Title -analysis

The style of title we chose to use was red, serif and on a black background. This is the font we used on in our production and for our ancillary tasks- creating a recognisable identity for our trailer. It is red due to connotations of blood and danger as well as creating a contrast to the interim titles which are white. The black background is a common convention of horror/thriller films due to connotations of death. We used the same shine effect on the title as we used on the miramax logo but in white as we like the eerie effect it created.

Planning- Titles- colors, fonts and effects

In our trailer we are planning on having titles near the start for narrative exposition; instead of a voice over as we didn't think we could get our voices to sound realistic n terms of trailer expectations which usually uses a deep masculine voice-over. It is common in trailers to have overlay titles over establishing shots which is a possibility for our trailer. However it is also common in horror trailer to have a fade to black and then white on black titles due to the connotations of good, evil, life and death. Also the titles are sometimes red as red has connotations of blood and death which are common conventions of horror films.

There is usually some sort of eerie flickering effect on the title as well which adds to the atmosphere and themes in the film.

For our trailer we are going to have titles in between shots on a black background with white eerie serif font much like the font used for the Dream House trailer.

 Our Titles For Our Trailer

-How far would you go to get revenge

-On the people who ruined your life…

-Picking them off one by one

-Will revenge be served or…

-Or will any survive?

-‘Remarkable horror, will have you at the edge of your seat’ – Empire

These titles will create narrative exposition therefore helping explain the story to the audience as well as creating enigmas to be answered in the film. This makes the audience more likely to want to see the film leading to greater box office appeal and success.

Our first ideas for titles:

Our 'coming soon' title as it is quite simple but also matches conventions of horror/thriller films with the white font on a black background; connoting good versus evil as well as the red connoting danger.

We have decided that our main title- 'The Return' is going to be white with a glowing effect to create an eerie atmosphere and add to the enigmas created in the trailer.

As well as this the title will flicker adding to the overall effect of anxiety and tension.

Planning- Locations

Dark interior-school

Where the killer is looking at and cutting up the pictures.
Where we can film his POV shot- close up.

Props for this location: Desk or table required. Newspapers / pictures, knife, black marker pen, gloves, desk lamp.

Other dark interior-school

Where Rizwana can be tied up and gagged. Must be able to film close ups, tracking shots and high angle shots.

Props for this location: Gag, makeup

Car

Film inside car and outside car.

Use for match on action.
Gives a sense of hope for escape. Film from outside window, from backseat and in front seat.

Stairs-school

Must be able to drag Tovia down filmed from bottom and from top- match on action. Good location as it shows an escape attempt. Can be filmed on stairs at school.

Props for this location: Gloves for killers hands.

Exterior- woods- The Plunge -Edenfield

Creates a sense of isolation. Can film Tovia running with us of long shots and medium shots. Enables the use of a variety of shots not just close ups as well as a variety of locations.

Props for this location: None

Exterior- cemetery-Haslingden
Can film Tovia running with us of long shots and medium shots.

Enables the use of a variety of shots not just close ups as well as a variety of locations. Creates an eerie atmosphere and seems fitting to the negative vibe throughout the trailer.

Props for this location: None

Exterior-Road/street- Rawtenstall

Must be able to film from both sides of the street and be able to see killer behind Emily in the background.

Cannot be too crowded.

Props for this location: None

Interior- Bedroom- Tovia's house

Must be able to film a long shot and medium shot. Tovia Wakes up (in bed, gasping and breathing heavily and screaming.

Planning- Props

The use of black gloves help hide the killers identity as well as giving him a more calculating character which makes it overall more ominous. 
We are using the gloves in all shots invloving the killer but there will be more of a focus on them in the close up of him looking at photographs.

We also used a fake knife as a prop as knives are commonly used in horror films as they present the idea of violence.

Compared to guns, knives seem more violent as it makes the deaths seem more personal as well as bloody. We used a fake knife in a private place so that we were not in public with a knife. It was fake for safety reasons as a real sharp knife could be dangerous.

