AS Media Studies

Wednesday, 2 November 2016

The Importance Of Sound:

Sound plays a very important place in horror films. It creates the tension within the audience because it shows a build up which is conveys that something is about to happen.
There are two different types of sound in a movie. These are diegetic sound which is when the characters can hear it and non-diegetic sound which the characters cannot hear. They both fit into the category of technical codes.
In the horror film 'The Shining-Here's Johnny' the sound builds up as the female character attempts too get out of the window. When Johnny puts his head through the whole in the door and says 'Here's Johnny' there is tension building music in the background which portrays that something bad is about too happen.

The film 'Twilight Zone-A Face In The Window' is filled with pure silence at the beginning when the male character is trying to sleep and the music gradually builds up to the point when he opens the blind... which is when something bad happens.

'Poltergeist-They're Here' begins with silence and gradually builds up the music like something bad is about too occur. This is much like the horror movie 'A Face In The Window.'

'Jaws-Get Out Of The Water' begins with couples and happy families having normal conversation on the beach whilst screaming children are playing in the sea. A man starts to shout his dog who went into the water and then he sees blood. The tension building music has came in by this point which indicates that something bad is about too happen.

'Psycho-Shower Scene' is a horror film in which the sound plays a vital part. The orchestra turns to complete silence, followed by screeching violins and then... the shower drizzle.

Synchronous sound effects are synchronized or matched sound with what is being viewed on the screen. For example if their was a character playing the piano, then the sounds coming out of the piano would be enhanced and projected. Synchronous sound effects contribute to how realistic the film is portrayed as which also helps create a specific atmosphere.
Asynchronous sound effects are not matched with a visible source of sound featured on the screen. They provide emotional nuance. For example the background music could be sirens coming from an ambulance but the image could be showing two people having a fight and the foreground sound would be of the screen aswell. This helps to create a realistic atmosphere of the film as it conveys the background noise to be a city. However the sirens could also convey that one of the people is going to get seriously injured and need help from an ambulance.

Tuesday, 1 November 2016

Research: Codes and Conventions Of Existing Teen Horror Films

Many different varieties of codes and conventions are used within the existing teen horror films 'Dead Wood', 'Dead Mary', and 'Wrong Turn.'

