Evaluation - Question 7

Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the full product?

Our preliminary task was filmed back in October, the beginning of the school year, when me and my group had very little knowledge of film making. My GCSE Media Studies course did not focus on digital media so everything was very new to me. My knowledge and understanding of the filming and editing processes has developed greatly and I now feel much more confident. Our development as a group is evident when comparing our preliminary task to our finished film opening.

Before we started filming our preliminary task, we were taught three basic shots to include in our short video. These shots were the 180-degree rule, match on action and shot/reverse shot. I understand why these three shots were prioritised as they ensure the video is continuous, without any noticeable editing mistakes. During the editing process of the preliminary task, we noticed that we had not properly followed the 180-degree rule. The mistake meant that eye lines didn't always match up, causing disorientation. Having noticed this and the effect it has on the viewer, we were extra careful that we complied with the rule when filming our final media product. The importance of these key shots paved the way for a discussion regarding other camera shots. We took great consideration when deciding the shots we would use in our film opening, noting what it may connote and what effect it has on the audience.

We learned a lot about editing during this entire process. For our preliminary task, Ellie edited the video on iMovie - software she was very familiar with. We knew that iMovie did not have a wide range of effects or filters, which was okay as our preliminary task did not require complex editing. The complexity of our edits changed hugely in the progression from our preliminary task to our film opening. We used Final Cut Express to edit our final media product, despite none of us being completely familiar with the software. This decision was made due to the wide range of effects and filters that Final Cut Express offers; we believed using these would better communicate the tone and atmosphere we wanted. I quickly learned how to perform various tasks on the software, such as using colour correction on various clips - something that is not available on software like iMovie. Altering the colour and light levels of our clips made a huge difference to the overall feel of our film opening. It created a much more intense and eerie atmosphere. After editing our film opening on Final Cut Express, we opened it in iMovie to add the credit titles. This was because Final Cut Express did not have a wide enough range of titles for us to choose from. At the beginning of the year, I was completely bewildered by various editing softwares. However, after spending a lot of time on both Final Cut Pro and iMovie, I now feel much more confident and would be more than happy to use them again. 

Our preliminary task did not have include any sound effects or music. The sounds in the video are all straight from the video clip, meaning they are not as clear as they could be. This meant that adding both diegetic and non-diegetic sounds to our film opening was an entirely new concept to us. To do this, we used GarageBand. At the beginning of the editing process, I was completely unfamiliar with this software but it was very easy to learn as it has a simple layout. Our film opening demonstrates our clear understanding of the software as we have layered pieces of music and foley sounds. Having spent a lot of time on GarageBand working on the sound for our film opening, I feel confident in the fact that I could use it again with ease.

During the editing process of our preliminary task, we noticed another mistake: unwanted people in the background of our shots. Noticing this made us much more aware of who is in the frame at all times and encouraged us to pay greater attention when recording our film opening. I am thankful for this mistake, as it allowed us to avoid it in our final product and in any future filmmaking projects I may take part in.

The research process leading up to the filming and editing of our film opening taught us a lot about film making. We gained important skills, such as paying attention to finer details, and we learned a lot about the filming and editing processes. Before this course, I had a very limited knowledge on how to use software such as Final Cut Express and GarageBand. This process also encouraged us to consider our audience - something we did not do when creating our preliminary task. In doing so, it meant that our film opening would appeal to our audience and use, develop, and challenge conventions that they would expect. To conclude, I am glad we did so much research as we lead up to filming and editing our film opening. The preliminary task acted as an experiment and highlighted areas we needed to pay greater attention to. Throughout the process, we have learned a great deal about filmmaking and, as a result, we have a successful final product that would appeal to a real life audience.

Evaluation - Question 6

What have you learnt about technologies during the process of constructing this product?

At the beginning of the year, I was required to use Photoshop in order to create the logo of my film company. Having taken GCSE Media Studies last year, I had a brief understanding of the basic tools and functions. Despite this, there were a few areas I was unsure of so I used YouTube to search on-line tutorials. 

 

Another form of technology I used throughout this process was Prezi, an online presentation website. I had never used this website before but I found it very simple to use and it allowed me to display information in a more interesting way.

