises, as well as unsettling sound effects, such as the traditional "horror" sound. A low, droning background sound creates tension within audiences, especially when pierced by sudden, sharp noises such as a creaking door or footsteps, which will be used to unnerve viewers. 

I will also incorporate moments of silence, strategically, in order to allow suspense to build before delivering a good scare. By crafting a good audio to backup my film, I intend to heighten fear with elements other then visuals.

Sets and props

 Sets and props within horror films tend to often play as much of a role in the movies storytelling, as the characters themselves do. This is shown in more classic horror films like "The Shining", where the use of large, empty spaces are used to invoke the feeling of isolating within viewers, and in the movie "Halloween", where the set use of a regular suburban home is used to evoke the feeling of how horror can inve even the most "normal" homes.

For my own horror movie opening, I want to create a setting that includes both elements of reality, as well as unsettlement. I want to use the same effect used in "Halloween", emphasizing that such a seemingly normal setting could be so sinister, making is slightly unsettling. The location will be dimly lit, which we will accomplish with scattered furniture, making the setting feel empty. Props like candles, dusty picture frames, and strange symbols throughout the house will be used to add layers of dread. By keeping our set realistic, and yet eerie, I can create a space which will immediately put the audience on edge.

Costuming!!

 Costume design is a crucial element within horror movies, as it helps to establish a character, tone, and mood. Many classic horror movies use costuming to create a stark contracts, such as the well known white dress in "The Ring", or the zombies clothing in "Night of the Living Dead"

For my horror movie opening, Me and my group plan to use costumes that reflect the psychological state of the characters. For example, the main character, Nati, will wear dark, muted clothing that is a little distressed to reflect not just the violence se holds within her, but also the violence of her past, and possibly future.

My other main character, Jero, will wear lighter clothing, in order to create a stark contrast within the two- such as a golden retriever, and a black cat:

This kind of contrast will make the movies turn into a horror movie all the more shocking for its viewers. By using strategic costuming, I can help communicate the shift in tone as the scene unfolds.

scripting and developing

 Today, me and my group finalized our script for the opening, as well as decided on a name. Throughout the script, we intended to add elements of character development in order to have dimension within our opening. Here's our script:

As you can see, we start it off with the pair being a happy couple, showing no true dimension within the characters. After Jero gets up and goes to the bathroom, seeing the blood, he is quick to jump to the assumption that Natti did something wrong, this shows that Jero, although a loving boyfriend, has held doubts about his girlfriend for a while, further developing the storyline, as well as the character by showing the audience that more past events have made Jero uncomfortable, and led him to doubt his own girlfriend. This develops his character because it shows that he is easily spooked, and shows how much of a naturally skeptic nature he holds.

When it comes to Natis character, once again we see that she starts off as part of a loving couple, something which quickly changes- in a drastic manner. As soon as Jero gets up to go to the bathroom, Nati is fast to go to her kitchen and begin to grand a knife. This shows premonition, and shows an element of her character which we had not been able to see at the beginning, setting up the film for large elements of surprises within natis character, which is all the more surprising when one notices that it is all planned out.

Both characters are given space to develop within this opening, and leave room to develop further during the actual film. Although many elements of character development are shown within the brief 2- minute period within our opening, I believe we left enough space for even more development in our film.

Levis Strauss- The genius beyond his amazing fitting jeans

 After doing extensive research on different media theories, as well as their role in film- apart from the media sphere in general, I have landed on including the Binary Opposition theory by Levi Strauss (yes the same guy as the jeans).

The Binary Opposition theory, written by Levi Strauss, states that we understand the world through opposite pairs such as good and evil, light and dark, male and female. It basically means that we, as humans, use opposites a s a way to make sense of things around us. Levi Strauss believed tat our minds organized everything into these pairs, which form the structure behind our culture, language, and myths. As he studies myths from all different cultures around the world, he found that they all shared one common theme, that being that they all shared common opposites like life and death or hero and villain. This theory can be applied in literature, film, as well as all aspects of media to explore overwhelming themes, concepts, and conflicts.

Although extremely prevalent in our media, Strauss' theory is often criticized as many believe it is too simple, and therefore can create stereotypes, such as limiting genders to only male and female. I believe that the Binary Opposition theory helps to analyze stories and culture, when used with caution, to avoid oversimplifying complex ideas.

This theory is also very relevant within my chosen genre (horror films), as opposites such as good and evil, human and monster, and safety and danger create tension and fear. Classic horror movies also often rely on these contrasts in order to build suspense and tell the plotline/storyline.

My newfound future within the cartoon/animation world

 After finalizing our idea of the project, me and my group got creative in class and decided to draw out our ideas onto a storyboard... this is the product!

