I have also finished the research and planning for my poster and magazine front cover - which I am going to edit over the next few weeks. Below, I have included some possible photos that I may use for my magazine cover.
Thursday 19 December 2013
Research and Planning - Nearly Finished!
I have finished all of the research and planning ahead of filming - which I will be doing over the Christmas holidays.
I have also finished the research and planning for my poster and magazine front cover - which I am going to edit over the next few weeks. Below, I have included some possible photos that I may use for my magazine cover.
I have also finished the research and planning for my poster and magazine front cover - which I am going to edit over the next few weeks. Below, I have included some possible photos that I may use for my magazine cover.
Monday 16 December 2013
Storyboard
Now I have finished my final shot list and running order, I have created a storyboard to help me ahead of filming.
Sunday 15 December 2013
Potential Music to Use in My Teaser Trailer
After listening to various tracks on spotify, found from soundtracks of other films from the horror genre, I have compiled a list of four pieces of music I will possibly use in my teaser trailer.
"Brahms's Lullaby" - I chose this piece because it was a classic children's lullaby and I thought it sounded slightly sinister. I could use this piece at the beginning of my teaser trailer to warn the audience that something frightening is about to happen.
"Grandmother's Piano" - Again, I really liked the idea of soft piano music creating an eerie feel for the audience, especially as my teaser trailer is about children.
"Freddy's Coming for You" - I took this music from a horror classic. Despite thoughts that music from this soundtrack might not be appropriate, it began with an instrumental which I could use within my teaser trailer to indicate to the audience that things are not right.
"The Raceway" - I silenced the whole of this track, making a fade at the end to turn it into an impact sound that I can use in my trailer.
"Brahms's Lullaby" - I chose this piece because it was a classic children's lullaby and I thought it sounded slightly sinister. I could use this piece at the beginning of my teaser trailer to warn the audience that something frightening is about to happen.
"Grandmother's Piano" - Again, I really liked the idea of soft piano music creating an eerie feel for the audience, especially as my teaser trailer is about children.
"Freddy's Coming for You" - I took this music from a horror classic. Despite thoughts that music from this soundtrack might not be appropriate, it began with an instrumental which I could use within my teaser trailer to indicate to the audience that things are not right.
"The Raceway" - I silenced the whole of this track, making a fade at the end to turn it into an impact sound that I can use in my trailer.
Saturday 14 December 2013
Final Shot List and Running Order
Here is my final shot list and the running order I want my shots to appear in once I have filmed for my trailer.
1. Ghost House Pictures logo - Makes it obvious that this film is from the horror genre as the production company is known for making horror movies.
2. Screen Gems logo - Another company which makes horror films. I want the logos to appear at the beginning of the trailer as this seems to be the convention.
3. Establishing shot of house - Sets the scene for the trailer - implies that a lot of the film's narrative takes place here.
4. Long shot of mother and son unloading the car - implies that they are moving in and making a new start.
5. Long shot of mother and son walking to the house.
6. Long shot of mother and son walking towards camera into the house.
7. Tagline - A Missing Child - hints to the audience that the narrative will revolve around a child's disappearance. Children in danger often feature heavily in films from the horror genre.
8. Long shot of mother from behind, walking away from camera in the garden with bottles of wine - This is the first indication the audience will get that the mother is an alcoholic.
9. Long shot of mother with wine walking towards camera - This shot will show the distance the mother is walking with the wine. Possibly indicating her drinking is a secret and the lengths she is going to to cover it up.
10. Medium shot of mother putting bottles in the shed - Emphasises her alcoholism and confirming she is hiding it.
11. Medium close up of mother finishing a glass of wine - Again putting emphasis on the fact that she is an alcoholic.
12. Tagline - A New Beginning - implies that the family are escaping something from their past. I want to split the tagline from my poster into two - I have noticed in existing trailers that this helps with the pacing.
13. Medium long shot of the mother looking out of window from behind.
14. Medium long shot of man looking at plant - This shows the audience what the mother was looking at out of the window. The sinister tone of the music that I want to use at this point should indicate that this man is a threat.
