Another Poster Design

This is a design for another poster design, this one is a teaser poster we could use to promote Hallowed in a variety of places - outside cinemas, on billboards and so on.

poster advertisments

This is our poster that would be used if we were to advertise our poster for cinema release. This would be placed in cinemas around the world, it could also be seen on bus posters and billboards that are placed in large cities.

We have tried to make the poster look like other horror posters with a 50s style.
We have got the same layout as this poster with the charcters in the corner and the large threat that covers up most of the page. Our colours contrast with the ones of the Mantis as ours is more of a torture horror, while their's is an older one which is used to attract passers by.

Both of our typefaces match the theme of our story, ours is the dripping blood which reflects the violence of the events that occur in the movie, while Mantis poster does the same by chaning the font to suit the monster.

Shooting the Opening Sequence of "Hallowed"

In Matt's nan's shed- the killing scene

Amy was tied to Matt's table, acting as the victim who is about to be killed.

I applied cuts to her arms, face and feet as mise-en-scene, making it seem as if she had run through the forest for quite a while.

We used a lamp as the lighting because this created a dim yellow light and cast dark shadows everywhere, which seemed quite sinister and ominous, adding to the mise-en-scene. By this time it was dark outside (around 6:20pm) so we didn't really have to block the windows up to create the appropriate darkness.

In the woods- the chase scene

These pictures show us setting up to film the chase scene through the woods. We had to film around 5:30pm so the lighting wasn't too light or too dark. Matt's costume was designed so he would look like a reverend. His mask is white and plain to symbolise purity but adds mystery and is expressionless, which distances the audience from the character, creating natural fear of the unknown.

Safety table

The table used in the film has been made so it is dangerous when the victim is laying on. The victim will be laying on the Cross on the table, this is there for two reasons, it is the paths where the saw will cross through, placed over two slabs which reduces the chance of the wood cracking, also it gives more affect to the christian killer and reflects to Jesus on the cross.





Two large nails were inserted into the top end of the table, doing this again marks here the victim will be laying and it shows to the audience that she has been captured, also it relates back to Jesus how her arms are being placed over the table, just like a Crucifixion.





The most important parts on the table is the supports built underneath, we have added a lot more support under the table as the saw will have to cut through one of the supports making the table weaker, however, adding the other supports keeps the table up from the sides after the end has been cut through. Each extra support keeps the legs from falling in and also keeps the legs upright.











More support has been created under each slab of the table, this is also to reinforce the strength after the table has been cut. I have placed a number of slabs under the weaker areas, supporting them to the fullest even when one of the main supports have been weakened.

Midnight Meat Train opening

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lic3g2E1nZA - embedded code disabled

The first shot is a quick edit of the train speeding past, this sets the scene of the underground, and there is little lighting except for the tinted blue racing past in the middle of the screen. The blue light gives off a creepy vibe which suggests danger. There is an extreme close up of a man’s face; his facial expression suggests he may either be very ill, dead or in danger. His eyebrows are furrowed, making him look confused which tells the audience he doesn’t know where he is or what is going on which implies he is a victim.

As soon as the man opens his eyes the camera slowly zooms out showing that he is wearing a suit and that he has collapsed on one of the seats. The lights flash changing the camera angle to an over the shoulder shot, which suggests that there is someone about but it is unknown to the character or the audience. The whole train is blue which brings out a cold emotionless atmosphere.

It is silent other than the diegetic train sounds of the continuous movement of the train. The character is disorientated suggested by the way he places his head into his hands and rubs his face, the character turns quickly indicated that there may be something there. There is a low angle shot facing up the carriage making it seem intimidating, there is lack of light where shadows are being casted up the wall, making the floor seem ambiguous, the light flashes continuously on and off making the train darker and creepier.

When the light turns on a third time, the camera is faced back on the character and his facial expression shows how confused he is. When the character stands up the lights continue to flash on and off as he slowly walks up the carriage showing the darkness and speed of the train. A skidding noise is heard as he falls over in a puddle of blood.