I first used Prezi when looking into the three key angles that were necessary for our preliminary task. Throughout the process of creating my media product, I found myself using Prezi a lot as a way of displaying my research. Prezi has many features that makes it an effective way of presenting my work. It allows you to embed videos and pictures as well as sound clips if necessary. My understanding grew rapidly the more I used the website. Below is a screenshot of a few of the presentations I have created with Prezi. To view these, they are embedded in their respective blog post.

When researching my audience, I used SurveyNuts. SurveyNuts is an on-line software that allows users to quickly and easily make their own on-line survey. It also collates the results into easy-to-read data which sped up my research process. Using SurveyNuts, I got an insight of what my audience both like and dislike in films. This meant that I could adapt my own film opening to appeal to a wider audience. I posted a link to my survey on various social media accounts as this allowed me to reach more people, thus making the data more representative. 

As I edited our film opening, I had to get to grips with the editing software Final Cut Express very quickly. I had never used this software before so YouTube was extremely helpful for times when I wasn't sure how to do or use something. Final Cut Express was very useful in the editing process of our film opening as it had lots of different tools that other software did not, for example: the colour correction filters. The colour correction filters were crucial as they allowed me to further the tone and atmosphere that we had sought out to create. 

Originally, we were going to use iMovie as we would have access to this at home. However if we had done so, we would not have been able to use some of the effects we used (i.e. "Blink") which would have compromised the overall look and feel of our media product.

To create the soundtrack for our film opening, we used GarageBand. I had never used this before, but it did not take long to learn the basics. This software allowed us to incorporate foley sound effects as well as backing music, which worked together to create atmosphere while still maintaining a sense of realism.

One piece of technology that was fundamental for our media product is YouTube. As previously mentioned, it was incredibly useful when searching for tutorials. Additionally, it is the platform we used to upload both our preliminary task and our final film opening. Although I do have a YouTube account, I had never gone through the process of uploading and processing a video. Doing so was very simple though as the website is easy to navigate. YouTube also allows you to embed videos, which made the process of putting the videos on to my blog fuss-free. 

Blogger also played a huge part in this process. Although it may have been easier for me to have chosen Tumblr as the platform for my blog (as I have a personal account), I didn't think it had the same sense of professionalism that Blogger does. At the beginning of the year, I was unfamiliar with Blogger as I had never used it before. Despite this, I learned very quickly as it is a very simple website that has many helpful features. Blogger allows you to easily embed pictures and videos, format your text, and give your posts 'labels' to ensure easy navigation. These features allowed me to present my work and research together, making it seamless. Setting up my blog was very easy and the range of ready made templates meant that I did not have to fuss around with lots of settings. 

Evaluation - Question 5

How did you attract/address your audience?

Our film opening immediately intrigues the audience as the establishing shot sets the scene. It is clear that it is in the woods, and would attract a common horror film viewer as this is a typical setting for a film of this genre. The opening then continues to a shot of a sign that reads "AREA UNDER SURVEILLANCE". This would also attract and engage our audience as it gives the impression that somebody is being watched. The shots maintain a sense of mystery, meaning the audience would want to continue watching to find out how the plot will unfold.

The next shot is a tracking shot of our protagonist walking down the dark lane. This continues to engage the audience as they wonder where she is going and also begin to worry for her safety. The age of our character is very similar to that of our target audience (16-20 year olds), thus allowing the audience to relate to her and, effectively, the film as a whole.

Our target audience would have watched horror films prior to watching our film, meaning they would be aware of various conventions and what they connote. In our film opening, there is a shot that brings emphasis to the dark clothes our antagonist is wearing. Our audience would be aware that this is a connotation of her dark personality and may be hinting about what is to come. This would address our audience directly as those that are new to the horror genre may not be aware of this implication. It would also continue to attract our audience as they await for the inevitable to happen. The camera slowly pans down the antagonist's arm and focuses on the weapon. The shot is a close up to further increase the intensity of this scene. As our target audience are likely to be thrill seekers, the thought of a potentially dangerous character will keep them interested in our film. It also reinforces the idea that something bad is about to happen which keeps the audience on their toes. The end of this shot shows the protagonist in the distance. It is clear that she doesn't know there is somebody behind her and thus creates tension and a wary atmosphere. This ties back in with the "AREA UNDER SURVEILLANCE" sign, as the audience are now aware who is watching and begin to empathise with the protagonist. As the audience would be similar age to her, they can imagine themselves in the situation which creates a haunting sense of realism. During my audience research, many respondents said that a film opening had to be interesting and gripping. I sought out to reflect this in my opening shots and believe I have succeeded in doing so.

