How has my Research Impacted my Planning?

Genre conventions

On my blog I have successfully shown that I have researched the conventions of both the horror and thriller genre in a high level of detail. This research has helped me to identify what codes and conventions I want to use in my own trailer. Below I have listed some of the main ones that I aim to use in my trailer to ensure the genre is clear to the audience. 

• A variety of different camera angles 
• Fast paced editing 
• Isolated location 
• Low lighting
• Tense non-diegetic music

Narrative Theories

From researching different narrative theories I have come to the conclusion that I want to include 2 of them in my own film trailer. I think the one's that will fit into my storyline the best are:

• Vladimir Propp - I think that this theory will fit into the storyline of my trailer as Hael could be considered the hero character and Kida the villain
• Binary Opposites - Levi Strauss' theory of binary opposites will fit into my storyline as Kida is the stereotypically evil character whereas in contrast to this Hael is a good character

Camera Angles

By analysing a variety of different thriller film trailers I have identified the key camera shots and angles that have been frequently used. Below is a list of camera angles that I have decided to try and include in my own trailer as I think they are the most effective. 

• Extreme close up 
• Close up 
• Medium shot
• Over the shoulder shot
• Ariel shot
• Establishing shot of secluded location

Promotion

My previous research into what promotional material accompanies a film trailer release helped me decided to create some of my own. I have created a billboard for my film Lazarus. I have also made a Twitter and Facebook account to post updates about the progress of my film trailer through different media technologies. Seeing how successful these methods were for film promotion inspired me to use this as a part of my final media production.

Screenshots of Filming

Below are some screenshots of what I have filmed so far:

I think this bit of filming was successful because it shows the full body of Michael and also the gravestone in the background. I think the fact that the sun is starting to go down and the sky is a pinky colour makes this shot more effective. I also think this is a good angle because it gives the impression that Michael is just a silhouette which reflects his personality well.

I think that this was a successful shot because it frames the church and graveyard nicely behind the characters in the foreground, this means that the setting of this scene is very clear to the audience. I think the fact that it is a long shot makes it even more successful, this is because the body language of each character is effectively portrayed. For example; it is clear that Michael is tired as his hands are in his pockets and he has his shoulders back, I feel like this suggests he doesn't care about Kida much any more despite the fact that his facial expression suggests he is still angry. On the other hand Kida seems far more relaxed with the situation, showing that she isn't bothered about what's happening or the feelings her father has towards her.

This medium shot shows the same scene as the long shot above but is portrayed in a higher level of detail. I feel that this may be more effective as it focuses more on the facial expressions of the characters. I also like this as it has a slight upward angle which makes Michael look more intimidating. I think that this is especially good as the dialogue is threatening and backs up the idea of him being more powerful than Kida

I believe that this extreme close up of Michael's hands is very successful because of the level of detail and intimacy that it portrays. The angle is effective because it allows the viewer to mainly focus on the ring instead of his hands. I also like the lighting that I have used for this shot, the dark colours in the background ensure that his arms and hands stand out and are clearly in the foreground. I used a bright white camping light outside of the shot as well in order to light his wrists and the ring more, this allowed them to be seen more clearly on the camera

I think that this shot of St Bernards Hopsital is successful because it has a slight upwards angle that makes it seem intimating. I also like the way that I have framed it, because the building is slightly to the right of the frame with the van on the left hand side. This allows the whole building to be fit into one shot and effectively shows the environment it is based in

I think that this other long shot of St Bernards Hospital is successful because it shows the gates closing. I feel like this is effective because it gives the representation of a prison which is effectively where Kida gets sent as a child for violent behaviour.

I like the downward camera angle that I have used here because I feel that it makes the shot look creepy and eerie. I also think the fact that it is only focused on the chain makes it more effective and interesting

Review of the Horror and Thriller Genres

Request Letter to Chalfont St Giles Church

Dear Reverend Brown,

I am an A-level Media Studies student at The Misbourne School. For my coursework I am required to film a thriller film trailer. One of the locations that I would like to use is a church and graveyard. I was wondering if I would possibly be able to use Chalfont St Giles Parish Church for this purpose. I am more than willing to be as flexible as possible and to carry out the filming outside of service times, therefore there would be no inconvenience to you. 

