OC & LM - Preliminary Task

Our objective was to create a scene that used continuity editing, involving characters opening and walking through a door, as well as having a minimum of two lines of dialogue between two characters, whilst taking into account the 180 degree rule when filming a conversation.

From the task we as a group have been able to understand the importance of the 180 rule. As well as this we were able to be creative with the included sound, which is all non-diegetic, however it is used effectively throughout to create different moods within the sequence, showing its significance. Finally we learnt that initial outtakes shouldn't be discarded, as with the use of editng they may later become an effective shot.

Group 8 Wilderness Woods - OC LM

O.C- Analysis of title sequence

Dimension Films is the distributor of the Scream franchise, this is the first title displayed. The dimension is slightly shadowed which can connote and darkness which is linked to horror films. The cutting rate between each title heading is slow throughout with the music and the red mist also at a similar rate connoting a mysterious and daunting film. 

 The first name displayed is the directors which does not conform to normal films as the directors name is usually the last to appear. On all the frames with the titles stating people’s names the background is very much black with red mist floating about the screen this connotes blood which is very strongly linked to the slasher sub-genre in horror.       

Next the starring cast is shown again with the fading red mist connoting blood further illustrating that there is going to be blood and gore within the film. The red on top of the black background very much connotes a horror movie as the black is a dark colour associated with death and red is a colour associated with blood so by mixing the to there is a contrast of the two colours drawing the audience in. The positioning of the font is very much not structured this may be to add the effect of the red mist and to emphasize that the mist is moving the titles around the page.

The background then changes to all black, with the antagonists face appearing from the darkness in white which again contrasts the black so the outline of the antagonists my is very eye catching and evident. This a denotation of the antagonist face the audience watching it for the first time would not know this so portrays an enigma as they do not know what this face is telling them, this is further highlighted as the antagonists face is slightly faded.

 The title of the film is the last to show at first it appears in white, but as the music builds tension it eventually changes to red . The colour red is used constantly throughout the opening title sequence as it connotes blood with this been seen throughout the film with main horror coming from blood and gore. The changeover of the colour of the title sequence from white to red has an effect of horror in its self as it connotes that blood is on its way in the film. The placement of the last title is in the middle of the page to leave a lasting effect so is like an impact to the audience so you remember the name of the film this contrasts the previous titles as they show no structure by floating around the page in a relatively small font.














Ideas for group title
-The sub genre we are looking to cover is slasher or possession. This title illustrates more the slasher sub-genre.
-For my title i tried various different fonts and coloring to try and find the best one that presents the slasher sub-genre best. Photoshop and premier were the programs i tried to work on to create the bets title.
-The colors used were red and black. This both link in to the horror genre, as black portrays darkness and red connotes blood. Also the colors used contrast each other and therefore create further effect.
- The title its self is to try and present an enigma to the audience as to who the woodsman is, so emphasizes a sort of mystery even before the film has begun.

O.C&LM Group Task- Ideas for a Horror Film

Wilderness Woods Production Log

Analysis of title sequence - LM

Analysis of title sequence – Zombieland (Fleischer, 2009)

1. Order of titles: “Columbia Pictures presents” (Distributor), “In association with Relativity Media” (Production company), “a Pariah production” (Production company), “Woody Harrelson” (lead actor), “Jesse Eisenberg” (lead actor), “Emma Stone” (lead actor), “and Abigail Breslin” (lead actor), “Zombieland” (Film Title), “Casting by John Papsidera”, “Costume designer Magali Guidasci”, “Music by David Sardy”, “Edited by Peter Amundson Alan Baumgarten”, “Production designer Maher Ahmed”, “Director of photography Michael Bonvillain”, “Executive producers Ezra Swerdlow Paul Wernick Rhett Reese Ryan Kavanuagh”, “Produced by Gavin Polone”, “Written by Rhett Reese & Paul Wernick”, “Directed by Reuben

 

2.

·         The font used is san serif block capitals, which suggests to the audience that the film is contemporary as the letters have no feet. Also it’s coloured red, connoting the inclusion of blood and gore within the film.

·         Effects are used on the font to create the idea that the titles are present in the action. For example, an extra is thrown for a roof crashing through the titles that appear on screen, breaking up the letters. This isn’t generic of horror, however it helps create the idea of chaos, as it anchors.

3.

·         We see a distinct relationship between the text and the visuals. As previously identified, the text is coloured red, connoting the idea of blood and gore, which relates to the visual images we are repeatedly seeing people being killed by zombies.

·        As well as this post production effects are used to relate the visuals to the text as we see characters crashing through the letters that appear on screen, creating the idea that the text is actually in the world of the film.

