Coffer - Genre Analysis
Short Film - 'Coffer' by David Sandberg and Lotta Losten
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The firsts scene is a woman sitting down reading book setting the scene for the rest of the short film, here it seems calm and relaxed this engages the audience making them have their guard down for the horror film as the rest of the short film contrasts this tone.
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The camera then transitions over to the coffer as it's making contrapuntal sound, as if something was trying to climb out, this makes the main character aware and confused as she begins to approach the coffer, this also allows the audience to make their own theory as to what is in the coffer, there is only one lamp in in this short keeping the set lit, this causes a shadow to be cast over the coffer, this shadow adds another layer of depth to the scene as the dark makes it appear more mysterious, as the dark is a prime example of horror film conventions.
The next shot is a close up of the actresses face displaying her confusion as she slowly makes her way to the coffer, she appears jittery, this causes the audience to be engaged in the film feeling the same emotions as the character.
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The next short is of the coffer again however this time it's slightly open with a close up shot on it, to represent the woman getting closer to the coffer this again engages the audience as they feel they are in the scene, almost making it a P.O.V. camera shot.
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The next shot gives the audience a direct view of whats inside the coffer as it appears to have a very deep hole going through the floor with a pitch black bottom this helps to create tension as the audience can't see the bottom or what is in the coffer, this additional element of mystery was used in other horror films such as 'The Hole' which did a similar effect. The director used a crab shot from within the coffer to show the expressions on the characters face as she peered over the edge of the coffer to look inside. The next shot is off the side of her face displaying her emotions to the audience as she looks into the coffer before a contrapuntal sound accompanied by a hand grabbing her face, this jump scare is really effective as the director has had a plethora of opportunities to scare the audience but hasn't. The various anticlimax's causes the audiences guard to drop as they aren't anticipating a jump scare.
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A black hand reaches out grabbing the woman's face pulling her into the coffer never to be seen again.
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Lights Out - Genre Analysis
'Lights Out' is a short horror film produced and directed by David Sandberg and Lotta Losten as an entry to the 'Who's There?' Short horror film challenge and has a total of 30 sponsors that contributed to the creation of the short film. It's narrative is simple, a woman is home alone going to bed when a chain of unusual events occur raising the tension of the short film, she eventually too scared to turn out the lights as something is hiding in the shadows. This follows many conventions of the horror genre, using the absence of light to play with the audiences mind as they are unknown of what lurks in the shadows, allowing for a low budgeted short to create tension and build a climax as the audiences imagination runs wild as to what the creature could be. The director is essentially using the audiences own mind to scare the audience, this is a cleaver trick that was used by Steven Spielberg when creating 'Jaws' now claimed as one of the films ever created. Spielberg originally used mechanically sharks during production but due to failures the sharks where sinking, this occurred twice which had taken a large chunk out of the films budget. Spielberg look to one of the worlds greatest directors, Alfred Hitchcock, a thought what would he do, as he didn't have the technology we have now.
Institutions is the first to be presented at the start of the film. The short film started with the logo's of various institutions that have sponsored the creation of the short film to be entered in 'Who's There?' a horror short film challenge, although the producer and directors of the short film haven't created their own opening credits suggesting that this film wasn't made by an institution.
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The camera cuts to the woman sleeping in her bed the audience can see she's scared, as the lamp flickers on and off showing she scared to be in the dark, this contributes to the tension being created leading up to the final jump scare.
Production Log 1 - 20/6/16
We decide to stick with Horror as our genre and began discussing possible ideas such as the location begin an abandoned house, woods or even cemetery.
Camera Angles
Aerial shot (or crane): a view from directly overhead to afford a clear view – sometimes used to emphasize the spectacle. A crane shot is usually necessary to achieve this (sometimes called a bird’s eye shot)
Deep Focus: a camera technique that allows objects both near and far from the camera to be in focus at the same time.
Shallow Focus – Describes a shot where an object near the front is in focus, and everything else behind is out of focus (blurry). Often used to make one thing seem more important.
Tight Frame: Describes a shot that is composed with the person or object given very little space around them. Often used to make them seem important, or trapped.
