Questtionnaire

1. Do you think the opening to our film fulfilled the conventions of a horror film?


2. How does the film fit in with the genre?


3. Does the film appeal to the target audience? Why?


4. Do you have any suggestions as to how we could improve our film?


5. What parts of our film did you enjoy the most and why?


6. Did you find that the music in the film was effective? Why?


7. Do you think that the plot was easy to follow?


8. Do you think that the title to our film was appropriate? Why?

This is a questionnaire that we made to gain some feedback to enable us to evaulate our work successfully. On the whole, most of the feedback we gained were positive and these are the comments that were said:

1. Most people commented that our film did demonstrate the conventions of a horror film. On numerous occasions, people stated that the editing to our film portrayed this. For example, one person said that the black and white effect of our film made it seem a little more darker which created the sense of tension that the main character was feeling. Also, they said that they liked the camera movements coming from the runner's perspective as it made the whole situation seem a little more real, and created the sense that the runner was in an extreme panic and was in a lot of danger, something of which is very symbolic of horror films.


2. For this question, we found that a lot of people came up with similar replies. They explained that our editing to our film made it fit in with the genre. They said that the effect of the jerky movements, and going from one shot to another, kept up the fast pace and the tension that we wanted to make people feel.


3. People stated that our film did appeal to our target audience as they didn't think it would be appropriate for young children to watch.


4. People gave no suggestions as to how we could improve our film, other than adding more action at the beginning.


5. The parts people said they enjoyed was the running throught the running of the trees because they said that it sucked them into the tension and made them feel they are the runner themselves.


6. For this question, the feedback that we gained was all positive which we are very pleased about. Most people said that the music was very suitable and effect for our film as it was quite eery and spooky, which created a bit of suspense and enigma. They said that it began to play at just the right time in our film, (when the runner begins to suspect that she is being followed by somebody), and said that it helped them get into the film as they knew that this is when most of the main action would be to take place.

7. The feedback that we got form this question was a variety of different comments from different people explaining that they could either follow the plot easily or they couldn't. Some people stated that they thought it was relatively easy and liked it, whereas others thought that it could have been a little simpler to help them understand the story more.

8. On the whole, the replies we got from this question were bery positve. People said that they thought the name was very appropriate as it was sharp, simple and catchy. Also they said that it fitted in well with the murder character as his main victims are runners.

Evaluation

My media product's appropriate media institution, which would distribute the film, would be a film company such as Dimensions Films. The reason being for this is because they specialise in horror films, which is what my film genre is. They have already distributed films like the 'Amityville Horror' which uses a similar story line to the one that my film is based on, (a normal family guy leads a double life by killing others).

My media product's appropriate target audience would be people in their adolescence years, 15 years and above. The main reason of which being is that this film is based on the darker side of people's conducts, for example murdering other innocent people around them. This film would not be suitable for young children as they wouldn't understand the harsh nature of some of the actions that may take place, but also they would be frightened by some of the tension that the film may give off. As well as the age group, the target audience for this film would also be people who enjoy watching horror films, as our film has some of similar content to other horrors.

The ways that we interested our audience is by keeping up a fast pace and making sure that we have plenty of action to keep the audience excited. This is demonstrated in the film when we see the runners perspective as she runs through the trees. This involves a lot of jerky movements and quick editing so the audience can sense the panic and terror that the runner is feeling. This also gives them a chance to see and feel what this situation may be like if they were to be in it. Also, this fast action quickly draws in the audience attention and entices them to watch on.

Upon given the task to create the opening to a film i have learnt many things about the technological side of the construction work. For example i have learnt that if you do a couple of minutes worth of filming, and then come to the editing, you are only left with a fraction of time as to what you started with. Also, i found that it was very hard to keep the camera angles in the same position at all times to ensure that that the film had good continuity and good realism.