The baseball bat is presented as a weapon that can injure someone but not kill- therefore linking to the idea of kidnapping. We use this when the killer abducts Rizwana.

We also need to use photographs

of the victims in order to help create narrative exposition as well as making the killer seem more calculating.

Storyboard

Storyboard from Emily236

Planning- Cast and Costumes

Rizwana- Victim number one. Female, conventionally most victims are female as traditionally they are seen as the weaker gender. Costumes such be casual every day wear but should be fairly feminine. As she is being held captive and has been a target of violence, we are going to use makeup to make her look more representative of a victim.

She will also be wearing a gag to show that she is trapped and unable to get away and make her appear more helpless.

Emily- Victim number two. Female, conventionally most victims are female as traditionally they are seen as the weaker gender.

Costumes such be casual every day wear but should be fairly feminine. She is walking down the road as though she is walking somewhere so she will be carrying a bag to make it more convincing and as though she is completely unsuspecting.

Tovia- victim number three. Female, conventionally most victims are female as traditionally they are seen as the weaker gender. Costumes such be casual every day wear but should be fairly feminine.

However, in the shot where she wakes up in bed she should be wearing nightwear which is suitable for that situation.

Killer- At most points you only see what the killer is doing or just their hands. Therefore black gloves will be needed. Also in the shots where you can see the killer, they will be wearing all black- a black hoodie (with hood up) and trousers as well as having their face covered. Therefore the identity of the killer is hidden therefore creating enigma in the trailer making the audience more likely to want to see the film.

Why do we need a shot list, script and story board?

Storyboard- The storyboard is important as it helps the directors and camera men keep track of all the different shots needed and helps them visualise them beforehand so they can see if they work or not. Also they are important as they can help when deciding when to put in sound effects or soundtrack and different transitions whilst editing. The storyboard will help us as a group to keep organised on what shots we have filmed and what shots we need and whether they look good in a particular order and whether they get the right impact across whether it’s to build tension or to create a feeling of calm. In our opening a story board is specifically important as there is no dialogue so creating a specific mood and tone is important.

Shot list- the shot list is important as it helps the director and camera men keep track of all the shots needed and make sure that they have enough filmed and enough shots to create a specific mood and feel. It also helps them decide on a structure for the shots although some shots may be added in after and some used more than once like the master shot.

Script-The script is important for the actors as it is needed for them to know what to do, say and where to be. In our opening the script is important as Tovia will need to know how to act in specific shots to create the feeling of tension.

Planning- Script

[EXT. HILLY FIELD - DAY TIME]

PAN/TRACK shot

 360 angle establishing shot of a hilly field (Fade to black)

CUT TO:

TITLE:

On fade to black – title: ‘How far would you go to get revenge…’

CUT TO:

[INT.SCHOOL: CLASSROOM/CANTEEN]

RIZWANA, EMILY AND TOVIA:

FLASHBACK: Long shot of us three laughing and bullying

CUT TO:

TITLE:

On the people who ruined your life…

CUT TO:

KIERON:

FLASHBACK: Medium shot of Kieron cowering in the corner

CUT TO:

[INT.SCHOOL CORRIDOR]

STAFF MEMBER:

Close up of newspaper article about killer being sent to psychiatric unit

CUT TO:

KILLER:

POV shot of baseball bat swinging toward camera (Fade to black)

CUT TO:

[INT. SMALL ROOM/CUPBOARD – DARK]

RIZWANA:

Extreme close up of Rizwana’s eyes looking scared. (Fade to black)

CUT TO:

RIZWANA:

Close up of Rizwana’s face, gagged (Fade to Black)

RIZWANA:

Tracking shot of mascara running down face.

                                                       CUT TO:

KILLER:

Close-up shot of killers gloved hands, cutting up newspaper clippings of victim (Rizwana).

CUT TO:

KILLER:

Close up of Killers hands picking up a knife. FADE TO BLACK.

CUT TO:

RIZWANA:

Medium shot, tied to a chair with rope and gagged (mumbling), looking around (moving head side to side to show Rizwana establishing where she is) scared. (Tense, slightly fast paced music in background)

CUT TO:

KILLER:

Close up, Low angle shot of killer’s feet walking towards Rizwana. Fade to black.

