Editing

We have shot most of our trailer and are now on to the editing process of what we have, here's the print screen of the editing process and what we've done so far.

Production Logo no. 2

Here's the second version of our production logo.

Production Company Logo

This is the first version of our company logo for 'Time of Death Productions'

Codes and Conventions of a horror film

Codes and Conventions
· Split into sub genres, often hybridized
· Primary target audience – male, 16-24, Mainstreamers
· 15 or 18 Certification (promises of pleasure) – debates on passive consumption
· Uses and Gratifications (active audiences) theory can apply
· Extensive use of Narrative enigmas
· Exploration of Narrative Themes
· Slow pace of Editing, builds tension. Long takes
· Three act narrative structure
· Predictable narrative content (follows format)
· Clear binary oppositions e.g. good v evil
· Use of low key lighting
· Use of CGI, FX
· High production values but many low budget horror films
· Dominant, hegemomic representation of gender: The Female Victim
· Extensive use of close up
· Incidental non-diegetic sound
· Distorted diegetic sound
· Extensive use of narrative off-screen space
· Young/teenage characters
· Use of hand-held camera: audience identification/realism
· Point of view shots
· Low angle shots

Horror Sub Genres
Horror can be split into sub genres:
· The Monster Scare
· Psychological Thrillers
· Slasher...


All of these codes and conventions would link with our horror trailer as we have to stick to conventions so that the film will be popular and will get watched. Also if we stick to conventions it's a lot more likely that people who are into a specific genre or type of genre will watch the trailer and then the film because it will be familiar to them and they'll want to watch it because it's what they're used to. It also means that the film is a lot more likely to be successful because the codes and conventions are things that work and that are known to work so the film will also work.

Horror Poster- Class A

In the lesson I was on Photo Shop trying out an idea for our Horror Trailer poster, I wanted to start with the simple version of the poster so that it doesn't give much away and you only have a tiny window into the world of the film.

On Set while Filming

On the 29th November, we started to film more of our Horror Trailer, here are some behind the scene photo's of the day and the filming process.

(Filming at the tunnel near Burghely.)

(Make up to look more tired and like a drug addict)

(Wayne checking over his lines before we film)

Horror trailer footage test

We went back down to the void and had the camera's ad lighting to try out different shots that we might want to use in our horror trailer.



8 from Ellie on Vimeo.

7 from Ellie on Vimeo.

Horror Trailer Posters

I was on Photoshop looking at some shots I had to have a look and see what kind of things we could use for the horror trailer we are making. I wanted to try out some different techniques that could be used  on the real poster.

Screen play (redone)

1. EXT. UNDER THE BRIDGE NEAR ACLAND BURGHLEY - DAY 

LONG SHOT 

Eleanor and Hunter walking around until they reach the tunnel. Eleanor pushes Hunter against the wall of the tunnel. 

CUTS TO: 

CLOSE UP 

She puts her hand on his face. He puts his hand around her waist.She looks up to him and he looks back. She smiles then bites her lips. 

CUTS TO: 

MEDIUM LONG SHOT 

They kiss. 

SCENE FADES TO BLACK

2. INT. SUB-ENTRANCE OF THE VOID LOW ANGLE, LONG SHOT 

Opens the door. All you see is the antagonist's feet. Running towards the another door. Opens that door and slams it shut 

CUTS TO: 

CLOSE UP of the sign on the door - 'Please Keep Out, Under Further Notice'

3. EXT. FOREST- NIGHT

Eleanor, Hunter and a group of friends are all sat in the shack taking drugs and getting high together. Suddenly Eleanor stops and looks around. She shakes her head and stands.

ELEANOR

I can't keep doing this... it's pointless... we come in here and waste all our time and money on drugs to get high...

Eleanor ignores him and walks away from the group and runs off into the forest. 

4. UNKNOWN

Eleanor and Hunter stood next to each other, they then turned back to back, letting go of each others hands and move away from each other.

CUT TO:

5. INT- SITTING ROOM- DAY

A flash back of the Hunters mums death. a black and white scene of shadows on the wall, a man with a knife looming over a woman curled up on the floor. 