I look forward to hearing from you in the near future.

Thanking you for your assistance in this matter.

Yours sincerely,

Holly McCammond

Locations Moodboard

I created my Locations Moodboard on the website realtimeboard.com. This was fairly easy to use, however it wouldn't let me export it as an image. Therefore I improvised and print screened it, put it into a word document, cropped it and saved it as an image. The moodboard shows different locations that I have already used and also plan to use. 

Music Options

These are some of the soundtracks I have found for my trailer, I need to make sure that I choose the most appropriate one as I will only have a little bit of dialogue in it. 

I am considering this bit of music because I feel that it would create the tense atmosphere I am aiming for. It is also an instrumental piece which means that it will be easier to hear the dialogue in my trailer. Although this is a good bit of music I feel like it may be too overwhelming for my trailer.

I am also thinking about using this piece of music as, like the first one it is also instrumental. The main reason I like this one though is because I find it still creates tension but isn't as heavy as the first option.

I am considering this as music to use in my trailer because I think it is different from the other options I have chosen. Unlike the first 2 choices this one does feature singing. Although this might not be ideal for dialogue it is possible to edit it so it dips when my characters talk. Even though this is a good option, I do not think it will be my final choice because I feel it wouldn't create the tension I am aiming for.

I thought about using this piece of music for my trailer as I like the idea of using a classic, popular song. The fact that it is slow might make my trailer sound creepy and tense which is what I am aiming for. Despite this I still don't think that it will be my final choice, purely because the pace doesn't quicken at all throughout the song. Because of this I don't think it will fit in with the thriller genre.

This is my final option for my trailer music. This is my favourite because I think it has all of the things I am looking for. The song starts off slow and creepy which will create tension at the beginning of my trailer. Later into the music though the pace does quicken slightly which means that I will be able to successfully heighten the fear, intensity and creepiness that the audience will experience. Overall I think this is most likely to be the song that I use in my own trailer.

Costumes, Make-up and Hair Styles Moodboard

I used a website called go moodboard.com to create a moodboard showing different ideas for my characters costumes, make-up and hair styles. The application is very easy to use and gives a good professional looking finish.

Character costumes, make up and hair styles moodboard

Social Media Accounts for Film Trailer

I have created a Twitter and Facebook account for my Film Trailer as Social Media has become a huge distributor for promotional material. 

Facebook Page

Twitter Page

Trailer Planning Including Characters, Locations, Costumes and Shotlist

Scripting

In my film trailer I have decided not to have a lot of dialogue. However here are some ideas for conversations I would like to include.

Graveyard Scene 

*Kida enters from the left*

Michael: "You wanna know what I think? I think it should be you in there... not her"

*Michael exits right*

Bar Scene

*Hael enters and sits next to Michael*

Hael: "It wasn't an accident was it?"

Michael: "No"

Coffee Shop Scene

*Michael sits down with drinks*

Hael: "There's nothing here" 

Storyboard

This is the Storyboard I have put together for my film trailer. Although when creating the trailer I may adjust the order slightly. This is because I may realise that some things don't necessarily work or I could come up with an even better idea. This Storyboard therefore is a rough idea of what shots will be shown throughout my trailer.

Expansion on shots being used:

2 - In this particular scene I will be using a variety of different shots including, a close up of Michaels face, an extreme close up of his hands when he opens the gate, and a medium shot to show both his expression and movement together. 

3 - For this part of the trailer I will again be experimenting with some different shots and angles, including; a long shot to show the actors full body playing, medium shot to show this in a little bit more detail, and finally a close up of the swings as I feel this will create an eerie and creepy atmosphere. 

4 - In this scene I will only be using a long shot in order to establish the setting. I feel that this would be the most effective one to use as it will show the full environment. However I will be using a slight upward angle in order to make it seem more intimidating. 

6 - For this shot I will be using an extreme close up as I feel like this will be the most effective way of showing Michael fiddling with his wedding ring in his hands. I might also use a medium shot so that I can also capture the characters emotions whilst he is doing this. I will be using both a front and side angle in order to show it from different perspectives and make it more interesting.