Tilt: a camera movement that involves moving the camera vertically up and down from a fixed position.
Tracking Shot: a camera shot in which the camera moves along rails to follow the subject. When the rails are replaced by a moving platform on wheels, the shot is called a dolly shot. As you wont know how this shot was filmed you can call it either a Tracking OR a Dolly shot.
Whip Pan: a very fast pan between two or more characters all points of interest. He gives the impression camera has been ‘surprised’ by activity and is used in the place of a more conventional cu or shot/reverse shot.
Wide shot: this can be used as an establishing shot of a set or location or to show a large crowd of people. They can also emphasize the isolation of a single figure.
Zoom/Reverse Zoom: the adjustment of the camera lens to allow the operator progressively to move in close off or to pull away from the subject.
180 degree Rule – Where, during a scene featuring two people or more, we can imaging an imaginary line joining those two people together. Adhering to the 180 degree rule would mean you would always ensure your camera was on one side of that line and the camera would never be crossed to the other side. Sticking to the 180 degree rule allows the viewer to feel comfortable, helps us understand the positioning of the characters and makes it feel like real life.
Initial Ideas
Blood and Chips - Analysis
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The short film starts with the opening sequence introducing the audience to the creative minds and institutions behind the short film.
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Task List 1
1. Write a film analysis for LoveField; focus on the RAILING concepts for the film – be careful not to write this as a chronological description of what happens in the film, what we want to see is where the concepts are identified with examples given from moments in the film to help justify each point.
2. Write a film analysis for Blood and Chips; focus on the RAILING concepts for the film – be careful not to write this as a chronological description of what happens in the film, what we want to see is where the concepts are identified with examples given from moments in the film to help justify each point.
3. Film Research – Genre research; Begin to research a variety (at least 3) Film genres that you are particularly interested in producing for your short films. Look at the following; generic conventions, typical audience, classics, remakes, most successful, vs least successful, SFx (if any), mise-en-scene. Reflect on what you have found and how it is helping you shape your ideas.
4. Initial Ideas – What genre have you decided on? What are your initial thoughts and ideas for a short film? Blog this.
5. Production log: Meeting 1 – You must discuss in your groups what ideas you have got, you must indicate who contributed what in your meeting. This will act as a summary for your tasks and you must indicate what genre you have chosen and why and what you will be doing next to develop idea planning.
6. Film Research - You need to take photos of a doll, toy or friend that can stand on its own from different angles, shots and movement. Upload your photos and videos to your blog with an explanation for each one, what do they show? How can they use a variety of these shots in your short film? Which shots are stereotypical used in your chosen genre?
7. Film Research - Create a montage of what you consider conventions for your chosen genre of film. Explain on your blog why you have picked them. How have they inspired your ideas?
8. Film Research - Research at least 3 different short films in the genre you have agreed as a group that you will produce. (Analyse; mise-en-scene, sound, editing, camera shots/angles, conventions and audience appeal) Remember – be careful not to write this as a chronological description of what happens in the film, what we want to see is where the concepts are identified with examples given from moments in the film to help justify each point.
9. Film Research - Investigate narrative theories (Propp, Todorov, Levi Straus etc.), find an interesting way of presenting them and blog it.
10. Audience research – who is your target audience? (create a questionnaire with questions about their film consumption)
11. Audience research – Analyse and evaluate your questionnaire results.
12. Audience Research – research which short films your audience think are good, what attracts your audience to films and what puts them off? Blog your findings. (Conduct Vox Pops).
13. Audience Research - Go to http://www.uktribes.com and http://www.findyourtribe.co.uk and use them to define your perfect audience member. (Have some fun and find out what tribe you are too). Create a complete picture of your audience member, from clothes to the food they eat, music they listen to, TV shows they watch, magazines they read etc. You can get a friend to dress up in the appropriate costume and take photos.
14. Audience Research - Go to the ‘Pearl and Dean’ website, look at the audience section http://business.pearlanddean.com/audience_profile and investigate how they categorise their audiences. Can you fit your short film to their ideas?
15. Institution research - Research the companies that might produce and distribute your short film. Justify your reasons on your blog.
