2. Camera
Throughout my research I have realised that there are
particular shots in which many horror films favour to use,
these consist of close up shots as well as long shots. The
use of the close up shots all the audience to be aware of
what emotion in which the characters are dealing with,
this then allows connection between the audience and the
protagonist to form, the use of close up are also used
when the main antagonist is going to attack or disturb the
characters, this is to show them in there true light and also
to ensure the audience fear who they are. The use of long
shots allow the audience a full view of the character and
therefore allow them to remember them for later on within
the film. There are some uses of medium shots within
these productions however close up are far more
common. With the use of medium and long shots the
audience are also able to be aware of any weapons in
which the antagonist may have and therefore when seeing
them within the rest of the film they will be able to make
connections and be aware that they are around, this then
adds fear to the character and the object.
3. Sound
The use of sound can be highly effective within horror films as
long as it is being used properly the most common sound
which is used within horror films is non-digetic sound. This is
sound which does not come from the world of the film, it is not
from the clips, its been placed in for the effectiveness of the
film. This is used to create tension and heighten the fear in
which the audience is feeling. Examples of non-digectic sound
which is used within horror would be nursery rhythms
alongside or tunes with childish melodies. Through using stabs
within these it creates tension to arise and then correlates with
the visual footage in which the audience are seeing to create
fear. Examples of this would be within insidious when the little
boy is running around the melody which is playing is child like
yet has stabs when the tension is rising or when something is
happening on screen.
4. Lighting
As a part of our horror and the preparation we had to choose the
type of lighting in which we would use through out our trailer we
discovered that the three type of light below will be the ones in
which we are likely to use the most ;
Low key lighting; this lighting allows dark shadows to form which
creates a sharp contrast between the light alongside the dark areas,
this is also known as chiaroscuro, depending on the visual point within
the film the viewer would usually be feeling alienated and allowed and
therefore this light reinforces and increases this feeling on the viewer.
Back lighting; this lighting crates the visual shadow of a silhouette of
a person or object, this is created through the shining light from behind
which create the idea that is darker than it actually is which
furthermore creates this silhouette. This creates the idea of them
looking evil and up to no good as well as hid their true identity or what
they look like.
Under lighting ; this lighting is when the light is seen from below such
as a torch under someoneās face. This creates the distorted effect on
the face as or on the object which affects the audience through giving
them the idea that something is going to come through where the light
is shinning from.
5. Props
Props within horror films can vary depending on
what type of horror sub genre in which they are
covering. Within the possession/supernatural
subgenre we are going to portray within our
trailer. Within the supernatural/ possession genre
the props which are used are usually innocent
objects made sinister through the possession.
For example within insidious the use of the
babies rocker and other children's object are
used as a way of allowing the possession to rule
within the family. Another example would be the
use of the Annabelle doll within the conjuring,
which is used as a way of the possession to be
involved within the family. Alongside this the use
of an old object such as a book or a ring is
particular used to portray the idea of something
within the past coming back to disturb, or with
unfinished business such as within the
possession with the box.
6. Costume
The type of costume which you see within
a possession film is very basic and
simple, its usually clean at the beginning of
the film and as the film progresses the
characters clothing then turns dirty as well
as sweaty. The clothes which we
particularly see within most horror films
are very normal and usually to date with
the era in which the film is being set
within. The type of clothes in which most
of the character in our trailer will wear will
be normal clothes, mostly clean apart from
when the child becomes possessed as her
clothes will start to become grubby and
sweaty due to the possession taking over.
When seeing the possessed within the film
they are also within grubby clothes or old
fashioned clothes such as old fashion
dresses for example within insidious the
woman are in large floor lengthen
dresses, this is too show what era they are
from.
7. Hair
The type of hair which is usually seen within horror films if very
ratty, tangled and wet from sweat. However at the beginning of the
film the characters hair would be very neat and clean, through the
transaction of the look of the hair highlights the stories paces and
the change to the equilibrium. Within our horror film, our group are
going to try and show this and represent this conventions of typical
hair within a possession film on our characters. We were inspired to
use this type of hair on our characters through the use of it within
the film of ā Exorcism of Emily Roseā.
As seen within these pictures from the film ā Exorcism of Emily
Roseā we see that they have followed through with the sweaty and
ratty hair, it looks like she has been running away from something,
like she is trying to escape. As well a the belief that possession are
dirty which correlate with the fact that her hair looks gritty and
grease the sense that its dirty from the possession. To try and
create this look we may wet the characters hair and towel dry it to
give it the effect of being sweaty but ensure that the hair is not
dripping wet as it will cause it to loose the effect in which we are
trying to portray.
8. Make up
To create the look of possession on the children as well as age the face of the actor
who is playing the mother, we will use different techniques and styles of make up to
portray these types of faces. For example to age the actress of the mother we will
use techniques such as defining lines of the faces and adding more dark and brown
colours to display that this is meant to be a older woman. Ways in which we can do
this would be to use dark toned foundation as well as use foundation pens to create
the lines along the faces stand out, alongside the use of eye shadow such as browns
and cream to emphasise the idea of her being a older woman.
To create the look of possession on the children, our
inspiration for the look of possession on the children has
come from the film āpossessionā. The look of a possessed
person is very white and pale almost as if they are being
drained, like they are sick, alongside being very sweaty and
clammy from the possession like its taking over and
controlling as well as hurting. Alongside this the skin around
her eyes is very black like she is tired as well as the darkness
taking over. We will apply all of these skills to trying to create
the possessed look on the children within our trailer.
