2. THE TITLE OF THE FILM
The title of out trailer is ‘THE WALK’. The
reason why we named our trailer The Walk
is because it is short and straightforward,
it is also an intriguing title that creates an
enigma questioning audiences what is the
walk? It therefore propels and enhances
audiences interest. Also, the reason
behind the title ‘The Walk’ is the fact that
it is the sub-genre slasher which conforms
to our sub-genre ‘shasler’ because several
character's go for walks in horror movies
and never escape back out. This title
therefore is typical title conforming to my
sub-genre.
The title of our film appears towards the end of the trailer after the murder scene.
It appears suddenly with a flash bulb disturbing sound which was used in the Texas
Chainsaw Massacre. We used this disturbing sound contrasting over the title
because its daunting and sinister which will therefore remind audiences of what
our trailer is and to convey a feeling of. Terror, fear and anxiety, which was a key
convention used in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre that was a successful film and
propelled audiences interest.
3. Setting/location
The main setting of out trailer is set is a stock location – isolated woods. The character is
portrayed as vulnerable and helpless walking alone into the woods. It’s conveys a feeling is
isolation and does not connote the characters personality. This is a an affective camera shot
because this foreshadows to the audience a sinister act is about to take place. The wide
shot allows audiences to sympathise and empathise with the teenage victim, which
enables audience to denote who she is.
In contrast, the establishing shot indicates a stereotypical stock location of a college. This
location/shot was chosen as the victims location because it foreshadows the characters
relation to their environment, signifying they participate in a hedonistic lifestyle such as;
sex, drugs and alcohol which are located in the context a college. This aids understanding
about the characters lifestyle for audiences ., conveying a normal positive atmosphere for
the audiences.
To establish location, the beginning of our trailer is introduced of an establishing shot of a
normal context outside food shops etc. The purpose of this is to introduce the beginning
of the scenery where the stock themes begin, of the villain stalking the victim. This is a
stereotypical opening of a slasher film.
4. Costumes and props
To establish mise-en-scene we reinforced stock props and stock costumes. In order to portray
the sub-genre ‘slasher’ we reinforced menacing iconography such as the knife we used
covered in blood. This stock prop enables audiences to identify the physically deformed villain
as well as the sub-genre ‘slasher’ as knifes are stereotypical murder weapons the villain retains
to slay and slash his victims. The red signifies, death, danger and warning.
We also used a stock prop a mask as a disguise. This stock prop reinforces the
slasher/psychological horror, as masks portray an unknown villain, creating a feeling of terror
and suspense in the audience, creating an enigma questioning audiences who the real identity
really is?
In order to convey sense of a unknown villain, the villain was dressed in black trousers and a
dark hoody . These clothing items were chosen because black connotes, evil danger and death
which is conformed to a villain. Whereas, the victims clothing is conveys a sensible, colourful
meaning, as she wears a colourful brown jumper. Sharon’s bright coloured jumper correspond
with the outside daylight, connoting that the victim is an outgoing vulnerable teenager.
5. Camerawork
Throughout filming this frame, a hand held camera is used. We made
extensive use of use of shaky cam to employ a sense of instability,
nervousness and immersion. This hand held camera has an impact on
the audience as their vision may become distorted. The purpose of
this shaky hand held camera was to conform to slasher/psychological
horror conventions. This was conformed in the Blair With Project
which was a successful horror movie.
To add a wide range of camera angles, we used a low angle of the
villain when he gets out of the car. The significance of this camera
angle revealing half of his body and not his real identity , was to
portray an unknown identity an create an enigma questioning
audiences who this character might be. The purpose of this was to
also foreshadow that this was the main character that will play an
important role denoting he is the villain
During the stalking scene where the villain stalks the victim, we
filmed a pan up and down shot of the female victim walking. The
purpose of this camera pan was to link this to the male gaze where
teenage girl characters and sexually objectified objects.
At the beginning of the trailer, a close up shots is used which zooms into
revealing the car. This is effective because it increases anticipation as the
sound Gathering Darkness corresponds over this camera shot. The sound is
a spooky, horror daunting effect, that stimulates the viewers mood, of fear,
dread and anxiety. This foreshadows that danger is about to begin.
6. Editing
Throughout our trailer, we used a variety of editing techniques – fade in fade out, cross
dissolve and cross fade. We used in fade in fade out because it is a consistent editing transition.
Black also signifies, death, demise and calamity, this therefore conforms to horror conventions.
Throughout our trailer, we used a variety of editing techniques – fade in fade out, cross
dissolve and cross fade. We used in fade in fade out because it is a consistent editing
transition. Black also signifies, death, demise and calamity, this therefore conforms to horror
conventions. Throughout our trailer, we used many fade in fade out. During our murder
scene it was significant that we used fade in fade out whilst using fast pace cut editing
because this reinforces thriller conventions where this creates tension and suspense. This in
turn, stimulates the viewers mood of a heightened level of; fear, dread and anxiety.
