Popular props used in a teen movie

In all teen movies there are certain props that are used to make the film seem more realistic and they make the genre recognizable so the audience know what genre it is. As we are doing a teen horror film we will be using some of these props in our project.

Mobile phones are a popular prop in a teen movie, this gives the film a sense of realism because the majority of teens now all own a mobile phone

Also other kind of technology such as laptops, ipods and walkmans are used becaue a lot of teens own them.
Another popular prop that is used in teen films but are mainly used in American teen films are cars. It is more popular in America because the driving age is a lot lower than it is in the UK. However some teen movies set in the UK use cars because some are set in college.

In our project we will be using some of these props but the main teen prop we will be using that we haven't mentioned here is a camera. This is the main prop we will be using as it helps sets up enigma's in our opening sequence.

Hayley

Feedback 16.12.08

Amy and Hayley,

You have clearly worked very hard this week on your research so well done. I'd now like to see you put some of these conventions into practice in the actual planning of your own sequence. Outline what your sequence will show and how. Start sketching out a storyboard (if you haven't already). There are some in the classroom on the back shelf. Mkae sure you include details of all the media language elements. Don't worry about your drawing skills, we just need to get an idea of hoe your sequence will run. Once you think you've completed this then you need to show either me or Mrs R and we can ok it and scan it onto the blog. You'll then need to produce props lists and shot lists before you go out to film.
Good progress so far. Keep this up!
Mrs A

Popular props used in a horror movie

Props are very important in producing a film. It helps the audience establish what genre the film is and helps add to the realism of the film. Without props there would be a limited amount of violence in horror movies and therefore be a lot less effective.


Masks


Masks are a very popular prop used in horror films. I think this is because of the mystery of them. Most masks are scary objects as they stop you from seeing who is wearing the mask. Masks are excellent at setting up enigmas in horror films and are used a lot. In our film we hope to use this technique in order to disguise our stalker character.

Weapons

Almost all horror films contain some sort of weapons. This is usually because in order to scare people torture and violence is needed. I think as soon as weapons are shown on screen it makes the audience frightened and worried for the safety of the victim. I hope for us to use this shot in our opening sequence also. However that this point in the film it will only be shown it would not be used.

Gags, ropes and chains

These are usually a symbol of restriction and confinement. If used in a horror movie it will add to the tension of it as the victim is not in control and at the villains mercy. I think we may use this also if we have enough time left to show a scene with a victim trapped

Amy

Teen movie research

We have decided that our film opening will begin as a teen movie. This will help shock the audience when we add the thriller/horror elements. We have done some research on some teen movies to help us in deciding how to begin our movie as realistic as possible.

We first looked at mean girls

The first characters we see in this clip is a point of view shot of two parents. Parents are almost always in teen movies as parents or carers are always main characters in any teenagers life. This therefor adds to the realism of the film. The high key lighting creates a happy upbeat mood. Professional film productions often build this happy, cheery mood in order for it to be more effective when the mood falls and becomes dismal and negative. I think this will be particularly effective in our film as we are hoping to switch from a happy teen genre to a more serious genre of a thriller. The music in this clip is very modern. This helps the audience establish the modern take on this film and shows that the film will be about teenagers. This clip is mainly set in a school. This helps add to the realism of the film as this is where most of the drama in a teenagers life occurs. This is where we intend on setting our opening sequence. The use of mobile phones, ipods and school bags help the audience in establish that the movie will be a teen movie. The use of slang also helps the audience realize this.

Amy :]

Typical Horror Film Setting

All horror films have a certain setting which makes the film more tense and frightening, usually these settings are dark abandoned places. Generally they are set in deserted large house etc. As we are doing a teen horror we have researched the typical settings for this genre.

We found out that mostly all teen horrors start in college or a school which makes the film seem very ordinary at the beginning and makes it seem like it is a typical teen film. We hope to use this in our opening sequence and use our college as the main setting. 

Also we found out that a lot of teen horror films are set in the characters house or at their friends house. The atmosphere in these houses are usually dull and dismal. We hope to use this idea and film one shot at the stalkers house. We will try to use low key lighting to create a tense atmosphere which will be a code to the audience.