6. INT- ELEANOR'S ROOM -DAY

CAMERA PANS THE ROOM - 360 TURN

The room is filled with memories that establishes their relationship together. Hunter is sitting on the floor with Eleanor as the two are drinking, empty bottles and cans everywhere. Hunter pulls out a pill and is about to swallow it but is interrupted by Eleanor seeing him. They start arguing.

LONG SHOT

ELEANOR

(SHOCKED)

What the hell are doing?

CAMERA TRACKS HUNTER STANDING UP.

CUT TO:

HUNTER

(Shouting with an angry tone)

Do you know how hard it is to stop?!!! It's been hard for me to resist.

WHILST ELEANOR IS TALKING THE CAMERA'S FOCUS IS ON HUNTER. A NON-DIETETIC HEART BEATING SOUND IS PLAYING TO SHOW HOW TENSE HE FEELS. 

Hunter doesn't reply. He gets frustrated. He pushes her against the wall, Eleanor is scared and tries to back away more but is stopped by the wall, she looks away. He slams his fist into the wall instead of at her. Eleanor cowers away from him and looks up at him, scared. Hunter holders to her to the wall as he keeps his fist on the wall, clenching it a little, he clenches his hand on her waist. Glaring at her. Eleanor takes a deep breath and tries to look strong and in control.

CUT TO:

7. EXT- FOREST- NGIHT

LONG SHOT: 

The dense woods with someone moving around, we can see their shadow among the trees as they move around, their head is low, it is unclear if it is a male or a female.

CUT TO:

8. INT- ELEANOR'S BEDROOM

Hunter doesn't reply. He gets frustrated. He pushes her against the wall, Eleanor is scared and tries to back away more but is stopped by the wall, she looks away. He slams his fist into the wall instead of at her. Eleanor cowers away from him and looks up at him, scared. Hunter holders to her to the wall as he keeps his fist on the wall, clenching it a little, he clenches his hand on her waist. Glaring at her. Eleanor takes a deep breath and tries to look strong and in control.

ELEANOR

(Quivers in fear)

Then just leave... the door is open for you.

Hunter lets go of her and walks out of the room and slams the door on his way out. Eleanor falls to the ground in tears when he leaves. There are tears in her eyes as she looks at the door, holding herself with her arms. You hear a crash from outside where Hunter was.

9. EXT - FOREST- NIGHT

The killer is in the background with CHARLIE in the front. Charlie is looks scared as she glances behind her and see's the masked killer. Charlie has scars on her from injecting heroine and doing other drugs.

CHARLIE

(Scared)

Who are you?

The killer is silent as he closes the distance between them. He pulls a syringe of Heroine out of his pocket before he injects Charlie with the overdose.

CLOSE UP

Charlies eyes wide and scared. Before she collapses.

10. EXT - FOREST- NIGHT

Eleanor, Hunter, Amy, Charlie and Daniel are all walking through the forest. Each one holding a bag. They arrive at the shack and smile to each other before going in.

CUT TO:

11. EXT- FOREST- NIGHT

The killer is stood behind AMY dressed in ALL BLACK. He has a rope in his hand. Amy looks up at him, scared before he is beside her with the rope around her arm.

AMY

(scared)

What do you want with me?

The killer remains silent as he puts the rope around her neck and creates a noose, making it as tight as he can before it strangles Amy, she collapses on the ground, the rope still around her neck. The killer has gloves on so that no one can tell from finger prints who it is.

CUT TO

12. EXT. OUTSIDE THE VOID- DAY

FROM ACTOR'S PERSPECTIVE OR HEADCAM

Breathing heavily. The antagonist is running towards the entrance to the void. Struggles. to get the keys out and opening the door. 

CUTS TO:

CLOSE UP

Unable to open the door because they uses the wrong key. Tries different keys. Drops keys before picking them up. Eventually opens the door. 

CUT TO:

13. EXT- FOREST- NIGHT

The Killer is right behind DANIEL. He holds him and puts a knife to his throat.