The camera then shows the antagonist beginning to walk, making it evident that she is following the girl down the lane. Here, we framed the antagonist in a way that did not fully reveal her identity. This keeps a sense of mystery and maintains the audience's excitement to find out who it is. 

The tracking shots of our victim indirectly show the setting. We wanted our setting to be representative of real life so that our audience would relate. Every day settings and costumes appeal to our audience as it allows them to relate it to their own lives. Our protagonist is wearing earphones, which is representative of our audience: young people who are up to date on the latest trends and technologies. This also reinforces the fact she is unaware somebody is following her. Many young people, including our audience, wear earphones in public very often. This means that the audience are likely to think about our film when they do so, creating a sense of paranoia and making our film memorable. 

Here, we addressed our audience while maintaining the tense atmosphere. We used clips of the antagonist's footsteps intermittently to reinforce the audience's understanding that she is following the girl. This keeps our audience focused on what is to come as the tension builds.

To further enhance the realistic atmosphere of our film, we used regular costumes for our characters to appeal to our audience. The colours also connote various messages - all of which our audience would be fully aware of.

Evaluation - Question 4

Who would be the audience for your media product?

Evaluation - Question 3

What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?

Evaluation - Question 2

How does your media product represent particular social groups?

When planning our opening sequence, me and my group discussed casting and who would be most appropriate to play certain roles within our film. We prioritised casting our antagonist as the killer plays a vital role in our film opening. It also meant that we could develop a back story for our antagonist and fit the plot and the other characters around this. Initially, we thought about following conventions of the horror genre by casting a male as the antagonist. This is typical of many horror films as they are traditionally thought to be more powerful and dominating. However,I realised that many of the horror films I have watched and found interesting had a female antagonist. We then decided to challenge this convention and inverted the typical female stereotype. As a group, we chose Kayleigh to play the role of our antagonist as she enjoys acting. She also owns appropriate clothing for the role and has dark hair, further connoting the darkness of her character's personality.

The antagonist of Orphan (2009) is a seemingly young girl named Esther. She appears very innocent, wearing her hair in lace bows. However, she also dresses in very dark colours - something atypical of a girl her age. This creates the impression that something is not quite right and suggests a darkness in her personality. Upon first thoughts, you would assume there is nothing unusual due to the every day clothing (despite the unusually dark colour palette). This sense of false security something I wanted to replicate in my film opening.

Esther is a powerful character who steadily instils fear into all of those around her. Orphan is one of the few films that challenge the traditional view of men being strong and holding all of the power. This is something I would like to incorporate into our film opening as I believe it makes for a far more interesting plot, thus making the film more memorable.

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Next, we decided to cast Ellie as the victim in our film opening. Upon research, I found that it is most typical for the victim to be stereotypically feminine and vulnerable. We decided to follow this convention to make it very obvious who the victim will be from the outset of our film opening. Ellie also owned suitable clothing for this character.

                             

                                               

The protagonist ("Nina") of Black Swan (2010) also follows the same brief of being feminine and innocent, which is why my group used her as a template for our own character. Nina wears lots of white, further connoting her innocence, which inspired us to do the same for Ellie's character.

    

Our two characters are very different and casting them both as females presents a contrasting representation of women. It is uncommon for a woman to be portrayed as the callous killer that is our antagonist, but we have challenged this norm to make for a more interesting film opening. We followed the convention of portraying women as weak to show diversity. In conclusion, I believe we have represented a social group in a very interesting way that will make our film opening stand out. We have challenged and complied with the horror genre conventions to not only represent the vulnerable side that is expected of women, but also to showcase their underestimated dominance.

Evaluation - Question 1

 

In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

Audience Feedback Handout

If we were allocated more time, I would ask for feedback from my audience and take their criticisms into consideration. Below is a handout I would use if we were to do this.

Our Finished Film Opening

The Editing Process

Of our group, I was the one who edited our film opening. Along with putting the clips together, there were also certain things I had to fix and alter.

