My Media Short film Pitch

1. ‘No Connection’ Film
Pitch
By Jordan Upton

2. Defining the
genre
Thriller
Horror
Action
Crime Drama
Sci-fi
Adventure
Comedy
Fantasy
Romance
Film-noir
Mystery
Psychological
Killer
Monster
Slasher
Science FictionAlien
True Stories
Philosophical
War
Sports Films
Magical
Slapstick
Satirical
Artistic
Historical
Revenge
Dark
Comedy
Motivational
Police
Fighting
Futuristic
Forbidden
romance
Romantic
Comedy
Political
Disaster
Crime-Thriller
Western
Super-Hero
Live-action Scripted
Spy films

3. Why I chose
HorrorI chose horror because I am a devoted
fan of the genre and appreciate when
horror is done right and I believe I
know what makes a great horror film.
I think that the horror genre has took a
substantial drop in quality with
modern horror films poor use of
editing and camera work. It seems as if
Hollywood studios make low quality
horror films on small budgets and they
do well at the box office which is why
there is so many horror releases now
yet rarely any good ones.
A break in the trend of poor horror
films in my opinion are: It follows, The
Babadook, The conjuring and insidious.
I intend to make a quality horror film
that uses all aspects of film making
correctly to make a quality end
product.
The main influence of my film is ‘It
follows’ I believe that the film did
everything right and is not just a great
horror film but a great film in general,
from the cinematography to the score I
will pay homage to this within my film.
Horror
ConventionsThe conventions of horror are
arguably the most clear and present
in comparison to other genres.
Although the conventions are clear
such as dim lighting, a suspenseful
soundtrack, and blood and gore
conveying real fear within a horror
film is particularly difficult.
It is easy to over do the conventions
of horror and cross the line of
ridiculousness, this is why I believe
the majority of horror films released
in recent years all follow a simple
narrative and structure with
stereotypical characters and cheap
jump scares throughout.
The horror genre has obvious
conventions but I believe they allow
vast room for creativity. Each sub-
genre of horror has its own
conventions in terms of the
stereotypical characters, the style of
filming, and the narrative structure.
For example building suspense
carefully not creating ‘false-scares’,
making sure the audience is scared
at the right moments for the right
reasons and have a developed story
and characters beyond that.

4. INSPIRATIO
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5. Sub-Genres: Psychological horror
• Often focuses on everyday life, often more of a ‘real’ story or are ‘based on true events’ which makes
the audience think more about the film if the events are ‘real’.
• If the audience recognises realism within a story the fear conveyed by the film is so much more
disturbing.
• Explores the evil prominent in normal society.
• A certain subtlety is common within psychological horror as if the audience notices something in a
particular shot without it being forced in their face it adds a deeper sense of fear.
• On the same factor of subtly the antagonist or thing we as an audience are afraid of can be unclear
or left unknown, this makes us think more about the antagonist, its capabilities or if its even real in
some cases.
• A convention of this genre be a ‘curse’ or affliction that the main character becomes aware of and
that awareness makes it more apparent, this could be passed onto people carrying on the horror. For
example the ring watching the videotape, or in paranormal activity the more they talk about the
demons the larger mark they leave.
• The killer may appear normal adding a layer of discomfort as its not what the viewer expects.
• Usually less mindless killing and more calculated and precise, for example the killer in se7en basing
his killings on the seven deadly sins.

6. Sub-genres: Paranormal Horror Examples:
• The spirit/ghost/demon may be a curse that can be passed on
• Each paranormal films antagonists characteristics aren’t set in stone they can break away
from the normal as they are not human.
• The setting is usually a house where characters start to notice things gradually provoking
spirits.
• Paranormal films can be made on a very low budget as sometimes the ‘ghost’ is never
seen, its presence is merely suggested through moving objects, doors opening, and
noises.
• There will often be a character in paranormal films that is a expert in dealing with ghosts
and is better equipped to the situation then the main characters.
• Jump scares are almost a guarantee in paranormal horror, a character will usually be
carrying out a everyday tasks but a combination of camera work, sound effects and
possibly dialogue will build suspense where there is no real fear.
• For example: A character will be making some food they need to get something from a
cupboard in another room, hear a noise, ask ‘who's there?’ the music will become
louder and the camera will cut to the cupboard then back to a close up of the characters
worried face then a pet will jump out of the cupboard.
• This is a ‘cheap’ tactic used mainly in this type of horror, it is easy to do and a good way
to make the audience feel scared but in reality jump scares just ruin suspense as the
audience suspects it and then when you need to convey real fear the scare factor isn’t
there.

7. Sub-Genres: Slasher
• Stereotypical characters victim often being a
vulnerable innocent teen girl.
• Teenage cast in general for examples films such
as ‘Scream’ or ‘Nightmare on elm street’.
• The antagonist is often unknown, this is can be
because of a mask or dim lighting.
• The Killers motives might not be clear to the
audience which adds a element of fear because
the murders are pointless, without motives the
victims are random so it could be anyone.
• The location is likely to be a quiet suburban
town, this setting is effective for slasher films as
it’s a place you consider to be safe in and yet
this killer is violated that safe space.
• A feature of the location may be a lack of
authority, police are usually inexperienced as its
not a area prone to murders and parents are
rarely shown on screen and if they are its very
briefly.
The film may include romances between characters,
these romances lead to separation from a group
which is when the antagonist strikes.
The narrative structure is usually as follows:
• Equilibrium
• Disruption
• Characters recognising the problem and coming
together
• A situation where the characters meet
• Separation of characters
• Chase scenes with creative killing methods
• A return to normality in the end of the film with
little to no characters left alive.