15. Low angle, extreme long shot of the mother's face in the window.
16. Medium shot of local boys telling the mother about "Psycho Dave"- the crosscutting between these shots lets the audience know that "Psycho Dave" is the man the woman was looking at out of the window.
17. Medium shot of Dave looking up at the woman - I want the music to begin to build here, confirming that this character will pose a threat.
18. Insert - Based on the Best Selling Novel by Stephen King - One of the most recognised authors of horror novels. Often films with teaser trailers are based on existing source material.
19. Medium long shot of the child looking out of the window - As this will be the first shot of the montage, I want it to look sinister. This shot will be shot from behind the boy so that the audience will have no idea what he is looking at - helping create a sense of mystery.
20. Long shot of a car driving towards the camera.
21. Long shot of the mother snatching a toy from the child - The first sign the audience will get of a significant object that will be important later in the narrative.
22. Close up of a local boy looking out of a car window at the house - He is in the same carthe audience saw in a previous shot, indicating that he watches the house regularly and could pose a threat.
23. Extreme close up of the mother picking a toy up from the ground - A shot of the significant object appearing in a random place indicates sinister activity.
24. High angle, extreme long shot of the child outside with the toy - The child is standing outside seemingly focused on something, but nothing is there. The angle of the shot makes him seem small and vulnerable and it is as if somebody is watching him out of a window.
25. Medium long shot of the woman walking down the street.
26. Medium shot of the Psycho closing the boot - The camera is placed inside the car, making the character seem dominant, but also indicating that he may be hiding something (maybe the body of a child).
27. Medium shot of the woman turning around in the mirror - The woman turns round with a frightened look on her face but the audience can see in the reflection that there is nothing behind her - creates a sense of mystery and leads the audience to believe that she may be paranoid.
28. Medium shot of the child looking out of the window - The main light source is coming from the window and the boy has a sinister expression on his face - again creating a sense of mystery.
29. Close up of boy looking out of the window - The sudden cut to a close up will unsettle the audience and allow them to see his facial expression more clearly.
30. Medium shot of the boy and girl standing by the door - The girl turns around suddenly shocking the audience at the same time as the impact sound that I want to use. The girl looks straight into the camera which is placed inside the window.
31. Title - The Mourning.
32. Billing - Appearing quickly.
33. Billing 2 - Appearing quickly.
34. Release Date - Fall 2013 - Release date is vague, something I picked up on during my research.
1. Ghost House Pictures logo - Makes it obvious that this film is from the horror genre as the production company is known for making horror movies.
2. Screen Gems logo - Another company which makes horror films. I want the logos to appear at the beginning of the trailer as this seems to be the convention.
3. Establishing shot of house - Sets the scene for the trailer - implies that a lot of the film's narrative takes place here.
4. Long shot of mother and son unloading the car - implies that they are moving in and making a new start.
5. Long shot of mother and son walking to the house.
6. Long shot of mother and son walking towards camera into the house.
7. Tagline - A Missing Child - hints to the audience that the narrative will revolve around a child's disappearance. Children in danger often feature heavily in films from the horror genre.
8. Long shot of mother from behind, walking away from camera in the garden with bottles of wine - This is the first indication the audience will get that the mother is an alcoholic.
9. Long shot of mother with wine walking towards camera - This shot will show the distance the mother is walking with the wine. Possibly indicating her drinking is a secret and the lengths she is going to to cover it up.
10. Medium shot of mother putting bottles in the shed - Emphasises her alcoholism and confirming she is hiding it.
11. Medium close up of mother finishing a glass of wine - Again putting emphasis on the fact that she is an alcoholic.
12. Tagline - A New Beginning - implies that the family are escaping something from their past. I want to split the tagline from my poster into two - I have noticed in existing trailers that this helps with the pacing.
