Opening Sequence: Animatic

Above is the final animatic that I would be using for my opening sequence.

This animatic also includes how I want to shoot some of the scenes and explains how this will happen.

'No Where To Run' Final Script'

No Where To Run by

Storyboarding: Day 3

After further development of my script from Scripting: Day 2 I was able to press on with story-boarding and therefore completed the storyboard.

The final number of shots that I used in the storyboard was 33 which seems a short amount for a two minute opening sequence but I decided to elongate certain shots to add to the film style that I was going for. To hopefully draw an audience and then surprise them with something. This is most noticeable in the 7 second long shot of someone running through a wooded forest, from a Point of View shot it allows the use of a long length of shot and to then shorten shots afterwards to get the contrast.

Scripting: Day 2, further developed my ideas for the storyboard, however it also involved me editing shots 3 and 4 on the storyboard. Originally the idea was to see the women packing, however still opening with the shot of a radio and static coming from the radio I then cut to a wide shot of the bedroom to give a sense of location in the opening sequence. However it also creates an enigma code for it makes the audience question why there is a room in darkness and a radio with static.

The introduction of the two extra characters of 'Rob' and 'Christian' allowed me to take the story into the wood but it doesn't explain what they are running from, which is what I wanted to achieve.

My final shot of the entire opening sequence was going to be one of just the directors name (as pictured below).

Scripting: Day 2

My scripting seemed to help me develop my ideas for my story further and allow the shots in the storyboard to flow smoother into one final opening sequence. I developed my ideas further but had to change my first couple of shots in the storyboard to eventually match with my script.

The script I was writing changed my perception on the idea of my film and therefore made it necessary to change the shots 3 and 4. (Explained in Day 3 of Story-boarding).

I managed to get further ahead with my scripting than my storyboard and therefore the scripting gave me ideas on how to storyboard the rest of my opening sequence.

Whilst scripting I developed my dialogue further and although trying to keep away from dialogue in my opening sequence, I seemed to add a few lines of dialogue. I also added two new characters called 'Rob' and 'Christian' to add further complexity to the storyline of the opening sequence and therefore make the audience ask more questions to what is and what will happen in the film.

Storyboarding: Day 2

On Day 2 of storyboarding I only managed to complete an extra 3 shots on the storyboard as I felt that the idea wasn't flowing into one opening sequence. After the shot of the boy shouting to his mum, I decided to add another black screen but displacing the main Actors names

Scripting: Day 1

The first of scripting my storyboard began when the whole storyboard wasn't complete. I had about 7 shots to work with and turn into script.

I found using Celtx very difficult to understand at first, about all the style with which to write the script in. However after a while I did get to grips with it and then started to script.

With the seven shots of mine not having much dialogue it has to be detailed enough to get across to the actor and whoever is reading the script. So I have broken it down into sections where it changes place and position to then allow me to be detailed on what happens in that particular section of storyboarding and script.

Storyboarding: Day 1

Day 1 of Storyboarding involved a lot ideas for Production Cards that were eventually got rid of. I focused mostly on the idea of getting all the details done around the storyboard instead of focusing on the drawing, which could be done at a later date.

I eventually got a total of 7 shots done including ones where I would have the studio name and another production card. The beginning scene opens with just a radio tuning, including the sounds of a radio static as the production cards are on screen.

With the idea of music following on from the audience research I have decided to start it off very quiet and have the build up in certain moments of the scene. The use of violins will add a great deal to the eerie feeling that I will be trying to create.

Opening Credits Order

The formal conventions of a film follow a usual set of opening credits. To try and achieve the top marks I will follow this order:

1. Studio Name: The name of the studio that is distributing the film. (E.g. Lions gate, Universal etc...).
2. Production Company: The name of the company that usually invest most into the films.
3. A Film By (Director's Name):
4. Starring: This involves show the principal actors in the film.
5. The Film's Title:
6. Featuring: I will now mention the lesser actors involved in the film.
7. Casting:
8. Music Composed By:
9. Production Design
10. Edited By:
11. Executive Producer:
12. Story By:
13. Written By:
14. Director:

Development of Film Idea

With the inclusion of the radio static, I needed to lengthen the film and so decided to take ideas used in my initial idea of chaos and fear and include many Point of View (POV) shots to add to the pace and confusion of how the audience will be feeling because they don't know what this person is running away from.