DANIEL

(scared)

No!

The killer laughs and slit's his throat with a blackened spoon that has been sharpened. Daniel coughs and chocks coughing up blood and collapses to the ground, shaking and coughing as blood oozes from the wound in his neck. The camera focuses on Daniel and when it PANS back up the killer has disappeared.

14. INT. THE VOID

MEDIUM LONG SHOT - CRYPTIC NOISE IN THE BACKGROUND.

Running down the stairs and falls on the last step. 

CUTS TO:

FROM ACTOR'S PERSPECTIVE OR HEADCAM

Breathing intensely. Tilts head up then to left to right to check no one is here. Starts running further in the void

CUTS TO:

LONG SHOT

Antagonist running towards the camera. 

CUTS TO:

CLOSE UP

Stumbles on the way. Jumps to avoid getting glass on his feet. Screenshots of the location. Reaches main location

CUTS TO:

Hunter sits down. Gets some cannabis out of pocket. Rolls it up and inhales it. He sighs and tilts his head back. He starts hallucinating. 

CUTS TO:

Feels paranoid and starts walking back and forth. He sees picture of him and Eleanor on the wall and goes crazy and rips them down and throws it in the ditch. 

HE WALKS OUT OF SCENE:

15. INT. ELEANOR'S BATHROOM - DAY

Close up of her face. Air bubbles develops when she opens her mouth. Eyes wide open. Lifts her head out of the bath. Breathes heavily in and out. She realizes she almost drowned herself unintentionally. Sits up and pulls her hair back.

CUTS TO:

CLOSE UP OF HER FOREARM TO EXTREME CLOSE UP OF HER WRIST

She finds fresh cuts on her arm and her wrist. The heart on her wrist turns into a broken heart. 

CUTS TO:

The blood drips in the bath. She begins to panic. Discovers beside her that the razor has fresh blood on it.

CUTS TO:

Pulls the bath plugs. Watches the blood and water flow away. 

Grabs the towel on the floor. Wraps it around her torso. Gets up and out the bath. 

CUTS TO:

Walks to the sink. Turns the tap on and washes the blood away, furiously. Smacks the edges of the sink. Breathes intensely.  

CUTS TO:

Slowly lifts up her head and looks at the steamed mirror. Discovers something dark next to her blurred reflection. Wipes the steamed mirror. 

CLOSE UP OF HER WIPING THE MIRROR, WHEN SHE REACHES THE DARK SHADOW. 

She discovers who it is. She turns and looks at the killer. 

CUTS TO:

(CLOSE UP OF HER FACE shivering and quivering )

Fear in her eyes. She turns around. Turns back to the mirror. 

CUTS TO:

CLOSE UP OF HER EYES AND She hears a dissonant voice. HER EYES ARE WIDE OPEN.

ANTAGONIST

(Low, deep, artificial voice)

You're next Eleanor.

FADE TO BLACK

With the black background we hear a screaming and then titles come up.

Minor Characters

Here are the basic character outlines for our three victims that are shown getting killed in our horror trailer:

Daniel- one of Hunters close friends but he is on Eleanor’s side with her getting clean, he was there the night Eleanor and Hunter first met and has been there for Hunter, but Hunter doesn’t really trust him because of the life they both lead. He thinks Daniel is out to get him. (the drug addict)


Amy- one of Eleanor’s close friends, she does drugs but is fully supportive of her friend stopping and tries to help her in any way she can. She wants Eleanor to have a good life and doesn’t want to drag her down as Amy knows that with the drug taking, she won’t get very far. (the nerd)

Charlie- another one of Eleanor’s friends who supports her. She isn’t as supportive as any but is still on Eleanor’s side and thinks she should stop, she never liked Hunter, thinking he was a bad influence on her and is happy when they end up breaking up. (the tom boy)

New Synopsis

Having looked at our film idea and script, along with talking to our teacher, we all decided that it didn't seem 'Horror film' enough. We needed to give the killer a reason to kill, and a better story line in general, here's what we came up with:

Eleanor and Hunter have been dating for a few years. They met through a group of friends, the main thing they had in common… was taking drugs. One day, Eleanor decides she wants to get out of the life of a drug addict and does everything she can to stop herself from spiralling downwards into what she knows is a bad ending. 

