premiere night for the first draft (review)

On the 17^th January 2017 the first draft of my horror film named ‘The innocent curse’ was showcased to my other class mates and to the whole English-media department. As we played the movie for the department we received many positive and negative responses. These were all seen as constructive criticism as there was many room for improvement.

Positive feedback-what went well?

·         The camera work

The camera work especially the scene where the possessed character was making her way down the stairs was praised heavily. The department enjoyed the use of all the different camera shots including the two pan shots that followed the legs of the character and the one that shows the gripping of the fist by the character. These were seen as amazing camera shots that introduced the character well and never gave away too much of the possessed girl instantly. Another camera shot that was praised was the shot that looked up that shows the girl stepping over the character, this was praised as it was shown as a great camera shot that showed the dominance of the character and the control and power she has over the audience now that she is possessed.

Constructive criticism – even better if…  

·         The doll

The doll was seen as too cute as it was too plush. The department suggested that I consider replacing the doll for the second draft with one that may be considered as fearing.

How I shall improve...

Considering the feedback I received based on the use of a fearful doll I shall improve this section of the movie by first watching doll based movies such as the conjuring and make notes taking note of what features and connotations follow the dolls ascetic. I shall then use the internet to find dolls that are considered scary and read many reviews on them.   

·         The clips

The advice given was that many of the movie does not interlink as the story is not told clearly and scenes that tell a quick background story may be missing.

How I shall improve...

Io shall go back and assess each scene that we have filmed and individually deconstruct them to see if any information or lines could be added to the existing scenes to improve the story that is being told to keep the audience engaged. Secondly once that is done I will watch the movie again many times and see what information and scenes needed to be added additionally to the existing movie to make it more effective, therefore linking the scenes and telling a non-confusing story throughout.

·         The sound

Many of the sound clips used were described as unfit for a horror genre. The sound clips used were not of a horror background and needed improvement.

How I shall improve...

Once I have reassessed the sound clips throughout the film I shall see which ones are effective and the ones that can be changed or improved. I shall watch more horror movies that are of this sub-genre and improve the sound clips to make them more effective 

Horror film (first draft0

Evaluation questions

1)      What have you learnt?

Since the beginning and throughout the planning and research of my short horror film I have learnt many essential things. I have learnt the key concepts and conventions of a truly scary horror film. When creating a horror film camera angles, shots and movement all play a huge role. Close ups focus on certain features and an object of significance that plays a huge role in the movie and may also foreshadow future occurrences in the movie. I have also learnt that point of view shots play a huge role in making the horror of the movie feel personal to the audience as it puts the viewer in the mind and essentially see out of the eyes of the character and what the character is experiencing, therefore putting the viewer in a frightening and uncomfortable position which is what the aim of a horror film is. I have again learnt that all horror films follow many similar conventions, the narrative structure. The narrative structure is essentially the steps a movie takes and this is done throughout every movie. The movie begins and the situation is normal. This is called the exposition, where the characters are introduced and the normal undisturbed life of the characters is shown. Secondly, the rising of the action occurs, this is when something disturbs the normality of the movie and effects the characters. Then the climax introduces itself, this is when the turning point happens and either the side that the audience is on (the protagonist) prevails or the other unwanted side wins. Lastly the resolution happens as the characters try to get back to normal. However the latter many times doesn’t occur as the story may end on a cliff hanger. 

2)      How you have learnt it?

I have learnt this through many research and planning methods. Research and an analysis of many existing short and normal horror films have helped as it has shown the camera work, mise en scene, sound and editing needed to make an effective horror film. The research of these horror films have shown the thought process as needed for a horror film as they all have proven that they follow a certain narrative structure as a foundation of their movie. This therefore proves that the narrative structure used is effective, essential and should be considered by all when creating a personal horror film. Lastly the research and analysis of these movies has shown the effective camera shots such as close ups and point of view shots in action and has also proven how effective they are in frightening the audience and furthering the effect and story told within the movie. Another method I used was researching film theorist such as Todorov and Levi Strauss who have proven the narrative theory and have their own opinion on the situation.

3)      How it will help you?