The idea of cutting from a room in a house to the POV shots of the person running will add to confusion and although it does not set the location, characters, and storyline in the first two minutes, this is done deliberately. I decided to do this because when doing audience research I realised that the storyline, characters and location can be set up during the film and not just in the opening sequence. This idea allows raises a lot of enigma codes as to what is happening? What will happen? And how it will happen?

Making of Production Card 1

INSPIRATION PICTURES:

After today I have managed to get together my first production card and have the photos in which I will turn into the film version of my production cards.

The name of my Studio for my opening sequence is called "Inspiration Pictures" and the idea came from a simple discussion with someone about creating a production card. All I needed was Inspiration. From there I got a simple technique of back-lighting letters and allowing shadows to appear.

My first step was to decide on a font that would stand out on screen. I used a normal block font to allow an easy read for the audience. I drew the lettering on card so when I cut it out it would stand up better than paper.

From here it took me a long time to cut out each individual letter to allow it to stand up. Moving on I took the lettering of "Inspiration" and tried to fit in-front of a particular background to make the white card stand out. In front of a coloured background it worked but did not have the striking effect that I was trying to create. So instead I chose a black background to make the white stand out. I also back-lit the lettering to create shadows of the card to add effects.

My next step was to create the "Pictures" to use in the Production Card. I followed the same technique but made the font size a bit smaller so that "Inspiration" called be noticed more. After cutting it out I got a few more text shots with the camera to hopefully use.

From the image above of a straight on shot of "Inspiration Pictures" an idea formed to make the letters appear in order popping up one by one. The next few images give the idea of what I was trying to achieve (Not all letters are featured).

The final step to the production card is to put all of it together and then when nearer the film, add music too it that will again add to atmosphere and run into the film.

Film Idea: Rethink

After the first initial idea of an Apocalyptic Earth Opening Sequence, news feeds and riots, I came to the conclusion that the whole idea to put together was difficult and although not impossible it would require large casts, time and if it needed re-filming it would take a lot to get people back into the same costumes at the same place to re-film.

So instead I have gone for another idea, this idea will be less difficult but still revolve around the same initial idea but just shot in a different way. So instead of a full news report I will have the background news to a news report from a television or a radio.

I would use the inspiration I got from my sound research and use the static to create the effect I wanted. To incorporate this sound effect I would be using a radio or television static in the opening sequence.

Initial Film Idea

My initial film idea composes of shots of riots and large crowds of people running in chaos. This is to give the effect of fear and unease in the audience of what is happening in the first few shots. In between certain shots of fear and chaos I will add the Title Credits associated with the film, but have the titles only flashing on the screen quickly to give the whole opening sequence a feel of intense pace throughout to again unease the audience.

Analysis of Questionnaire Results

1. Gender:

From the results collected I found out that the majority of people I asked were Male. Out of 21 we had 12 Males creating a 57% and 9 Females with the other 43%. With more males it fits in with the stereotype of males watching Horror Films, and it also fits in with my target audience of a more male dominated audience.

2. Age:

The majority of the people who answered my questionnaire were aged between 16-20 at a rate of 14 out of 21 to have a percentage of 67%. The people between 21-26 had a percentage of 15% and accounted for 3 people. The other two ages each had 2 people with a percentage of 9% each. Again this fits in with my generic profile of the target audience were I want to aim the film at people aged between 16-26.

3. What do they expect a Horror to be Set?

The majority of people I ask would expect a horror movie to be set in an abandoned house, with the next being in Dark Woods and the third would expect another setting to be used such as an apocalyptic setting or a Empty Town. The percentage of people who would more expect it in a abandoned house was 56% with a Dark Woods being 23% and others being 15%.

4. Favourite Horror Film?

This question got a lot of different answers to from films such as Zombieland to The Exorcist and Women In Black, however they were a few that people said was they favourite film such as Paranormal Activity, Zombieland, The Shining and 28 Days Later. However all the films cover a lot of sub-genre of Horror films.

I knew that we would get a lot of different answers to this but it was more asked to get a broad overview if people liked a certain film and if any films that people chose followed a sub-genre.

