Tuesday, 25 March 2014
Monday, 17 March 2014
Audience
http://prezi.com/1h6gxtbkadpz/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy
The genre of the film opening will be the horror genre, typically though the audience for this genre is 15 to 30 year old males and the genre itself is mainly a male dominated genre, though over recent years (from the late '90s onwards) female fans and directors have become more instrumental in the genre, from the Soska sisters (whose Twisted Twin production company has released "Dead Hooker in a Trunk" and "American Mary", two of the most inventive horror films in recent years) to Kier-La Janisse (who founded the Cinemuerte International Horror Film Featival and the Miskatonic Institute of Horror Studies, along with programming for the Alamo Drafthouse in Texas and publishing House of Psychotic Women: a semi-autobiograpgical topography of female neurosis in horror and exploitation films).
Some evidence has even gone on to show that females out number men in the viewing of these such films (http://www.valmorgan.co.nz/audiences/profiles/horror-movies/), this in essence means that the film should cater for both genders. So, to achieve this I should avoid typical horror character archetypes, such as"The Nerd", " The Jock", "The Bimbo", etc. Which are both offensive and to be honest have been done to death repeatedly over the years. Also, the above linked research cemments the age range that the typical horror audience lies within, so this can give an idea as to what age to make the film opening apropriate to, though to gain the largest audience this would have to be in the 15 age group. This means that the film cannot feature extreme graphic violence or a lot of strong language.
The genre of the film opening will be the horror genre, typically though the audience for this genre is 15 to 30 year old males and the genre itself is mainly a male dominated genre, though over recent years (from the late '90s onwards) female fans and directors have become more instrumental in the genre, from the Soska sisters (whose Twisted Twin production company has released "Dead Hooker in a Trunk" and "American Mary", two of the most inventive horror films in recent years) to Kier-La Janisse (who founded the Cinemuerte International Horror Film Featival and the Miskatonic Institute of Horror Studies, along with programming for the Alamo Drafthouse in Texas and publishing House of Psychotic Women: a semi-autobiograpgical topography of female neurosis in horror and exploitation films).
Some evidence has even gone on to show that females out number men in the viewing of these such films (http://www.valmorgan.co.nz/audiences/profiles/horror-movies/), this in essence means that the film should cater for both genders. So, to achieve this I should avoid typical horror character archetypes, such as"The Nerd", " The Jock", "The Bimbo", etc. Which are both offensive and to be honest have been done to death repeatedly over the years. Also, the above linked research cemments the age range that the typical horror audience lies within, so this can give an idea as to what age to make the film opening apropriate to, though to gain the largest audience this would have to be in the 15 age group. This means that the film cannot feature extreme graphic violence or a lot of strong language.
Saturday, 15 March 2014
Friday, 14 March 2014
Wednesday, 12 March 2014
Production Company Ideas
My ideas for the production company logo and name come directly from the "abstract" look that I want the film opening to have, hence "abstract productions". The name was fairly tricky considering the nature of the film opening, as typically with films in the horror genre they feature very graphic names for their production companies, such as "Bloody Disgusting"and "Yer Dead", along with quite graphic images for logo (an example would be "Bloody Disgusting"'s logo, which features a skull with a circular saw blade slicing through it), though this is appealing for the target audience, unfortunately, the secondary audience (composed of mainstream viewers) tend to find these to be discomforting.
This can be juxtaposed with film companies with more insightful names that give them a more professional sound, these include Quentin Tarantino's "A Band Apart" and Kevin Smith's "An Askew View". So, to cater for both the audiences I have gone for "An Abstract Production", this I think does represent the film opening in a fair way, as it isn't a hardcore horror flick deserving of production company name drenched in blood and bile, and yet it isn't fully a mainstream or art-house film, so by terming it an "Abstract Production" it is in keeping with the unusual visual style, and yet it also keeps in with the fact that it can't be fully slotted into one specific genre (although the target audience will still pick it up, as horror fans generally hunt down films with a bizarre style that offer something different from the glut of Hollywood remakes and have potential to be future cult films, example 2012's "John Dies At The End"-though the film still has to have horror elements).
