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.