The edit is very quick showing him fall to the floor where the camera changes to an extreme close up of the blood pouring down his face. A low angle P.O.V. shot shows his shaking hands covered in blood; the light causes a lot of shadows on his hands making the blood look black while it drips off his hands. Another quick edit is used with a fast zoom to capture the character lying in a large puddle of blood.

As the camera becomes another low angle shot the character tries to get up, he grunts while slipping in the blood to emphasise how much there is of it. A mid shot shows him clinging to a pole. The carriage seems misty in the background, contrasting against the dark figure. This may show the characters state of mind and the position he is in. There is a quick edit to show his back. The camera slowly tracks over his shoulder, drawing attention to the next carriage and to what he is looking at. This creates the sense of danger and makes the audience believe that there is something there- building suspense.

The camera cuts back to show the man slowly straightening up, his expression one of caution and fear. The volume of the music gets louder as the man approaches the door to the next carriage. He walks towards the camera until his face is in a close up, showing his facial expression. The audience can tell he is scared but cannot see why. This builds up tension and suspense. The lights continue to flicker black and blue.

The camera zooms into his blood soaked back, suggesting that something is about to happen/appear. Another shot frames his face behind the carriage window- which is soaked in blood- and zooms out showing the rest of the carriage, creating further suspense. The final shot shows the killer hacking apart a victim, but the darkness doesn’t give too much away. A last quick edit is used with a low shot to show the train speeding over the tracks with a flash of light finishing the opening.

By Amy and Matt

Shooting Script

This is the Shooting Script we are going to use for our Production Piece, the Opening to Hallowed (Working Title).

Download the file here.

Storyboard

These are photos of the Hallowed (Working Title) Storyboard, as drawn by Amy Greenwood.

Fake blood and cuts 2

This is the most realistic dried blood effect I could get hold of.

It congeals to create a better imitation of blood and isn't messy like the liquid sort. This will make it easier to apply to the victim (Amy) because she won't complain so much.

Hallowed (Working Title) Screenplay

The screenplay for our opening scene can be downloaded from the link below.

Link

The storyboard and shooting script are based on this final version of the screenplay.

Mise-en-scene

Costume



We have decided to have the victim wear a plain white tank top and jeans. The white will contrast well with the blood stains and exposes the arms so we can include more cuts etc.
I had to buy two identical outfits because one will get used as a prop and probably get wrecked.
The total cost came to £21.

Gantt Chart

This is how we plan(ned) our time

Character Profiles

The Reverend

Born into a painfully strict Christian family, The Reverend was indoctrinated into the teachings of The Bible from an early age. His father, a miner, lost his job when The Reverend was 12 and began to spend more time at home. He was bitter and angry about losing his job and his son often felt like he was passive aggressively taking it out on him (His son). Nevertheless, The Bible told him to Honour his Father, so he accepted that his father knew best.

However, two years later, the 14-year-old - now set on joining the Clergy - came home from school to find his father in bed with the woman who lived next door. The boy and his father argued, then came to blows. The boy who would become The Reverend felt betrayed, and felt that the father his Bible told him to honour had defiled that same Bible.

Too young and weak to win, the boy fled the house and found his mother. He intended for them to leave together, but she left him and returned to their home, expecting him to calm down and join her in a few days. But the boy didn't return. He ran far away and completed his studies before joining The Clergy.

As he went about his duties as a Reverend, he began to recognise his father's hypocrisy in more and more of the members of his Church. At first, he was just disappointed. However, gradually, the rage began to build within him and when a woman confessed to him that her husband had done just as his father had, he snapped. He quoted her a Bible verse, and retired to his office to think. There he decided there was only one way to ensure the sinners in his flock paid their penance.

Force them to. Days later, the man whose wife had spoken to him turned up dead, his eyes replaced by Bible pages - both containing the Ten Commandments. Knowing he would be suspected, The Reverend fled. He decided the only way he could mend the ways of mankind was to brutally punish the worst sinners. He travelled the country carrying out his "Sermons".

It is two years later that he decides The Girl is in need of a lesson in the sanctity of marriage.