Something I had to change was the perspective of certain clips when the 180 degree rule hadn't always been followed properly. To do this, I used the 'Flop' setting in Final Cut Express. This flipped the video and helped massively in the continuity of our opening.

"Flopping" the Clip

On all of the clips I used in the opening, I added a 'colour correction' filter. I pulled the "whites" bar down to make the clip look darker and also desaturated certain clips that were too vibrant. This was very effective in adding a certain mood to our opening as it immediately made it look much creepier.

Colour Correction

Below is a before and after shot of one of the clips I desaturated. This made the clip look much moodier and suits the horror genre a lot better.

Desaturating the Clips

As you can see, the colour correction made a profound impact on the overall tone and atmosphere of our film opening. The filter made the clips much gloomier and made the genre of our film more apparent. 

I also slowed down a few clips of my film opening, by using the 'Modify' tab in Final Cut Express. 

Modifying the Speed

Below are two gifs to demonstrate the different speeds before and after editing. I think slowing the clip down helps maintain the dramatic atmosphere and also builds tension. This also meant that our clips fit much better with the type of soundtrack we wanted to use. 

Before

After

Props & Costume Prep

Before we can begin filming, we need to establish what our characters will wear and any other props we may need.

Costumes

Our Protagonist

In films of all genres, colour is an important factor in portraying the message you want. Because of this, we looked into different colour meanings and then decided what colour would best fit our protagonist. I went onto this website and researched different colours. Upon research, I found that white symbolises "purity and innocence". The colour white is personified by our protagonist as she is exactly that - innocent. Further reading informed me that the colour white also offers "a sense of peace and calm". This will create a sense of irony and leave the audience paranoid of their own security.

To fit the image of our protagonist being innocent and feminine, we have decided that Ellie will wear a white dress in our film. This will subtly infer her naivety to the audience and make it apparent that she is the victim.

Our Antagonist

We decided to carry through the theme of symbollic colours into our antagonist. When researching horror films, I found that black is a colour that is typical of the horror genre. I then searched the meaning of the colour black and found that it symbolises "the hidden, the secretive and the unknown". This suits our film opening very well as we don't ever see the antagonist very clearly, creating an air of mystery. The antagonist's motives also remain unknown which further emphasises the secretive nature of the colour black. I also found that, in colour psychology, black represents "power and control". This is very similar to our antagonist as she holds a lot of power over our protagonist during the attack. We will also be using an upwards angle to emphasise the power our antagonist has.

To emphasise the characteristics we want present in our antagonist, we have decided to dress Kayleigh in all black. The dark colour will reflect the character's dark nature.

Props

Our Protagonist

To strengthen the idea of our protagonist being vulnerable, she will wear earphones. This shows her obliviousness to her surroundings and makes it apparent that she is an easy victim. The audience may feel sympathetic towards her as she does not have any idea there is somebody watching her until it's too late. The obliviousness caused by earphones is relatable to our target audience, young people, as they stereotypically wear earphones a lot while in public. This may strike a chord with our target audience and create paranoia as they worry what may happen to them. Creating paranoia by using everyday situations is very effective and is also typical of the horror genre. It ensures that the film sticks with the audience so that it is not easily forgettable.

We will also need to use fake blood and make-up to create the impression that she has been attacked. We will buy a small bottle of fake blood and we will use the make up that Nicole already has.

 

Our Antagonist

Our antagonist will need a weapon of some kind during the attack. We brain stormed and, again, agreed that we should use something that is typical of everyday life. This meant that we did not want anything too extreme, like a gun. Instead, we decided on a large pair of scissors as this was much safer than something like a knife but still looks threatening.

Casting

Our Protagonist

We decided to cast Ellie Horne as the protagonist of our film as she fits the image we wanted to achieve. We wanted our protagonist to look feminine and innocent, which is further emphasised by the outfits we chose for her. Ellie conforms with the characteristics of typical victims in horror films; she is blonde, petite and, in this scene, alone. Although Ellie does not have any acting experience, we believe it is more important to have an actress who fits with the conventions of horror films to make it apparent to our target audience.