The things I have learnt will help me in many different ways. Firstly, when creating my own short horror film I shall use all these factors into consideration. This will help as it will make my film follow the normal conventions of a horror film therefore making it professional and effective towards the audience. When making my horror film I will consider the effective camera shots that I have seen in short horror film that I have researched such as: “night night, Nancy” and “smile” and huge international horror films such as “the conjuring” and  “the woman in black”. All the research I have done will also help as the theorists I analysed are trusted and huge historical figures and have been used by huge movie directors to hep conform to the structure of a natural horror movie that will ensure the movie achieves its main goal, which is scaring the audience.

camera work

Scene 1
Long shot of house.
Medium shot of father. Long shot as they enter the house.
Camera pan (right to left) (on pics).
Close up (of last pic).
Close up of door handle.
Over shoulder shot.
Medium shot of mother asking for help.
Close up of dads legs as he gets up.
Medium shot of his back as he walks.
Close up of the door handle.
Medium/long shot of father pushing door open.
Long shot of parents from inside the room.
Point of view shot as they see the doll switching to over the shoulder shot.
Camera following mother as she goes to pick up the doll.
Close up of daughters hands as she picks the doll instead.
Medium shot of daughter hugging the doll.
Close up /medium shot of parents face.
(Could also be shown in a medium close up).
Close up of dolls face.

Scene 2
Close up of moon.
Camera pans back from bedroom window.
Long shot of the bedroom.
Over the shoulder shot of mother tucking in child.
Close up of mothers face (weird look).
Medium shot of daughter as mother gets up from the bed.
Medium shot of father sitting down mother joins him.
Medium shot of both.
Medium shot of daughter getting tugged off the bed.
Close up of other daughter playing on her phone.
Camera cuts back and forth of daughter and father/mother.
Shot reverse shot of mother/father conversation.
Close up of mother (final line).
Medium shot of wardrobe and daughter hitting it.
Close up of daughter as she screams.
Medium shot of the mother/father running.
Close up of daughters possessed face.
Close up of mothers face as she calls the priest.
Camera shaking/tracking as they run.
Close up of the priest as he shouts biblical verses.
Close up of daughters possessed face.
(Jump scare)
Close up of the door handle.
Medium shot of fathers arm.
Close up of the daughter/mother crying.
Long shot of family running into a room.
Close up of dad shutting and locking the door.
Medium shot of family turning around.
Medium close up of daughter and doll.
Close up of daughters face (she smiles) (creepy).
Screen blacks out.
Camera pans from right to left showing bodies in the floor.
Camera follows blowing leaves.
Medium shot of doll.
(Jump scare - daughter screams in camera)-extreme close up.

script

Scene1: (outside the house) 

Dad: we can make this work 

Priest:(waving) Hello neighbors!!

(Walking into the house)

Scene2:(inside the house) 

Mom: (sighs)finally done, just this one     room left

Dad: do you need any help?

Mom: No, it's fine 

(Dad leaves)

Mom: (grunts) why..... is this door soooo....

Mom: (shouts) Aaron I need help!!

(Dad re enters)

Dad: get out the way 

(Dad struggles however opens the door)

(Coughing) 

Dad: whats that?

(Points at doll)

Mom: awhh that's cute 

(daughter1/jess runs in and picks up the 

doll)

Jess/ daughter1: (shouts) can I have it ? Can I have it? PLEASEEEEE!! YAY 

Scene 3 : (bedroom) 

(Mother tucking in jess / daughter1)

Mom: are you sure you want to.... erm sleep with that doll?

Jess/ daughter1: yes mom she's my new best friend!!!

Mom: (sighs) alright then

daughter2: (shouts) mom....can u shut the light now!!

Mom: of course Hun.. but can u get off ur phone now please?

daughter2: ( kisses teeth and roles eyes)

(Camera cuts downstairs- living room)

(Mom comes and sits next to dad)

Dad: are they all settled in upstairs?

Mom: yes... but I don't think I am 

Dad : it's ok...honestly we'll all settle down sooner or later. you just have to give it time ..... I'll make sure of it.                      Mom: I mean.. I guess the girls are happy and with you everything is perfect. 

Dad : exactly 

Mom ( smiles) you know what Aaron I think ... I can see us living here.... forever. 

(Camera cuts to upstairs)

(Jess/ daughter1flies into the wardrobe)

daughter2: ( screams) MOM.... DAD

(parents burst into the room)

(Close up of Jess/ daughter1)

(Family scream)

Dad : call the priest..... hurry!!

(priest enters)

(The family begin to run away)

Priest: (shouting biblical verses) James 4:7, 1 petter5:8 

(Screaming)

Daughter2: where are we going? Where are we going?

Mom: (crying) that's our daughter she won't hurt us!

Dad: (shouts)everyone stop running!

(The daughter pops out and scares them almost catching them)

Dad: get in here!

Daughter2: dad, I don't know about this

Dad: JUST GET IN 

Mom: what's that 

(Close up of Jess/ daughter1)

Jess/ daughter1: (smiles)

Scene 4 : (grave yard)

Jess/ daughter1: screams 

(Credits role)