16. Summarise your research - Define the key conventions you must include in your film opening sequence to conform to the expectations of the genre you have chosen, the audience you have chosen and what is expected of a film opening sequence. Make a check list.
17. Create a story arc for the whole of your film; write a brief synopsis. Remember most films have 5 ‘acts’, and most conform to normal narrative theories.
18. Summarise your final short film idea
19. Write your script for your short film sequence using Celtx. Get your peers to read through it, post it on social media and get some feedback. Blog!
20. Create a shot list.
21. Design a storyboard.
22. Plan the sound of your short film– are you having a soundtrack, or just Foley sounds? Blog where you’ve found your sound and why you have chosen what you have.
23. Create a shooting schedule.
24. Plan locations and take location shots. Blog your reasons for choosing these locations. Seek permission to use the locations.
25. Cast your short film and take casting shots. Blog your reasons for casting who you have.
26. Plan and collect all props and costumes. Blog your reasons for choosing the ones you have.
27. Shoot your short film.
28. Make a rough edit and check that you have all the shots you need.
29. Film Research – research film titles used in your chosen genre.
30. Do any re-shoots and pickups needed.
31. Film Research – watch tutorials on film titles (www.videocopiolet.co.uk) print screen the progression of two or three. What tools are used? Blog this evidence.
32. Design a storyboard for your film titles.
33. Create your film titles using After Effects.
34. Complete final edit.
35. Post your finished short film to your blog.
Task List 2
Pick two of the following three options:
· a poster for the film;
· a radio trailer for the film;
· a film magazine review page featuring the film.
(There should be at least one blog post about each stage)
1. Research film posters. Come up with a list of conventions – things you will need to include.
2. Research film magazine review pages featuring films. Come up with a list of conventions – things you will need to include.
3. Create a collage of what you consider conventions for your chosen genre of film poster (same genre for your film). Explain on your blog why you have picked them. How have they inspired your ideas?
4. Create a collage of what you consider conventions for magazine film reviews (same genre for your film). Explain on your blog why you have picked them. How have they inspired your ideas?
5. Research at least 3 different film magazine reviews. (Analyse layout, conventions, audience appeal and images)
6. Research at least 3 different film posters. (Analyse layout, conventions, audience appeal and images)
7. Blog some initial ideas for your own film magazine review.
8. Blog some initial ideas for your own film poster.
9. Pick a film magazine review and film poster that is similar to your idea, annotate the pages explaining why they are appealing and what you can take from them as inspiration.
10. Audience Research – research which film magazine reviews people think are good, what attracts people to them to films and what puts them off? Blog your findings. (Conduct Vox Pops).
11. Audience Research – research which film posters people think are good, what attracts people to them to film poster and what puts them off? Blog your findings. (Conduct Vox Pops).
12. Go to the ‘Empire’ website, look at the audience section http://www.bauermedia.co.uk/uploads/Empire-MediaPack-20111.pdf and investigate how they categorise their audiences. Can you fit your magazine film review to their ideas?
13. Research the magazines that might produce and distribute your film review. Justify your reasons on your blog.
14. Define the key conventions you must include on your magazine film review. In order to conform to the expectations of a magazine film review, the audience you have chosen and what is expected of a magazine film review. Make a check list.
15. Define the key conventions you must include on your film poster. In order to conform to the expectations of a film poster, the audience you have chosen and what is expected of a film poster. Make a check list.
16. Create 3 flat plans for your magazine film review. Annotate.
17. Create 3 flat plans for your film poster. Annotate.
18. Audience research -
19. Summarise your final magazine review idea. Blog it.
20. Summarise your final film poster idea. Blog it.
21. Take photographs for your magazine film review and film poster of a model/s that you can use. At least 5 different images that are excellent quality.
22. Plan and collect all hair, make up and costumes. Blog your reasons for choosing the ones you have.
23. Make a first draft of your magazine film review.
24. Make a first draft of your film poster
25. Do any re-shoots and pickups needed.
26. Complete final drafts.
27. Post your finished magazine film review to your blog.
28. Post your finished film poster to your blog.
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