Storyboard

We made a storyboard to help us with our film. We could then have an idea of how it would look and it would also helop us when we were filming incase we forgot the shot, it saved a lot of time. We then took pictures of each shot and made it into a video with a voice over. This is the storyboard we created.




We chose most of the house scene so that it was slow and so that the characters life seemed ordinary but with a twist that would keep the audience guessing. Then we moved to the wood scene and we tried to use more fast paced shots so that it made a contrast between the house and the woods. When the killer is behind the tree, we put the shots cutting closer and closer to the killer, this is to build some suspense and make the killer look even scarier because he is up close and it makes it uncomfortable for the audience. The last shot of the killer coming across the camera was planned so that it kept the audience guessing what has happened and because it blacked out the screen then it would scare them a bit.

Scripts

EXT. THE WOODS - EVENING

Sam is running through the woods and the killer is chasing him.

INT. SAMS BEDROOM - DAY

Sam wakes up scared and sweaty. He then switches off the alarm and walks out the room.

INT. SAMS BATHROOM - DAY

He then walks into the bathroom and splashes water into his face.

INT. SAMS BEDROOM - DAY

The phones vibrates with a text. Sam walks into his room and picks up his phone. He texts back.

EXT. THE WOODS - EVENING

Sam walks up path towards Eleanor and Alex.

ALEX

                               Come with me

SAM

                               Okay

Alex and Sam walk off while the killer hides behind tree and watches them.

ALEX

                               So, do you want to do some weed?

SAM

                              Okay.

ALEX 

                              Awesome.

Killer comes out from behind tree and slits Alex's throat. Alex falls to the ground. Sam runs away from the killer. Sam looks around to see Eleanor and jumps.

ELEANOR

                             Whats wrong?

SAM

                             Killer. Alex is dead. Hes after me.

Killer steps across camera



Because we made a script it helped the actors out and it also helped Alex and I out when we were making it. The actors we had knew exactly what they were doing when they turned up to do the shoot and Alex and I knew what was going on and we kept close to the script so that our film went as we planned it and we didnt have any complications.

Regulations

What is the BBFC and what do they do?

The BBFC is the British Board of Film Classification. They put the age limit on films and games. It uses its own guideline procedures and this helps decide what age of people can watch the film. For example, they see whether the film is in conflict with the law and whether it may cause harm to the audience.

The main issues that arise

Drugs - They make sure the film doesnt promote the misuse of drugs.

Violence - If the violence shows extreme pain it will be restricted. If there is sexual violence then it will be restricted. If it glamourises sexual violence it may be cut.

Language - If people get offended by the language then it may be restricted to older audiences. If it is negatively targeted towards a certain age, gender or rce then it will be restricted to older ages and may be cut from the film.

Sex - The range of sexual activity will say what certificatew it will be given, for example, mild kissing can be seen by all audiences but graphic images of sex means that it will be restricted and sometimes they wont be sold in certain stores.

Certificates

U - Universal - Suitable for all audiences

Drugs - Drugs aren't allowed to be shown in this calssification as it is for young audiences.
Horror - HoIf there is a horror scene, it cant be too scary for young audiences.
Language - Bad language should not be used.
Sex - No sexual behaviour, except kissing.
Violence - Not much violence as we dont want to encourage young kids to be violent.
PG - Parental Guidance - Some scenes may be unsuitable for younger audiences.

Drugs - Subtle drug use that young audiences wont pick up on. Anti-drug messages.
Horror - Low levels of horror. Not to scary and not going on for a long amount of time.
Language - Less offensive swear words can be used but advised not to.
Sex - Small contact (kissing) and innuendos that young audiences wont understand.
Violence - Low amount of violences. No blood and gore.

12/12A - Suitable for 12 years and over. 12A - Suitable for 12 years or over, in a cinema anyone under 12 must be occampanied by an adult.

