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1. Horror conventions map on blog

2. Lighting experimentation and write up on blog

3. Poster codes and conventions analysis

4. Film industry exam essay practice

Horror Film Openings:

Research/ Analysis of the conventions of an opening sequence

Learning Objective

To identify the codes and conventions of horror opening sequences

What should an effective horror opening do for the audience?

Aims/ Main Task

You are going to sit in groups today in order to share your ideas.

Task: Watch three horror opening sequences and identify how different aspects of film language are used to achieve effects.

From this, we can say something about the codes and conventions of horror opening sequences.

MACRO and MICRO elements of film language

MACRO -

• GENRE

• NARRATIVE

• (REPRESENTATION)

MICRO –

• CINEMATOGRAPHY

• SOUND

• EDITING

• MISE EN SCENE

• SPECIAL EFFECTS

Five Key Areas

• Genre

• Narrative

• Character

• Atmosphere

• setting

Camera shots

• Close-up (and extreme close-up

• Mid-shot

• Long shot

• Wide (long) shot (often establishing shot)

• Low angle shot

• High angle shot

• Birds eye view

Camera movement

• Pan (side to side)

• Tilt (up and down)

• Whip pan

• Crane shot

• Tracking shot

• It’s important students practise identifying these shots and link to their developing knowledge of genre and narrative.

Editing

• Students often find editing a difficult concept to discuss but basically analysing editing is about:

• How it changes the pace of the narrative• What the editing technique used tells us about

where the narrative is.• Lots of techniques to use but most common –• STRAIGHT CUT• FADE• DISSOLVE• Others – wipe, jump cut

SoundThe world of the film as we see it on the cinema screen is known as the DIEGETIC world.

• DIEGETIC SOUND is sound that is part of the film world.

• NON-DIEGETIC sound is sound that is not recognised as part of the film world – e.g. voice over, background music

• PARALLEL SOUND – sound which compliments the visual image.

• CONTRAPUNTAL SOUND – sound which does not fitwith the image but helps to create new meanings.

Sound & Genre

• Elements of sound reveal key aspects of genre to an audience

• Sound is important in informing us about the time in which a film is set or the kind of action we can expect

• Certain types of music have become synonymous with particular genres

Sound & Narrative

• Voice overs allow us to see things from a particular character’s point of view

• They are often used to introduce and ‘round up’ the narrative

• SOUND BRIDGES aid continuity as sound from one sequence carries on into the next

MISE EN SCENE

MISE EN SCENE

Lighting & Colour Facial expressions and

body language

Costume, hair

& make-up

positioning of

characters &

objects within

the frame

LIGHTING & COLOUR

• Is used to create mood and atmosphere

• Positioning of lights creates different effects

• High key lighting

• Low key lighting

Making NotesSequence 1 Sequence 2 Sequence 3

Camera Shots and angles

Camera Movement

Editing

Sound

Mise en scene

After each sequence, I will give you time to discuss ideas with your group and make notes before playing it through once more.

Horror Opening Sequences

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-k2gsEI34CE

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSynIrRl2i0

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Z_XetLZlqc

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQLxrTokX-w

Summary

Research Question: What are the codes and conventions of horror opening sequences?

Typical elements – codes (in the camera work, sound and editing), and conventions ( typical representations, e.g. female victim and male stalker/ killer)

Individual Task

Pick one of these sequences and write a more detailed and in-depth analysis for your blog.

Write your analysis on paper to hand in but make sure a copy also goes into the research section of your blog.

You could embed the clip and analysis of use Mrs Dearing’s lesson to learn a new tool to use for this.

Due Friday 21st November

Structuring your Analysis

1. Introduce your film, including the date, sub genre, brief explanation of the narrative, effects/ main aims of the opening sequence.

2. Plan to cover each aspect of film language from today’s lesson, and also what you have already learnt about the conventions of film openings from Ms. Hunt’s lessons.

3. Summarise the overall impact and effectiveness of the opening sequence.

Remember to use the technical terminology!

You will be editing your preliminary task in Thursday’s lesson.