However things aren’t that easy for the young female, when she tells Hunter she wants to stop he becomes aggressive, thinking he is going to lose her like he’s lost everyone else. Seeing Eleanor’s friends on her side and trying to help her overcome the drug problem he immediately thinks of them as a threat and does everything he can to stop them… his last resort is to kill. 

As Eleanor cleans up she sees that Hunter is still taking drugs, in a vain attempt to try and stop him they get into an argument and she ends their relationship, sending Hunter into a torrent of rage. He immediately sets out to seek his revenge on the world. Having been abandoned by everyone Hunter goes on an angry rampage.

What happens when slowly Eleanor finds her friends dead? 

Will she ever calm Hunter down? 

Will she survive or will he get her too, like everyone else?


"But lately her face seems
Slowly sinking, wasting
Crumbling like pastries
And they scream
The worst things in life come free to us
Cos we're just under the upper hand
Go mad for a couple grams"

New Script

1. EXT. BRIDGE - NIGHT

LONG SHOT 

'Hope' Written on the side of the bridge.

CUT TO

2. EXT. UNDER BRIDGE- NIGHT

ELEANOR running to HUNTER. She jumps into his arms and they embrace. Long shot at first, then cuts to a close up of the two's embrace, walking around them to show multiple angles.

3. EXT. GARDEN- DAY

The young couple are sat down messing around as they are in the process of the ecstasy of getting high together, ELEANOR laughing while HUNTER tickles her. CUT to Eleanor holding a small shot glass while Hunter watches her. 

CUT TO

4. EXT. PARK- DAY

Eleanor running as Hunter chases her before catching her. The two laughing and smiling, happy to be together. Hunter starts to pull her back slightly.

CUT TO

5. UNKNOWN

A close up of Hunters face, he looks menacing and fierce as he looks slightly away from the camera, his hood is up.

CUT TO

6. EXT. GARDEN- DAY

The two are sat close together  looking at each other. Hunter leans in to kiss her neck and she moves her head to the side. Cut's to Hunter stood up while Eleanor remains sat down. He is playing with her hair and the two are smiling and laughing together. CUT to Eleanor sat on the arm of a chair, close to Hunter, he has his arm on her leg and is leaning up, looking at her. CUT. Close up of the two as Eleanor feeds Hunter a pill. THE A TEAM is playing through these scenes. 

LOUD BANG SOUND AND CUTS MUSIC ENDS

7. INT. THE VOID- NIGHT

The camera pans through the void. Sounds of the boiler room can be heard in the back ground. Camera looks left and then right before walking to the right. Camera looks down and we see a tool on the table.

CUT TO

8. INT. BLACK SCREEN

VOICES

(worried)

Eleanor... wake up... wake up... come on you need to wake up... snap out of it... wake up... 

CUT TO

9. INT. SITTING ROOM- DAY

Two friends sat on a sofa looking worried, the shot is out of focus and set as a point of view shot, suggesting the person sat down as the camera has blurred vision. Slowly goes into focus before people start to talk.

FEMALE

Eleanor, please, you need to stop...

CUT

10. INT. BEDROOM- DAY

Hunter leans over camera

HUNTER

(angry)

Do you know how hard it is for me to stop!?

CUT

11. BLACK SCREEN

'What is the one person you trusted,'

12. INT. BEDROOM- DAY

Eleanor being grabbed by Hunter. Eleanor knelt on the bed, Hunter stood over her. He grabs her wrist and pulls her up as she struggles.

CUT

13. INT. BEDROOM- DAY

Hunter pushes Eleanor against the wardrobe. 

CUT

14. EXT. BRIDGE- NIGHT

Eleanor running across the bridge, only her back can be seen. CUT to her face. She is panting and looks up slowly, looking scared.

CUT

15. BLACK SCREEN

'Was the one person you feared?'