13. Medium long shot of the mother looking out of window from behind.
14. Medium long shot of man looking at plant - This shows the audience what the mother was looking at out of the window. The sinister tone of the music that I want to use at this point should indicate that this man is a threat.
15. Low angle, extreme long shot of the mother's face in the window.
16. Medium shot of local boys telling the mother about "Psycho Dave"- the crosscutting between these shots lets the audience know that "Psycho Dave" is the man the woman was looking at out of the window.
17. Medium shot of Dave looking up at the woman - I want the music to begin to build here, confirming that this character will pose a threat.
18. Insert - Based on the Best Selling Novel by Stephen King - One of the most recognised authors of horror novels. Often films with teaser trailers are based on existing source material.
19. Medium long shot of the child looking out of the window - As this will be the first shot of the montage, I want it to look sinister. This shot will be shot from behind the boy so that the audience will have no idea what he is looking at - helping create a sense of mystery.
20. Long shot of a car driving towards the camera.
21. Long shot of the mother snatching a toy from the child - The first sign the audience will get of a significant object that will be important later in the narrative.
22. Close up of a local boy looking out of a car window at the house - He is in the same carthe audience saw in a previous shot, indicating that he watches the house regularly and could pose a threat.
23. Extreme close up of the mother picking a toy up from the ground - A shot of the significant object appearing in a random place indicates sinister activity.
24. High angle, extreme long shot of the child outside with the toy - The child is standing outside seemingly focused on something, but nothing is there. The angle of the shot makes him seem small and vulnerable and it is as if somebody is watching him out of a window.
25. Medium long shot of the woman walking down the street.
26. Medium shot of the Psycho closing the boot - The camera is placed inside the car, making the character seem dominant, but also indicating that he may be hiding something (maybe the body of a child).
27. Medium shot of the woman turning around in the mirror - The woman turns round with a frightened look on her face but the audience can see in the reflection that there is nothing behind her - creates a sense of mystery and leads the audience to believe that she may be paranoid.
28. Medium shot of the child looking out of the window - The main light source is coming from the window and the boy has a sinister expression on his face - again creating a sense of mystery.
29. Close up of boy looking out of the window - The sudden cut to a close up will unsettle the audience and allow them to see his facial expression more clearly.
30. Medium shot of the boy and girl standing by the door - The girl turns around suddenly shocking the audience at the same time as the impact sound that I want to use. The girl looks straight into the camera which is placed inside the window.
31. Title - The Mourning.
32. Billing - Appearing quickly.
33. Billing 2 - Appearing quickly.
34. Release Date - Fall 2013 - Release date is vague, something I picked up on during my research.
Friday 13 December 2013
Possible Sound Effects to use in My Teaser Trailer
Having worked with sound extensively while creating my radio show for my AS Foundation Production, I know just how important it can be in helping create meaning for the audience - especially in the horror genre, where it is often the use of sound effects and music that really unsettle the audience.
Due to the serious tone of my trailer I don't think I will use many sound effects. I will, however, be using a series of impact sounds which fit on with the genre of my teaser trailer. All of my sound effects were sourced from the BBC Sound Effects Library with the exception of "The Raceway" by Brian Taylor which I found on the soundtrack for "Final Destination 4". I silenced the rest of the track and put a fade on the end to make it into a moat sound. Here are some of the impact sounds I am considering using:
Due to the serious tone of my trailer I don't think I will use many sound effects. I will, however, be using a series of impact sounds which fit on with the genre of my teaser trailer. All of my sound effects were sourced from the BBC Sound Effects Library with the exception of "The Raceway" by Brian Taylor which I found on the soundtrack for "Final Destination 4". I silenced the rest of the track and put a fade on the end to make it into a moat sound. Here are some of the impact sounds I am considering using:
Thursday 12 December 2013
Potential Shot List for My Teaser Trailer
As part of the planning of my film, I have created a rough shot list that I can follow during filming (which I am planning to do next weekend). I have created this shot list, which is in chronological order of how I would like the shots to appear in my trailer (though I will put them into a shooting schedule to help me when filming), though I plan to re-draft the shot list over the coming week so that by the time I come to film I am certain about exactly what I want.