Sometimes teen horror films can be set in ordinary going out places e.g shopping malls, cinema and just out on the streets. These places are where teenagers usually hang out which adds to the realism of the film.

Hayley and Amy

Typical Horror Film Characters

After doing some research on characters in a horror film i have found out that all horror films have the same style characters. In all horror films there is always a killer this could be a person, a supernatural character or even a fierce creature.

A fierce creature is the first typical element found in horror/suspense films. A lot of movies in this genre use a fierce animal to make a plot. Making that animal huge, savage and intelligent can absolutely horrify people.

The film Jaws is an example of a fierce animal because the killer of the film is a shark.

The supernatural is the second thing which is used as a typical horror element in this movie category. Supernatural beings, one element of the supernatural, are often used to scare people, and many beings that have a unique style have become very popular.

The ring is an example of a supernatural killer because the killer in this film is a posessed girl.

The third horror element in horror/suspense movies is murderers. Filmmakers often use a scary human character to be a typical element. In some movies, the character wears scary clothes and a mask as he commits the murders

In the film scream the killer is a human being but has been dressed in a freaky outfit to scare the audience and to set up enigma's because the audience have to work out who it really is.

Hayley

Typical Audiences of a Horror Film

All horror films are certificate 15 or over. These are the requirements of a film with the certificate 15:

Theme: No theme is prohibited, provided the treatment is appropriate to 15 year olds.
Language: There may be frequent use of strong language; the strongest terms are only rarely acceptable. Continued aggressive use of strong language and sexual abuse is unacceptable.
Nudity: There are no constraints on nudity in a non-sexual or educational context.
Sex: Sexual activity and nudity may be portrayed but without strong detail. The depiction of casual sex should be handled responsibly. There may be occasional strong verbal references to sexual behaviour.
Violence: Violence may be strong but may not dwell on the infliction of pain, and of injuries. Scenes of sexual violence must be discreet and brief.
Imitable techniques: Dangerous combat techniques such as ear claps, head-butts and blows to the neck are unlikely to be acceptable. There may be no emphasis on the use of easily accessible lethal weapons (in particular, knives).
Horror: Sustained or detailed infliction of pain or injury is unacceptable

Drugs: Drug taking may be shown but clear instructive detail is unacceptable. The film as a whole must not promote or encourage drug use.

Some examples of a certificate 15 film are:

Some horror films are certificate 18:

There are no constraints at this level on theme, language, nudity or horror. The Board may, however, cut or reject the following content: - any detailed portrayal of violent or dangerous acts which is likely to promote the activity. This includes also instructive detail of illegal drug use - the more explicit images of sexual activity - unless they can be exceptionally justified by context.

I think after looking at the things that can be included in a certificate 15 film where will choose this. We would not need to use anything other than what is allowed in a certificate 15 to create the effect needed. I think this is a good thing as it does not limit our audience to people 18+. After researching I discovered that the age range that go to the cinema's most are 15 - 24's and so, being a 15 certificate, we will not limit this film to only half this age group.

AMY :]

Facts and Figures

We have done some research on our chosen genre and looked at how much money different horror films have made.

The Strangers

Opening Weekend

$20,997,985 (USA) (1 June 2008) (2,466 Screens)
£1,250,624 (UK) (31 August 2008) (280 Screens)

Prom Night

Opening Weekend

$20,804,941 (USA) (13 April 2008) (2,700 Screens)
£507,985 (UK) (8 June 2008) (285 Screens)
AUD 926,122 (Australia) (13 April 2008) (123 Screens)
$4,723 (Estonia) (1 June 2008) (1 Screen)

The Hills Have Eyes

Opening Weekend

$15,708,512 (USA) (12 March 2006) (2,620 Screens)
£1,126,575 (UK) (12 March 2006) (331 Screens)
€93,206 (Netherlands) (27 August 2006) (45 Screens)

Saw 1

Opening Weekend

$18,276,468 (USA) (31 October 2004) (2,315 Screens)
£1,239,813 (UK) (3 October 2004) (301 Screens)
€1,326,149 (Italy) (16 January 2005) (267 Screens)
¥35,300,113 (Japan) (31 October 2004) (40 Screens)
€53,627 (Netherlands) (12 June 2005) (21 Screens)
SKK 96,134 (Slovakia) (19 June 2005) (5 Screens)
THB 4,601,254 (Thailand) (14 November 2004)

From the facts above it shows the popularity of horror films as it shows the money made in the opening weekend and the number of screens it has been shown in. We have chosen this genre because of its popularity and the broad market these films attract.