CUT TO:

KILLER:

High angle shot of tray of torture weapons and killer picking up knife. FADE TO BLACK.

CUT TO:

Ellipsis flickering shot.

CUT TO:

KILLER:

Close up of hand with knife touching Rizwana’s face (Fade to black)

CUT TO:

KILLER:

Close-up and then POV shot of Killer’s gloved hands sewing an old and dingy scrapbook with needle and thread. (buzzing sounds, flickering effect) FADE TO BLACK.   

                                                     CUT TO:

TITLE:

‘Picking them off one by one...’ (Fade to black)

CUT TO:

KILLER:

Close up of killer’s hands and photographs of Emily (dissolve to black)

CUT TO:

[EXT. ROAD- DAY TIME]

EMILY:

Medium shot of Emily walking down the road towards the camera with killer behind her (fade to black)

CUT TO:

KILLER:

Close up of killer’s hands and photographs of Emily (dissolve to black)

CUT TO:

High angle, close up of Emily being grabbed from behind (fade to black)

CUT TO:

EMILY:

Tracking shot of Emily looking extremely scared (fade to black)

CUT TO:

KILLER:

Medium shot of knife coming down (filmed from below) - sound sting then fade to black Emily’s scream

CUT TO:

TITLE:

‘Will revenge be served or…’ FADE TO BLACK.

CUT TO:

[INT.BEDROOM – DARK]

TOVIA:

Medium shot, Tovia Wakes up (in bed, gasping and breathing heavily and screaming to continue Emily’s scream, close-up scared look on her face.

CUT TO:

KILLER:

Close up of killer’s hands and photos of Tovia (flickering effect)

Zoom into extreme close up of photo of Tovia (flickering effect)

CUT TO:

TITLE:

‘Or will any survive?’ (extremely quick fade to black)

CUT TO:

KILLER:

Close up of killer stabbing photo with a knife (fade to black)

CUT TO:

 [EXT. FOREST- DUSK]

TOVIA:

Long shot of Tovia running. Fade to black.

CUT TO:

TOVIA:

Medium shot of Tovia running through woods (fade to black)

CUT TO:

KILLER:

Close-up of Killers hands holding a black marker pen and drawing a line across Tovia’s eyes (picture)       

CUT TO:      

 (EXT: CEMETARY- DARK)

TOVIA:

Medium shot of Tovia running through cemetery towards camera (match on action from previous)

CUT TO:

TOVIA:

POV 180 shot of Tovia looking round panicking

CUT TO:

 On fade to black: ‘Remarkable horror, will have you at the edge of your seat’ – Empire

CUT TO:

[INT.HOUSE]

TOVIA:

Long shot of Tovia running up the stairs and being dragged back down

CUT TO:

TOVIA:

Medium close up of Tovia being dragged down the stairs-match on action from previous (from top of stairs) (fade to black)

CUT TO:

[EXT.ROAD]

TOVIA:

Long shot of Tovia running and getting into car

CUT TO:

[INT. CAR]

TOVIA:

Medium shot of Tovia getting in car, opening door/holding handle

TOVIA:

Medium shot of Tovia getting inside car (match on action)

CUT TO:

TOVIA:

Close up of Tovia fumbling with car keys, trying to put in the car.

CUT TO:

TOVIA:

Medium shot of Tovia looking in mirror (Scared) (fade to black)

TOVIA:

Close up of Killer grabbing Tovia from behind in car- from back

CUT TO:

TOVIA:

From front of car, close up of Tovia’s face (scared) in front seat (fade to black)

CUT TO:

TOVIA:

Extreme close-up of Tovia’s eye, (wide open and scared) FADE TO BLACK.

CUT TO:

TOVIA:

Close up of Tovia’s hand sliding down inside car window (covered in blood)- filmed from outside of car.  

END.