 

 4.

·         Red font connoting the idea of blood and gore in the film.

·         Black background creating a sense of darkness and fear, as well as this the colour relates to death.

·         A serif font with capitals, this gives a historical sense as the font isn’t contemporary.

·         Also there are thin slits in the letters, giving the audience the idea of cutting as this is a slasher horror.

O.C-Deconstruction of an Opening Sequence

28 weeks later opening:

Genre

⦁ The sub-genre of 28 weeks later is zombie, the conventions that prove this true is that there is blood and gore from the start with people immediately been bitten which immediately connotes a zombie film as zombie are so strongly linked to this type of action. Also the people who are doing the biting are evidently zombies as they are human physically but show no emotions or control over what they are doing

⦁ The generic expectations of the film are straight away fulfilled as there is immediately an attack on the people in the house by the zombies, as zombie films are usually associated with action and blood with this been seen straight away.

⦁ The opening scene straight away conforms to the characteristics of a zombie film as there is zombies biting people with them becoming infected straight away, blood and gore is shown which again conforms to a zombie film.

Film Language

⦁ Camera is used very effectively in the opening scene of 28 weeks later.  A tracking shot is used to show the character running and trying to escape from the zombies it accentuates him been chased and in danger.

⦁ An over the shoulder the shot is next used from the antagonists point of view the zombie in this case also with a handicam. This shows the zombie is out of control with a distorted when of thinking this is especially proven with the handicam as it is shaky and not stable connoting the zombies movements.

⦁ Mise-en-scene is used to convey meaning in this scene. Character blocking is used for when the man is escaping this is to build tension as there is so many zombies chasing him from a distance and close this emphasize the danger the man is in as you can see there is so much zombies chasing him.

⦁ Aesthetics and make-up are clearly used on the zombies to make them look ill and dangerous, using the concept of the near human look to scare audiences more. Their eyes are also portrayed as red further illustrating that the zombies aren’t human.

⦁ When the man leaves the women in the room as the zombies were breaking in she screams his name, this highlights that she’s desperate and in need of help but he can’t get to her so has to run, so she shouts in desperation and shock that he hasn’t tried to help her. The man when he leaves the women has his eyes wide open this portrays him as been scared and not knowing what to do, this is why he runs away

⦁ When he is about to leave the women slow music starts to echo this is non diegetic but fits the seen as it builds tension as he leaves the women to the zombies, the music carries on as he escapes the zombies to add to tense situation he is in. Sound from the zombies is heard  things like grunting  this highlights their motivation for human flesh as they are lustful to get hold of them and to the horror also as they are shown as nearby by been able to hear the grunting

⦁ Editing is scene in the scene, a parallel line of action is used. This is when the zombies break in the group splits with the camera following all. This highlights that the house is surrounded by zombies as they are present in each seen action. Fast pace cutting is used between the man and the women when he leaves her this is to portray the danger they are in as the zombies are coming for both of them with the edit switching from the zombies to the humans creating tension as you don’t know if they are going to get away.

⦁ This specific opening scene does not show any titles.

Narrative

 ⦁ In the opening the plot outline is a house in a rural area that is all bordered up to keep the zombies out. The zombies eventually break in, the stock characters are made obvious. The older citizens are trapped by the zombies and brutally killed, this represents horror as the older citizens are presented as innocent and friendly but are killed with no remorse. This shows blood and gore which is strongly linked to the horror sub-genre zombies. The plot then shows the women and the boy stuck in the room calling for the husbands help he doesn't answer these calls and is seen to abandon his wife. The man is the only one to escape the house with him running towards the river to a boat where he escapes from the zombies as they cannot swim.

⦁ The situations are organised as when the zombies break in the group disperses and try to escape. They break off in specific groups of their friends and family before the virus. This is structured and organised as when any of the characters are attacked by the zombies the characters in there company are closer they then show more emotions as they see their loved ones die oppose to someone they just met.

⦁ The audience are strongly positioned with the surviving man as he is the only one to escape from the house. He is presented as the main character with him having the most camera time.

⦁ There are specific narrative techniques in this sequence that are put in place to move the narrative on. The narrative arc suggests this opening sequence follows the conventional horror film opening with conflict at the beginning. There are various codes narrative codes that are essential to developing the film. The action code tells the man is running that he is been chased. Zombies are distinguished from people in the opening sequence with the use of symbolic codes for example the blood on the zombies face makes it evident that they are zombies. An enigma code is seen when the women is positioned in the window shouting for the mans help this presents an enigma to the watching audience as you don't know whether she survives.