Looking back at the preliminary task i feel that i have learnt an awful lot about the software that we use to edit and create our film. I think that if i was ever to use the software again, I would find it easier as my skills in using it have improved. I have also learnt that the construction of the whole project takes a considerable amount of time to produce as you have to spend a lot of time first of all filming it, and then second of all spend time editing and making it look as professional as possible. Last of all i have learnt from the preliminary task that instead of filming in school and doing it out of school, the finishing touches to the film are better as there is no background noise which are irrelevant and distracting. Doing it out of school enables you to create the sense of realism and therefore giving it a better finished look.

Throughout the course of this project, my partner and I made some changes that modified the outcome of the film, of which include the dress code, the editing and the amount of scenes which were in the film. Initially, the character of the runner was meant to wear a plain white top with some three quarter black running bottoms. This changed to what it is now in the film as these clothes were that of what we could get hold of and so made do with what we had. Another modification that we made was the editing of the scenes we filmed. In the beginning, we were going to keep the colour of the fimling in normal colour, but when it came to the last minute touches we decided to turn it black and white. We felt that this gave it a bit authenticity, and on the whole, improved the look of the film. Last of all, we decided to take out some of the scenes of the newsreporter as it took up a lot of the time allowance, but we also felt that it gave away too muh information for the audience.

On the whole, i am pleased with the finishing product. I think that it fulfills the conventions of a horror film as it is quite a dark and eery film, and also has a good storyline. If i was to do this project again, then there would be a few changes that I would make. First of all i think that i would be more responsible for keeping myslef organised and up to date with everything, as it can be quite hard to get back into the project. I would make sure that i used my time wisely so that i didn't fall behind on anything important and just to make the whole project that little bit easier to do and last of all i think that i would do the project by myself. This is because it would ensure that there wouldn't be any arguments in the process of making the film, but also, it would mean that i would pnly be responsible for myself. I think that my partner and i wasted too much of eachothers time and did a lot of last minute filming and editing. However, having said, i am pleased with the overall outcome.

Filming schedule

Story Board

Titles

For this title, we chose to use a black background to symbolise the dark nature of the film, as black is a connotation for darkness. We used the colour red in the actual writing as it represents blood and danger, something of which our film is about. Last of all we chose to use a rope in the background as it is a dangerous weapon and also creates a sense of realism to the credits.

Set designs/Costume designs.

Costumes

To enable the audience to establish that the first character they see is a news reporter, we will use clothes which are stereotypically worn by reporters. They are:

- Hair pinned in a low pony tale to make sure that hair isn't in her face

- Simple makeup to give a natural look

- White blouse under a black fitted blazer

- Black trousers

- Black shoes

To enable the audience to establish that the first victim is a runner, we will use costumes which are stereotypically worn by runners. They are:

- Hair up high in a pony tale

- White running t-shirt

- Three-quarter black running trousers

- White trainer socks

- White and red running trainers

- Silver arm strap for ipod

Settings and locations

In the opening of our film, there will be three settings in which we will do the filming, the main of which being Briley Forest park. The very first location that the audience will see is the entrance of the park. In this particular scene, this is where we meet the first character, the news reporter, as she is informing the audience of the murder of an unknown girl. In this scene, and many others to follow, the reporter will be in a mid shot with the 'Briley Forest Park' sign post behind her to show audiences where she is.

The second location that we will film is at the unknown girl's street where her house is located. We will shoot from the front of her house so that we can get a shot of her coming out her door preparing for a run. We will then pan her running around the corner of her street.

The last and most important setting that we will film in is in the park itself. This is where most of the shots will be filmed in as this is where the murder takes place. Most of these shots will have the woman running through the trees trying to escape from whoever is trying to murder her.

As most of our shots and filming will be in natural surroundings, we therefore cannot design our sets ourselves. This means that we will have to work around our set and use it as best as we can to get some successful clips. An advantage of using the natural surroundings is that it enables our filming and location to look 'natural', and doesn't give off any signs that it has been set up to look like something it isn't.

Research on genre of film: Horror

Horror films are movies that strive to gain responses of fear, horror and terror from their audiences.