7. Title font and style
The type of font we used for our film title is,
Trajan, regular 142 because this is a popular font
that is used in many media texts – books and film
posters etc. We used a black background along
with the red writing. We decided to do this
because we felt that enhanced the imagery of our
title font and is eye-catching, and attention
grabbing.
We placed red writing in front of a black background because both colours conform to
horror conventions. Black and red signify; death, dismay and misfortune. The red writing
appears bright and eye-catching, this will therefore draw the viewer's attention and will
draw them into further questioning the title creating an enigma code and propelling
auditory codes.
8. Story and how the opening set it up it
The first few shots used at the beginning of our trailer shows an establishing shot of a building
and shops. The shot then fades into a zoom which zoom into a close up of the car. The close
up then fades to the red text placed on a black background ‘who’s out there? The purpose of
this is to foreshadows somebody is being watched and stalked. The text is written in red,
enhancing it to stand out and because it also connotes, death danger and threat –
foreshadowing a villain appears who stalks and slays his victims. This suggests to audiences
that a victim is in danger. After the text, the shot then cross dissolves into a low angle only
revealing the villains legs and boots. This low angle establishes that an unknown identity is
revealed – creating an enigma questioning audiences who’s real identity is hidden?
9. Genre and how the opening suggest it
Firstly, the opening of our horror trailer conveys emphasises of the slasher/psychological sub-genre of
our film, due to our first close up shot of the car. This indicates the slasher/psychological aspect of our
trailer because the daunting sound ‘Gathering Darkness’ corresponds over this shot, this in turn creates
tension and suspense questioning who is in the car? This sound is sinister, daunting and intriguing sound
which conveys a feeling of horror. This type of sound is stereotypical in many slasher films,
foreshadowing evil forces. Secondly, the next shot ‘who’s out there?’ reinforces the slasher sub-genre
because this connotes the stock plot/themes and issues that implies a mentally deranged serial killer
who stalks and slays his victims. After the next shot, the slasher/psychological genre if further reinforced
by a mid shot introducing 2 teenage stock characters, this conforms to the slasher genre because slasher
films tend to portray teenagers as stock characters who participate in a hedonistic lifestyle. Finally, the
wide shot we have in the opening is of the villain, he has followed the victim and now waiting for her to
leave the shop, this enables audiences to identify the conventions of the horror sub-genre ‘slasher’ of a
mentally deranged serial killer who brutally slays and slashes his victims.
10. How characters are introduced
The first character to be introduced are 2 teenage stock characters, hence
demonstrating our sub-genre slasher because teenagers are stereotypical
stock character's because teenagers participate in a hedonistic lifestyle. This
shot enables the teens language to easily be seen as well as costumes. As
you can see, on the right the characters clothing is stereotypical for teens
portrayed in a slasher - she is wearing tight silky skinny trousers, this is
slightly provocative although, no naked parts of the body have been
established. The characters are represented as passive and subordinate they
are unaware of surroundings.
Secondly, the villain is then introduced by a wide shot. He is immersed
possessively stalking his victim wearing a thick large hoody as a disguise. This
introduces the villain because this is stereotypical clothing for a stalker – thus
signifying a physically deformed characters has been introduced ( villain).
conforming to the horror genre slasher.
The teenage victim is further introduced by a medium long shot. This enables
audiences to see the character in context – isolated woodland stock location.
This further creates tension and suspense for audiences because this connotes
she is walking alone into an malevolent entrapment.
Finally, the villain is then thoroughly introduced by a low angle and fast pace,
fade in fade out. This murder scene has an disturbing impact on audiences
because, this creates terror and suspense further reinforcing thriller
conventions. The low angle establishes the villain, is active, aggressive and
violent, whereas, the victim is lying down on the floor. This connotes that she
can’t be a last girl standing as is portrayed as weak and subordinate.
11. Special Effects
The ninth frame is a snapshot we captured to insert
in our trailer at the end. The purpose of using special
effects in Photoshop such as creating a vignette
around the outside is to keep the villain and victim in
focus in order, to structure the significance of the
stock character's – the purpose of the vignette and
medium long shot is to have a disturbing impact on
the audience of the villain using the knife as his
possession reinforcing it by using it against the
victim. The vignette also enhances the audiences
level of engagement to become more interacted
within the trailer.
The purpose of this establishing shot created in a
special effect in Photoshop; dusk and urban is to keep
the college in focus and create a visual, eye-catching
effect in the audience.
