Reflections and Changes!

I have now completed filming the first half of my film opening. I am a perfectionist so I took multiple shots of each scene and it took a lot longer than expected. Not only that, but it was hard to record with my whole family inside the house. We are all quarantined due to COVID-19 and it was difficult to keep them all silent during the filming process. I relied a lot on the natural light inside and I did not have to use any extra tools to enhance the lighting. I used my phone and a tripod to film all my shots. I am satisfied with all the content I recorded and I am excited to continue editing.

I am now beginning the preparation for the second half of my film opening. I felt inspired while filming yesterday and I decided to make a minor change to the script and the exposition. This half features the main character: Emily Johnson. She will be in her dead sister's bedroom mourning her death while looking at old photos and her sister's belongings. As Emily listens to the radio, she pieces information together and realizes that her sister was murdered. At this time, the public thinks that her sister, Sammy Johnson, committed suicide. Emily knew her sister very well and thought otherwise. The film opening ends when Emily finds a death threat in her sister's old textbook.

This is the new script:



The introduction that Radio Host #1 gives is crucial to the scene. It informs the audience of the setting and the conflict in the film. The radio prop I have will also convey to the audience that this is a a more classic film and the characters do not have access to all the technology we have today. 

Filming and Editing Updates!

Today I am in process of filming the first half of my film opening. This half features a montage of the serial killer's lair. Shots include the serial killer's bulletin board, books, personal information, and some of his actions. Two shots show the serial killer washing his weapons and putting on gloves.

I have decided to use WeVideo to edit my shots all together. We used this platform earlier in the year to complete projects and I found it very easy to use. Not only that, but I am familiar with all of its abilities and I will not have to spend a lot of time figuring out how to use it. Within WeVideo, I can layer audios and videos on top of one another. This will be very beneficial throughout the editing process. There are also several free audios I can use.



After I began editing, I realized I might have too much footage, and it will be hard to fit everything into 2 minutes. This is not ideal, but I would rather have too much footage than not enough. This means I will have tighter editing and cut out any useless shots. Overall, I am happy with the way my project is turning out so far.

First Day of Filming!

Today I put together the set design and began filming the first part of my film opening. In the first half, there will be a montage of the serial killer's plans, books, gloves, and extra information that will inform the audience more about him. The first thing I did was create the killer's plans on a bulletin board. This includes old photos, post it notes, notebook paper, maps, news articles about the recent murders.



Another shot contains a stack of library books and a library card. This also informs the audience about the serial killer's background.

     

I will continue to film within the daytime because the lighting is the best at that time. I would rather use natural light and a mirror light because I think it will be more efficient. Another shot that I filmed today was the serial killer washing his knives and fixing his gloves. For a steady shot, I have been using a tripod to help me film. It is not very big but it works nevertheless. Overall, this was a productive day of filming and I cannot wait to continue over the weekend.

Distribution Plans!

All of my distribution plans for my film opening will reflect its target audience. As I have already stated before, horror films target young audiences (ages 13-25) due to the immense amount of gore and thrills that they contain. Therefore, the primary source of distribution will be through technology and streaming services. This age group is known for being "tech savvy" and they access almost everything through technology. The most popular streaming services are Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, and Netflix. However; this is the first film I have produced and it is very unlikely that my film will be distributed on these large platforms. The most logical way to distribute my film will be through online streaming services such as YouTube and Vimeo. These platforms are used frequently by teens and allows for the target audience to efficiently access my film.

I have started to research small independent film companies to distribute my film as well. One of the companies I found was Blumhouse Productions, which is known for producing low-budget horror movies. Some of their popular releases include Paranormal Activity (2007), and The Purge (2013). Another company I found was BLACKFLIGHT STUDIOS, which is another independent production company. I have not officially decided upon a company, but this research has given me a better understanding of what I am looking for. I want to pick a realistic company that will help my film become successful.

Sources:

“About Us.” BLACKFLIGHT STUDIOS, www.blackflightstudios.com/.

“About Blumhouse.” Blumhouse.com, www.blumhouse.com/about/.

COVID-19 Changes!

