The lovely bonesIn preparation for adapting the genre to the short film, we have looked at a mixture of feature films and short films that come from the horror genre, however differ in terms of the sub-genre in which they come under. The feature film ‘The lovely bones’ is of the sub-genre of a thriller drama horror. The shot used here in particular captivates the shock value in which the audience expect from the genre, as well as the reveal of the mise-en-scene;which is dark and eerie in the atmosphere. The location of this shot is set in the deserted woods which is what will also be adapted in our short film. Deserted locations are extremely conventional because it is where the antagonist and the protagonist come head to head and is the point of the climax.

Similarly, in the short film the antagonist will defeat the protagonist. The conventional use of deserted locations is essential for the horror genre, because it offers the route of no escape for the pursued, as well as bringing the pursued head to head with the antagonist. Furthermore, the audience are drawn to this type of tension created and excited by the fear of the unknown, which is given off by the dark lighting used in the background as part of the mise – en –scene.

Adaptation explored

For our short film a medium shot will be used to indicate the daunting atmosphere for the audience and also to create a sense of mystery.

Mise-en-scene:• The protagonist will also have the same

expression when targeted by the antagonist. The over the shoulder shot here is a method of deceiving the audience that there is some form of ‘security’ ahead, which is linked to the light shown at the back of the woods.

The medium close up used for this scene in the film, will also be adapted to the woods scene in our short film. The positioning of the antagonist in the woods or in closer reach of whom they are pursuing is extremely conventional of the horror genre. The shot type here is a medium close up revealing the villains face. However, for the short film, the audience will see the camera pan up and down the antagonist’s body rather than face to create a sinister mood.

The Hitcher (element of thriller)Another feature film that will be influential for our short film is ‘The Hitcher’ which has elements of the genre thriller. The location used here is of a deserted location (another convention of the thriller and horror genres). The antagonist is placed at the centre of the location in the dark. The lighting used will be kept the same for our short film, however the antagonist will be hidden in the woods, and the use of sound for example ambience will indicate the antagonist is slowly approaching its target.

Location, character types.

The establishing shot used in this short film acts as the exposition. In contrast to using this type of shot to set the scene, my group have decided to use this shot at the end of Harry walking home alone, in the dark which will have more of an impact on the audience. Furthermore, the scene shows two female characters who are targeted by the antagonist. Attractive females are hugely symbolic in the horror genre and usually have the fate of dying first. In our short film our antagonist is a female which challenges the idea of the female characters being dependent on a male figure for security. We have agreed on this idea because in horror films female characters are usually subjected to the ‘Final girl’ or the stereotypically the blonde who :’’ somehow escapes death on several occasions, but when she finally meets her maker, her death is graphic, with possible nudity and the viewer rejoicing.’’

For our storyboard we have also chosen a point of view shot and taken it in the location of the woods, to indicate to the audience that the antagonist is watching its targets.