Planning- Shot List

1-360 angle establishing shot (Fade to black)

2-How far would you go to get revenge

3-Long shot of us three laughing and bullying

4- On the people who ruined your life…

5-Medium of Kieron cowering in the corner

6-Long shot of Rizwana walking on the phone

7-Close up of newspaper article about killer being sent to psychiatric unit

8-POV of baseball bat swinging toward camera (Fade to black)

9-Extreme close up/ tracking shot of Rizwana’s eyes looking scared. (Fade to black)

10- Close up of Rizwana’s face –gagged, makeup (Fade to Black)

11-Close up of Killer’s hands and photos of Rizwana

12-Medium of Rizwana’s –gagged (Fade to Black)

13-Close up of Killers hands picking up a knife

14-Close up, Low angle of killer’s feet walking towards Rizwana

15-  High angle shot of tray of torture weapons and killer picking up knife

16- Ellipsis flickering shot

17- Close up of hand with knife touching Rizwana’s face (Fade to black)

18-Picking them off one by one (Fade to black)

19-Long shot of Emily walking down the road killer on other side of the  road in the background (Fade to black)

20-Close up of killer’s hands and photographs of Emily (dissolve to black)

21- Medium shot of Emily walking down the road towards the camera with  killer behind her (fade to black)

22- Close up of killer’s hands and photographs of Emily (dissolve to black)

23- High angle, close up of Emily being grabbed from behind (fade to black)

24-Tracking shot of Emily looking extremely scared (fade)

25-Medium shot of knife coming down (filmed from below) - sound sting then fade to black Emily’s scream

26- Will revenge be served or…

27-Medium shot, Tovia Wakes up (in bed, gasping and breathing heavily and screaming to continue Emily’s scream, close-up scared look on her face.

28- Close up of killer’s hands and photos of Tovia (flickering effect)

29-Zoom into extreme close up of photo of Tovia (flickering effect)

30-Or will any survive? (extremely quick fade to black)

31-Close up of killer stabbing photo with a knife (fade to black)

32- Long shot of Tovia running through woods

33- Medium shot of Tovia running through woods (fade to black)

34- Close-up of Killers hands holding a black marker pen and drawing a line across Tovia’s eyes (picture)

35-Long shot of Tovia running through a cemetery

36-Medium shot of Tovia running through cemetery towards camera (match on action from previous)

37-POV 180 shot of Tovia looking round panicking

38- ‘Remarkable horror, will have you at the edge of your seat’ – Empire

39-Long shot of Tovia running up the stairs and being dragged back down

40-Medium close up of Tovia being dragged down the stairs-match on action from previous (from top of stairs) (fade to black)

41-Long shot of Tovia running and getting into car

42-Close up of Tovia fumbling with the keys

43-Medium shot of Tovia getting in car

44-Medium shot of me getting in car (inside car) (match on action)

45-Medium shot of Tovia looking in mirror and killer being in the back (fade to black)

46-Close up of Killer grabbing Tovia from behind in car- from back

47-Close up of Tovia grabbing metal nail file

48-Medium Closeup of stabbing killers hand 

47-Medium close up of Tovia’s face in front seat (fade to black)

48-Medium shot of Tovia frantically falling out car (inside the car) 

49-Medium shot, match on action from outside of Tovia getting up 

50-Close up of Tovia slamming door and blood on handle 

51-Medium shot, high angle of Tovia crying screaming 

52- Medium long shot of Tovia running and keep turning back 

53-Title of Film

Other Films with a Revenge Storyline

The idea of revenge is common in a lot of horror films as it creates a reason for the deaths/ what happens in the film. It gives the killer a motive and makes them seem more ruthless and determined. Some examples are:

Tamara (2005)

link to trailer

Tamara, an unattractive girl, who is picked on by her peers returns after her death as a sexy seductress for revenge.

Tamara is a girl who didn't quite fit in. Tamara is constantly picked on and when a couple of peers play a joke on Tamara, it leads to her death. They bury her and try to make it seem that Tamara ran away. But all is not forgotten. Tamara returns as a sexy seductress and through witchcraft plans her revenge.
This is contrasting to our trailer as our killer does not have any supernatural powers, therefore it belongs more in the horror/thriller genre unlike Tamara which is more horror.