Drugs - Any drug misuse must be minimal and it cant be shown in a good light.
Horror - Allowed horror but it cant be prolonged or really scary.
Language - Must be moderate language, the use of offensive swear words cannot be used.
Sex - Sex or references to it must be discreet and must not be shown.
Violence - Moderate violence is okay. Not much detail on injuries and cant have loads of blood and gore.
15 - Suitable for ages 15 and over.

Drugs - Drugs can be shown but they cannot put them in a good light. Not all drugs can be put in this classification because some are more dangerous than others.
Horror - Higher levels of horror but they cant be sexual horror or horror that would offend an audience of just 15.
Language - Can use moderate swear words but cant use offensive swear words and cant be used frequently as it might cause offense.
Sex - Sex can be shown but not in detail, so the camera might go off them or it may just hint at it. You wont actually see them having sex.
Violence - Violence can be show but it cant be sexual violence. Or violence that will offend.
18 - Only suitable for ages 18 and over.

Drugs - Drugs misuse can be shown.
Horror - Strong horror is accepted.
Langauge - Can use bad language and strong aggressive language. Some language is frowned upon if used.
Sex - They can show sex.
Violence - Violence can be shown but there is a limit on how offensive or gory the violence can be.


What classification is your film?

I think that my film would be a 15 certificate. This is because it is a slasher horror so there will be a lot of gore and jumpy moments. Also it has drug use in it and although it is minimal, I felt a 15 certificate was more appropriate for it than a 12 because of all the other factor too. Also there would be some sex or references to sex in it therefore I also think it should be a 15 for that reasons too. On just my opening scene, I would rate it at a 12 certificate because in our opening scene there isnt any blood shown or any bad language. The only things are that there are references to drug use and one of the actors is killed but you dont see any blood.

Audience Targeting

The stereotypical audience for a Slasher Horror are young teenagers who like blood and gore. They are typically callled "Teenage Sex Horrors" because its usually teenage main characters and they end up having some sort of sexual activity and then there's a massacre.

AGE
Our film is targeted at is mainly teenagers, so around 15-19 years old. I have chosen this because that is the age of most of the main characters so the audience can relate to them. Also they usually contain some sort of sexual activity and people around this sort of age would be thinking about that.

GENDER
I think these films would be targeted more at males then females. I think the blood and gore would appeal more to males and also the sexual content. The female character are usually extremely attractive in this genre of movie and I believe that appeals highly to a male audience.

SOCIO-ECONOMIC CLASSIFICATION
I think that the socio-economic classification for the audience of our film would be C2DE because our main audience are teenagers, and most teenagers and students around that age are unemployed or only part time and are in this classification.

Audience Research

I did my audience research by asking questions to do with Slasher Horror to help my ideas in my film. I asked the questions on the social network site Twitter. I got numerous replies and will show the best one from each question. The best answers were all from a media classmate who has great knowledge in this genre.

First I tweeted asking if anyone would answer my questions and I would give them a reward. This meant it would be more likely they would answer and then i would have a wider range of responses.

The first question I asked was about the location in Slasher Horror films. This means I can start thinking about locations for my film. I already had the idea of an isolated place and maybe deep in the woods. But I wasn't 100% sure and now with this feedback I have become more confident with my decison.

The next question i asked was about common characters that you would expect to see in the film. i already knew that the typical characters were attractive teenagers that aren't extremely intelligent and love to party.

The next question was about the typical music that the audience expects to hear when watching a Slasher Horror. I had trouble trying to think of music for a horror film as most of the music I had been sampling sounded more liek a sci-fi horror than a slasher horror.

Then I asked about the action they expect to see in this sub-genre of horror. The reply was too long so it is in two parts. I had a plan for the action in my film and I had thought about the deaths and the escape but I had never thought about a character fighting back and i may now re-think parts of my film to include that.

These questions I asked can now help me decide on where my film will be set, what music to use and what character I can use. The plot of my film may change slightly from the feedback, for example i haven't got any characters fighting back wish i could include in it.



