contextual research

1. FMP
contextual
research
HOPE SMITH

2. intro
I am going to be making a short horror film for my FMP. I have
chosen to make a horror film because I love the horror genera, I am
very inspired and influenced by the horror side of different artistic
mediums like film, art and fashion. I have always been extremely
interested in creepy peculiar things from a young age so this has
defiantly had a big impact on my work and my preferred style to
work in.

3. strengths
I am good at video editing, and I have defiantly improved since the beginning of the course as I had
never edited a video before until I started college. This is great as I am making a short film, so I know I
am going to do well with the editing side of things. I am good at problem solving like coming up with
alternative shots during filming if one of the shots I want doesn't work out, I don't like how it looks or
I just need to have more variation in shots. This will help my project as things will probably go wrong
during filming and I will need solutions to an issues that arise.

4. limitations
Something I definitely need to improve on is editing audio, I haven't done lots of audio work so I am
not the best at getting the audio to be as good and as clear as it could be in my work. This will impact
my project because I am making a short film so I will need the audio to be really nice and clean for
the film to come out good. I am not great at the written work side of projects; I have always struggled
with writing because I never know what to say or where to start so this defiantly holds me back
bringing down my grade.

5. Improving and expanding my
skills
My film won't have any dialogue in so I will be using foley sound only. I have used a little bit of foley
sound in my first year when I made my video game design, but I haven't done any since so it will be
good to expand my foley knowledge and skills. I'm planning to use more equipment than I have done
for projects in the past like a stabiliser, this means I will be able to use the stabiliser for my
experiments because I have never used one before so I can try different techniques and learn how to
set it up.

6. Hopes for this project
My hopes for this project are to make a short psychological horror film that is successful in making the
audience have a connection to the film and characters. I want the audience to feel uncomfortable and
anxious whilst watching my film, I want them to be left feeling like they are being watched
themselves or that this has a possibility of being a real life horror.

7. Horrors I've seen recently
These are all the horror movies I
have watched over about the past
year. I like to watch more
slasher/thriller movies out of all the
sub genera's of horror like all the
scream movies and Candyman. The
2021 remake of the movie Candyman
directed by Nia DaCosta was one of
my favourite movies of the year and,
has been a big inspiration for
the ideas I have so far for the FMP.

8. Candyman
In the 2021 remake of Candyman directed by Nia Dacosta we see the
Candyman appear in mirrors as Anthony passes them. I think this effect
will be quite easy to do in my film as I have lots of big mirrors around my
house and its pretty simple to edit together. I feel like this effect has a big
visual impact and the fact that the threat is there but can't get out
increases the fear and anxiety in the audience waiting for it to get out.

9. Horror artists
Lipton, Alfrey and Cai are all prominent
modern horror artists that could all be
potential influences for my FMP research. All
three artists have very different art styles and
takes on the horror genera. All 3 artists
represent some form of demon or alternate
self in their work I really like the idea of having
all the bad parts of you or the things you don’t
like about yourself in another being I think that
could be a really cool movie concept.
Laurie Lipton
Aeron
Alfrey
Rovina Cai