Influential Figures

By Tim Loe

Alfred Hitchcock - Director

• Alfred Hitchcock is the primary example when considering the auteur theory, due to his mastery of cinematic technique, illustrated by his use of camera angles.

• Hitchcock is labelled ‘The Master of Suspense’, a hard element to portray in film effectively, and he does it with ease.

• Hitchcock was known for planning every shot of his films in advance to extensive detail , he was also involved in every part of the production process. He did not allow producers to re-shoot or re-cut any part of his films.

• This time consuming method is valuable to consider for our project, since this was one of the reasons Hitchcock’s films were so successful, every detail was planned precisely and carefully. However we are not experienced enough to go to the extreme of disallowing re-cuts and re-shoots, as this could enhance our production.

"There is no terror in the bang, only in the anticipation of it."

Oren Peli – Director/Producer

• Oren Peli could arguably be called an auteur. He initiated the domestic horror films and brought them to the mainstream with the release of his Paranormal Activity. His home video styled movie outlines an unconventional way to portray a story.

• The success of Peli’s ‘Paranormal Activity’ has led to the creation of 3 more sequels, which he produced.

• The effectiveness of this home video style of film which Peli illuminated is important to consider for our production, as it allows a professional looking outcome with low budget techniques, it also presents a feeling of realism, and the idea that this haunting can happen to anyone which is partly the reason Peli’s films are so effective.

Gore Verbinski - Director

• Verbinski directed ‘The Ring’, which is one of the scariest films I have ever seen. He manages to build suspense and provoke fear throughout the whole film without fully revealing the antagonist until the end, which is a prestigiously difficult task to complete effectively. Verbinski manages to pull this off and is one of the reasons this film is so effective.