Aside from my horrifying art skills, I really felt as though the storyboard helped me develop my opening further, as it gives a clear visual to each scene within the opening, and how it all looks when put together. I am a VERY visual learner, so the use of storyboards within my media class has been a great help, helping me to develop my ideas and channel them into a physical form where it can be evaluated, and fixed, without the pressure and time that goes into filming.

Project Idea!

 After completing my storyboard (next blog post), and having final discussions with my group, we've finalized our idea for our project!

We've decided on horror, which you already know if you've read any of my 912039090 posts about the beloved genre. And were going to do a kind of thriller- let me walk you through the scene...

It opens with a couple sitting on a couch, watching a horror movie (with an awesome kill scene playing, obviously). 

As the man gets up to go use the bathroom, we see the girl get up and move behind him in a disturbing way, 

as he walks into the bathroom- creeped out- but trying to shrug his doubts off, he sees blood in the bathroom. The camera will then show the girl, who is beginning to grab a knife from the kitchen, and hide it in her sweater. After this we will roll some credits, using "creepy"objects around the house to add ambience to the film, and as the man exits the bathroom- officially creeped out, we see the girl begin to approach him, with the knife on her, and the opening ends with the title.

I feel as though enough is developed in our opening to create intrigue, as well as an overwhelming theme and development of not just any storyline- but an INTERESTING one, something which is important to me and my group members. But, at the same time, I feel as though so much is left up in the air to where it remains an OPENING and not a scene in the film.

Overall, I am extremely happy with my idea, and feel as though me and my group members have the expertise and skill, combined with our knowledge of media which we've gained in the class to successfully execute this opening to the best of our abilities, and ensure we have a product we are all happy with.

Group Meeting reflection

 Today I walked into class, expecting to have a regular day of working on our projects, blogs, and meeting with our teacher, but was instead pleasantly surprised to see that we had been classified into different (random) groups within our class. As our teacher explained what we were to do, she told us to get into our groups and discuss our projects with one another- using a form of peer reviewing to get more opinions on our project, and get helpful input for what we should be doing.

For context this was my group: (that's me on the top right!)

We first went around the group, and had every person discuss their ideas for their portfolio, walking step by step through the shots, scenes and ideas. We took notes on everyone's ideas, and slowly went back around, giving everyone feedback on what we liked and what we thought could've been improved in order to bring the projects to the next level.

My groupmates told me that they felt my project was too much of a movie scene, and not truly an opening, and gave me tips on how to make it more of an opening to ensure not too much of the film was developed within the 2 minute timeframe we are given. They told me to include more closeups of the setting around my main characters with the credits rolling, in order to give it a more typical opening feel.

I genuinely felt as though this meeting helped me a lot, as it gave me an outside perspective from people who weren't directly involved in my project, and the constructive criticism will help me to bring my project to the next level, and ensure I get the best grade possible.

COLOR!!! And the part it has played in my fear of the dark...

 While doing all of the research for my opening, I realized something crucial, within horror films, color schemes play a crucial role in the film's development, and will therefore be very important to incorporate in my opening. Color schemes can not just manipulate viewers emotions, they also influence mood, tension, and evoke psychological responses within audiences, when used strategically, they can evoke feelings of fear, disorientation, and unease. All of these responses are what helps add the large element of terror to horror movies by making them immersive.

This being said, I want to delve deeper into the specific colors used within horror films, and their effects by discussing the color Red, Black, Green, Blue, Yellow, and different contrasts overall.

The color red is known to trigger a primal response within all humans and heighten your emotions, as it has typically been linked to danger. Within horror films, we see it used to foreshadow violence, or even signal a characters switch over to "the dark side". Some key examples of this are the use of red in the movie The Shining, with the blood filled elevator and red bathroom. In this case, red is used to reflect on the hotels violent past, and foreshadow the horrors the family would experience. Another key example of the use of red is within the movie Carrie, where the red prom scene is used to symbolize humiliation, revenge and destruction within the films plot. These key uses of red, and their greater significance within the film show the importance of a developed color palette, and the effects it can have on a film.

Now, for the color black, it is usually used to represent the unknown within films, as well as death, and emptiness. It can heighten suspense, and is used often to create contrast and make audiences fearful of what may be lurking in the dark. Some key examples of this are within the film The Babadook, where black is used to reflect grief and depression, and Nosferatu in which the shadows and darkness are used to enhance the terror behind the vampire.

Green, is more commonly used within sci-fi films, but it is also largely associated with toxicity, illness, or just something overall considered to be unnatural. Green is usually used in horror to create an eerie presence. This is evident in films such as The Ring, in which the green filters make the tape feel unsettling and supernatural, as well as in Saw, where the sickly green tint is used to reinforce the grimy and decayed environment.