The Girl

The Girl was born into an under-privileged family and grew up feeling left out - all her friends had new clothes and makeup and got treated to all sorts of things by their parents. She grew jealous of her friends and the gifts and care lavished upon them by their parents.

Her own father spent most of his time working, and the rest drinking. Her mother was more concerned with her elder sister, who shared her mother's passion for writing. The younger sister began to feel lonely, unwanted and useless. One day though, whilst at a friend's house, she found herself alone with her friend's father. She noticed his eyes were lingering on her a little more than one would expect.

Slowly, she noticed more of her friends' fathers looking at her this way. Finally, she found out about on of her other friends' parents splitting up. The father had been cheating on his wife with a younger woman. The Girl's interest was piqued though when she heard all the things he had bought for his girlfriend. Suddenly, she knew how to get all the things she'd ever wanted, and feel more loved.

She began seducing her friends' fathers. Then, a teacher. Then any guy who she could lay her hands on. So frequent were her trysts, The Reverend noticed what she was up to very soon after he arrived in the area.

The Reverend was particularly enraged by The Girl because he felt she was luring men off the Path of God, subjecting more families to what he had gone through for her own selfish needs.

One night, after leaving the home of one of her most generous partners, she became aware she was being followed.

Hellraiser

The opening sequence start with the camera focused on a small golden box, where the natural lighting is from candles spread around the character holding it. The camera pulls back to show him focused on the box but as his head is bowed you can't identify the character. This creates a sense of mystique which encourages the audeince to keep watching. The rest of the room is pitch black which also makes the location unknown and scary to the audience.

The focus moves back onto the box again, it has been emphisised by the extreme close up of the hands moving pieces on the box. The slow moving hands suggest that the character knows as much about the box as the viewers do, which creates more mystery about both the character and the box. The golden box is obviously and important prop and can be noticed by the patterns that are printed on it, these could be ancient marks that hold a spiritual meaning.

Another extreme close up is used whenthe first part of the box moves out, this leads to a close up of the characters face showing that he is still curious about what is going to happen, however because of the position of his head and the lighting, it is still hard to notice much about the character. More light enters the room from blinds which slowly and mysteriously open up by themself, the white lighht which enters could be from the moon light which would be assosiated with light and fear, this is also backed up by the mist that raises from the floor when the light enters.

The edits speed up as more of the box opens and moves about which starts to build up tension to the viewers, the zoom also speeds up when focusing onto the box to emphisis its important connection to the events. More light enters the room at a quicker rate which suggests that something perculiar is about to happen.

A final close up is use on the box when the character presses the it into another position which connotes how important it really is, the markings that are shown when the box is pressed into place again could be ancient markings that have unknown meanings.

This is followed by two extremely quick edits of a final zoom into the box and a flash of light breaking out of it, the light isn't natural which would suggest it contains inhuman powers, it strikes at the camera which creates a threat to the viewers and to the character who is holding it.

Immediatly after this a number of hooks are shown being pierced into the characters flesh in a series of quick, extreme close ups, doing this emphises the event and the pain that the charcter has been put through, sweat and blood are seen running of the body and the hooks which again shows the agaony and also backs up the point that the charatcer was nervous using the box. The final shot is a medium close up of the charatcer screaming, as the connotes a mystical power it could be believed that the scream is a start of a metamorphisis and that the pain is becoming alot greater.

Like in the opening sequence we are going to try and manipulate agony felt by the victim, to do this we will also be using many close ups to emphisis the item of torture and the blood effects to bring out some gore to hopefully make some viewers cringe in fear.

Making cuts

Experimenting with making open wounds (using the fake blood in the previous post)

How to make 'gory wounds':

1.) Smear liquid latex onto the desired area, in the desired shape using a cotton bud.

2.) Using a toothpick, make a rut in the latex to mark where the gash will open.

3.) Wait for the latex to dry. Use a toothpick to poke into the sides of the rut to open the cut and curl up the sides a little. Allow to air dry again.

4.) Using the stipple sponge, apply purple make up to create bruising. Rub in a little using a cotton bud.

5.) Lightly brush the stipple sponge over the latex to create a dry/torn skin look.