Summit Entertainment is the distribution company or the teen horror Wrong Turn. One type of sound it involves is diegetic which is a few lines of dialogue, at the beginning, being exchanged between two characters, a male and female (a common horror film convention), those such as "What are you screaming for? You know were 50 miles from anyone.' This means that the film is set in a secluded location where there is no phone signal, these are conventions seen in most horror films. The sound effects in this film include echoing, screaming, stabbing, sudden sounds, the thud of a body which is enhanced for extra effect and most importantly the fake scare when the women character slips which is followed by the real scare where someone kills her. At the beginning of the advertisement for the film it has tension-building scary music, non-diegetic sound (which is a technical code) and dull music which shows a sense of danger. Someone is also killed within the first five minutes of the film which sets the scene and shows the audience that it is a horror and also it is clearly a dangerous situation as its not easy to escape the point of being halfway up a cliff-face, these are also very frequently used conventions in teen horror films.
Menan Films is the production company of the teen horror film Dead Wood. This film opening begins with a bird whistling and an establishing shot which suggests that the location is secluded as minute sounds can be heard. It also begins with dull, low tone music which involves and slow paced piano, this is non-diegetic sound which builds tension within the audience as it suggests that something bad is going to happen. The film opening begins with a man running through the woods, with the bushes swishing, the sound is enhanced and becomes enhanced here using non-diegetic sound, which is a technical code. The sound is enhanced when he runs through a puddle, which is also used as a jump scare. The film opening ends with a women character coming out a tent and looking for the male character, this is a horror film convention used in almost every single teen horror movie created. When the women comes out of the tent a crane shot is used over the top of the tent, she has very little dialogue as she sounds confused repeating ''Rob, Rob?'', she is shown as vulnerable at the end. Diegetic sound is used when the male character attempts too jump over a ditch, leafs and mud fall down on the camera and the sound is cut out, this a technical code. Symbolic codes are used in this film opening when the fear in the male characters face is shown, this is because it uses mise-en-scene(make-up,) however it also uses an extreme close up camera shot to show the pure emotion. Mise-en-scene is also used through make-up when the male character chokes up blood in an extreme close up camera shot, this is a symbolic code. Someone is killed within the first five minutes which is a very frequently used horror movie convention. The same slow paced piano used at the start of the teen horror film opening is sued at the end, to indicate the ending.
Architect Type is the production company of Dead Mary, the teen horror movie. This film opening begins with an establishing shot which shows a secluded location, which is the most common convention used throughout many teen horrors. The male character walks back too the gas station a few miles away whilst the women waits at the car that has broke down due to no fuel. A common convention used in teen horrors is too start with a male and female character, this makes it particularly appealing to the teenage audience. A symbolic code is used through mise-sen-scene which is through the use of props, this is within the sign at the gas station that says 'Last stop for 100 mile' which also indicates that the location is isolated. the woman is clearly waiting for something, she sighs which suggests frustration and she is tapping on the roof of the car which conveys the level of how impatient and bored she is. The common convention is used as the women tries too use the radio and their is no signal, she then tries too use her phone which also has no signal which she is frustrated with. The mimics of a threatening laughter is used through a technical code as it is a diegetic sound because the character would be able to hear it. The women is shown as a stereotypical person with a lot of skin showing. When she then looks through the glove box out of pure boredom, she comes across a flare gun which is usually used to send a signal out for help. This foreshadows that something bad is going to happen and the characters will try to get to the car later, which is another convention as they will most likely be stopped from reaching the car. A jump scare is also used, this is when the male character arrives back at the car from behind and slams the bottle of fuel on the floor which startles the female, this is a quite common convention used in teen horror films. When the car drives off the sound is enhanced.
I think my essay fits into level 1 for the first marking criteria. This is because I don't show much understanding of the task throughout my essay.
I think my essay fits into level 3 for the second marking criteria. This is because my essay offers consistent examples which are mostly relevant to the question.
I think my essay fits into level 2 for the third marking criteria. This is because I only included some terminology which may be inaccurate.

Monday, 31 October 2016

Research : Conventions In Horror Films.

Monday, 10 October 2016

Describe:
As a group of 4, we had to produce a continuity task that included editing and filming a character opening a door, walking across a room and then sitting down in a seat opposite another character. The characters then exchanged a few lines of dialogue. The preliminary task had to show shot-reverse shot, match on action and the 180 degree rule.
Explain:
Before we started filing, we had to complete several other activities to ensure that we were very sure on what we were doing and prepared for filming. The tasks involved first ideas, which was when we mind mapped our possible ideas(as a group) that our preliminary task could be about. After that we then had to choose one idea and write it up on our blog. After that we then had to write about the casting, who it involved, why they were a good choice and what part they were playing in our preliminary task. next we then created 12 storyboard panels from our initial ideas, this was to show what each scene would involve and what type of camera shot would be used. Then we planned a filming schedule, which involved the daily number of shot, the storyboard shot number, the type of shot, the shot description and the time allowance for the shot. After that we wrote up the location planning, which involved the location the shot would be filmed, what type of shot it would be using and why we chose the location. our final piece of pre-production planning involved planning the shot line which included the date and time it would be filmed, how many shots would be filmed on each date, where it would be, who would be there and the props need to make it happen.
This process really helped to prepare for our filming because it meant we were well prepared, we knew exactly what to do and we had a specific schedule in which we would do it in.
Describe:
Our filming process went very well. Although there was a few weaknesses. This was because some people in my group lacked communication and teamwork skills. My group filmed the preliminary task clips over the space of two lessons on a Friday. However my preliminary task lacks continuity in some places but this was because there were some filming errors in the production as the characters didn't know their lines well enough, this will be improved when I complete my main task.
Explain:
In the post-production for my preliminary task the editing went quite well. However their were a few struggles that I experienced during this task. This was because I was unsure on how to include continuity as the filming during the production was not planned enough therefore the characters were unsure on their lines. Despite this slight error I was still able to make do with what I had and I completed the editing and it does include continuity in some places.
Evaluate:
My preliminary task somewhat meets the expectations of the set brief. This is because it includes shot-reverse shot, a character opening a door, walking across a room and then two characters exchanging a few lines of dialogue. However my preliminary lacks continuity in a quite a few places and the 180 degree rule or match on action is not included. Now I have completed this task I know the areas I can develop on with my group. I feel I need to work with different people as not everyone in my group got along and this made the task difficult to complete. I also feel that I could develop on my videoing skills and too add more shots whilst filming as it shows my knowledge of different types of camera shots and angles.