Texual Analysis

This is the textual analysis of a Slasher film as that is the genre I will be doing for my film production. The film I am analyzing is the film Scream, I am going to show a selection of shots from the opening scene and describe what is happening and how this shows it is a slasher film.

·         The opening credit where it shows the institution. “Dimension Films”

·         Music is slow and then there is a lightening noise.

·         We could get that this is a slasher because the music sets an effect that it is a serious dark movie.

·         The film title appears “Scream”

·         Sounds: A telephone starts ringing and then a female screaming.

·         This could hint that it is a slasher because the way the title comes on is in a creepy way and the phone starts abruptly. Then the female screaming shows it’s a horror and could be a slasher as usually a female is killed first by the killer.

·         A shot of a ringing phone.

·         Sounds: The ringing of the phone.

·         This could hint at it being a slasher because the killer usually contacts the victim without revealing their identity before they kill them and seeing as technology is developing, phones would be the best way.

·         The killer and the first victim talk on the phone briefly before she hangs up.

·         Sounds: The killer talking to the victim.

·         This could show it’s a slasher as it’s a stranger calling her and he speaks in an extremely deep voice, which is creepy.

·         The victim hangs up the phone and as she turns away the phone starts ringing again. She picks it up and talks to the killer again and then hangs up.

·         Sounds: The phone ringing.

·         This can show it’s a slasher because its creepy how the phone rings immediately after she hangs up and also the facial expression of the victim shows that she is suspicious.

·         This is the shot from outside the house and it has a swing slowly swaying.

·         Sounds: You can here crickets cheeping.

·         This seems like a slasher because it is a secluded area, like most slashers and the swing is swinging slowly which is creepy.

·         The killer calls again as the victim makes popcorn to watch a movie.

·         Sounds: The phone ringing, dialogue between the two. The popcorn rattling.

·         This could be interpreted as a slasher because when the phone rings the victim groans as if she is fed up or getting annoyed at the persistence of the killer and shocked that he keeps on calling.

·         They start talking about horror movies and the victim starts playing with a knife.

·         Sounds: The dialogue and the noise of the knife.

·         This shows it is a slasher film as the dialogue is talking about slasher films and because she takes the knife which is a common used weapon in a slasher film. Also the sound of the knife connotates danger.

·         This is when the killer makes the mistake of revealing he is watching his victim.

·         Sounds: a low piano plays.

·         This seems more like a slasher now as the audience find out that the killer is there and the music makes it seem all dim and scary.

·         In this shot she realises the killer is watching her and she looks around.

·         Sounds: You hear a dog bark outside.

·         This makes it creepy because you then think maybe the dog is barking at the killer because he is outside.

·         The victim looks outside for the killer.

·         Sounds: Low piano and eyrie music.

·         This is creepy because there is steam and fog which means its hard to see and that means the killer can see her but she cant see him. Also you have been put into the victims eyes which makes the audience feel scared and uncomfortable.

·         The victim locks the door.

·         Sounds: Dialogue and the door locking.

·         This shows that the victim is afraid that the killer will come in her house.

·         As she hangs up the phone the killer says angrily “Don’t hang up on me!”

·         Sounds: The killer on the phone

·         This shows that the killer is angry and the audience start to think, maybe he is violent.

·         She answers the phone again angrily but the killer shouts angrily and threatens her “gut you like a fish” and this scares her.

·         Sounds: Phone ringing. Dialogue. Low Piano note

·         This shows the intent of the killer and makes it scary.

·         The killer says “blondie” so she knows he can see her and then she runs to lock the doors.

·         Sounds: the killer speaking. Lots of fast music which signifies the panic of the victim.

·         She looks out the window and the killer asks if she can see him.

·         Sounds: The killer on the phone.

·         This is scary because you are put in the eyes of the victim and this is uncomfortable for you because you feel like you are there being tormented.

·         The killer reinforces the fact that she is in the middle of nowhere and no one can help her.

·         Sounds: Dialogue on the phone.

·         This makes the victim scared because she knows she can’t be helped and can’t escape.