I will follow this as closely as I can when filming my teaser trailer - although a script is not included in my teaser trailer I have added brief references of dialogue to help me get an idea of what is happening in each shot.
*dialogue* with neighbour about the bullying in shot reverse shot (twice)
*safe neighbourhood* two locations
Establishing shot of house (sold sign?)
Establishing shot of people walking into house
MCU of the mum (doors slightly open)
MCU kids responding to rooms
ECU of hand putting things up (3)
MCU and CU of children playing
*must meet other neighbour - wife and child died*
LS from window of neighbour gardening
MCU of neighbour digging - look and smile
MCU of mum from window looking curious
MS of mum opening door from shed
Pan in - CU of bottles in shed
CU of alcohol being poured into glass
MCU of mum drinking
*dialogue to therapist*
Child playing - MLS
MCU of mum doing something
Another shot of other child - MCU
Mum turning- CU
Tracking shot as other child runs back *dialogue*
MCU mum having a look
Cut back to same location - child isn't there
POV where child isn't there
(try zoom)
Short reverse shot of policeman (MS) and mum (MCU)
*just vanished*
*does your son/daughter have any history of psychiatric problems?*
*why?*
Man and original neighbour talking about mum
*sure I'll talk to her*
Glimpse of romance with wine SRS
*so kind*
4 people dialogue: tells audience things are getting bad. Unreliable narrator. Get out of there (from doorway). Everything changes now.
*montage*
LS - back of guy opening boot
MS - guy looking in boot
HA MS shot of mum running
LS of stopping - bends down
ECU of doll
ECU hand grabbing doll (darker)
LS child looking through window
MS mum looking out seeing daughter behind in reflection
CU mum turns around
Est shot of empty room
ECU - pulling back sheet
CU - reaction of mum
LS - Policeman running along wall with gun
MS - mum by door with knife
Shot of smashed bottles by mum
Shot of shed with all smashed bottles
MCU behind lit of guy
Shot of mum and man running (try distances)
LS - mum and man hugging
LS - woman drives past and looks out window
ECU - teddy bear in mums hands
MCU - mum embracing teddy crying
CU of hand coming up
*montage ends*
MCU of mum
*what have you done with my child*
CUT TO BLACK
fade in
MS with mum sitting down with glass.
Music comes on
CU of mum looking up
Jagged different angles CUs of mum looking around
FINISH
I will follow this as closely as I can when filming my teaser trailer - although a script is not included in my teaser trailer I have added brief references of dialogue to help me get an idea of what is happening in each shot.
*dialogue* with neighbour about the bullying in shot reverse shot (twice)
*safe neighbourhood* two locations
Establishing shot of house (sold sign?)
Establishing shot of people walking into house
MCU of the mum (doors slightly open)
MCU kids responding to rooms
ECU of hand putting things up (3)
MCU and CU of children playing
*must meet other neighbour - wife and child died*
LS from window of neighbour gardening
MCU of neighbour digging - look and smile
MCU of mum from window looking curious
MS of mum opening door from shed
Pan in - CU of bottles in shed
CU of alcohol being poured into glass
MCU of mum drinking
*dialogue to therapist*
Child playing - MLS
MCU of mum doing something
Another shot of other child - MCU
Mum turning- CU
Tracking shot as other child runs back *dialogue*
MCU mum having a look
Cut back to same location - child isn't there
POV where child isn't there
(try zoom)
Short reverse shot of policeman (MS) and mum (MCU)
*just vanished*
*does your son/daughter have any history of psychiatric problems?*
*why?*
Man and original neighbour talking about mum
*sure I'll talk to her*
Glimpse of romance with wine SRS
*so kind*
4 people dialogue: tells audience things are getting bad. Unreliable narrator. Get out of there (from doorway). Everything changes now.