5. What sub-genre Horror film are they more likely to watch?

This question seems to be more evenly spread, as we can see from the Pie Chart Comedy Horror have a 38%, Zombie Horror is at 19%, Psychological Horror is at 28% and Slasher Films at 15%. With my initial film idea it does sort of fit in with the idea but it does not mean I have to agree with the results. Because the Zombie Horror percentage is within the middle I can still apply to a majority of my audience.

6. What scares them the most?

It is pretty obvious that Fear of the Unknown has the majority of what scares people the most at 53% with Apocalyptic Earth next at 23%. This fits in with idea and again I can use this fear to create greater atmosphere and suspense among my audience members who will watch.

7. What do they think is the most Important thing to get across in the first 2 minutes?

Number 1 Importance:

What people thought was most important to get across in the opening sequence was the introduction of characters at 53%. However I would like to disagree and say that to get the audience to ask questions (Enigma Codes) in the opening 2 minutes to then further develop these questions and answer them later on in the film to create a climax.

Number 2 Importance:

Number 2 Importance is much widespread but the biggest percentage is location at 28% shortly followed again by characters at 23%. In conclusion with these results I would like to agree that location is important in the opening sequence to set the scene.

Number 5 Importance:

The least important as said by my questionnaire answers is to Set Up the Film so it has given me further confidence to continue with my initial idea.

8. How should the music be in a Horror Film?

The majority of people said that a horror film should include a very quite piece of music which has loud sudden climaxes and includes a lot of high strings to create tension and mystery. For example the music used in Hannibal composed by Hans Zimmer. I have used this soundtrack as inspiration to add to the suspense of what could be.

Questionnaire Justification

Media Horror Questionnaire

1.      Male or Female?

.....................

2.      Age?

16-20.                          21-26.                          27-32.                          33+.

3.      Where do you expect a horror movie to be set?

Abandoned House.

School.

Family Home.

Dark Woods.

Other. (Please State)

………………………………………………………………………………………….

4.      Favourite Horror Film? (E.G. ‘The Shining’).

…………………………………………………………………………………………..

..........................................................................................................................................

5.      What sub-genre Horror film are you more likely to watch?

Comedy Horror. (E.G. ‘Shaun of the Dead’).

Zombie Horror. (E.G. ‘I Am Legend’).

Psychological Horror. (E.G. ‘The Exorcist’).

Action Horror. (E.G. ‘Resident Evil’).

Slasher Films. (E.G. Scream).

Other. (Please State).

…………………………………………………………………………………………..

6.      What scares you the most?

Being trapped.

Spiders.

Loneliness.

Fear of the Unknown.

Apocalyptic Earth.

Nothing.

Other. (Please State).

…………………………………………………………………………………………

7.      Please may you rank (In Order of Importance) what you think is most important to get across in the first two minutes of a film.

Location.

Characters.

Storyline.

To Ask Questions.

Set Up for Rest of the Film.

8.      What should the music be like for a Horror? (E.G. ‘A whistling wind effect’).

…………………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………………

 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Justification of Questions:

Question 1 and 2 are included in my questionnaire to establish the majority of the gender and age range of the people who completed my questionnaire. This allows me to form the basis of my target audience and who I should be aiming the film at.

Question 3 allows me to get an idea of where my audience think a horror film should be shot and set in. This would allow me to stick the normal conventions seen in a horror movie and relate to the audience and how they would like to see a horror movie.

Question 4: Getting an idea of what some audience members liked as a horror movie, would enable me to have a look at some the ideas used in those films too add to the horror of that particular horror movie. 

Question 5: With the information from this question I would be able to decide what sub-genre horror was going to be the best to base my opening sequence on, so I could get the best reaction from my target audience.

Question 6: Establishing my target audiences worst fears would allow me to create my opening sequence around these answers to yet again get the best reaction from the target audience. It also would give me ideas of where to start my opening sequence. 

Question 7: I only asked this question to get an idea of how my horror film should be structured and if it was more important to concentrate on one or more particular aspect during my opening sequence.

Question 8: I had already established from watching previous horror films that the music is one of the most important aspects to consider in a horror film. Getting an idea of what my target audience believed was most effective would give me the basis of where to start with the music.