As for the logo, I created two designs , firstly I drafted an image that looks typically like a modern art painting, which fits in with the "Abstract" name, and I also made one that drew influence from the title sequence of David Cronenberg's film adaptation of "Naked Lunch", to create an "abstract" image.
The last one, and the one I am currently using was based on the original design, though I inverted the colour and went for a smooth typography that gives the image alot more class, and overall makes the image look alot more professional, though it does look very '80s.Tuesday, 11 March 2014
Media Theories: Negotiated meanings
David Morley's 1980 study of audience responces to the BBC programme was designed to analyse the different ways in which the audience interprets a media text, the results of which suggested that audiences fit into three separate groups, based on their own readings of the text. The groups are as follows:
Preffered Reading
This is the reading of the text that the creators hope that the audience will take from it; for instance an advert for a soft drink will be designed to try and make the audience buy it- this would be the intended reading and the one the creator wanmt you to have.
Oppositional Reading
Audience members outside of the target demographic may view the text and reject the prefered completely, recieving their own alternative message.
Negotiated Reading
This when the audience acknowledges the preferred reading, but they modify it to their own values and opinions.
Preffered Reading
This is the reading of the text that the creators hope that the audience will take from it; for instance an advert for a soft drink will be designed to try and make the audience buy it- this would be the intended reading and the one the creator wanmt you to have.
Oppositional Reading
Audience members outside of the target demographic may view the text and reject the prefered completely, recieving their own alternative message.
Negotiated Reading
This when the audience acknowledges the preferred reading, but they modify it to their own values and opinions.
Media theories:Uses And Gratifications
This theory states that we all have different uses for the media, that we all look to gain something from a media text it;'s not just some mindless exercise we expect to gain some form of gratification. This means that the individual has all the power, and can choose the media texts that will best suit their needs.
The theory was formulated in 1974 by Blumler and Katz, though the psychological basis for this model came from Maslow's Hierachy of Needs. The researchers found four different gratifications that we get from media texts, these are listed below.
Information
We use media texts, like the news and documentaries, to find out about society and the world around us- it satisfies our own curiosity.
Personal Identity
We use media texts to look for models for our behavior, this may be from a character in which you may identify with character from a television programme; this can help us decide on how we feel about ourselves and if we agree with their actions.
Integration and Social Interaction
We use media texts as a way of finding out about the circumstances of other people; by watching TV shows it helps us to empathise and sympathise with the lives of others- to the point that some people start to see the characters in the programmes as friends. Media texts also allow us to converse socially with real-world friends about said media texts.
Entertainment
Sometimes we consume media texts simply for enjoyment, relaxation or to kill time.
The theory was formulated in 1974 by Blumler and Katz, though the psychological basis for this model came from Maslow's Hierachy of Needs. The researchers found four different gratifications that we get from media texts, these are listed below.
Information
We use media texts, like the news and documentaries, to find out about society and the world around us- it satisfies our own curiosity.
Personal Identity
We use media texts to look for models for our behavior, this may be from a character in which you may identify with character from a television programme; this can help us decide on how we feel about ourselves and if we agree with their actions.
Integration and Social Interaction
We use media texts as a way of finding out about the circumstances of other people; by watching TV shows it helps us to empathise and sympathise with the lives of others- to the point that some people start to see the characters in the programmes as friends. Media texts also allow us to converse socially with real-world friends about said media texts.
Entertainment
Sometimes we consume media texts simply for enjoyment, relaxation or to kill time.
Sunday, 9 March 2014
Scheduling
To aid in planning out when to shoot the opening, I aquired a list of free periods from the cast and crew, though after looking over it it became apparent that unfortunately none of us had frees at the same time, so this leaves either filming over dinner or after school. The only problem with filming after school was the simple problem that they had other commitments, so this left dinner. And given the recent change in locations, I decided to do it on a thursday, as the classroom that I want to film in is free in both period 3 and 4, so this will allow us a lot more time to get the set ready and to clear it all up afterwards.
