Ideas for camera

CameraLow angle shot - from using a low angle shot throughout my trailer, this will

be able to indicate to the audience just how dominant, strong and powerful the antagonist is. Low angle shots will be a constant reminded of this and will also add to the sympathy and fear they feel for the victims. I could also use this on my film poster, which is common and is shown in existing media products, such as the film poster for Friday the 13th.

High angle shot - from the use of a high angle shot, it allows the audience to see how vulnerable the victim is, creating empathy as well as fear. Throughout my trailer, if I use high angle shots, it will continue to remind the audience just how dominant the killer is, portraying them in a undefeatable manner, therefore keeping the audience on their toes wanting to come and watch the film.

Close ups - from the use of a close up the audience is exposed to more detail. Within a slasher this is conventional, although the identity of the killer is usually hidden behind a mask, we are able to see a short few second glimpse of the mask on the odd occasion, which will lead to the audience having flash backs of the mask creating a long lasting horrific imagery effect. Therefore, I believe this will be beneficial to add within my trailer. Additionally, close ups are often used on front covers on magazines, this could be beneficial for me to look into. However, I would want the image on the front cover of the magazine have some sort of symbiosis to my film poster, creating a strong brand identity and recognition.

The use of a low angle shot is used in order to make the antagonist more scary, dominant and masculine, making the audience fear him even more.

This close up is taken from A Nightmare on Elm Street of the villain, Freddy Krueger. The close up is used to give the audience an insight to the face of the killer - despite him being masked. It allows for them to remember the face in the back of their mind as a lasting effect.

This high angle shot is taken from the 2005 interpretation of the ‘House of Wax’. This shot enables to victim to look weak, vulnerable and helpless. Leading for the audience to think that they are going to die in a matter of time. By using this in my own trailer, I will be able to build up anticipation as to whether the character will survive or not.

Pans are almost always used at the beginning of a trailer in order to show a location, it sets the scene and can cause an uneasy feeling for the audience as they are usually abandoned locations.

In ‘A Nightmare on Elm Street’ different cuts are used in order to show the audience around a large abandoned area, this will make the audience anxious, as they await for something to pop out at them.

Establishing shots may also be used at the beginning of a trailer, just showing one particular location, rather than the area of a location like in a pan shot. This adds extra emphasis on this location allowing the audience to gather thoughts and jump to the conclusion that bad things will happen at this location.

Other standard shots that will are conventional within horror films are; medium close ups, which allows the audience to see more depth and detail of where the characters are, as well as being close enough to show emotion still. Long shots will do the same, however, emotion will not be as evident, the focus will be on the character/costume or the location. Extreme long shots will mainly be used in order to show a location and are most common in establishing shots.

Point of view shots will be used in order to see the victim from the antagonist's point of view, creating sinister vibes.

Cuts taken from the beginning of the ‘Nightmare on Elm Street’ (2010) trailer, showing an abandoned location. They are also establishing shots.

Point of view shot of Paris Hilton in the ‘House of Wax’ (2005). This is portrayed from the killers view giving us an insight as to seeing things from his perspective. Additionally, as it is a close up we can see the fear on her face.

Medium close up taken from scream. This enables us to see some of the costume, as well as the fact that she is on the phone. However., the audience still get a clear insight to the characters emotions and facial expression.

This is a long shot taken from the 2013 interpretation of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre. From this shot we can see partial parts of the location - it looks like he is on a rooftop. The costume - jeans and a t-shirt. The idea he is wearing a mask, as well as the fact he is starting up a chainsaw.

This is an extreme long shot from ‘A Nightmare on Elm Street’. This shot allows the audience to have an understanding of a location. In this case it looks to be in some sort of factor. This combined with the dark lighting creates a scary silhouette of Freddy, intending to scare the audience. I think this shot combined with lighting would be very effective in my trailer as part of a montage.

Conclusion...Overall, I have come to the conclusion that using a variety of different shot angles and shot types would keep my audience entertained, focused and drawn to my trailer leaving them very little time to get bored. Additionally, I believe that these shot types are very popular in films in general, but also in horror films as they work together in order to build up extra tension, suspense and fear for the audience.