COVID-19 is a dangerous virus that is spreading across the country. To stay safe, people in my community are practicing social distancing and quarantining themselves from society. My family and I have been doing the same things. This virus has caused a few minor problems in my filming process.

1. It will become more difficult for me to film outside in specific locations, since everyone is being advised to stay at home.

2. The props/tools that I had ordered online (retro radio and tripod) are not coming in time which will delay the filming process.

3. I originally planned for my friends to act as the "Bookworm" and Emily, but now I will be Emily and the "Bookworm" and my sister will be Sammy. I will cover my face with a mask whenever I play the "Bookworm" so I am able to become both characters simultaneously.

Due to all the complications, I will be postponing filming to next week as I find solutions to any more issues that arise. Not only that, but postponing filming will give the props more time to arrive. These props are crucial to my film opening because they help convey the setting that the film is taking place within. Overall, I am extremely lucky that I did not have to make many changes to the plot or filming process.

Preparation for Filming!

I will start filming the bulk of my film opening tomorrow, so today I will be putting together the set design, fixing the lighting, and arranging all the props.

According to my research, low key lighting is very popular in horror films; therefore, The first half of my film opening will have low key lighting to enhance horror genre conventions. The second half of my film opening does not embrace many genre characteristics, because its main goal is to allude to conflict and introduce the main characters. Not every horror movie has a scary film opening. For example, The Purge (2013) is a movie about people who go around killing each other during a 10 hour free for all. The film opening informs the audience about the conflict and introduces the characters, but there is nothing scary or creepy about the film opening.

To film my film opening, I will be using a mirror light, a tripod, and a flashlight. These tools will help me get the perfect lighting and a steady, clear shot.

        

Lastly, I have finalized the costume design. I went to a thrift store last weekend to acquire the pieces I needed to perfect each character's looks. I also have a few things of my own that would embrace the characters personalities.

Serial Killer:

      

Emily:

       

Script!

My film opening will begin with a montage of clips that show the serial killers lair and plans to kill people. There is no talking in these clips therefore I did not make a script for this part of the film opening. I began the script at the graphic match cut from the serial killers eyes in a ski mask to Emil's saddened eyes in Sammy's room. This is where the first pieces of dialogue begins.



My script is finalized for the most part, but everything is subject to change once I begin filming. I will start filming tomorrow with my sister since school has been cancelled and my sister is available.

Official Sound and Music!

Sound effects are very important in my film opening. They help embrace important horror genre characteristics by creating a eerie atmosphere. Not only that, but sound effects also create suspense and help foreshadow future event within the film. I will be using some sounds to enhance the background and specific actions such as opening a door or walking on wood.

Here are the links to the sound effects I have downloaded:

Door opening: https://freesound.org/people/SeanSecret/sounds/440645/
Book pages flipping: https://freesound.org/people/Airborne80/sounds/317468/
Searching drawer: https://freesound.org/people/danehager/sounds/235704/
Searching CDs: https://freesound.org/people/lartti/sounds/505384/
Turning on radio: https://freesound.org/people/Joao_Janz/sounds/477612/
Record Vinyl sounds: https://freesound.org/people/InspectorJ/sounds/427848/
Walking on wood: https://freesound.org/people/Tristan_Lohengrin/sounds/233440/
Radio static: https://freesound.org/people/GowlerMusic/sounds/262267/
Paper tear: https://freesound.org/people/FunWithSound/sounds/367684/

Suspenseful Music: https://freesound.org/people/wi-photos/sounds/480931/
Record Vinyl Music: https://freesound.org/people/luffy/sounds/3537/
Sad Music: https://freesound.org/people/InspectorJ/sounds/402656/

I will most likely add more sounds and alter the ones above when I start editing, but this plan gives me a good idea of what sounds I need to consider in the future. My goal with these sound effects and music is to enhance genre characteristics and make the horror film seem more suspenseful.

Target Audience Research!

Horror films typically target young people ages 13-25. Young people are more interested in the violence, thrills, and gore in horror movies. This plays a big impact on every aspect of production, planning, and distribution.

First of all, the main characters in horror movies are young actors and actresses who can relate to the audience. Teenagers and young adults are perfect for the job because they are more intriguing to the young target audience. Furthermore, younger people are not as mature and can progress the plot by making bad choices within the film.