16. EXT. BRIDGE- NIGHT

A hooded figure stood above her on the top of the stairs of the bridge. 

CUT

17. EXT. UNDER BRIDGE- NIGHT

Eleanor running with someone chasing behind her.

CUT

18. INT. HALLWAY- DAY

Eleanor running into the bathroom, blood on her face.

CUT

19. INT. BATHROOM- DAY

Eleanor leaning over the sink touching her face that has blood dripping from it.

CUT

20. EXT. STREET- DAY

Smoke blowing across the screen. THE A TEAM starts to play again.

CUT 

21. EXT. PARK- DAY.

Eleanor say on a bench on her own, looking around and running a hand threw her hair as she thinks.

CUT

22. EXT. UNDER THE BRIDGE- NIGHT

Eleanor and Hunter hugging.

CUT

23. EXT. GARDEN- NIGHT

Eleanor and Hunter are sat at a garden table with a lighter as they get high together. CUT the two sat looking at each other, messing around. Hunter starts to jokingly hit Eleanor with a spoon. The two are laughing together. CUT close up of Eleanor's face as she smiles, though she has a sunken in look. CUT Eleanor and Hunter close together, talking and joking around. CUT Eleanor with a lighter as she begins to light something on the table and Hunter watches her. CUT Hunter holding a spoon, making Eleanor light the lighter under the spoon. CUT Eleanor and Hunter laughing as Eleanor is being made to take a shot. CUT Eleanor putting down a small package and picking up a shot.  

CUT

24. EXT. FRONT DOOR- NIGHT

The female friend of Eleanor's is opening the front door. CLOSE UP of her hand and the keys as she unlocks the door. CUT A hand on her shoulder. She looks up scared and starts to panic before a hand covers her mouth and she is pulled away as she screams.

CUT

CREDITS

Risk Assessment

Today we went to the void to take shots. We then had to fill out a risk assessment to make sure it was safe and everyone was doing what they should to keep it safe:

Risk Assessment for my garden

Sound edits

In todays lesson we were on Adobe Sound Booth with voice overs and we were trying out different effects on 

Here is the screen grab of Adobe Sound booth before I started to work on my voice over.

Narrative Theory

I have looked at 11 trailers to see if they use narrative theory. I agree with Vladmir Propp's theory as you can see the different types of characters as you watch trailers, there might be different variations of the character but they have the same basics of the:

• Hero The person who sets out to restore the equilibrium. Victim Hero the hero who is the centre of the villain's attention. Seeker Hero who aids others who are the villain's victims.
• Villan the character who creates the narrative disruption.
• Helper aids the hero in the task of restoring the equilibrium. 
• Donor gives the hero something it may be an object, information or advise to help the hero.
• Princess/ Victim usually the character most threatened by the villain and has been saved, at the climax, by the hero. The father's (who in fairy tales was often the king) role has usually to give the princess away to the hero at the narrative's conclusion. 
• Dispatcher sends the hero on her or his task. (typically can be the princess father)
• False Hero appears to be good but is revealed, at the narrative's end to have been bad.

Here is what I found:

Smiley

Killer- known by everyone as ‘Smiley’ scaring all the character and going after one girl in particular- masked so no one knows his real identity.

Victim- Smiley is going after her and keeps almost getting her but not quiet, she keeps just getting away.

Shane Dawson- the donor- he tells her a bit about the killer.

Police man- donor/ helper, telling her about ‘Smiley’ and trying to help her out.

Annoyed friend- getting annoyed that she is bringing ‘Smiley’ to them and putting tem all in danger.

The collection

Stars off with the popular girls going to a club

Killer- masked so no one can see his identity- gets the pretty girls to use them. See him putting on his mask, shows he has a lot of weapons and new ways to kill people- he uses sharp rakes that stretch the perimeter of the club to get people.

Hero- trying to save them but he get’s caught up with the killer as well.

House at the end of the street

Victim- trying to get away from the killer but he finds her- trapped by killer

Killer always gets her back every time she gets away.