Hayley and Amy

Example of an opening sequence

A good example of an opening sequence that suits our chosen genre because prom night is a teen horror and is about a teacher from a high school that is obsessed with one of his students and ruins her life because he wants to be with her.



The opening sequence of this clip is very effective and it fits all the typical horror film elements. Low key lighting is used a lot when she enters her house and searches for her mum and dad, this adds to the tension because the audience know something is going to happen.
The editing when she is walking around the house if very slow which makes the tension arise even more but when she hears the stalker and her mum it becomes very quick because the tension has reached the climax and the action is happening.
This opening sequence introduces the main characters, we get a understanding of the girl's life and how it was ruined, also we learn who she lives with because of the situation in her life. We also get introduced to the stalking teacher because we learn that he is in love with this girl and he wants them to be together.
Different angle shots are used in this opening sequence, when the girl is searching round the house a mid shot is used so the audience knows what she is doing and get to see what is happening around her. The shot angle changes when she is led under the bed and is watching her mum being killed, the camera shot here is a close up on her face, this is to show the fear and emotion on her face so the audience feel for her and realise what she is going through.
The sound is very crucial in an opening sequence, in a horror film the sound is usually non-diegetic and its very tense, this is to set up a tense atmosphere. Also the tense sounds are used when something is going to happen, this gives the audience the impression that the film is building up to something.

Hayley

Examples of techniques used in horror/thriller films

Different camera angles and editting are vital in creating a realistic film. They help create an effect that you wish to create. I am going to research real film productions to see how they have used editing and different camera angles to create their film.



The way the clip starts is very clever. The atmosphere created is very quiet and uneasy. This is created through many techniques such as the silence. The slow pased, quiet way it is filmed could almost make the audience calm but it doesn't. The wat the clip manages to keep the viewer interrested and intruged is the sudden loud noises that could almost make the viewer jump. After a while the slow pase of the film may be considered boring for some viewers so the mood is then uplifted. This also gives chance for the tention to be built again. The sudden bang at the door helps recreate this tension. At point 3:38 the extreme low key lighting prevents the audience from seeing the figue at the door. This is particularly scary for the audience. If you watch from shot 6:47 you will see what i mean from how effective camera angle can be. The fact that the camera is not held completely still shows it is a point of view shot. This creates much tension as the person who is watching them is not revealed. I will hope to use this shot in my product as i think it will tie in well with the stalker theme and be very effective in that the audience will get a sence of somebody being there without having to reveal the character.




If you look at this shot you will see how effective it is. It creates lots of tension as the viewer does not know whether the stranger will approach her or whether she will turn to see the stranger. This keeps the view very much on the edge of their seats. The way the stranger is kept in low key lighting also adds to the tention. Its helps the viewer recognise that he is a villan and if she turns to look at him the outcome won't be good for her.


Amy

Opening Sequence

We aim to produce a 2 minute opening sequence. We are planning on our opening sequence to be a hybrid genre of teen horror and thriller. To help us finalize our product we have researched different opening sequences and this as helped us decide on our chosen genre.

After we had chosen our genre we closely looked at a specific opening scene that suited this genre and took a note of the genetic conventions of this genre, these include:

- low key lighting, this helps add to the tension because the lighting is very dull and dark and it creates and eery atmosphere which keeps the audience on edge.

- characters, the characters in the opening sequence are not fully introduced, we just get a glimpse of these characters but do not learn a lot about them, this sets up enigmas which keeps the audience hooked.

- editing, the editing is very quick or very slow which brings a sense of tension followed with immediacy and so keeps the audience on edge as they are waiting to see what comes next.

- non-diegetic sound, these sounds don't actually appear in real life situations because they have been edited to be put in the background, non-diegetic sounds adds to the tension because these sounds are usually fast moving.

We hope to include all of these in our opening sequence to help make our product as close to a real life production as possible. We think all these factors will help us do this.

Amy and Hayley