Drafting and Planning - Images for Magazine

As a result of my peer and teacher, I decided to take more original photography for the main image for my magazine. My initial photography was taken on an iPhone without flash so the images did not look high quality or professional. Therefore, when taking my original photos, I made sure the flash was on and took the images in a brightly lit room. Again, I made my actress wear dark, black make-up around her eye to highlight to the audience that she is the 'monster.' I also straightened her hair so it looked dark and long portraying the look of 'monsters' such as the 'Ring' and the 'Grudge.'
I made my actress pull a blank facial expression to highlight that she is the villain. I asked her not to smile as that would not make the audience fear her. 

I tried to take some different shots such as her coming through the front door and invading the girl's privacy. However, although I liked the idea of this shot, it did not look as good as I had hoped. The door looks to modern and therefore does not reflect the horror genre well.

For my magazine, I will use one of the close up shots of the 'monster' as it highlights her importance; she is the protagonist in my film. 

Research and Planning - Poster Inspirations

My poster was inspired by the 'Repulsion' and 'The Eye' posters. I decided to use a main image of the 'monster's' eye to create fear within the audience.
Like the 'Repulsion' poster, I used the idea of a black and white image as I think it reflects the horror genre effectively. The binary opposition of black and white could represent the idea of Good versus Evil. The black space around the eye in my poster is also effective as black has connotations to mystery and the unknown - common themes in a horror trailer.
Like 'The Eye' poster, I used the actresses' names to inform the audience of who will be in my film. I also used plain, simple, capitalised text for the film title in order to not distract away from the main image on my poster. I decided not to use credits on my poster as I wanted to maintain the theme of simplicity. I also did not include a date for the same reason and to create mystery - like my trailer, I do not want to give too much information away.

Research and Planning - Future Logo

Future is an award-winning international media group and leading digital business. They reach more than 58 million international consumers a month and create world-class content and advertising solutions for passionate consumers online, on tablet & smartphone and in print. They hold leading positions in Technology, Photography, Creative & Design, Games, Film, Music, Women’s Creative, Sport and Auto.

Future’s mission is to reach and grow high-value global audiences with world-class content produced by talented experts; and to be tireless innovators in the way they engage with those consumers and generate value for Future and our commercial partners.

Future is AOP and PPA Digital Publisher of the Year and BMA Media Company of the Year.

One of the magazines Future works with is Total Film. I thought it necessary to research Future as I now understand what it does and can include it's logo on my magazine. 

Drafting and Planning - Creating My Teaser Trailer

When I uploaded my videos to Movie Plus, I realised I wanted the lighting to look more ghostly. I found an effect named 'Diffuse Glow' which gives the supernatural feeling I wanted.

Below are examples showing the 'Diffused Glow' on some of the clips in my trailer.

Drafting and Planning - MPAA Ratings

As I wanted to make my trailer look as realistic as possible, I inserted the Motion Picture Association of America Film Ratings. As the trailer I am creating is a Horror film and will be rated certificate '15,' I made sure I used the 'restricted' MPAA ratings.

Drafting and Planning - Film Idents

As I have started to edit my trailer, I looked at the different, existing Film Idents to see which one went best with the type of film I am creating. As my film is of the Horror genre and has been directed by a first time film director, I have decided to look at more indie film distributors as opposed to the 'big six' - Universal, Disney, Columbia, Paramount, Warner Brothers and 20th Century Fox.









I then found a film ident which uses both 'Lionsgate' and 'After Dark Films.' I thought this was the best possible option for my trailer as it is a Horror film produced by a first time film director.

Drafting and Planning - Editing my Teaser Trailer

I then uploaded my trailer to the programme  'Movie Plus' and started to edit the separate videos further. I wanted to add text and different sound to my trailer to make it more effective.

I muted the sound from the scene where the girls are getting to know each other and added a 'Haunting Knock' sound which I downloaded from http://www.freesound.org/

I then muted the sound of the mirror scene and added 'deep ambience' as my character opens the cupboard. As the cupboard closes and Vanessa appears, I added a 'Whoosh-hit Timeless' sound which creates a dramatic effect and would scare the audience.

I then added a 'Whoosh-hit Doors' sound as Vanessa appears at the lift and pushes the door open. The audience will be on the edge of their seat because of the mirror scene and will therefore be scared even further at the ending.