7 - For this part I will mainly be using an over the shoulder shot so that Kida is shown in the reflection of the bathroom mirror. Other than this though, I will also be using a close up to show the mark and a medium shot to show her emotions when looking at it. 

8 - In this scene I will be using over the shoulder shots so that I can show the conversation between Michael and Hael. I will also be using a medium shot to show both of them sitting at the table in the cafe. I may also use close up's of the characters faces to show their emotions when they are conversing. 

10 - For this I will be using a long shot to show the setting of the bar. I also aim to include an extreme close up of the glass in Michaels hand.  I will also be using an over the shoulder shot with a downward angle to show him holding the glass. 

11 - For this I want to use either a long or medium shot to show Kida walking up the the bar where Michael is sitting. I would also like to use multiple over the shoulder shots to present their conversation about mothers death.

12 - For this I am planning to have a close up of bath water running. As I am planning to show Hael in the bath having a memory of drowning as a child I want to use an ariel shot to show her sitting up in panic. I will also use an extreme close up of her facial expression and medium shot of her sitting in the bath calming down, breathing deeply. 

13 - For the grave scene I will be using a medium and long shot. All of these different shots all have a slight upward angle to make Michael look bigger and more intimidating compared to Kida. 

15 - When Hael is tied up in the garage I plan on using a medium shot with a downward angle in order to make her look small and vulnerable. I would like to try having an extreme close up of her panicked expression but also of her hands trying to escape. I am also going to use a long shot with an upward angle to show Kida in a position of power. 

16 - I will be using an extreme close up of Kida holding a bloody knife. I want to shot to be a downward angle from side on so that the edge of the blade is really clear. 

17 - I want to show a close up of Kida with Hael boyfriend. I am aiming to have both of their faces in the frame showing them looking at each other deeply and passionately. 

19 - Extreme close up of Kida's hand with pills in her palm. It will then pan across a bedside table and a variety of objects including; pill bottle, alcohol, knife, books, lamp etc. 

Narrative Theories in my Film/Trailer

Narrative Theories
Levi Strauss - Binary Opposites

 My two main characters are binary opposites as I have portrayed Hael to be the stereotypical good character and in opposition to this Kida is the evil character.

Even the names that I have chosen for my characters suggest this. Kida literally means rising from darkness suggesting her struggle to escape her intrinsically evil personality. In contrast to this the name Hael originated from the Hebrew name and means Angel of Kindness. Although Hael was originally a male name it has recently become used as a unisex name.

I decided to use these names as I feel that they reflect the characters perfectly and give hints to their complex identities. I also chose to spell Hael differently as I think that it made it more interesting and creative suggesting that she also has more depth to her than will be shown in the trailer.

Todorov’s Theory

This theory states that most story’s or plot lines follow the same pattern or path. There are 5 steps to this pattern and looking at my storyline it does adhere to the theory.

The first stage is equilibrium which is when the first part of the story will display a happy start. My films storyline follows this stage as it starts out with the birth of Kida and Hael and sees them growing up happily and normally.

The second stage is a disruption, this shows something in the story that will disrupt the equilibrium. In the case of my films plot this is when Kida escapes and sees her sister and father again as it causes a major chain of events to unfold.

Stage 3 of this theory is realisation. This is the moment in the plot when the characters finally recognise the problem and it is chaos. This happens in my story when Hael and Michael find out that Kida has the Mark of Cain. They realise the danger that comes with it and it therefore creates anarchy.

The fourth stage is restored order. This is the part of the plot when the characters attempt to repair the damage and restore the equilibrium. In my film this would be when Hael and Michael are trying to find a cure for the Mark of Cain. They search for ways to remove it or to stop its power.

The final stage of this theory is, equilibrium again. This is the last part of the plot where the problem has been resolved. Although this is not directly shown in my storyline, the problem is removed when Kida takes her own life. I wouldn’t say equilibrium is restored as her death causes a lot of pain for the other character Hael.