*montage*
LS - back of guy opening boot
MS - guy looking in boot
HA MS shot of mum running
LS of stopping - bends down
ECU of doll
ECU hand grabbing doll (darker)
LS child looking through window
MS mum looking out seeing daughter behind in reflection
CU mum turns around
Est shot of empty room
ECU - pulling back sheet
CU - reaction of mum
LS - Policeman running along wall with gun
MS - mum by door with knife
Shot of smashed bottles by mum
Shot of shed with all smashed bottles
MCU behind lit of guy
Shot of mum and man running (try distances)
LS - mum and man hugging
LS - woman drives past and looks out window
ECU - teddy bear in mums hands
MCU - mum embracing teddy crying
CU of hand coming up
*montage ends*
MCU of mum
*what have you done with my child*
CUT TO BLACK
fade in
MS with mum sitting down with glass.
Music comes on
CU of mum looking up
Jagged different angles CUs of mum looking around
FINISH
Wednesday 11 December 2013
Potential Taglines
Having conducted research into existing taglines for horror movies, and made a note of the elements that crop up time and again, I have put together some potential taglines for my film. I have followed the conventions I found and I would like to use my chosen tagline on both my poster and in my teaser trailer, to help unify my marketing campaign.
Below are a list of possible taglines, with reasons for and aginst their inclusion:
The Weak and Feeble Hide Away
Because at Night the Dead will Play
Originally I felt that rhyming would be quite appropriate considering that in my research many taglines played on tradilitonal childlike things. However, I found that the tone of this tagline wasn't right due to the rhyming, but also the exact wording of the tagline didn't fit in with the narrative of my film.
A Missing Child
A New Beginning
This is the tagline I will be using in my teaser trailer because it plays on the tone of a false sense of security, without sounding slightly silly (or childlike).
Some Things are Better Left Forgotten
I thought of this tagline because it was short and directly to the point - for this reason I felt that it would be memorable. However, it didn't seem that effective as although it referenced a "thing" like in my research, it didn't clearly define the genre or give any hint to the plot.
You Haven't Seen the Worst of It
Despite the fact this directly references the audience and is brief, considering the subject matter it seemed insensitive (considering the story is about a potentially dead child) and not completely relevant.
Lady Bug, Lady Bug
Fly Away Home
I really wanted to use a nursery rhyme for my tagline, however, I wanted one with a sinister undertone. After looking at many popularly misunderstood nursery rhymes like "Mary Mary" and "Rock-a-bye Baby" I felt like the message of this nursery rhyme was very unsettling. However, if I was to use this as a tagline it wouldn't make much sense or define the genre. I am planning on finding another way of incorporating this into my teaser trailer.
Below are a list of possible taglines, with reasons for and aginst their inclusion:
The Weak and Feeble Hide Away
Because at Night the Dead will Play
Originally I felt that rhyming would be quite appropriate considering that in my research many taglines played on tradilitonal childlike things. However, I found that the tone of this tagline wasn't right due to the rhyming, but also the exact wording of the tagline didn't fit in with the narrative of my film.
A Missing Child
A New Beginning
This is the tagline I will be using in my teaser trailer because it plays on the tone of a false sense of security, without sounding slightly silly (or childlike).
Some Things are Better Left Forgotten
I thought of this tagline because it was short and directly to the point - for this reason I felt that it would be memorable. However, it didn't seem that effective as although it referenced a "thing" like in my research, it didn't clearly define the genre or give any hint to the plot.
You Haven't Seen the Worst of It
Despite the fact this directly references the audience and is brief, considering the subject matter it seemed insensitive (considering the story is about a potentially dead child) and not completely relevant.
Lady Bug, Lady Bug
Fly Away Home
I really wanted to use a nursery rhyme for my tagline, however, I wanted one with a sinister undertone. After looking at many popularly misunderstood nursery rhymes like "Mary Mary" and "Rock-a-bye Baby" I felt like the message of this nursery rhyme was very unsettling. However, if I was to use this as a tagline it wouldn't make much sense or define the genre. I am planning on finding another way of incorporating this into my teaser trailer.
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