The Amityville Horror (2005)
Director - Andrew Douglas
Comapny - Dimension Films

The Unborn (2009)
Director - David.S.Goyer
Company - Phantom Four

The Strangers (2008)
Director - Byran Bertino
Company - Rogue Pictures

Silent Hill (2006)
Director - Christophe Gans
Company - Silent Hill DCP Inc

The Shining (1980)
Director - Stanley Kubrick
Company - Hawk Films

Jeepers Creepers (2001)
Director - Victor Salva
Company - United Artists

Candy Man (1992)
Director - Bernard Rose
Company - PolyGram Filmed Entertainment

Treatment of opening scenes and credits.

Beginning of film.

At the start of scene one, the screen is blank and doesn't show any action. However, the only indication that shows there is something happening is the noises of a reporter talking live on air and the flashes from the cameras around her and other voices talking. The screen then fades from black and we finally establish where the first scene is. We see a mid shot of a reporter and some of the setting in the background with a sign post behind her saying 'Briley Forest.' At this point the reporter is reporting of the murder of an unknown girl, which the camera then cut straights into the next scene.

Scene two goes into flashbacks of what has previously happened before the murder took place on the unknown girl. We see a long shot of the girl coming outside her house preparing to go out for a run, which gradually zooms in so that we can see who she is and where she lives. This then goes straight into the next scene as the camera pans the girl running around the corner.

After the audience get a view of the girl who goes out running, the camera cuts straight back to the reporter like in the previous scenes above. In this little section of the opening to the film, the reporter informs the audience of a little more about the murder case and what they think has happened. After this we cut back into another flashback of the girl's last few hours and are shown a high angle shot/over the shoulder shot of her tying her shoe lace. At this point she is at the entrance of Briley Forest park getting ready to head off for a run. However, before she goes into anymore action, we see that she gets a little tense as she thinks she hears something around her. She looks over her shoulder which leaves us with a freeze shot as the end of this scene finishes.

To create a little bit more tense and enigma to the opening, we then go into a long shot view from behind some bushes watching the runner run off into the distance. This gives the audience the impression that someone is watching the runner and that something isn't right.

To detract the audiences attention away from the girl for a moment, we cut straight back to the reporter giving more information and building up to the mystery of the death of the girl, explaining that they do know who did or and their motive.

After this, we go back into the murderer's perspective as he or she (It is not yet known) comes from behind the bushes and watches the runner run off into distance. At this point the camera is in a long shot.

To create a little more atmosphere and intensity, we go into a shot from the runner's perception. The way in which we will make this happen is by holding the camera ourselves while running through the woods. We will also quickly jerk the camera away in the direction behind her to show that she is getting a little scared and paranoid. We shortly cut back to the reporter in the next scene.

After we've heard from the reporter once again, developing into the plot at the beginning, we cut straight back into the main action of the girl running through the woods. At this point, the camera will pan the girl from the side so we see the whole of her body as she is running through the woods getting faster each minute. Once we've seen the whole of the girl's body running, the camera goes into a shot of where we just see her below her knees, focusing mainly on her feet so that the audiences can see how fast she running, to give the impression of how scared and frightened she is.

Because of the pace at which the girl is running at, and how scared she is, we see a long shot of her falling down, just to put emphasis on her emotions and how she must be feeling, and that the pressure has finally got to her and that she cannot take it anymore.

After this, we quickly cut back to the mid shot of the reporter, ending the opening of the film like how it started, leaving the audience in suspense as they do not know officially what happened to the girl, other than the fact that she had been murdered.

Our opening credits in the film will not actually be at the start of the film in the opening scenes. This is because we don't want to cause any distractions for the audience as we want them to focus purely on what action is taking place. However there will be some element of opening credits as we will show the audiences the title of the film after the first murder has taken place.

In the last scene, when the reporter is finishing off talking about the murder which has taken place, the screen goes blank with a black background. After about 3 seconds the title, The Runner, suddenly dissolves in, in red font to display the name of the film. We have chosen to use the colour red against a black background to relate to the genre of the film. Both these colours are connotations of horror and so they perfectly fit in. Red is a symbol of blood, hate anger etc, and black is a symbol of darkness.