9. Convention Explanation Use/Develop/
Challenge
Our character is haunted Using – We used this as
by a ghost in her home. we made an opening
sequence about
Ghosts/Spirits possession which is
quite a typical feature.
Mysterious things keep Using –We used this
on happening to the convention by including
character, and as she mystery throughout the
becomes aware of this, plot.
Mystery these happenings get
worse.
At the end of film, our Developing – We
character is fully developed this because
possessed. But during our character is
the opening sequence, possessed slowly and is
Possession the character has aware of her
numerous close possession.
encounters with the
ghost.
10. Challenging Conventions.
• We challenged the usual stereotypical characters
normally used in thriller opening sequences.
• This is normally a dumb bimbo type character who tends
to be quite clueless which is the opposite of our character.
• We challenged the form by breaking the linear narrative
by having a flashback in the beginning.
11. Inspirational Films.
• An inspirational film to us was The Ring, and this was because of
the lighting used in the film, as it remained consistent and made the
film creepy.
• This inspired us to use a similar effect in the final draft of our
opening sequence.
12. Inspirational Films.
• Another inspirational film was The Haunting In Connecticut, and the
inspiration we took from this was the use of slamming doors.
• It was also inspiring to see a film set in a haunted building, and this
stimulated us to do the same.
13. Inspirational Films.
• Paranormal Activities.
• The idea of characters documenting their own
experiences was motivating for us all, as it makes the
paranormal activities experienced by the character even
more scary.
14. How Our Inspirational Films Challenge
Forms.
• The most obvious film that challenges forms is
paranormal activity. This film completely challenged
traditional forms, as the characters documented their
entire experience, and you almost lived through it with
them as you can see exactly what they can see.
15. How We Challenge Forms.
• We challenge forms through the documentation of our
paranormal events. Additionally, throughout our entire
planned film, our character would be aware that she is
being possessed, and we think that this completely defies
how thrillers are usually made.
Drew documenting
her experiences and
the outward
manifestations in her
home.
16. Similarities & Differences Between Our
Film and Real Films (Forms)
Similarities Differences
The Film
Paranormal Activity • Being aware of • Our character doesn’t
possession try to seek help from
• Documenting own those specialising in the
experiences of paranormal
paranormal activity.
The Ring • The lighting with our • The character types in
opening sequence is The Ring are different to
quite similar and has the character types that
that blue consistent we use, and the ghost is
tinge to make it cold roughly the same age
looking and sterile. as the character, not
younger.
17. Typical Conventions Of Thrillers – U/D/C
Convention Use/Develop/
Challenge/Not used
Ghosts/Spirits It all about the ghosts paranormal activity inside our
character’s home.
Mystery We develop mystery, because its never clear why
the ghost has chosen our character to possess.
Obsession
Revenge We use this, as our ghost is seeking revenge for an
injustice – this is quite typical in thrillers, where an
character is seeking revenge (e.g. In Eye For An
Eye)
Investigation We develop investigation, as our character does a
lot of research into what is happening to her as it
happens.
Mind Games
18. Similarities & Differences Between Our
Film & Real Films (Conventions)
Similarities Differences
The Film
Stir of Echoes •Central character is • Our character is
desperate to try and find possessed. However, in
what is actually going on Stir of Echoes, the
in his home. character isn’t
possessed but becomes
•Meets the stereotypical a ‘receiver’ accidentally –
curious-character type meaning communicates
and fits the conventions with ghosts.
of a thriller.
21. Who Is Being Represented?
• We choose to represent typical teenage students of today, who are
inquisitive and curious about everything
• This is perfect for us as it enables us to show a vulnerable character,
and to then emphasise her transformation during the film as she
grows in her curiosity to find out what is happening to her in her
home.
22. Our Character vs. Stereotypical Geek
Geek glasses
Simplistic clothing
23. How Our Target Audience Can Relate.
• Will relate to our character and our portrayal of the
stereotypical geek, because of:
• 1) Her age
2) Blog she uses to document her information.
• Everyone is exposed to social media!
26. Film Distribution – Our Research.
• We made numerous PowerPoint's looking at the various
distribution companies, which included information about
their budgets for films and where they mainly distribute
their films to.
27. Our Research.
We all had our favourite
option for a distribution
company, and we nearly
chose Columbia as our
distributor as they make
many excellent films,
such as The Grudge 2...
28. Our Research.
• Lionsgate appealed to us because they worked with Film
4, a company we briefly looked at, and they have made
successful thrillers.
• Whilst looking at them, we found that...
Lionsgate Entertainment
own
Mandate Pictures
who own
Ghost House Pictures!
29. Ghost House Pictures.
• The types of films they release:
• The Grudge
Genre = Horror/Mystery
• The Grudge 2
Genre = Horror
• The Messenger
Genre = Drama/Horror/Thriller
• Boogeyman
Genre = Drama/Horror/Mystery
30. Ghost House Pictures
• The type of films they release are like the ones that we
wish to release, as our film idea is a Thriller with certain
qualities of a Horror.