Revised script
I looked back at the older script, there are certain parts of that didn't work and other segments that would take a lot of time to film (the "children's birthday party"), but the main reason that I decided to revise the script was the humour. This was primarily because the nature of humour is that it is subjective, and what one person may find funny, another may find that it falls flat for them or even offends them, and adding to the fact that I wasn't sure if it was too mean-spirited, thus turning the audience off instantly.
So with the re-write I decided to strip the humour out of it and instead focus on creating some very Lynchian visuals to create a growing sense of unease within the audience that should make the horror aspects of the script more effective. Also, by creating minamalist almost avant-garde visuals which caters for the science fiction aspects (as this is a common feature of the sci-fi genre, as many films use avant garde visuals to give the audience the impression that the film is taking place in a different reality than our own- examples include "Brazil", "Twelve Monkeys" and "The Forbidden Zone"), this also caters for that specific genre's fanbase as well, who flock to see sci-fi films to primarily see special effects and impressive visuals.
The revised script also pulls back on the original idea which feature some quite absurd, but quite graphic gore, which would have taken a long time to set up and perfect, so by toning that down and just having a bloody spit take, it allows it to stay within the confines of a 15 rated film, and so has a wider audience. It also gives the film opening a logical climax and end point.
Thursday, 6 March 2014
Monday, 3 March 2014
Actors, Crew And Locations
For the film I've already started to recruit people to help with the production of the film opening, this will allow everything to run alot more smoothly when it comes around to actually filming it instead of randomly grabbing people I know and forcing them in front of the camera (a mistake that I have done before and has led to some ghastly results in the final product). So after briefly outlining what I intended to do and how I intended to film it in person, I sent them a follow up e-mail to get it set in stone, from this I managed to get my cast together fairly easily (though we did have one hiccup- but I'll get to that later).
As for the crew, I decided early on that I would operate the camera so I could get the shots that I really needed, as this proved to be a problem with the preliminary task; I also enlisted the help of another media student to take pictures of the set whilst we prepped the room and filmed the scene. The other crew members that I have recruited are mainly some friends of mine who are going to help with the dressing of the set and the carrying of equipment.
The location was originally going to be a science classroom, as this fits with the theme of the feature and would give me easy access to scientific equipment that could be used in the film, though most of the classrooms were unavailable during the times when I scheduled to film. Meaning that out of necessity the locations had to change, I substituted the science classroom for an english classroom across the media classroom, that also stored the lights and cameras, and decided to change the whole look of the film to accommodate this change, from the lavish lab look of the science classroom to a minimalist look (created through the use of four huge boards).
Back to the cast, the main hiccup was that the actor portraying the "Body" dropped out at the last minute leaving the actor playing the "Scientist" to step in and a crew member took over his role.
As for the crew, I decided early on that I would operate the camera so I could get the shots that I really needed, as this proved to be a problem with the preliminary task; I also enlisted the help of another media student to take pictures of the set whilst we prepped the room and filmed the scene. The other crew members that I have recruited are mainly some friends of mine who are going to help with the dressing of the set and the carrying of equipment.
The location was originally going to be a science classroom, as this fits with the theme of the feature and would give me easy access to scientific equipment that could be used in the film, though most of the classrooms were unavailable during the times when I scheduled to film. Meaning that out of necessity the locations had to change, I substituted the science classroom for an english classroom across the media classroom, that also stored the lights and cameras, and decided to change the whole look of the film to accommodate this change, from the lavish lab look of the science classroom to a minimalist look (created through the use of four huge boards).
Back to the cast, the main hiccup was that the actor portraying the "Body" dropped out at the last minute leaving the actor playing the "Scientist" to step in and a crew member took over his role.
