my genre convention draft 1

Behnaz Bazmi
For my project I will be producing a horror genre short movie. As I have researched the Horror movies have been around since silent movies (E.g. Nosferatu: A Symphony Of Horror, Directed by F. W. Murnau a German vampire film.) In the 70s and 80s horror movies was at its highest point and was the most popular genre. However by the end of the 80s and beginning of 90s the scary horror movies popularity started to died down. The horror convention includes features such as death, blood, killing, victim & villain. These types of movies were designed to frighten and cause a panic within the viewers. Some to cause dread and alarm, to invoke our hidden worst fears, often in a terrifying, shocking finale, meanwhile it amuses and entertains the audience. This is also done by using darkness, short snappy camera shots, violent soundtracks, screaming etc.
These factors have helped me with deciding what kind of shots and mise-en-scene I would be using for my short movie. As I watched horror movies through the years I have realised that the older movies have less of an effect on the audiences.
Back in the day when silent movie was out, reactions where a lot different then, then they are now. For example ‘Scream’ 1996 directed by Wes Craven
Had a huge impact on the audience as it brought out the viewers fears, in the year 1996, however if we compare the reactions between 1996 and 2009, the audiences expectations have increased dramatically. In this generation some may even find ‘Scream’ more of a comedy film rather than scary. This is because of the high expectation in what happens in the plot. The audience prefer to see a film that brings out the dark side of life, the forbidden, strange, and alarming events. It could be argued that ‘Saw’ (directed by James Wan) is the new generation of ‘Scream.’ The movie includes a lot more killing, violent, scary features.
Directors try to create a movie that brings out the viewers nightmares, our vulnerability, our terror of the unknown, our fear of death and loss of identity. Its these factors that create the tension within a film which makes the audience panic, but at the same time, at the end of the movie they could argue and reassure their fears it’s just another fictional movie.
Wearing a mask in a horror movie has become a horror convention. It almost represents a feel that a non-identifying character scares audience more than a non-masked character would. ‘Frankenstein, The wolf man, Scream, Saw.) Dolls may some times be used, the reason for this is because dolls are always cute ornaments, but the thought of it been alive freaks the audiences out. For example ’ Bride of Chucky’ 1998 directed by Ronny Yu. Even though its only a doll it has a huge impact on the audience, the unappealing scary looks is a step towards scaring the viewers.
Furthermore its not always masks and dolls which scare the audience. In films such as ‘Jaws’ directed by Steven Spielberg 1975 The villain was the shark. It could be argued that Jaws scared a lot more viewers than a film such as ’The Ring, directed by Gore Verbinski 2002.’ Jaws won 3 Oscars and two was just for Best Sound and Best Music. The movie Jaws would not of been as successful without the spooky soundtrack. This goes to show how much of an effect sound has on scary films. Steven Spielberg has done such a good job on Jaws that to this day ‘Jaws’ leaves people not only scared but terrified of the sea.
Furthermore in horror movies the use of camera and shots used are very crucial. In chase or killing scene not only has the director have to present a chase scene but they also have to make the audience fear, scared, terrified. This is done by quick shots create a scary visual image, extreme close up to extreme long shot to the Dutch tilt are also often used. ‘Jaws’ is a brilliant example, The shining directed by Stanley Kubrick 1980 is also another. Its how the directors use the camera to create fear within the audience.
Lighting is also another factor, that emphasises and creates the spooky feeling. Darkness. In the film
‘The silence of the lamb directed by Jonathan Demme 1991’ the dark setting in the jail, the lighting been mainly dark creates a unsettling feelings. Unlike a romantic film which includes happy natural colours, horror movies tend to have a negative dark side to them.
Overall using the information I have I will try to adapt my short film to the horror conventions. Without the above features a horror would not be scary. To achieve a attention-grabbing, Goosebumps feeling having a dark setting, costume, weapon, victim, villain, dark humour etc.

A draft and highlight of my film.

The plot of the story.

Year 2006.
Kurt is at the Psychiatric hospital. This is his first year. At the age of 15 his parents are killed in a car crash accident which lead him becoming homeless and an orphan. This lead him becoming mentally ill. In 2006 he was moved to the Psychiatric hospital so he could be treated. Three years after staying at the hospital he had, had enough. His clever mind got him escaping from the hospital, as he wanted revenge from the person who had been involved in the car crash. Imogene’s dad. Imogene, a young university student aged 19 lives in a student house with some friends. Her dad has recently just passed away. She visits her old empty house and shares a tear while looking at the empty walls. She then hears a knock on the door. She opens the door and its Kurt. He introduces himself, going by a false name and presenting himself as one of Imogene’s coworkers. She lets him and informs him about the death. He becomes a shoulder to cry on. She then meets up with her friends and Kurt follows. After meeting all her friends, Imogene and Kurt go out for a meal. They change numbers and she takes a picture of him and puts it as his number ID. After a few days of meeting each other the two become close. One day while she’s reading a newspaper we see Kurt in the corner and there is a little article about him. The camera zooms on it but Imogene fails to notice it. She then gets a call from Kurt, and he invites himself round to her student house. She thought it be a good idea since her friends were not at home. While playing the violin we hear a knock on the door. Imogene puts down the violin and runs and opens the door. (The running downstairs represents going down to heel. And running upstairs dying and going up to heaven J) He comes in and he suggest they watch a film. Imogene looks around and the only film she has is Alfred Hitchcock’s film ‘Psycho.’ The two sit down and watch it the film gets to the stabbing bit and the camera zooms on it. We see the two watching TV, Imogene falls asleep on Kurt’s chest. After a bad dream she wakes up and notices his gone. The DVD is still playing and it keeps jumping and repeating the stabbing scene. She then gets a text and its say ‘READ THE NEWSPAPER PAGE 1, HIS A PSYCHO.’ Imogene runs and reads the article, she realizes who he is and why he had come to her house at the begging. As she runs towards her room, she notices a red light flashing. She goes towards it and looks at it. She pulls it out the corner and it’s a little camera. We then follow the lead of the camera and we end up in a little flat. We come out the TV and we see Imogene looking into the camera we see a guy stand up and get his phone out. We don’t know who it is. We then see him put the phone to his ear. The camera drops, straight cut to Imogene in her house. Her phone rings. The caller ID is Kurt. She screams and drops the phone. She runs up the stairs and while she does so we hear the door open. She turns around and looks at her door. She runs towards it and tries to close it, as she does she turns around while crying and Kurt is there. He then stabs her.

Am going to start writting my genre convention in a minute :)