Secondly, the costume and makeup designs are impacted by the target audience. Movies try to attract young people by creating a trendy costume and makeup design. For example, a main character will wear mom jeans and layered graphic t-shirts because that is whats trending within the targeted generation. Audiences also love the makeup special effects and like to recreate the looks while promoting the film.

Furthermore, the target audience determines how they will distribute their film. In the horror movie industry, the films are always distributed digitally through online streaming. This strategy is the most effective way to reach the young target audience in this age of technology. Streaming services such as Vimeo and YouTube are ideal for my film because I am just starting off; however, Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon are the best ways to distribute content later on. Besides online streaming, movies are typically distributed within movie theaters. It is a conventional way to view films and young people love to go to the movie theater with their friends as a pastime activity.

Overall, the target audience plays a huge impact on horror films. There are many strategies producers can use to efficiently target this audience as well. Especially with the growing popularity of trendy clothing and streaming services. 

Sources:

Randall Follow, Isaac. “Horror Film Target Audience.” LinkedIn SlideShare, 21 Oct. 2014, www.slideshare.net/isaac97media/horror-film-target-audience.

“Horror.” Horror | British Board of Film Classification, bbfc.co.uk/education-resources/student-guide/issues-introduction/horror.

Thomspon Follow, Stacey. “Horror Film and How it Targets its Audience.” LinkedIn SlideShare, 21 Oct. 2014, www.slideshare.net/isaac97media/horror-film-target-audience.

Post Group Meetings!

After meeting with some of my classmates about my film opening, I have decided to make some changes to the storyline. The plot and the conflict will remain the same throughout the film; however, I want to enhance different aspects of death and horror in the opening. Rather than introducing the film as a mystery and slasher film, I have decided to focus more on the grief and mourning that the main character is facing. This will allow me to represent a more specific group of people and bring light to this terrifying experience.Not only that, but I needed to lessen the amount of characters because my sister is out of town and none of my friends are available. I also believe it will be easier to film by myself with a tripod.

INTRODUCTION (FILM OPENING):

At first, the audience is introduced the the characters and the conflict. The antagonist is a serial killer who has been nicknamed the "Bookworm" because he targets school girls by leaving threats in their school books. After that, the audience is introduced to the protagonist, Emily Johnson, who is currently mourning the death of her younger sister. Her younger sister was murdered so Emily is shown reminiscing the memories in her sister's room. As Emily listens to the radio, she searches her sister's room and discovers a death threat in her textbook.

RISING ACTION:

Emily becomes more motivated than ever to seek revenge for her sister. She recruits her friends and they embark on a huge investigation to find the murderer. They find clues in the books, survey students, interrogate the police force, and analyze the news. As Emily and her friends found more and more clues, they got super close to finding the murderer. But as they got closer to solving the case, they started to be targeted. 

CLIMAX:

Emily and her friends started to receive threats of their own. They encounter the "Bookworm" at what they they is his secret lair. He kills two of Emily's friends before being shot himself. When his face is revealed, Emily sees that it was actually her boyfriend who was the "Bookworm."

FALLING ACTION:

The whole town is exposed to the recent news and everybody is shocked. The trial goes on and school is shut down for the rest of the year. Nothing will feel normal again in the small town of Captiva for a while.

RESOLUTION:

Emily was devastated and her world was falling apart. Her boyfriend went to jail for a lifetime despite his mental illnesses. Emily has a hard time moving on and the movie ends when she finds a new death threat in a different form (cliff hanger).

The narrative of my horror film is very predictable and classic, as most horror movies are. One of my main concerns in altering the storyline was losing the horror conventions along the way. I plan to embrace the horror genre in my film opening with the use of music, sound effects, color, and eeriness. Most of the horror aspects will come later on in the film as the characters face dangerous conditions trying to expose the murderer. The film will resemble the plot in Pretty Little Liars, which is a television show about four teenager girls who are trying to find out who killed their best friend. I will focus a lot more on the effects that death and threats can have upon a teenager;s mindset and actions.

Scouting Set Locations!