Our Antagonist

Kayleigh Roberts played the part of the antagonist in our film opening. She seemed to be a good candidate as she enjoys participating in drama and was very enthusiastic to take part. The antagonists of horror films don't always have a distinguishable appearance as they once were "regular people". However, we decided to portray the contrast between Kayleigh and Ellie in terms of outfits. Kayleigh followed our brief perfectly and had an outfit which symbolised her character's evil personality. This was very convenient as it meant that we did not have to buy any costumes.

Important Characters

The opening of our film only includes two characters. If our opening was to be extended, the plot would develop much further and we would introduce more characters to give further emphasis of the context.


Our Protagonist

The protagonist of our film is an innocent, feminine and virtuous character. In literature, I have found that names hold a much deeper significance. I searched the web for name-meaning websites until I found this one. Then, I searched for names that meant ‘innocence’ as I wanted her name to reflect her personality.

Many of the results were quite uncommon names. This isn't something I was looking for as I wanted the names to be relatable to further create a sense of reality about our film opening. However, one name that shared this meaning was Imogen. I believe this would be a good choice for our protagonist and, more importantly, it shares the underlying significance to reflect her pure personality.

Our Antagonist

The antagonist of our film is a vengeful, disturbing and evil character. I wanted to carry through the theme of deeper meanings to the names, so I used the same website to find a name that would fit. I searched for names that meant 'angry' as I thought this perfectly matched her emotions during our opening.

Like before, many of the names that were suggested weren't very common in our society. I decided on Liliha, but chose to shorten this to simply Lili so that it appears regular. This is representative of our antagonist as she appears to be like a normal person; it is only upon closer investigation that you realise her aggressive nature.

Risk Assessment

We carried out a risk assessment before we began filming our media product to make sure we were aware of anything that could go wrong and how we could correct it. The risks of our location are not severe; however it is important we still note them to ensure we are prepared.

One of the issues of filming outside is the weather. If it has recently rained, the floor may be slippery and could cause somebody to fall and hurt themselves. To avoid this, we will ensure all cast and crew members wear sensible footwear. If it rains during filming, we may have to momentarily stop filming as the camera we will be using could get damaged. This would be inconvenient as the lighting is unlikely to be the same which would cause continuity errors in our film. Prior to filming, we will check the weather and schedule our filming times for when it is unlikely to rain to avoid these issues.

Our location is a public footpath and is a popular route for dog walkers. While we are filming, it is probable that somebody will walk past. We will need to remain vigilant to make sure that there is not anybody in the background of our shots. Dogs don’t always have leads on down this lane, so we will ensure that our cast and crew stay out of the way as not to obstruct their path. Some dogs may also be dangerous or easily excitable so keeping out of the way will minimise potential injuries.

Another issue is due to the isolation of our location. This may mean that if somebody was to have an accident, it is unlikely we will be able to get immediate help. With that being said, the lane is a short walking distance from our school if we need anything. We will ensure that there is always somebody who knows where we are in case anything were to go wrong.

Our film opening includes a weapon which could also impose a risk during filming. We decided not to use anything like a knife but the scissors could still cause injury. To avoid this, we will always carry them in a bag and make sure we are always aware of their whereabouts to avoid accidents.

Filming Locations

 

Me and Ellie went out of school to find suitable locations to set our film. We wanted to use a dark, isolated lane and we found two possible locations that would work for our genre.

 

Location One

 

 

The first location we found was a public walk way which was surrounded by trees, meaning it was quite dark. Also, because it is public, we will not require authorisation to film here. This setting also has a surveillance sign which I believe will be effective in creating tension in our film as the audience would be unaware of who is watching.

Location Two

 



The second location is much bigger than the first so does not have the same sense of isolation as the first. While there are still lots of trees, they aren't as close in proximity which makes the setting quite light and airy. However, I do like the sign; it is dated 1989 which makes it appear abandoned and eerie. Overall, I do not believe that this setting would be as successful in creating the tense atmosphere we require.

Shot List and Shooting Script

Here are the different shots we want to include in our film opening:

• Tracking shot

I will use the tracking shot when the character is walking down the lane to add the idea that our main character is being watched or followed. Tracking shots are common of horror films as they establish the context and create tension. This shot is often used as a visual bridge as it draws attention away from cutting and creates continuity.