Sunday, 2 March 2014
First draft of the script
The idea behind the project started as a sort of '80s-esque horror comedy centred around the sci-fi theme of reanimation and interdimentional beings, with this in mind I looked over the script writing techniques (that I researched earlier) and made quick notes about the imagery that wanted to get in the opening (though a lot of the 'Videodrome'-esque rebirth ideas that I had been kicking around had to go, mainly due to the fact that it would be too difficult to try and create given the budgetary and time constraints), after which I attempted to do a vague script to get events in order mainly so that I could see where it was all heading (this would allow me to build on things that worked and take out the bits easily whilst retaining the story).
Below: The original rough script written in note form (and not formatted correctly).
After I got a feeling for the course of events, I promptly started to write it up picking the best bits from the notes and transferring them into the script, to try and emphisise the comedy aspect of the piece, the product of this can be seen below (though it isn't properly formatted):
Doctor: Prongs.
Below: The original rough script written in note form (and not formatted correctly).
After I got a feeling for the course of events, I promptly started to write it up picking the best bits from the notes and transferring them into the script, to try and emphisise the comedy aspect of the piece, the product of this can be seen below (though it isn't properly formatted):
INT-Lab-Night
The room is pitch black except for searing light that lights
up the operating table in the centre of the room, along with two figures.
(High angle over table, hands come into view exchanging
various medical instruments and apparatus)
Doctor: Prongs.
Assistant: Check
Doc: Blood substitute.
Ass: Check
Doc: Sandwich.
Ass: With the relish you like.
Doc: (Takes bite) Now where is the head?
(Assistant picks a box up from off screen)
Ass: It just arrived (opens box)
Hmm.
Doc: (Looks in) (Picks something up from inside the box)This
is a Chuck Lee figure with action grip.
Ass: Then where is the…
Title Card: Meanwhile, across town…
INT-Children’s birthday party- DAY
Mum: Here little Johnny, this present came from the good
folks at the Miskatonic University.
Little Johnny: Oh goody. (He opens the package) Ahhh!
(Shocked look of terror on Little Johnny’s face, followed by him dropping
backwards, fainting).
Fade back to the Lab
Adding energy to static shots
http://www.videomaker.com/video/watch/tips-and-techniques/17207-quick-tip-add-energy-to-a-static-shot
This is quite an interesting technique that I could implement into my own film, the technique give the shot (as stated in the video) a pseudo-hand held look that could be quite effective and could add to the film's verisimilitude, as this sort of camera movement evokes real-life (which to an extent, that's why it's used frequently in the TV show 'Breaking Bad') as it mirrors how people move when observing an event, allowing the camera to be voyeuristic surrogate for the audience.
This all leads to the increase in the realism of the scene and the audiences' suspension of belief, thus allowing themselves alot more in the action taking place. So, on the a pretty good technique, and considering my own production will feature flirtations with horror type subject matter, this technique will add a lot to it (as typically effective horror films rely on the audience suspending their belief and investing themselves in the characters (whereas bad horror films turn viewers off, making them actually want to see the characters die in spectacularly graphic ways)so that the audience actually wants to see them persevere and survive, so if I use this technique it will fit with the conventions of this genre and make the audience invest more of themselves in the film).
This is quite an interesting technique that I could implement into my own film, the technique give the shot (as stated in the video) a pseudo-hand held look that could be quite effective and could add to the film's verisimilitude, as this sort of camera movement evokes real-life (which to an extent, that's why it's used frequently in the TV show 'Breaking Bad') as it mirrors how people move when observing an event, allowing the camera to be voyeuristic surrogate for the audience.
This all leads to the increase in the realism of the scene and the audiences' suspension of belief, thus allowing themselves alot more in the action taking place. So, on the a pretty good technique, and considering my own production will feature flirtations with horror type subject matter, this technique will add a lot to it (as typically effective horror films rely on the audience suspending their belief and investing themselves in the characters (whereas bad horror films turn viewers off, making them actually want to see the characters die in spectacularly graphic ways)so that the audience actually wants to see them persevere and survive, so if I use this technique it will fit with the conventions of this genre and make the audience invest more of themselves in the film).
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