Here is our animatic for the film trailer we shall begin to create in January. Whilst we endeavoured to ensue it was fully completed, an umber of minor shots are missing from our storyboard as the busy schedules of the other actors we required did not always coordinate with our filming shoots. However we have inserted a soundtrack that is similar to the one we intend to create in the final production and have began to incorporate some of the major an more complicated ideas we have for the finished product such as teasing the more intricate back story (the history of the symbols and Celtic tribe for example) with the inter-titles at the beginning of the trailer/animatic. We have also experimented with many of the ideas we had for cuts and camera angles, for example, to begin to utilise industry methods such as the "code of enigma" to give the product a professional and authentic look.

Today in our lesson we, the group, had a lengthy discussion to summarise this terms efforts, set goals and personal deadlines for the group, as well as bring new ideas to the table for us to think about over the Christmas holidays. As a group we've always felt that the code of enigma will largely stem from the back story of the tribe involved in the "cursed" symbols, so therefore one of our ongoing tasks has been to develop this story on from newspaper reports and primary research we gathered in the early stages of development. I suggested we incorporated shots of men in black hoods inbetween the inter-titles at the beginning of the trailer, to immediately get the audience asking questions of the identity and intentions of the mysterious hooded men. I felt their appearance would be similar to that of other horror greats seen in such films as "Scream", so perhaps the fear of this recognisable threat would enhance the tension experienced at the beginning of the trailer.

Above is the completed storyboard my group and I created for our trailer. We now intend to use this as a template to produce an animatic, which will ultimately then help us make our final film trailer. On a personal note I was inspired by Alfred Hitchcock's extensive storyboarding on his classics such as "Psycho", as I found the extensive details and notes made along side the sketches ultimately help make a more professional and complex product. 

Today we have been brainstorming ideas for the soundtrack to our trailer. As the plot is based on tribal culture mixed with an element of devil worshipping, I thought an ancient monk chanting sound effect would be effective as it would include both tribal ritual elements, with the chanting, and also be symbolic of the Satanist influence through through the Latin used. I feel including this, and incorporating this into our soundtrack would be an extension of the evil entity that poses the threat of danger and peril in our narrative, and create the ominous and sinister ambiance that is typical of a horror trailer.

As our plot has progressed our group has decided to place heavy emphasis on the Celtic symbols the main characters find in the woods whilst on their camping/working holiday. I therefore decided to research some symbols from the Satanic Bible which we could incorporate and use as inspiration for the final symbols we create for our film trailer. Below is the presentation I made summarising my initial findings.

Here are two more examples of the sightings of the ghost children that have since been released in the press after my last post a few days ago. As previously stated the group are seriously interested in pursuing the story as a basis for the myth or legend that tags along with the symbols found in the trailer of our film.

Attached here below is the original plot synopsis for my film I devised over the summer break, "Deliverance: Sed Ira Dei"; a psychological horror about four young adults embodying the ideas of original sin.

Deliverance: Sed Ira Dei

Four friends, Adam, an adventurous extrovert, Eve a vivacious and wild “free spirit”, Peter an avid rock climber and self confessed adrenaline junkie and Jude, a quiet and reserved academic, set out on a study break from university on a much needed “blow out” after three intense years of work. The group have never cared about their popularity and show little regard for the feelings and needs of others or the world around them. On one particular excursion, they travel to a remote part of Cumbria for seven days of camping, hiking, rock climbing and substance abuse, documenting everything on camera.

 

Setting out from civilisation, the friends pay little regard for nature as they raucously deface their way through the trees, whilst trekking to an overnight stop. As they march on their careless rampage, the group spot various carvings seemingly of a religious nature. Their message appears to be an alarming ultimatum, showing the consequences of a sinful life. Paying no regard to this however, the friends settle down for their first night of debauchery; their drug fuelled antics last long into the night.  The four spend the next forty eight hours exploring and partying, with the days rolling into nights in one drunken blur.

 

On the third day, the group arise to find a problem… their belongings are covered with blood. What’s worse is, a human body is found metres away from their camp, totally unidentifiable, but with the same religious symbols covering the mutilated corpse. Scared for their lives, the group try to find a way out, splitting into two groups they search the dense forest for an exit. As they desperately try to find a way out. 

Below is the Powerpoint Presentation I produced analysing the trailer of Alfred Hitchcock's 1960 film "Psycho". I chose to do an in depth analysis of this particular film trailer because I liked how the trailer teases the ambiguity of the narrative and creates an enigma surrounding the identity of the killer. I also knew from research that this film was attributed with setting a number of the industries codes and conventions that are still in use today. The presentation is missing the accompanying notes which aided me when presenting the analysis of said trailer, which developed many of the key points in greater detail.

Here are two newspaper reports from two editions of the Daily Star from the previous week, that tell of the appearance of two sightings of ghost children connected to blood sacrifices carried out by Celtic tribes in Roman era Britain. This the group feels is a perfect fit for our storyline as we all individually created a film idea that stems from a similar stimulus.

I decided that to have a good understanding of the separate sub genres of horror and suspense movies I should read around each individual group (e.g. psychological, thriller, slasher etc) and find out what industry greats have to say about the differences between each are. I felt that by having a more definitive understanding of each sub genre, the trailer I will ultimately create will be far more effective, partly due to the removal of confusion over the genre represented.

Codes & Conventions of Horror Movies

I have began my Research and Planning by doing some background research into the horror genre. Below is a list of typical Codes & Conventions that can be found in said genre of movies.

• Primary target audience – male, 16-24, Mainstreamers
• Extensive use of Narrative enigmas
• Three act narrative structure
• Predictable narrative content (follows format)
• Clear binary oppositions e.g. good v evil
• Use of low key lighting
• Use of CGI, FX
• Dominant, hegemomic representation of gender: The Female Victim
• Young/teenage characters
• Use of hand-held camera: audience identification/realism
• Point of view shots
• Low angle shots

Source: http://media.edusites.co.uk/article/horror-genre-codes-conventions/