 

Blue is known to create a chilling, lifeless feeling, and is especially great when used to reinforce themes of isolation, and sadness. It represents the cold, which usually leads viewers to connecting it to feelings of death and isolation. Notable examples of this are within the conjuring, where the blue lighting makes already haunted settings feel even colder and lifeless, and the movie Insidious, where blue depicts the "further", a kind of limbo.

Lastly, the use of not just yellow, but similar tones such as orange create discomfort within audiences, as it is often linked to sickness, decay, anand overall psychological instability, a large contrast from its use in other films where it represents happiness and the sun. We see this in films such as The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, where yellow hues add to the heat and insanity, causing chaos, this is also evident in the film Midsommar, where bright pastel yellows create a large contrast between what we know as horror, and beauty, unsettling viewers.

Apart from just colors within the film, lighting choices can also be crucial, as blue lighting creates coldness, red creates intensity, and green creates a feeling of unease. This also goes for costuming choices as a character wearing red might symbolize danger or bloodshed to come, while a green environment can suggest some sort of corruption or illness. Overall, color is more than a tool used to create an aesthetic environment in the film, it can be used as a psychological tool to enhance fear, and tensions within the crowd. It manipulates emotions and can further deepen the experience of viewers, differentiating a good film, from a GREAT one.

Scheduling 🫣

In order to effectively create a schedule for my portfolio project to be completed, I first want to break down what exactly it is that I have to do.

Per our instructions, we must:

Create a 2 minute film opening (duh)

Firstly, come up with a genre/ idea for our project

Develop an actual concept for our for our film

Plan out what exactly we want to film, and

turn it into a storyboard

come up with a script for our film

figure out how exactly we will incorporate all mis- en- scene elements we want to include (music, costuming)

focus on how we want to develop our characters within the opening

figure out our filming location, and actors

get together with my group and actually film the project

edit the project

incorporate title, and credit slides

In order to make it more manageable, i'll break it down within the 7 weeks we have total to complete all of this work. 

In the first week, I focused on mostly figuring out a vague idea of what i wanted to include within my opening, this includes genre, as well as an ample amount of research to back up why exactly it was that I chose the horror genre.

Within week 2, me and my group got together and developed an actual idea for the plot of our opening, and discussed what theme we wanted to convey to the viewers, as well as what we wanted to leave vague so that we could made sure we were adhering to regular conventions of a film opening.

During week 3 me and my group will come up with a solid plan on what exactly we are going to film, and we will do this through the development of our storyboard. Using this, we can better plan and layout the exact scenes within our opening, as well as the camera angles and the equipment necessary. Since we plan to film our opening in a living room setting, choosing the location should be hard, as we would just have to come to an agreement on whose house we could film it in, as well as whos going to actually be in the opening (actors).

Week 4 would comprise of us gathering the materials we need for our film, as well as checking out any necessary equipment form our teacher, in order to get ready to film the following week.

Finally, during week 5 me and my group will get together and actually film our opening, although this may take us some time as we dont want to fall short on any necessary scenes or on time within our opening, so we have to make sure to gather the necessary footage and cover all of our bases.

Week 6 would mostly be me and my group mates finalizing our music choices, as well as getting to work and finalizing our editing.

And lastly, during week 7 we will make sure to cement all of our footage and opening, as well as add any final touches to perfect it, as well as submit our work.

I believe that within this timeframe we can successfully develop a meaningful film opening that appeases us all, and make sure we do it to the best of our abilities.

credit sequences....

 Within our brief film opening, we are expected to include some sort of a credit sequence. Traditionally, within horror films, credit sequences are meant to begin to introduce or establish a tone within the film. This is usually done by way of graphic imagery (or just overall unsettling), some sort of unconventional font, as seeing a sweet, cursive font doesn't typically align with a horror films aesthetic overall, while a more warped text helps set the tone, typically unsettling music which is made to raise ones heartbeat and prepare for the film, and an overall slow pace as it is meant to raise tension within the viewers. The IT movies font use is a great example of this:

Visually, there is usually dark lighting, used to put emphasis on the "unknown" and create mysety within the film, and even unconventional camera angles (low angle), which can make desired figures appear more unsettling, or just make viewers subconsciously understand that they have power within the film. These credit sequences have to, in some way, introduce key themes within the film by foreshadowing them, and key auditory and visual motifs that many times reappear throughout the film, which can reinforce the atmosphere of the film, and overall mood.

There are 3 key examples of this which i have chosen to highlight and discuss, including that from the movie Psycho, The Exorcist, and Halloween.

