Jack Jackson

MY PITCH

I have selected horror as my genre as this one of the most if not the most changed and developed film genre, and I wanted to change it yet again.

What I planned for my trailer was not use conventions of horror like blood and gore but instead create more of a thriller with the building of tension and suspense for my target audience as I personally believe that in a generation constantly being aware of blood grotesque images with games like call of duty being played on a day to day basis I decided I wanted to create a sense of fear and intimidation through the building of tension with the use of music and editing techniques.

THE GENRE

Themes that would occur in my piece would be such themes as tension, suspense, isolation, lack of control, claustrophobic, terror, sense of the unknown, supernatural

These themes all relate to Horror but most are mainly related to the idea of the Gothic. When watching horror films I released that the build up of tension is quite common in most films as it puts the audience of “the edge of their seats” the idea of Gothic conventions being used in Horror is also quite common with films like Dracula (1960) and Frankenstein (1931) both using themes like the fear of the unknown and claustrophobia to intimidate and create a sense of fear for the audience. However, these themes may not have the same effect on the audience as they did back then as the concept of Horror or even Genre as a whole changes and develops for societies needs. The same themes may still be used but they will be adjusted and reformed to fit the society it presenting to. For example, in the 21st century at the moment the idea of an apocalypse and zombies are what fears society.

I will be using these themes however I will use them in a way that most relates to the target audience at the moment, The idea of tension is still very effect when pleasing an audience as it can always being changed to prevent it from being cliché.

THEMES

Torch: Held by the protagonist, whilst looking for the antagonist

PROPS

Every piece must have stock characters that symbolise the tone, themes, and mood of the entire plot. For this I will be using the media theorist’s Propp as my trailer will have stock characters that the target audience are able to relate too.

Protagonist: Jack

Antagonist: The spirits of forest (evil possessed nymphs)

These characters are the main pillar of the development of the plot, they move the plot forward and therefore allow the audience to understand and interpret the plot for themselves.

STOCK CHARACTERS

Actors in Horror films are normally unknown actors, however in some cases well known actors do take up main roles, for example Anthony Hopkins played Hannibal in Hannibal lector or Jessica Alba in the unborn.

The reason for this is that the audience are more focused in how the plot is developing through out the movie instead of which actors are playing what roles. Because of this the audience are therefore more engaged with the film and are understand it instead of going to see because they favourite actor is playing in a role.

It removes the hyper reality of the whole situation and makes the audience have a rethink and focus more on the whole idea of the film instead of the actors.

ACTORS

Location shooting: I will not be using studio as I have a extremely small budget to film with and instead have to film on site such as Greenwich park, school grounds.

Attractive characters: I will not be following this as my trailer will be following some thriller conventions such as building up of tension so attractive women will not be needed as such in my piece even though it is mainly at male audiences I will not be using women as sexual objects in my piece as I believe that you can still create a good piece without the need of a attractive character being brutally savaged or killed off.

Use of supernatural: I am using the concept of a supernatural being with the possessed nymphs of the forest this adds a sense of the unknown and uncertainty to my piece, making it uncomfortable for my audience as they have no idea who or what these creature is and what power it possess.

Use of everyday props: I will not being using props like knifes and guns as my piece creates fear through a more psychological element entering the dark reassesses of the mind instead of brute, physical violence.

CODES + CONVENTIONS

Diegetic and non diegetic sound

I will using quite classical music such as the Eleventh doctor theme, I am the doctor composed by Murray Gold and the Ecstasy of Gold by Ennio Morricone. I will not be using these pieces but I will using these as inspiration of the music I will be using. The music has a very large influence of who the audience see the trailer and therefore interpret it. It will run through out the whole piece yet, will be then silenced at intervals from dialogue coming from certain scenes from the trailer.

The music will be used to slowly build tension from the beginning to the end and will then come to a climax at the end of the trailer expressing the build of suspense towards the audience.

I hope to build the most tension for my audience and the correct music and editing techniques will help me achieve it.

SOUND

Texts: I will be including the convention of text in the trailer as I believe this allows the target audience to get to grips with what is going on in the film and at the same time not have to much so they don’t have to come as they already know what the plot of the whole film is.

Dialogue: The speech will be day to day speech that is used in real life yet, will also carry a sense of assertiveness mainly from the doctor as it displays his power and at the same time his differences from the rest of the cast (his companion, for the majority)

They will not use of swearing even though it is used in some horrors films to express the characters frustration and fear.

SOUND CONTINUED

Establishing shot: To begin the piece with an outlook on the forest haunted by the possessed nymphs.

Close up: to present the facial expressions and feeling on the characters faces portraying the mood of the scene and its tone.

Action shot: clearly showing the characters involved in a action shot, running away from the antagonist.

Medium close up: Like the close up shot, however the target audience is able to see the character body language enabling them to understand the mood of the scene through how the characters are feeling.

Long shot: creates a sense of uncertainty, building of tension, for example a pathway is filmed with a long shot with someone slowly walking up to the camera.

Panning shot: following the character, allows the audience to be up, close, and personal with a character.

Point of view: see the scene as the character allows the audience to fully engage with what is going on as they see everything the character sees.

SHOTS, USE OF CAMERA

Protagonist: Plain shirt, Tie, Hoodie, Trousers

The protagonist is at school when the trailer is being shot, so giving him quite a basic smart but casual look allows him to relate to his surroundings.

I may be using make up as I may include a scene in which sees one character being dragged on the floor, covered in blood. That is still undecided as it may not go with the plot of the antagonist being a forest spirit.

COSTUME, MAKE UP

Geronimo !!!By the Doctor

FIN