Our Anamatic

The video above is the anamatic for our horror movie. Although only brief and just over 1/4 of our actual film time, the anamatic outlines our proposed plot for the beginning of the movie and features an array of different angled drawings and sketches flaunting the different camera angles we will be using. For the anamatic we attempted to have a predominant focus on the victim of the collision- the young girl. However, we are aware that possible future alterations will ensure that there is also a key focus on our leading antagonistic male character, and shot reverse shots and two shots will occupy much more screen time. The strengths of this anamatic production include the accuracy in the sketches considering color, proportions angle as well as the chronological order we have devised for the piece. Another strength of this production is the research we did into non copyright music and sound effects and the finding and creating of the accurate sound effect with the car engine and girls scream. We also attempted to consider special effects and transitions by using the 'strobe' overlay to make the headlight appear as if it was flashing, and the red overlay used to make the final cut of the opening scene with the girl with her hand on the window even more daunting. The weaknesses of our Anamatic were that we could have considered even more camera shot types as well as possibly creating an alternative route for our film opening with a differentiation in the course of events and compare two alternating anamatics. Additionally, a weakness of this anamatic is that we could have considered the time more wisely and made it lengthier to include more of the proposed shots and work with the two minute time limit we are to be given. Working with the time limit more effectively would portray to us which parts of the movie opening could be omitted or where we would need to use editing techniques like ellipsis to show the passage of time rather than going 'over the top' with cramped amounts of action. We also as a weakness possibly focused too much on color and mis-en-scene when this could be considered through other research tasks so this particular task simply focused on the routine and order of our shots and the type of shots.

The sound effect of the car collision we used: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_TXTfLKIFrk
The creepy sythetic sound effect we used: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrBEF3QLwCo

These two tracks we used to accompany our anamatic were both non copyright sound clips that we could propose to use in the production of our actual movie, however creating a piano rendition of our own created piece would make the movie itself feel more like our own and more original and ensure we have been involved in every part of the film creation- from shot types and camera angling, to mise en scene, lighting, sound and editing. We listened to many different horror movie soundtracks as well as different compositions created in a computerized manner on sites such as you tube and we recognized similarly in all of the soundtracks- the instruments most prominently used were woodwind and piano or organ style instruments with a lengthy 'grace notes' and completely contrasting high and low pitched notes. Also- there was almost the synthetic xylophone noise played in many horror soundtracks- as well as warped and distorted natural noises- like the wind or doors creaking for example which were used alongside actual instrumentals. Noises like this could be made independelty by Foley processes by both me and Sophie- especially with props like wine glasses, running water, creaking doors and wind/ whistling.

Institution research

                                     

We chose to analyse the Twisted pictures institution for our horror movie research because Twisted pictures are the prevalent company behind the production of some of the most famous and famously chilling horrors. This was exactly the type of ethos we wanted to obtain behind our film production because we want it to seem as if a credible,appreciated and experienced company have produced our film. Also, Twisted pictures is focused primarily on horror and horror/thrillers so it has a direct market much like the institution logo and idea that we want to create so we can feel like we are familiarized even more with the target audience. 

Twisted pictures is an independent american production company that was founded in 2004, and after its successful introduction to the film market, the company famously created the SAW film series. This box office success then led to a 'distribution deal' with Lionsgate...creating an even more credible status for the film institution. Although Twisted pictures created 6 sequels to SAW and have gained notable recognition, in a contrasting perspective, this could limit the audience that actually have seen this logo and film institution before if it is only based on one film series. This may make it a less likely institution to research for our own film..however as SAW is probably one of the most successful forms of horror, it creates a huge link to the anticipated success of our own film. Also, i personally was drawn into this film institution because of the SAW movies, which have hence reached a wide audience. The SAW movies contain gore, scenes of horror, scenes of threat and violence which are all ideas we would incorporate in our own film...however most importantly, every one of the SAW movies contains a moral or a 'twist' to keep the audience watching and almost shocked by outcomes and points of climax throughout the movie. For our own film we wanted to empathize this idea of a twist or change in the course of events or even a moral for the audience to follow hence this particular company is famous for movies like SAW where this is evident throughout. Twisted pictures produced films additionally like 'The Texas Chainsaw Massacre' remake in 2009 once again a prominent fact as this was a remake of a heavily chilling and recognized movie.