In Psycho, the opening of the film features bold lines which slice across the screen, feeling as though it is both forming, and at the same time disassembling the credits. The iconic, high pitched music instantly created goosebumps in the viewers (including me...), and the lines create a sense of unease and disorientation, which successfully foreshadows what is to come within the film. This combined with the sharp lines leaves viewers on edge, all before the film has even begun.

The erratic sequence reflects the films overall themes of psychological instability, and plays a large role in setting the overall tone and atmosphere of the film.

I included both a photo example, and the link to a video of the credit sequence so you can check it out as well (and you should!!!)

https://youtu.be/aj6aBuC1Lb8?si=1AUNVkMhRvXGLOPH 

Within The Exorcists' credit sequence, there is a slow, ominus build up which include eerie music that creeps film watchers out. It takes a simple, yet ominus approach, leaving viewers feeling unsettled. The credit sequence also effectively sets the tone for the films overall plotline and theme of demonic possession. This is a great example of the power which visual (through the font, as there is truly no other visuals) and auditory (through the chilling music) cues can create an atmosphere of fear, and overall unease within an audience. This credit sequence uses deliberately slow pacing in order to create a sense of dead within the audience, which signals to the films supernatural horror.

Lastly, The movie Halloween uses a symbol of what is considered to be an innocent tradition for the halloween (fall) season, a jack o lantern, as a symbol of horror, as it slowly comes closer and closer towards the viewers. The absolutely ICONIC background music reinforces the feeling of suspense within the film. the simple imagery, although forever iconic, establishes an unsettling atmosphere, as well as a feeling of impending doom. The music largely creates the atmosphere as one begins to feel an almost inescapable feeling of just overall dread, which ties into the films slasher themes. the simplicity and effectiveness has made it into one of the most recognizable credit sequences ever. I made sure to include botha a picture and a link to view this tile sequence, which i feel is a must!

https://youtu.be/8_tGvktfjjk?si=cidJtE08wExDO-D6

Overall, I realized throughout my research that some of the most effective and famous credit sequences are very minimalistic, and yet effectively set the tone for the respective films by establishing a sense of horror and suspense throughout the music before the film has even begun. I also realized that the pacing for the credits is essential, as all of these use a slow pace in order to further bring up tensions within the viewers before the film has even begun.

My favorite film opening inspiration

 Me and my group have decided to do a Horror film, as we came up with a storyline that we really liked and felt we could play into to make a good opening, which will successfully leave viewers yearning for more. As a group, we felt that a Horror film was the most accessible kind of film for us to produce, as we were having trouble figuring out the overall logistics behind a romance film, and felt that typical romance film openings lacked any kind of progression in a story or development, whereas we could have more creative freedom with a horror film overall and advance much more of the plot, without the fluff which is necessary in romance.

In order to further my understanding of  Horror film openings, I decided to study 3 of the openings which I believe are done best: 

Firstly, the movie Midsommar, directed by Ari Aster. Before even getting into the cult-horror part of the film, the opening shows a horrifying murder- suicide by way of car fumes. It depicts 2 long tubes, connected from the garage, containing the fumes, one of the tubes goes into what is presumably the parents bedroom, and one is connected to a mask strapped to what we later learn is Florence Pughs character, Dani, sister, as well as parents. The film follows Florence Pughs battle with depression as well as how she grieves her family's passing. The impact of this scene, without the use of unnecessary gore largely gave me inspiration for our film opening, as we did not want to include much gore due to the overall complications of coordinating a scene like that, with the limited resources we have access to. Overall the feeling of horror which is given off by that film, as well as the relatability to the main character, as she struggles with many issues that people struggle with in their everyday lives is something I want to convey through my opening as well.

Another film for which I appreciate the opening scene, is the film Final Destination, more specifically, the first one, which was released in 2000. Although the opening of this film is just a sequence of seemingly random clips, it is actually giving the viewer hints as to what is to come in the film, a pattern which carries on throughout the entire franchise. For example, the opening shows a passport, as well as a plane ticket, which signal to viewers that the character is going to get on a plane at some point in the movie. This use of the title sequence as a premonition is another element that I want to incorporate into my own opening, as i feel it keeps viewers on edge and alert about what is to come within the film, and is something that can feasibly be done within my project with the resources that I am given.

Lastly, The new rendition of the movie The Stepfather, depicts a man's normal morning routine, and then includes (shockingly) a dead child, and woman within the house. This element of shock, but in such a normal environment, with no real impact on the mans routine adds an element of normalcy to the film, something which i would like to include in my film, as I don't want the horror element to feel unnatural, or out of place but rather as if its something normal.

Overall, I realized that i don't want the beginning o my film to give too much away, or feel unnatural in the story's development. I was the issues to be normal, and relatable, and  I plan to do all of this within the realm of the resources I have, and my knowledge on media.