One of my goals within this film opening is to establish a creepy atmosphere. This will create suspense and make the audience uncomfortable while viewing my film. To accomplish this goal, my film opening will take place in the 1990's and have make classic features. I will convey the old school aspect of the film with props, costume design, and specific set locations.

According to a recent survey conducted by The Student Room, people find old horror movies more captivating that modern ones. Older movies contain better plots and more suspense, while modern horror movies focus more on graphics and gore. Therefore, I found it most logical to enhance the classic feel of my film opening even more. I also do not have the technology to create a violent film filled with gore.

Not only that, but horror movies usually take place in isolated locations. This distances the characters from society and puts them in more danger because law enforcement isn't "top notch." For example, in the movie SCREAM (1996) the closest police officer was miles away because the setting was placed in a isolated small town. There was no help for the main characters which creates more suspense within the plot.

There are three main locations I have in mind. A creaky bridge by my house, and my sister's bedroom, and the kitchen in my house. I understand that I have to be very cautious of what appears in the sets because we live in a more modern day and age. Therefore, I will not include any computers or phones.
         

        

Sources:

Barnes, Sophie. “Horror Film Location Types.” LinkedIn SlideShare, 15 Jan. 2013, www.slideshare.net/sophiebarnes902/horror-film-location-types-16007321.

amberloo20 Follow. “Codes and Conventions in the Horror Genre.” LinkedIn SlideShare, 24 Sept. 2015, www.slideshare.net/amberloo20/codes-and-conventions-in-the-horror-genre.

Psychological Research!

GRIEF

The death of a loved one can have a huge impact on someone's life both physically, socially, and emotionally. It is a painful and frightening experience to endure. Physically, people tend to get headaches, nausea, and they always feel tired. Sleep and eating cycles are often interrupted too do to anxiety. Emotionally, people feel a complex range of emotions. Whether it's anger, fear, sadness, or resentment, all of them have negative effects on a person's mindset. The psychological effects are also detrimental. The majority of people fall into a deep depression and get anxiety. These people are at a higher risk of chronic fatigue, anxiety attacks, and thoughts of suicide. One of the worst parts about losing a loved one is that the social aspect will change. Many people will tend to avoid you because they don't know what to say or how to make you feel better.
In my film opening, the main character (Emily Johnson) will be in her sister's room mourning about her death. She craves revenge for her beloved sister, and was going through her things to search for any clues. Emily is feeling a lot of pain and she will do anything to get justice for her sister. This research will help me further understand and portray what she is experiencing.

Here are two videos I watched that are very informative about the grieving process.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eEcaUhxAH2g
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gsYL4PC0hyk

SERIAL KILLERS

Serial killers tend to carry several common characteristics. These include sensation seeking, a lack of remorse or guilt, impulsive actions, the need for attention, the need for control, and predatory behavior. Almost every serial killer has a mental illness as well. 

The most common mental illness among serial killers is Antisocial Personality Disorder. Antisocial Personality Disorder is a disregard for other people. People diagnosed with this disorder have no sympathy and are more prone to commit a crime, especially murder. This is because they do not feel bad for killing other people. 

Another common mental illness among serial killers is Schizophrenia. Schizophrenia causes people to act inappropriately and withdraw from reality. They undergo several hallucinations and have disorganized thinking. Many murders occur due to these hallucinations and delusions.

The serial killer in my film has both of these illnesses. His insanity is portrayed in the beginning of my film opening with a montage of his room and plans to murder school girls. 

According to my research, there was the largest amount of serial killers in the 1990's, when my film opening takes place. 

Not only that, but serial killers tend to be young. More specifically, between the ages of 20 and 30.

Sources:

Alexandria. “Bereavement and Grief.” Mental Health America, www.mhanational.org/bereavement-and-grief.

Caregiver| National Caregivers Library | Eldercare and Caregiving information. Psychological Responses To Loss, www.caregiverslibrary.org/caregivers-resources/grp-end-of-life-issues/hsgrp-grief-and-loss/psychological-responses-to-loss-article.aspx.

Cook, Beth I. “The Degree of Master of Arts in Adlerian Counseling and Psychotherapy.” Serial Killers: Evolution, Antisocial Personality Disorder and Psychological Interventions, Sept. 2011, pp. 2–22. The Faculty of Adler Graduate School.