8. No connection: Narrative
The story is based around
small town girl Olivia
Hutcherson she’s bored of
her small village and seeking
excitement but is bound by
the classic teenage problems
of having little money to go
out, not being able to drive
and not being old enough to
get into clubs.
None of her friends live in
her village so she feels
isolated from the rest of her
friends and social group so
her phone is her only
connection/ escape from the
dull reality of her lonely
home life.
The character decides that
social networking is not
enough excitement for one
day and decides to walk the
dog.
Olivia ventures down into the
quarry on the outskirts of her
village, the quarry is known
to be deserted and empty so
it’s the perfect place for dog
walkers as dogs can run free.
As she makes her way further
into the quarry she starts to
become disconnected from
the rest of the world as she
loses phone signal whilst
talking to a friend.
She starts to notice just how
strange of a place the quarry
really is and discovers a man
made structures woven out
of trees.
This prompts the decision to
head home but she has
become lost in the maze of
dead trees and chalky holes.
Trying to find a way out she
stops focusing on the dog and
this causes her to lose him.
She manages to get phone
signal and informs her mum
of the situation and that
she has lost the dog.
She continues the search and
in doing so she calls out to
him and is answered by a
disturbing voice.
Olivia is then terrified she
runs away and try's to call her
mother but the signal has
been lost.
At this point she is deep into
the quarry and the daylight is
disappearing.
She is desperately trying to
find her dog and a way out
she is sees a person in the
distance and calls for help
only to find that its not a
person.

9. No connection: Character analysis/Breakdown
Writing the lead character (Olivia) as
female is obviously representative of the
genre, but the character is not meant to
be vulnerable and helpless even though
she is helpless in certain points of the film
she is meant to be portrayed as a fighter a
strong character that doesn’t quit.
Olivia finds herself in this situation that
keeps getting worse as the film progresses
and this theme of isolation becomes
increasingly apparent. The character of
Olivia has features that fit into a
stereotypical teen, for example, her lack of
interest, boredom, search for excitement
and careless attitude.
Olivia Hutcherson (Played by Livv
Robertson)
Jane Hutcherson
(Played by Kim Upton)
Cooper the Dog
Jane is a loving mother
that feels sorry for
Olivia as doesn’t get to
see her friends often.
She suggests Olivia
walks the dog and
works a reason to walk
the dog in the first
place. Introducing the
audience to Olivia’s
home life with her
mum makes them
recognise she has a
family who care about
her so that character
development will make
them care about her
and want her to get
home safe.
The dog plays a large role
in the film and works as a
companion to the main
character. Although the
dog has no way of
communicated properly
he has a large influence
on the story and pets in
films automatically have
a sense of innocence and
audiences usually care
about them immediately.
The dog going missing is
Olivia’s only reason for
staying in the strange and
disturbing quarry as the
dog is part of the family
and the victim of the
dangerous creature.
Jack Thompson
(Olivia’s Friend)
Jacks a friend of
Olivia’s asking her to
go to a house party
that they aren’t invited
to being a bad
influence. The
character is alone for
the majority of the film
so by communicating
with people through
phone calls allows
character development
and more substance of
story to make it more
interesting watch for
the viewer.

10. No Connection: Setting
The setting of a horror film is crucial
and I am convinced the quarry is the
perfect setting to convey so much to
the audience. Themes of isolation,
abandonment, and the idea of being
imprisoned in this whole in the ground
yet its one big open space.
The trees and chalky earth create a
bleak and dreary setting, the fact that
there is no buildings anywhere to be
scene and the entrance to the quarry is
a long winding road that leads to
nowhere.
The place is a spooky setting since it’s
far away from any actual roads, there is
never any people down there so shots
wont be ruined.

11. No connection: Target audience
Marketing films
the right target audience is crucial when marketing a film, if it isn’t done correctly the wrong
people may go and see your film and not enjoy it if the film is aimed at mature adults and
teenagers go and see it then it might not be deemed a success at the box office let alone in
terms of reviews.
The trailer and poster of the film as well as all other promotion play a huge role into who your
targeting to advertise the film to.
No Connections Marketing
No Connection is mainly marketed towards teenagers and young adults, having a female teenage
lead that audience will relate to the character the most if they share common interests or there
lives are comparable in some way.
Also the increasingly popular style of film with all teenage cast that have great success in cinemas, film
franchises such as Harry Potter or The Hunger Games, although these films are more action based in terms of
genre the audience would be similar for a horror film as well especially if the age rating was 15.
Horror films in general require a mature audience for obvious reasons but although the films primary target
audience is teenagers I as a director hope the film can entertain and be enjoyed by adults of all ages.