• Match on action

Match on action will also be used here to further add a sense of continuity to the video as the actions appear to be seamless. This means the audience will be unaware of the editing cuts, making for a smoother viewing experience.

• Close ups

Close ups are typical of the horror genre as they emphasise characters' expressions and emotions. They also draw attention to the finer details that the audience might otherwise have missed.

• 180 degree rule
• Shot/reverse shot

These shots are imperative when showing two characters looking at one another. These two techniques go hand in hand with eachother as they retain continuity by not distorting the audience's sense of location of the characters. By keeping the camera on the same side of both of the characters, it ensures that their eye lines match thus creating the sense that they are looking at eachother.

• Low angle

Low angle shots of the killer are often found in horror films to portray their dominance. We will use this shot when showing our antagonist stabbing our protagonist as it is a simple way to emphasise their power and control of the situation. It ties in with the POV shot as it takes on the outlook of our antagonist.

• Camera pan

We plan on using a camera pan after the killing to reestablish the setting and highlight the normality of the surroundings. It will show how such a horrific incident can occur in the most serene locations, creating a sense of fear and paranoia in the audience.

We plan on filming on two different days as in some shots we will need SFX make up applied. It will be easier to do the 'alive' shots on one date and the 'dead' shots on another so that it won't be too dark by the time we have finished. If the differences in light are too obvious, this will restrict the continuity of our film.

Sound Research

Having watched many horror films myself, I am aware that in the opening they tend to use foley sounds that match the on screen action. This creates a sense of realism which the audience can refer back to as the plot gets creepier.

Horror films also often use an atmospheric soundtrack in order to create tension. We found a piece of music, called 'Don't Walk Into The Woods', that would fit particularly well when our main character is walking down the isolated lane (see here). However, there were some parts of the music that were not really appropriate to our scene, so Ellie edited these out using the software Garageband. While on Garageband, we also found a piece of music called 'Woods 2' that would work quite well in our opening. It is played on classic electric piano, creating an eerie atmosphere. Ambient sounds would also work well, and I believe this one would be very appropriate for the overall mood of our opening.

For when the character turns around, we want to build suspense and subliminally let our audience know that something bad is about to happen. We will use a soundtrack that intensifies when the events begin to unravel.

Film Opening Storyboard

This is the storyboard for my group's horror film opening. I have included a range of filming and editing techniques that we would like to use.

Film Opening: Plans and Thoughts

Mind Map created by Bailey Welch with ExamTime

Narrative Theories

After researching these 4 narrative theories, I believe our film conforms best to Kubrick's theory. Propp's theory is not applicable to our film as we will not be including the characters he listed, and our plot doesn't include any clear puzzles as in Barthes' theory. While our film does include elements of Levi-Strauss' theory with the juxtaposition of our two main characters, the plot does not focus around this. Kubrick's theory fits our opening best as we will be using various sounds, camera shots, costumes and settings in order to make our film memorable for our anticipated audience.

Story Arc

While researching story arcs, I found this. This story arc is very similar to the narrative of our film if it was to be produced as a full length movie.

Our Film Synopsis

By definition, the synopsis is the outline of  a play, film or book. Because of this, I made sure my synopsis was not too long to ensure it still entices the audience into watching. Here is the synopsis of our film if it was to be made in full. I think it is successful because the ending is very ominous, which makes the audience want to find out more.


Lili seeks revenge after enduring weeks of torment from her peers. Blinded by jealousy, she wrongly attacks Imogen and prevents anybody from finding out - no matter what the cost. 

Key Elements of Film Opening

There is a list of things I must include in my film opening to ensure it conforms to the expectations of the horror genre and our chosen audience.

Expectations of the Horror Genre 

• A good, complex plot
• Dark lighting to create atmosphere
• A villain
• Supernatural powers/entities
• Special effects make-up
• Secluded location
• High angle shots of villain, suggesting dominance

With this in mind, I will aim to use as many of these as possible in my own film opening so that I meet my audience's expectations.

Expectations of Films for My Target Audience (16-20)

• Focus on topics such as: coming of age, first love, rebellion, conflict with parents, teen angst, etc.
• Focus on issues such as: alcohol, drugs, parties, social groups and cliques.
• Characters are of similar age to that of the audience.