⦁ Tension is created by the zombies breaking in and the man leaving the women. Tension from this scene is then maintained as music starts with the man leaving his wife and zombies chasing him. There is tension throughout as the zombies are constantly chasing the man with the audience not knowing if he is going to be caught.

Representation and ideology

⦁ In the opening sequence there are  friends and families of different backgrounds all formed into one whole group. This is made evident as when the zombies break in the house the group splits and they start looking out for the ones they care most about.

⦁ In the opening sequence there is a boy who is portrayed as an innocent kid, this reinforces stereotypes of a kid as he is presented as helpless and vulnerable when he is trapped by the zombies. The wife of the man reacts to this further reinforcing stereotypes as women are seen to be more caring than men but also challenges them as she’s portrayed as the braver out of the man and women. Then by the man saying leave the boy presents a regressive ideology as this reinforces negative stereotypes about men that they don’t show caring emotions. Stereotypes are then challenged also as the wife calls out for her husband in need of his help, but he refutes her calls and runs. This presents the man as a coward as usually in films the man is supposed to save the women, this also challenges binary oppositions about men being more dominant than women as in this case he runs away showing him to be a coward, with that not usually being associated with a man.

Media Audiences

⦁ The target audience would be core cinema go-ers of a male gender aged between 15-24. This is because males a known to prefer horror movies, blood and gore are presented further calling out for male viewings.

⦁ Potential audience readings would be that the man is a coward as he left his wife when she was in his need and called out for his help. He has no emotions as if he cared that much about her he would of put his life on the line to save her but he didn’t. Also the zombies are faced past and relentless when chasing after the man this presents them as scary to the audience .

⦁ My views are affected by my age and gender but not so much my background. As I’m 17 I fall into the age horror films try to attract. Boys tend to be more keen on blood and gore and this film falls into this category as there is a lot of action with blood and gore also present. So as of my age and gender I believe I am influenced by the scene as I feel more drawn to it because of these factors.

Institutional Context

⦁ 28 weeks later was produced by 20th century fox. This is a very big studio so produce a wide variety of films from all genres.

⦁ 28 weeks later is an industrial film as it is distributed by 20th century fox, the budget given is $15million which is large for a horror movie. The overall box office was $64.2 million this highlights the financial backing the film has highlighting it been an industrial film as this is a large amount of money for a horror film.

⦁ There are no A-listers seen in the film, Robert Carlyle can be seen as a good actor though with his role very important in developing the film.

Deconstruction of an opening sequence - LM

The Ring opening sequence

Genre

·         The sub-genre of this film is Possession horror. The conventions that make this evident are the use of a house as the setting which supports the commonly used idea of terror in the backyard as its used  to juxtapose the idea of safety at home. As well as this the main character in this scene is a young female who could be considered as a child, which again is conventional as children are stereotypically represented as innocent, and vulnerable making them a target. Other films that share these conventions are Insidious, and the Exorcist.

·         The audience’s generic expectations of the text are fulfilled to a large extent. This is evident as the scene is set with the female being alone in the house, and she’s haunted by some sort of supernatural possession. As well as this other expectations of possession horror are fulfilled as we see doors opening and televisions switching on by their own accord, suggesting the girl is not alone after all.

·         This text comfortably conforms to the characteristics of possession horror, and it does not treat them playfully or ironically. This is clear to us as the scene builds up throughout creating an enigma for the audience as to not knowing whom or what is in the house with the girl. Eventually reaching its climax at the end which is the part that scares people the most.

Narrative

Mise-en-scene

·         Character blocking is used effectively as the girl is placed in the next room when the TV supernaturally turns on. This helps create meaning as it’s clear from where she is that she didn’t turn it on, providing scares as we don’t know what is in the house

 

·         The internal setting is also used to create meaning as we would typically think that the setting of a house is safe, however this idea is juxtaposed causing the setting to be effective.

·         The prop of TV remote is significant in this sequence as it helps provide fear through the enigma of not knowing what is turning the TV on, as the girl turns the TV of with the remote firstly, it then turns on again without her doing anything.

 

Sound

·         Diegetic sound of the possession moving throughout the house is significant as it creates tension, causing the girl to turn around in fear as she expects something to be behind her, but there is nothing.

·         A loud screeching sound is used effectively when the girl opens the door to find the possession on the TV screen. This immediately will cause the audience to jump in fear as it is sudden and piercing, making it correct for the horror genre.

·         The non- diegetic sound  of the TV screen with no signal ends the sequence and is important as it connotes the end of the girl, creating a sense of distortion after the girl has been possessed.