Another Production company we researched was Blumhouse productions,yet another American film institution. We found it interesting how the same repetitive American basis for horrors and American companies continued to arise because often horrors can link heavily to roots of american history or american locations or ideas. There are horror movies like 'The American Werewolf of London' 'The hills have eyes' set in America, 'Jeepers Creepers' and further more....showing a relationship between American themed plots, setting, mise-en-scene and ideas as well as American companies. We were lead from here to attempt to create a brand new company that aims at a more British audience using a more relatable, closer location and setting so that the plot and scary aspects of the movie seem more chilling and 'closer to home' for a British viewing audience especially. This links heavily to our ideal location being a close town nearby-creating a link to the production team (me and Sophie) and the intended audience. Back to Blumhouse productions- Blumhouse is responsible for producing micro and low budget movies like the paranormal activity series, Insidious and the sinister franchises. This made Blumhouse an effective production institution to study because our film is low budget and we would target a smaller company like this for the distribution of it. Blumhouse is yet another production institution that specializes in horror unlike Lionsgate for example which does produce horrors but specializes in other fields of genre. As well as the actual nature of companies like Blumhouse and Twisted pictures producing horror movies mainly...there is also the Logo of both of these that completely gives this away as both are chilling and using deep blacks and reds to connote pain and darkness.

Lastly, i looked into the production company Lionsgate. Although Lionsgate produce a wide array of films, they alter the shades, contrast and coloring's of their logo to adapt to the particular relevant genre, in this case horror. Lionsgate is the most successful film and television company in north america (Wikipedia) and the 7th most profitable movie studio. Many of the films Lionsgate distribute are psychological / slasher horrors which i could relate to my own film. This company acted as aspiration to acheive the most effective individual and best film i can produce-however the smaller companies like Blumhouse shared more similarities with the projected film distribution company we aim to create.

Location research

We thought that Reigate would have been an effective location to film our horror movie because there was a range of different locations and surroundings within a close radius of each-other where different shots would maintain relational editing; for example there is a archaic arched tunnel which is dimly lit during the night and is surrounded by un-trimmed trees and ivy with rock slanted sides with writings and marks etched into them. In addition, a five minute walk would take you to the Reigate pet cemetery among the priory park- and near to the Reigate woods.

The next possible location i analysed for my film was the Leatherhead and Fetcham interlink where there is the 'Mill Lane'. Here too, there is a tunnel- which we especially wanted to include because tunnels can  often connote a way of escape- or ongoing struggle or tension. Tunnels are typically a differentiating or alternative route- which we could juxtapose with our idea that there is no other route or escape in our horror film. Also, being a relatively close location, Leatherhead would be an effective location to use because i know it well and it is close, allowing filming to be initiated over an array of days so our filming is not rushed and we can return to the location at different days within the same time period to get the most effective clips as possible. There is also picturesque features of the location like the actual millpond- a large pond stretched across the landscape which could be a sincere juxtaposing feature with the horror genre of our film. often in films, features that are seemingly beautiful can be those with the deepest horror or fear...and water in the millpond can be associated with all kinds of fear- even the inclusion of the theme of drowning and hydrophobia. Also, there in addition to human characters in the film there can be the inclusion of animals with the wildlife that thrives in the habitats near the millpond. Often, there are many swans, which can be seen as a contrast to use with the delicacy and beauty of these creatures and the dark themes of our film. Also the use of pathetic fallacy with the weather often causing a mist or fog to form over the marshy areas of the mill lane and pond itself would too create a scary atmosphere and would reject the need for additional props like a smoke machine for the mise-en-scene to make the atmosphere feel more chilling. This particular location is sparsely populated and unlike more urban locations like London or even close towns and cities, the quiet serenity of this Leatherhead location would be effective to film at without distractions including passers by, external noise and visual pollution and destruction of natural surrounding aesthetics.

we also analysed locations where there were pavement markings making pathways look like quiet roads, so that we could include roadside scenes and aspects of roadside danger in a safe and careful manner. There were many quiet roads that we analysed within our local town,Leatherhead, especially down Barnett wood lane, Mill lane and Highlands road..however these roads are only almost un-used towards the night so our filming to be particularly safe would have to commence during the night to assure every aspect of safety is considered, and so that no passing cars cause a distraction to our filming or make it seem less realistic in the quiet almost uninhabited setting we want to be perceived.

storyboardig #2

Storyboarding

Storyboard production

Storyboarding our initial ideas