Mum- trying to find her daughter and get her back

Killer and killers helper- working together to get the victim.

Mystery of the house- daughter killed her family which is why its so cheap for the new family to get it.

Sinister

Victim is the father- he finds out about the killer and the killer wants to get rid of him.- watching movies the old

Man online- donor- tells him about the symbol he has found.- tells him about how the pictures are gateways for the gules 

Killer- seen from a distance- living in the pictures- videos- when they are watched she is brought out.

Daughter- victim- children are more likely to be taken by the killer- she gets possessed by the killer.

Tall man

Children go missing in the area the family now live- infers her young son will be taken

‘The Tall Man’- the killer- no one knows who he is, they just know he takes children

hero- trying to find and save her son.

Trapped in Abyss

Donor- news woman talking about mysterious disappearances.

Victims are stuck in the shop- druggies- trying to get away but are trapped.

They slowly get killer odd- killer not seen but we see him getting to each person.

V/H/S

Victims are people going into house trying to steal a VHS tape.

Killer- masked and living in house they are going to.

Helper- on Skype with victim as she tells him about how her house is haunted

See a ghost running out her door

Killer puts knife to girls stomach as she sleeps.

In their skin

Killer finds people and shoots them

First victim is man running with killer following him in their car.

Crazy family let in by the new family

Killer slowly killing people off between the two families

Hero- takes in family and then tries to help them- false hero as it turns out he’s the killer.

The Possession

Young girl is the victim- her body is taken over by the ghost

Mum and dad are victims as they are attacked by daughter when she is possessed

Older man who looks at boxes an tells them about it- donor- telling them about the box ‘once the box is opened people die’

Helper- man praying over her to try and get the spirit out of her.

Rec 3

Bride and groom are victims of killer

One by one guess become killers as they become zombies.

Bride is hero as she gets a chainsaw and kills the zombies.

Texas Chainsaw 3D

Victims set up going to a house in the middle of nowhere together- they beome his latest victims

Killer- masked to hid identity- shows the ‘birth’ of the killer.

Police officer- hero? Trying to save people and see what’s happening.

Now that I have looked at the Narrative Theory I will use it in my Trailer to have the different characters people expect so that it sticks to conventions. In most Horror trailers however they do not use all of the conventional characters, they mainly stick to the Hero/ False Hero, Princess's, Donors and Helpers.

Make-up for Christine Blundell's make-up school

• slit throat
• old scars
• cut heart
• strangle marks
• injection
• cuts/ scabs
• coughing up blood
• blood spurting out of slit throat wound
• person looking high

List of things for horror film

Here is a list of all the different things we need for our film so we can keep a check list and work out what we have and what we still need:

Check list:

• characters
• script
• fb event
• synopsis
• props- list of props
• makeup
• costumes
• photo’s of each person
• photo of whole group to show how many people there are in the group of friends
• photo’s of Eleanor and Hunter- together and happy
• tic tacs as pills
• risk assessments- IMPORTANT
• how to do different make-up

Props list:

• sugar pills
• fake needle
• sharpened, blacken spoon
• rope
• fake blood- food colouring, golden syrup, chocolate sauce
• thin plastic tubing
• picture frames/ pictures of group/ pictures of Eleanor and Hunter
• razor
• empty alcohol bottles
• fake cigarettes?
• latex
• liquid latex

Playing with Camera focus- Binary Opposition

We spent part of the lesson trying out different focuses and how to use Binary Oppositions by having one person blurry and the other in focus and trying out different ways to pull focus. We used a DSLR camera EOS 550D.

We also learnt about how changing the F stop changes the distance of focus. If the F stop number is small there is a deeper focus and if the F stop if big its a shallow focus. To do a pull focus you have to have a small F stop and use the focus ring around the outside of the camera to change what is in focus.

Other ways of showing binary opposition is through clothes, lighting, facial expressions and body language.

Binary Opposition 1 from Ellie on Vimeo.

Binary oppostition 2 from Ellie on Vimeo.

Binary Opposition 3 from Ellie on Vimeo.