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

Feedback

In order to ensure that we are on the right track with our AS Level Production, we are looking for feedback on our ideas so far. As such, we present the following survey so that we can get a feel for what people both within our target audience and outside it think of our ideas.

Please answer in Comments

1) How old are you?

2) Were you present at our pitch?

3) Choose 3 words which best describe The Reverend

4) Choose 3 words which best describe The Workshop

5) Do you enjoy horror movies?

6) Name some movies Hallowed (Working Title) reminds you of.

7) If you have seen any of these movies, which did you enjoy the most?

8) Would you watch Hallowed (Working Title) based on what you know of it at this stage?

9) If so, what about it appeals? If not, what puts you off?

10) Do you have any other comments? If so, what are they?

Villains

In our opening title we will be including a classic murderous villain who will be killing a female at the end of the opening. The villain will have a distinctive look to scare the audience. We have been looking at other costumes used in horror films to get an idea of what ours will look like.

We first looked at Jason's costume from Friday the 13th, it is threatening because you can't see his face. Covered in a dirty hockey mask and wearing ripped worn clothes to make him seem tough and creepy. Wearing normal clothes shows that the killer is human making it more realistic building up more suspense. Not showing the killers face triggers a basic human fear because it makes him seem less human.

The Hellraiser shows the emotion of the character, however it is placed behind a lot of pins showing he is pain resistance and will freak out the audience. A white face suggests a ghostly character who, with the pins suggests that he is a sadomasochist, it contrasts with the facial emotions.

Both of the evil characters from Saw (puppet and human) are very different compared to most evil villains. The puppet seems very threatening because the face is inhuman- which is extremely uncomfortable for people to look at. The red, spiral cheeks, the pink bow tie and the white face make the puppet look creepily happy, adding to the fear factor of this character. In contrast, Jigsaw seems to have a normal appearance, which could be designed to imply that everybody could be a psycho killer.

The Leatherface killer from Texas Chainsaw Massacre has a face that always appears gruesome and damaged, constantly appearing to be made (as his name suggests) a leathery, inhuman skin. Leatherface's eye sockets appear empty which brings out suspense not knowing what he is really looking at. His clothes are all torn that would suggest he kills constantly leaving dirt and grime on his clothes.

The final character that we looked at was the Joker from Dark Knight. The Joker's appearance is based on something familiar and happy but with a dark twist. This serves to amplify the audience's discomfort with the character. His formal clothes also have a twist, where the colours of green and purple suggests evil and is usually found on a clown, the colours of green and purple both clash that represent his strange and twisted personality. The face paint is carelessly applied which reveals the Joker's disregard for his personal appearance. The face is horribly disfigured which suggests a violent past adding to the dangerous perception of the character.