 

Editing

·         The pace of the cutting rate is used to convey meaning, as it speeds up when she opens the door, connoting the possession coming at her instantly when she enters the room, this causes scares amongst the audience as everything happens so suddenly.

·         The scene ends with a short, fast montage edit of the ending of the video tape that possesses the girl. This is effective as it displays several black and white images creating the idea of a historical origin to this possession, which is common of this genre as possession are considered to be myths from decades or centuries ago, making them more scary when they return to modern society.

·         A shot reverse shot is also engaged during the climax as we see the mid shot of the girl opening the door, which is then followed by a shot of the TV playing the possession tape, and then again a shot of the girl in quick succession, however this time she is possessed, which is shown by her face looking extremely different and scary.

 

Camerawork

·         A close up of the girl is used to create fear as the audience are able to see the shock on her face and in her eyes as she notices that the TV has turned on by itself. This helps build suspense as we can see her expression but aren’t entirely sure what has shocked her so much.

 

·         An effective POV shot is used in the sequence as the girl peeks round the door to see what is happening in the TV room. This shot builds tension as we as the audience are not sure what we are going to see as the room is slowly revealed to us.

 

·         Angle is used to create effect as we see a high angle shot of the girl from the top of the stairs as she slowly approaches them, this shot is used to display the girl as vulnerable to the ongoing situation, as she fears for her life.

 

Narrative

·         The scene begins with the stock character of the girl in her kitchen making a drink for herself, as she goes to leave the kitchen she hears the TV switch on in the next room and walks in there with intrigue as she wonders why and how the TV is on when there is no one in the room. She believes her sister is playing games with her so she switches the TV off with the remote and starts to leave the room. However just before she exits, the TV again turns on. She knows that something weird is going on so in fear she runs to the TV and pulls the plug from it. Shortly after this she hears a rush of wind behind her as if there is something lurking in the house, in dread she slowly walks back into the kitchen to see the fridge door which she just closed, slowly swinging open. She runs and shuts it immediately. Worried about what is happening she goes to investigate upstairs as her sister isn’t answering her yells through the house. When she reaches the top of the stairs she finds a puddle of water leaking out from one of the rooms, with the door handle dripping. As she opens the door suddenly, she sees the TV screen with the image of a stone built well on it (where the possession lurks), and we instantly see that the girl becomes victim to the possession before the scene cuts out.

·         The audience is positioned from the perspective of the girl, who is home alone. This works well as it means the audience is as clueless as her, creating an enigma as we don’t know what is in the house with her. This is common of horror as it provides more of a tense build up to the climax, as it shocks the audience in fear, which is why many other horror sequences will be organised similarly.

·         The main themes of this sequence are supernatural possession occurrences, as well as being home alone. Tension is created through the enigma of not knowing what is causing these actions, which is supported by the TV that switches on by itself, the fridge door swinging open, and the puddle of water leaking out of the room.

 

Representation & Ideology

·         As we only see one character in the sequence only one social group is represented and that is teenage girls. The girl is regressively represented as vulnerable to the situation as she fears being home alone. As well as this it highlights the idea of femininity through things such as screaming creating a negatively stereotypical representation of women as it suggests that the writers have made this character female due to the situation that occurs, as if the character was male then he would act differently.

·         The sequence goes against the beliefs that being at home provides safety and security. Also the sequence creates an ideological discourse about gender, as well as age, representing young females in a negative way as they are considered weak. This is a residual ideology about girls, which has been assimilated by a male audience of horror.

Media Audiences

·         The target audience is likely to be people under the age of 35 as they are more likely to seek thrills. As well as this, it’s evident from the sequence that it is more of a contemporary horror as the possession attacks through the TV screen, and watching TV regularly is something that the youth are more likely to relate to.

·         The audience would read and consider this sequence very typical of a horror, however they would still result in being scared as effects such as CGI are used to create the girls possessed face as it flies at the screen.

 

·         As a British teenager, I would evaluate a text based on and in comparison to previous experiences through real life and other movies. However my age would influence my reading of texts as I lack a lot of experience to always relate to what is going on. Also in this case of the ring, my gender would affect the way I interpret the actions of the girl.

Institutional Context

·         The Ring (2002) was produced by Walter Parkes and Laurie Mcodonald, and distributed by Dreamworks pictureds, who were also the distributors  for films such as Fright Night (2011) and Paranormal Activity (2009).

·         The Ring is an American industrial remake of a once independent Japanese film, evidence for this is that the film had a budget of $48 million, grossing over $249 million, however no A-list stars are in the film, meaning names of actors clearly weren’t a factor in the films success.