Connor proposes to create a short horror film titled "Umbra" for his final major project. The film will follow someone who finds an old DVD and watches it, experiencing strange events mirroring what they see on screen. They will blink and find themselves transported to different time periods and locations. Connor will research horror conventions, filming techniques, and potential locations to realize his concept. He outlines a production schedule across 20 weeks that includes research, experiments, pre-production, filming, editing, feedback, and evaluation. The goal is to create an unsettling film that makes viewers question what they are seeing.

1. Proposal
1
Centre Name and Number:
York College 48357
Student Name and Number:
Connor David Robert Wiffen
Project proposal title and date:
Umbra
Main area of activity:
The medium I have chosen is film.
Rationale:
Throughout the course I have a produced and contributed to a multitude of products that have all
given me something to take forward into my Final Major Project, for example during the factual
section I wrote up a script which was the first time I had ever properly done it and gained a lot of
knowledge about how a script is formatted which I can carry forward into writing the script for the
FMP. I took part in editing a horror short for a friend where I took notes on what works and what
didn’t within the confines of what was filmed by them to avoid or implement into my own work in
the future. Over the many projects and assignments, I have learnt a lot about different camera
shots that could be utilised for this film and the some of the horror conventions used in the likes of
Alien, which I will definitely use to help make the film the best it can be within the genre.
Project Concept:
The concept for my production is a short film within the Horror genre for an audience that is around
the age range of 15 to 30, which aims to make the viewer question what they are seeing. The
outline for the production begins when someone finds an old DVD in the garage and decides to
watch it; strange things begin to occur as they witness a ghostly version of themselves during their
everyday life before one day, They blink (transition from location as eye closes) and are suddenly
in an empty building dating back to Edwardian England (Queenswood School). Events become
more and more out of their control as they have no idea where they are or what is happening until
the ghostly version makes itself known to her, causing them to attempt anything to escape but just
like before the location suddenly changes once again (transition , this time into woods where after
a brief attempt to run reality and fantasy are intertwined as the film ends with the ghost reaching
for them (I.e. Death catching up to them.) and someone else watching a different video creating a
loop of sorts. On the research side of thing I will need to find information on the locations I could
potentially use for filming, the best kind of makeup to help make the ghostly version of the
character look as authentic as possible (Assisted by my sister), I will need to research more
conventions of horror films and methods of conveying fear to the audience as this will help to make
the production a lot more effective.
How will the project be evaluated and reviewed:
Throughout the project I will be doing weekly diaries of what I did which will allow me to easily get
back to where I was as well as note down any improvements, I should be making for the next
week. I will also be using peer feedback and asking the tutor what they think to get direct opinions
on my work through each stage and at the end of the project I will be employing a final self-
reflection on the entirety of what I have done by comparing it with similar pieces of work as well as
against the initial outcomes I planned during the Planning and Pre-Production segments. These
processes will allow me to consciously improve my work standards and the way in which I work to
the best of my ability, carrying over any improvements to my work practices that would enhance
the quality of my future productions.

2. Proposal
2
Bibliography:
i. Wiffen, Connor. (2019) Target Audience Research Survey (conducted on DATE)
ii. Interviewees, Name. (2019) Target Audience Interviews (conducted on DATE)
iii. Ringu. (1998). [film]Directed by H. Nakata. Japan:Toho.
iv. Ju-On: The Curse. (2000). [film]Directed by T. Shimizu. Japan:Toei Video Company.
v. Dark Water. (2000). [film]Directed by H. Nakata. Japan:Toho.
vi. Hereditary. (2018). [film]Directed by A. Aster. Hollywood: A24.
vii. Dead Silence. (2007). [film]Directed by J. Wan. Hollywood: Universal Pictures.
viii. Choi, J. and Wada-Marciano, M. (2009). Horror to the Extreme: Changing Boundariesin Asian Cinema. 2nd
ed. Hong Kong: Hong Kong University Press.
ix. Draven, D. (2015). The Filmmaker's Book of the Dead: A Mortal's Guide to Making Horror Movies. Focal
Press.
x. Hantke, S. (2004). Horror film. Jackson: University Press of Mississippi.
xi. Bloody Disgusting Podcast Network (n.d.). [podcast] The Horror Show. Available at:
http://www.ihatehorror.com/.
xii. Horror Movie Resource Site. (n.d.). Horror FilmTheory. [online] Available at:
https://horrormovieressource.weebly.com/horror-film-theory.html.
xiii. Grove, E. (2017). 13 Steps To Making A Horror Film - Raindance. [online]Raindance. Available at:
https://www.raindance.org/13-steps-to-making-a-horror-film/.
xiv. Tecmo (2002) Project Zero, videogame, Playstation 2, Tecmo, Japan.

3. Proposal
3
Week Tasks to be Completed: Specific Tasks
1
Pre-production
 Proposal and background research
 Profile of Directors
 Collection of theories relating to my specific
genre
2
Pre-production
 Research- primary and secondary
 Research of Target Audience
 Research of Horror Conventions
 Research of Shots
 Research of Similar Products
3
Pre-production
 Research- primary and secondary
 Research of Potential Filming Locations
 Research of Potential Camera and Editing
techniques
 Expanding upon the Theories to be used
4
Pre-production
 Experiments
 Practicing interesting camera techniques
 Practicing filming in a dark environment
 Practicing using equipment i.e. Fog machine
5
Pre-production
 Experiments
 Practicing Colour grading
 Practicing interesting editing techniques
 Creation of very rough draft to give idea of what
the production could look like.
 Practice music production
6
Pre-production
 Pre-Production and planning
 Style Sheets
 Storyboard
 Script outlines & writing
 Structural Breakdown
 Style Sheets
7
Pre-production
 Pre-Production and planning
 Production Schedule
 Location planning
 Equipment planning
 Contingency Planning
 Risk Assessment
 Audio Planning
8 Production
 Film
 Production Reflection
9
Production  Film (Possibly)

4. Proposal
4
 Music Production (Dependant on time)
 Edit
 Production Reflection
10 Production
 Edit first Draft
 Production Reflection
11
Production  Draft peer feedback
 Note down improvements
 Edit and make improvements
 Production Reflection
12 Production
 Film again (If needed/possible)
 Edit and make improvements
 Production Reflection
13 Production
 2nd Draft feedback
 Note down improvements
 Edit and make improvements
 Production Reflection
14 Production
 Final Draft feedback
 Make small improvements if necessary
 Production Reflection
15 Evaluation  Evaluation
16 Evaluation  Evaluation
17 Evaluation  Presentation
18 Moderation 
19 Show Preparation 
20 Show 