Characters commonly found in teen movies:

• The Jock/Cheerleader
• The Nerd
• The Rebel
• The Misfit/Outcast
• The New Boy/Girl
• Class Clown

Archetypes are typical of teen films as characters such as the jock, the cheerleader and the social outcast have become a familiar and pleasurable feature for the audience.

My film opening only has two characters, but I will still try and cast them in a way that reflect the audience's expectations. The issues and topics that are prominent of this genre may not be evident straight away in  my opening as the film usually builds up to these.

Film Institutions

I have researched 5 main film companies in order to realise which is most likely to produce, distribute and exhibit my film.

Warner Bros

Warner Bros is one of the most famous film studios, based in California and New York. They are responsible for creating, producing, distributing, licensing and marketing their creative content. Warner Bros produce and distribute films from a variety of different genres as they are dedicated to ensuring there is a film that appeals to everybody.

 To help me decide if Warner Bros would be a good institution to create my film, I researched their horror films and noted whether they were successful or not. These films include Orphan (2009), Sweeney Todd (2007), One Missed Call (2008) and The Wicker Man (2006). Having watched Orphan myself, I know that this is a good film with a very interesting and unusual plot.

20th Century Fox

20th Century Fox are a very reputable film corporation. Having been in business for 80 years, they have developed a very loyal audience. Their most successful films include Avatar (2009), The Chronicles of Narnia (2005) and Alvin and the Chipmunks (2007).

While 20th Century Fox prefer to create films in their most profitable genres (comedy, fantasy and family), they have also created some horror films. These include Jennifer's Body (2009), The Omen (2006) and Shutter (2008). 

Universal Studios

Similarly to 20th Century Fox, Universal Studios tend to focus on other genres rather than horror. This is because their films of the adventure and romance genres tend to be more successful so they stick to what they are experienced in. Many of their films have won awards, including King Kong for the visual effects award at the 2006 Oscars.

Their horror films include Drag Me to Hell (2009), The Strangers (2008) and Dead Silence (2007). It is evident that they do not have the same level of experience or passion for horror films as Warner Bros. Because the genre of my film is one that Universal Studios aren't as confident with, I do not think I would choose them to produce and distribute my film. 

Lionsgate

The majority of Lionsgate's films belong to the drama, action or thriller genres, which are much closer to the genre of my film opening than the films typical of 20th Century Fox or Universal Studios. Their most successful films (according to Box Office results) are The Hunger Games franchise (2012 - 2015), The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2 (2012) and Divergent (2014).

Some of Lionsgate's most successful horror films include the Saw franchise (2004 - 2010), The Last Exorcism (2010), My Bloody Valentine (2009) and The Eye (2008). They have not created very many horror films and those that they have are all pretty recent. This could mean they do not have the  experience that is necessary to make a success of my film. However, from looking at their most successful films, Lionsgate would be a good choice if my film was to be part of a sequel.

Hammer Films

The British company is best known for a series of Gothic Horror films that were produced between the mid 1950s until the 1970s. Due to the over-saturation of the horror film market during the late 1960s, Hammer lost their American funding, resulting in the closing down of the institution. However, in 2000, they announced plans to recommence film making.

Their most well known horror films are The Curse of Frankenstein (1957), Dracula (1958), The Mummy (1959) and The Phantom of the Opera (1962). While this institution is good in the way that they focus exclusively on horror films, their most successful productions are also outdated and unlikely to appeal to a modern audience. 

Since their revival, they have continued to produce more horror films. One notable movie they released is Let Me In (2010), a film I studied in a blog post (see here) when researching and analysing films of my genre. They also released The Woman In Black (2012)- a film I have also studied (see here and here). This demonstrates how experienced this company is when creating films of this genre, as both films have been incredibly successful. 

Conclusion

Out of the five companies I have researched, I believe the best to represent my film is Hammer Films. They have the most experience in this field of film making and are successful in doing so. Hammer is a smaller company and so usually collaborate with other companies to share ideas, meaning my film would turn out even better. Hammer are more skilled in producing Independent movies, while the other companies tend to only opt for mainstream films. Because of this, it will also be cheaper to produce. Hammer specialise in horror movies, meaning they will use the right settings, lighting, costumes, props which all ensure it follows the conventions and expectations of a horror film.