6.) Add the fake blood using a toothpick to get the liquid underneath the latex and then a cotton bud to add more.

This was made using the peanut butter fake blood. It looked more realistic out of the four wounds I created on my arm.

This was the less realistic splatter blood. It looks more like tomato ketchup than blood and was too watery.

This wound was created using the chocolate sauce. It was a better shade than the last one but still too runny to use on cuts.
This type of fake blood is definitely better for splatter blood.

The blood gel is too red and unrealistic. It was a good consistency but cannot be used as splatter blood because of the cost implications.

Equipment used:

Cotton buds,

Liquid Latex,

Purple eyeshadow,

Stipple sponge,

Toothpicks,

Fake blood/ blood gel

The only bad thing about using the latex was peeling it off at the end... it really hurt...

Fake Blood

How to Make Fake Blood

To make the opening to our horror film "Hallowed" (working title) more realistic, I have experimented with a variety of fake blood to use as make up for mise-en-scene.
Most of the blood would be used as splatter blood, but a thicker version may be needed to create scratches and cuts.
The blood gel I experimented with was an unrealistic shade. The following could be made cheaply and would be easy to replicate (so we wouldn't run out).


1. Use smooth peanut butter and slowly mix in golden syrup until the desired consistency is reached.
2. Slowly add single drops of red food colouring until the mixture is dark red.
3. Add chocolate sauce to make the blood darker.
4. If you want a thicker mixture, add corn starch (in small amounts).

I found this mixture better to use on cuts rather than as splatter blood (which is what we need the most). I found the colour and consistency more
realistic than the others.

1. Combine one part water with three parts golden syrup.
2. Add red food colouring and stir gently. Keep adding more red food colouring and a drop of blue to make the shade more realistic.
3. Add either sifted flour or chocolate sauce to thicken the mixture.
4. Leave in a warm environment until thick enough.

I found the shade too red to be real but that's because I added flour to thicken it rather than chocolate sauce. The consistency would make good splatter blood.

1. Combine golden syrup with red food colouring until it resembles real blood.
2. Add a small amount of cocoa powder to darken the shade.
3. To thin the blood slowly add water
OR
3. Thicken the blood with pinches of flour and carefully mix in.

This mixture looks more like real blood and would also make good splatter blood- the consistency can be changed easily.

Halloween

The opening to Halloween (Made in 1978 by John Carpenter) displays many conventions of the horror genre, this is shown through the use of mise-en-scene, edits, camera angles and sound.

The shot fades in as a P.O.V. showing a large white house surrounded in darkness and shadows cast by the trees. A lantern is placed in the downstairs window implying that it is Halloween. A steadicam is used to show the characters steady descent upon the house, implying that he is calm and knows what he is doing. The only sound heard is crickets and an owl hooting which creates a calm atmosphere, that seems to peaceful for a horror movie.

As the camera pans around the house the pumpkin lantern comes into view followed by voices of two characters from within. This suggests that they are going to be the victims, a typical conventions is the romance between the two teenagers and their unawareness of the stalker that is outside. In the foreground is a translucent net curtain through which the stalker is watching them. Surrounding the victims is more darkness which would suggest danger. Inside the house is a typical living room which creates realism in the shot which makes the opening more believable.

After the teenagers leave the shot the camera moves right then left, possibly searching for an entrance, he then moves around the front of the house, the camera pans up to the second floor of the house. The light turns off, showing the teenager's whereabouts. Music plays to indicate a threat and the interest of the stalker.

The camera starts to move at a faster pace round the building, showing the character's process of entering the house and his urgency to get inside. Everything is dark at the back of the house which builds up more tension. The ringing continues which suggests a threat that is about to follow. After the character enters the house, a piano is added playing a chilling repetitive beat. The pace slows down to indicate that the character is creeping through the house. After the light

turns on a hand appears that reaches for a drawer and takes out a long sharp knife which is held at a stabbing angle. The emphasis on the knife is created by the slow pace he pulls it out of the drawer. Still in a minor key the music becomes more surreal, the camera matches this with a Steadicam which creates an eerie atmosphere.

Preliminary Task