Drafting and Planning - Ancillary Products Second Draft

After the feedback from my class, I decided to alter the layout of my film magazine. I changed the font of 'The Ultimate Horror Edition' from 'Comic Sans' to this font which is more sophisticated. Comic Sans is usually associated with children which is polar opposite to my target audience.
I also changed my idea for the synergy between my genre of film and the masthead. I wanted to use less red and more white in my layout as I think it looks more professional I changed the 'M' of the Total Film masthead to a red blood font I downloaded from 'Da Fonts.'

After the feedback from my class I also made some alterations to my film poster. I still kept the idea of the eye but made it look scarier by editing the contrast and brightness on Paint.net. I thought the spy hole idea was good in theory as it related to the the title of the film - 'Flat 6 - but after experimenting I realised it did not look as good as my original eye idea.
I changed the colour of the typeface to a dark red instead of black so it was more visible on the black and white background. I also added the 'Blur' effect from Paint.Net to create a distorted feel.

Drafting and Planning - First Draft of Teaser Trailer and Feedback

After recording my videos, I downloaded the 'Splice' app on my mobile phone to put all of my videos in the correct order and to make them seem more like a real trailer. The app allows you to upload as many videos as you want and enabled me to use the 'fade' effect between each clip.

After trimming and speeding up some of the videos, I finally put them all together to make a trailer. I now need to add credits, titles and more sound to make an effective/ more realistic film trailer.

After looking at the trailer I realised the mirror scene fades too quickly and the second recording of the girls running down the stairs is too long. Therefore, I went back onto 'Splice' and adjusted the speed on both videos to make a more effective trailer. 

I then showed the first edit of my trailer to my peers and teacher and received the following feedback:

• Add credits to initiate to the audience more about the narrative of the film - at the moment, it is not clear that the girls have never met before 
• Add credits from critics such as 'The Sun' or 'The Daily Star'
• Add scary music to highlight fear within the audience 
• Add film idents - more realistic trailer then 
• Add name of film 

Drafting and Planning - First Draft Recordings

I recorded a wide shot of Ailis travelling on the train to highlight that she is moving away from home to University. I recorded her looking out of the window as if thinking about what is to come. This is ironic as she is unaware of what strange happenings are to occur.


I then recorded a long shot showing Ailis walking along the street and turning into her new flat. The lighting informs the audience that it is now night time which is effective as it creates an eerie atmosphere - strange events usually happen at night.


I recorded a low angle shot of Ailis entering the flat. This is effective as it makes the house look big and superior compared to the character.

In this video I wanted to show the girls getting to know each other in a party-like environment. I wanted to show the two girls (Katie and Charlotte) getting along more than the girl moving away from home (Ailis) to represent her as vulnerable.



The wide shot shows the girls playing drinking games and doing a 'cheers' which creates a positive atmosphere - the girls are celebrating starting University. I then made the camera pan to the door. The window shows the evil character looking at the girls in the kitchen. The 'baddy' is jealous as she was once a student living in the flat before she was murdered.



In this video I wanted to show the girls getting to know each other further. I used a wide shot to show them playing drinking games. There is then a loud knock at the door and the girl's surprised reactions are shown - they are not expecting anyone else.



In this video I wanted to show Katie going to answer the door but realising there is no one there. I used a wide shot to show Katie walking away from the door back into the flat but also showed the audience Vanessa scarily crawling her way through the corridor.


I then recorded a wide angle shot of Charlotte looking in the mirror. As she opens the mirror to get her lipstick, she is alone. As she closes the mirror, Vanessa appears in the background.


After the girls realise there is an unwanted presence in the house, I started to film them escaping. Katie and Charlotte escape by the stairs. I filmed a high angle shot of them running down the stairs to give the impression that someone (Vanessa) is watching/chasing them. I need to crop this video as there is unwanted speaking in the background.



I then recorded them from another angle to highlight the many stairs they had to run down to try and escape.



I then recorded a high angle shot of Ailis trying to escape via the lift. The shot makes her look weak and vulnerable and that the other girls left her alone and took another route highlights that she is the 'new girl' and an outsider. I got her to frantically push all the buttons as she is not in a situation where she would be calm.



I then recorded Vanessa appearing at the lift and trying to get in. That she opens the door of the lift could suggest that Ailis has been caught by the 'baddy' and will not escape. I need to crop this video so there isn't so much plain editing at the beginning.

Organisation - Order of Shots

As I was only in Liverpool for two days, I organised an agenda for each day so I didn't miss out any vital shots I had planned to record. On Day 1 (Sunday 2nd February) I recorded all of the scenes which took place inside the flat.

On Day 2 (Monday 3rd February) I recorded the scenes which took place on the train/ in the train station.
This organisation was effective as I did not waste any time and got everything I needed to do complete.