• We also looked at the budgets of the films that they make,
which also helped us chose them as our distributors.
33. Age of Our Target Audience.
• Aimed at 15+, because the main character in
the film is a teenager and audiences tend to
enjoy being able to relate to the characters.
• This sense of familiarity with the
characters will appeal to our target
audience and draw them to our film.
• Aspects like the blog in our opening
sequence, helps attract our target
audience as this is something many
young people use and are familiar with.
34. Age of Our Target Audience.
• The fast pace action in the film wont appeal to someone
of an older generation who is not as active as a younger
person.
35. Gender of Our Target Audience.
• We are not aiming our film idea at a specific gender.
• This is because our film idea is appealing to both genders
as our character is not based on specific stereotypes of a
gender.
36. Location.
• We decided to set the opening sequence inside a bedroom.
• Our reason for doing this was so that we could use typical
teenage surroundings in order to appeal to our young target
audience.
. Art-deco
. Posters
. TV
. CDs
37. Social Class of Our Target Audience.
• Our idea is aimed at working class to middle class, as this
is the character’s class also.
• This will attract our target audience because they can
identify with the character.
• This would be because it is important for the audience to
relate to our character, especially with horrors and
thrillers.
38. Ethnicity/nationality.
• We did not aim it at a specific ethic group.
• We did however aim it at Western parts of the world as
they’d be able to relate to it more.
39. Lifestyle and Hobbies.
• Lifestyle: The movie itself is quite slow pace but this
doesn’t take away from it’s excitement.
• Therefore our target audience would be people who
lead an active life and enjoy trills and sitting on the
edge of their seat whilst watching a movie.
• The mystery and enigma throughout our film will appeal
to those who are adventurous which is our target
audience.
• Hobbies: Those who seek thrills and adrenaline.
• Perhaps people who enjoy going to theme parks
and on roller coasters.
40. How They Relate to Our Idea.
• The Idea:
• Our target audience will be interested in our idea because
it is thrilling and exciting and creates mystery (the history
behind the house and the ghost).
• This will intrigue our audience, because they will want to
find out more as only pieces of information are revealed in
the opening sequence through the character’s blog.
• The unexplained paranormal events
that take place will interest people
who regularly watch thrillers.
41. The Form.
• Form:
• We used very creepy slow tension building music in some parts then
fast pace dramatic music to create excitement and lead to a climax.
• This will interest our audience because the people we are aiming our
film at thrill seekers.
• We also want to use quick cutaways to create excitement and build
up tension for the audience. E.g. Hand-held camera to real camera.
• However will we also used smooth camera movements to build up
tension which lead up to the climax at the end.
• This will attract our target audience as it creates excitement which
will appeal to regular thrill seekers.
44. Conventions.
• Conventions: We are targeting our film at an audience
who regularly watch horrors and thrillers with conventions
such as terror and supernatural encounters.
• We will intrigue people who enjoy being frightened by
films.
• We will include ghosts and spirits in order to attract an
audience who are interested in supernatural happenings
and life after death. (Ghost girl).
• We want to satisfy their interest in paranormal activities by
including spirits and weird unexplained events such as the
TV switching on by itself.
45. BBFC & Rating.
We looked at the various ratings and the guidelines that came with those
ratings, and decided that are opening sequence was certainly a 15.
Here is why we ruled out the other ratings:
BBFC Rating Reason
U Our film idea has more than mild violence in it, and there is more than a
significant threat.
PG It isn’t suitable for family viewing, as it has more than mild-moderate violence
in it, and would scare the younger viewers a considerable amount.
12 It is inappropriate for 12 year olds, as the content in our film idea is quite
scary, and we have a considerable amount of violence in the planned film
idea.
12A We won’t limit the eventual violence seen on screen, and the effects of blood
and gore are seen on screen.
15 We have occasional sadistic violence in the entire film, and the violence is
shown on screen. Additionally, we would overlap between horror, violence
and language and this makes our film appropriate for this classification.
18 Our film idea certainly isn’t a 18, as we don’t have sexually explicit material,
and although violence is shown, it isn’t gory violence.
51. Audience Feedback Questions:
What did you think about the
character?
What do you think about how she
was represented?
Was character choice effective? –
How and why?
64. Targets toenough footage, so didn’t film
2. We didn’t shoot Improve
Joanne actually leaving the room. – You can still
see her in the final screen grab.
65.
66.
67.
68.
69. Feedback For Our Fourth Opening
Sequence
•We scared our
target audience –
which was our
main aim!
74. Audience Feedback.
It was obvious from our audience feedback that not
everyone understood the use of the blog.
This was one response to the use of the blog…
75. Feedback Of Our Final Opening
Sequence
•All of our
audience feedback
was very positive
and many enjoyed
our opening
sequence.