Propp’s Theory

He argued that whatever the surface difference between stories they all share the same internal structure. He said that characters could be grouped into 8 different character roles, these include;

• The Villain
• The Hero
• The Donor – provides object with magical ability
• The Helper – who aids the hero
• The Princess – the reward for hero
• Her Father – who rewards the hero
• The Dispatcher – who sends the hero on his way
• The False Hero

My thriller trailer doesn’t include all 8 of these, however it does have 3 of them which are; The Villain (Kida), The Hero (Hael) and The Helper (Michael).

Narrative for my Film

Rough Description of the Whole Films Storyline (only sections will be used for the trailer):

• Two children have been born roughly less than a year apart, sisters called Kida and Hael. 
• When Kida was born they noticed a birthmark on her arm but thought nothing of it. 
• The two girls grow up relatively normally, however Kida is occasionally violent towards Hael causing their parents to worry that it isn't normal behaviour. 
• Eventually at around the age of 6 Kida gets taken away to a children's facility in St Bernard's Hospital, Southall, for violent behaviour and vicious mood swings. The two main events that make this transpire is the fact that she tried to drown Hael in the bath and her mothers "accidental" death.
• Hael then grows up normally without Kida.
• When they reach age 18 Kida tracks down Hael and says that she has been released even though she actually escaped from the facility.
• They meet up and get to know each other, make up for some of their lost childhood together. 
• Hael finds out from her father Michael that their mothers death wasn't an accident, Kida actually pushed her down the stairs when she was a child. 
• It is then shown that Kida's birthmark has developed into some kind of symbol, which turns out to be the Mark of Cain.
• Her father and sister find out that this is the case and discover it appeared straight after she got sent away to St Bernard's and after their mother died. (when she committed a sin)
• As Hael and Michael have appeared back into Kida's life it causes the mark to make her violent behaviour worsen.
• Her dad and sister search wildly for a cure to the curse, they find out they can't physically hurt her either themselves as "therefore whoever kills Cain, vengeance will be taken on him sevenfold". 
• As this happens Kida's anger from the mark is directed upon Hael and Michael. 
• In hopes of hurting Hael she has an affair with her long term boyfriend Dean.
• The Mark of Cain takes full possession of her and she ends up killing her father and kidnapping Hael. 
• Due to the sisterly bond that they had as a child she doesn't kill her but instead forces her to relive their childhood and tortures her. 
• Eventually Hael manages to escape and call the police.
• By the time they track Kida down however she already taken her own life in order to put a stop to the curse, she can't cope with hurting the people she loves any more. 

Locations

This includes locations I have already filmed  in and also locations I plan to film in;

• Tintagel 
• Port Isaac
• Thame Park
• Great Missenden Park 
• Great Missenden Costa 
• Great Missenden Woods
• Chalfont St Giles Church and Graveyard
• Holly Bidgood's House 
• My Garage 
• My House

Props

• Dolls
• Flowers
• Old Scout Knife 
• Glass Pill Bottle 
• Alcohol Bottles 
• Baby/children photos

Costumes

• Black/Grey Suit - For the Dad to wear at the Graveyard/Church
• All Black, Casual Clothes, Hoodie? - Kida
• Casual Clothes - Hael
• Dark Coloured Dress - Hael at the Church

Characters

• Dad/Michael (Tim)
• Kida (Ella) 
• Hael (Alesi)
• Younger Kida (Poppy or Lottie)
• Younger Hael (Poppy or Lottie) 
• Haels boyfriend/Dean

Survey Monkey Questionnaire

Focus Group

Here is the focus group I carried out to find out what my target audience want to see in a Thriller trailer. This was a very useful thing to do because it allowed me to see what features would be the most well received by my viewers. Completing my focus group has made me decide whether I'm going to have the stereotypical characters, whether I want the storyline to be conventional or not, what Thriller films I should take influence from, whether my trailer should reveal a little bit or a lot of the film and where I should put the name of the distributor in terms of beginning, middle or end. I chose these particular questions because I felt that they would give me good answers that I can take into consideration when planning my own trailer.

Promotional Material that Accompanies the Release of a Film

Film Institutions and Distributors