Tormented (2009)

link to trailer

A bullied teenager comes back from the dead to take revenge on his classmates. The head girl Justine gives a speech on the funeral of the teenage schoolmate Darren Mullet that has just committed suicide but she does not recall who he was.

Then she is invited by Alexis to date him in the celebration party in the house of his friend Bradley. Sooner Justine discovers that Darren had a crush on her and was bullied by Bradley and his friends including Alexis. When each one of Bradley's friends is found dead, they discover that Darren has returned from beyond to revenge the humiliations to which he was submitted.

Valentine (2001)

link to trailer

Valentine's Day 1988: At the school dance, geeky Jeremy Melton bravely faces one rejection after the other when asking four popular girls to dance with him. A fifth girl, plump and insecure, agrees, but they end up making out under the bleachers. When a group of school bullies catches them, the girl claims that Jeremy attacked her. This causes them to strip off his clothes and beat him up in front of the entire school. Flash forward to 2001.

We meet the five girls who were in that school gym: Kate, Paige, Shelly, Lily and the formerly plump Dorothy. They are all in their 20's now and trying to sort out their love lives, which is appropriate, since Valentine's Day is coming up. After a disastrous date with a loser, one of the girls, a pre-med student, is murdered by a Cherub-mask wearing killer who sent her a death threat in the form of a Valentine card prior to the attack.

Taken 2 Analysis -planning (2012)

Link to trailer

Conventionally, like a lot of trailers, it opens with an establishing shot of the location- Istanbul.

This is accompanied by an ominous sound effect immediately setting a negative tone. There is a sound bridge of the daughter’s voice from the establishing shot to the shot of her and a male character, presumably her father. This directly implies that she is a key character and perhaps a victim, a common character types in both thriller and horror films. However in thriller films like this one there is more of a focus on one particular victim rather than in horrors when there tends to be many. There is an over the shoulder shot so you can see both of their facial expressions, one of happiness and one of surprise but there is a sense of it not being a positive surprise.

A sense of reunion is created in a tracking shot of the family which is to be short lived when they are split up, hence the title ‘Taken’.

Narrative exposition is created through dialogue and through what is seen in the shots; there is a close up of a photo the main male character establishing him as a target. The dialogue ‘welcome to Istanbul’ implies a foreign environment in which the victims are new to therefore making them seemingly more vulnerable. There is a series of close ups of the daughter and the mother clearly showing them as victims and as the dialogue becomes increasingly more panicked a tense atmosphere is produced.

This type of shot is common in thriller films and horror films as it creates narrative exposition through establishing the targets.

The pace of editing increases and the shots become accompanied with sound stings generating a dramatic impact and making the film appear more exciting. There is also the enigma created- will they escape? All of this makes it more appealing to the audience and makes them more likely to want to see it. The classification is 12A as the scenes with the presence of blood might upset some audiences as well as the violence and action being quite intense.

However the lack of blood and gore makes it more appropriate for a younger audience which is more common for thriller films like this than for horror films.

The titles are quite plain-a white modern font- which is common as it creates a cold and calculating feel as well as being representative of the binary oppositions- good and evil

Synopsis and Initial Ideas

Initial planning: Genre- Horror

Ideas-Dream/premonition, stalker, possession, serial killer, zombies, ghosts, obsession

Locations-car (boot), stairs, cemetery, urban setting

Characters- two previous victims- Rizwana and Emily, new target – Tovia, villain-Emily in black hoodie with face covered.

Editing-fast past with sound stings

SYNOPSIS

When a dangerous psychotic man escapes from a mental asylum, he goes back to his old town after several years of plotting revenge on three girls who humiliated him at school; now they were going to pay…

First victim on his list; Rizwana easily lead by the group is going to take a dangerous trip down memory lane. Second victim Emily, who had forgotten her former tormenting nature is about to face a visit from the past. Finally Tovia; the most ruthless, is about to face her comeuppance, but will any survive his torturous plans?