Frese, Susan. “Schizophrenia and Personality Disorder.” Crime Museum, 9 Sept. 2009, www.crimemuseum.org/2009/09/09/what-is-the-difference-between-schizophrenia-and-multiple-personality-disorder/.

Finalizing The Main Characters!

In my film opening, there will be three main characters: the murderer, the target, and the investigator. The film will focus on the investigator and her determination to find out who is killing all of her classmates.

The first step in creating the main characters is choosing a compatible name. I researched the most popular girls names in the 1990's to find a name for two of my main characters. To further establish my main characters and their personalities, I have created a mood board for each of them to convey their interests, fears, dislikes, etc.





EMILY JOHNSON
The name of the protagonist in my film will be Emily Johnson. She begins her investigation when her younger sister, Sarah Johnson, gets murdered. She is a very rebellious teenager who is not afraid to break the boundaries. She represents a lot of the classic 90's aesthetics and is very determined. She is a strong main character and does not back down despite all of the setbacks she experiences. She represents a grungy high school girl who likes to deviate from the norm.



SAMMY JOHNSON
Sammy Johnson is Emily Johnson's younger sister. She gets murdered before the film begins; however, she plays an important role in Emily's life and within the plot of the film. Her death is what drives Emily to seek revenge and find the murderer. She was a bright light in everyone's life as an accomplished athlete beloved by her family.



"BOOKWORM"
The antagonist in my film opening has been nicknamed "The Bookworm" because he targets school girls by putting notes in their books. This is the clue that progresses the plot throughout the film, and eventually leads to his downfall. Not much is revealed about this character within the film opening, because the main focus is on Emily and Sammy. He is very intelligent and has everything planned out years in advance, until he gets caught.



Sources:

Murray, Steven Casey. “Horror Movie Character Development” BellaOnline, www.bellaonline.com/articles/art63614.asp.

“Social Security.” Top Names of the 1990s, www.ssa.gov/oact/babynames/decades/names1990s.html.

Gathering Props and Research!

Before I produce my film opening, I will be creating several props. The first shots of my film opening take place in the murderer's room. Therefore, I want to make a collage of his plans, victims, targets, and news headlines. This will give the audience more insight on this character and his goals. It also alludes to the conflict that takes place later in the film. For example, the horrifying television series, Pretty Little Liars, uses a collage. When the girls discover "A" they find her lair filled with photos, plans, videos, and headlines about them:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFpdppbtEbo I want to make a collage very similar to this one because it was very effective. First, I have gathered black and white pictures of his victims and the people he plans to kill in the future. At one point, the camera will focus intently on the picture of his next victim, which is one of the main characters. Here are some photos of random people:

           

I have also created some newspaper headlines that will go in the collage:

   

Here are some extra snippets that provide more information about the murderer's plans:

            

To make the collage seem more realistic, I will draw notes, checks, and mark the photos. I will include little handwritten notes and post it notes as well. 

Furthermore, I will put together a stack of books and create a "library card" for one of my shots. I have several books at home so that part will be easy. I used an online template to create a library card:

This week I am planning on going to the dollar store to purchase black gloves, large knife, a radio, and fake blood. According to my research, knives and fake blood are very common props in horror movies. They express gore and violence within the film. They associate with death which can be very creepy and scary to a lot of viewers. I am also going to use a radio to enhance the classic and old school esthetic of the film. Along with my record player, the 90's time period is portrayed. 

Here are some photos of the ones I have viewed online:

  

Sources:

Golding, Kaylee. “Codes And Conventions Of A Horror Film.” Prezi.com, Prezi, Nov. 2014, prezi.com/8m6mpn9vmcoq/codes-and-conventions-of-a-horror-film/.

“25 Iconic Horror Movie Props.” Rotten Tomatoes Movie and TV News 25 Iconic Horror Movie Props Comments, editorial.rottentomatoes.com/gallery/photos-25-iconic-horror-movie-props/.

archives - October 21, 2011. “Classic Horror vs. Modern Horror.” Pipe Dream, 21 Oct. 2011, www.bupipedream.com/ac/4102/classic-horror-vs-modern-horror/.