Planning: Shot Line

Date	Time	Shots to film	Where?	Who?	Props
- Friday (4^thlesson) -Friday (6^thlesson)	- 11:55 to 12:35 -2:10 to 3:00	- 6 Shots - 6 Shots -	Show 1-2 and 3 are outside the classroom. The rest of the shots we are filming inside the dark room.	Timothy (Jamie) Alice (Immy)	-Paper(documents) -Shoes -Clothes -Table and chairs - Minilla envelope
				Timothy (Jamie)
				Alice (Immy)

Planning: Location Planning

Establishing Shot

Location : Kettering Police Station

Shot 1 of our Storyboard is an establishing shot showing the exterior of the Police Station.

We felt showing the outside of a real Police Station would be better than trying to create a fake location as it is more of a suitable setting for the first scene.

The location is easily accessible and will be clear to the audience on what our context for the short film is.

Tracking sideways

Location : Outside a Room (Kettering Buccleuch Academy)

Shot 2 of our Storyboard is a Tracking Sideways shot (movement) showing the interior of Kettering Buccleuch Academy (outside the room).

We felt showing the Lawyer walking inside the building rather than outside was better as it gives the shot more of an intense atmosphere (walking towards the door).

The location is easily accessible and the room itself is very dark which will help the audience understand how intense the context of the shot is.

Close Up

Location : Room door (Kettering Buccleuch Academy)

Shot 3 of our Storyboard is a Close Up shot showing the interior of Kettering Buccleuch Academy (the door).

We thought showing the Close Up of the Lawyer's hand opening the door would help the audience understand where the Lawyer is heading to and helping them understand how the scene location is changing.

The location is easily accessible and simple to film.

Shots : Extreme Closeup, Mid Shot, Over the shoulder, Point of view, Reverse shot, Two person shot, Closeup.

Angles : Low Angle, High angle.

Movement : Panning, Tracking in, Tracking out.

Shots : 4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12.

Location : Dark room

For the rest of the shots the location will be the dark room, where the conversation will happen. We have chosen the location to be a dark room as we want it to look like a police interview where they have a single table with two chairs and a couple of spotlights. This helps the conversation feel more intense which draws the audience in. The location is easily accessible and simple to film.

Planning: Film Schedule

Daily no. of shots	Storyboard shot No.	Shot:	Shot description:	Time allowance:
1	2	mid shot	Tracking sideways of feet walking	10 mins
2	3	Close up	Zooming into the hand	10 mins
3	4	Extreme close up	Close up of the eyes	10 mins
4	5	mid shot	High angle of their conversation	10 mins
5	6	Over the shoulder	Start of the conversation	10 mins
6	7	Over the shoulder	Reverse shot	10 mins
7	8	Point of view	Close up of the hand cuffs	10 mins
8	9	Over the shoulder	Revere shot	10 mins
9	10	Two person shot	Shot of them sitting at the table	10 mins
10	11	Close up	Of the persons face	10 mins
11	12	Tracking out	Shot of them going out	10 mins
12	1	establishing	Outside of the police station	10 minute