·         The doorbell rings and she says “Who’s there?” the telephone then rings and the killer says “You should never say who’s there?”

·         Sounds: Dialogue, Doorbell, Victim screams when the telephone rings.

·         This is scary because we know that the killer is close enough to hear what she is saying.

·         The victims’ boyfriend is tied to a chair on the patio that she had looked at just minutes before.

·         Sounds: Muffled scream form the boyfriend

·         This is scary because it means the killer is strong and determined because he has already taken down a tough footballer.

·         The victim hides behind the TV and switches off the light.

·         Sounds: Dialogue.

·         She is clearly scared and this passes on to the audience as they know that she is scared because the killer will kill her boyfriend and then her.

·         The killer kills Steve.

·         Sounds: Dialogue. Slicing of Steve.

·         This is common in slashers as the football jock dies and there is always lots of blood and guts.

·         She runs and gets a knife to defend herself.

·         Sounds: Fast music.

·         This shows that she will defend herself to the death because she knows the killer will kill her. This is done so that the audience, although they know the killer will kill her, it gives her a bit of hope.

·         The first glimpse of the killer.

·         Sound: Fast paced music.

·         The killer is in a costume and a mask which is scary because the face will have no expression. The killer is also very fast which is also scary.

·         The victims’ parents’ car is driving up the path.

·         Sounds: Music

·         This gives the victim slight hope as she can get help. The audience want her to get there and be saved but we all know she won’t.

·         Close up of the killers face as he turns around looking straight at the victim.

·         Sounds: Music. Scream of the victim because she is shocked to see him there.

·         This scares us because we can’t see the killers face and the mask has no expression. It is also a close up which makes us feel uncomfortable.

·         The victim runs from the killer but he is catching up to her.

·         Sounds: Musical ringing. Screaming.

·         This shows how much taller the killer is which makes him scarier. Also the victims breasts bounce around while she runs and this links to slasher films as they usually have sexually attractive females in them.

·         The killer stabs the victim.

·         Sounds: Music. Screaming. Groaning.

·         This finally sets the kill that has been building up through the whole opening scene.

·         The parents arrive home oblivious to what’s happened and the victim is in the background.

·         Sounds: Dialogue between the parents and slow music.

·         This shows how no one would know that the girl was being murdered.

·         The victim takes off the killers mask but the shot goes up so you cant see who the killer is and you see the knife that is about to come down and stab the victim.

·         Sounds: Slow music. Groaning.

·         This makes the killer see superior by how height the knife is and how he was looking down at us.

·         The victim is dragged away by the killer while her mother can hear her on the phone.

·         Sounds: Phone making noises. Groaning. Slow music.

·         This shows how helpless the victim is as she is dragged away and how the mother can hear her being killed but cant save her or do anything to help.

·         The parents listen helplessly to their daughter being killed.

·         Sounds: Groans. Slow music. Dialogue form the parents.

·         This shows how horrible it is, that they have to listen to it. It also agrees with most slashers as someone always witnesses the first death scene or knows its happening so that it goes on so the next scene is about a killer on the loose.

·         The parents see the dead body of their daughter.

·         Sounds: Scream from the mother.

·         This shows that it is horrible and the shock of what has happened.

·         Final shot. The victim dead.

·         Sounds: Music fast loud.

·         This shows what the killer has done and how gruesome it is which links to slashers as there is a lot of blood and gore in slasher films.

What i've leant from this.
From my analysis of this film, i've seen how my film can take ideas from it. I think that i might use some of the techniques and camera angles they use. I also think that the storyline might be good to use bits from. For example, she is in a very isolated place so the point is that the police or anyone wont be able to get there fast to help so i can use this in my film. I also like how her parents came home but they couldn't hear her because it added emotion to the film so i could try and add it into my film. The camera movements, for example when the killer stabs her, she reaches for his mask and the camera moves up so you dont see the killers face and that keeps the audience guessing of who it could be. I would like to use a shot like that in my film. This has given me some good ideas that i would like to try out when making my film.