Black Widow - soundtrack Research

Soundtrack research

I'm not exactly sure of what i'm looking for as my soundtrack, but i was thinking something along the lines of either subtle cello type sound or haunting synthesizers/piano/keyboards, again I don't want anything too in-your-face.



This is a track titled 'Black Widow', and came from a non-copyright music site (www.freeplaymusic.com). The reason I liked this piece is because it is quiet and subtle but still had a spooky quality to it. However, i'm not sure it will quite work as smoothly as something else for my own film.

Abandoned - Soundtrack Research

The track below is entitled 'Abandoned' and also came off of Freeplaymusic.com. The title appealed to me and  I find it quite a spooky track. I think it could work really work with my film as it is quiet but dark, and it just seems to have the right vibe to it.

Behind The Looking Glass - Soundtrack Research

This track is called 'Behind The Looking Glass' and is off freeplaymusic.com. This is again quite a subtle track and a real possiblity for my film.

Main Character - Amber

This is a picture of my sister, Amber, who played the main character in my film. I thought she would be good for the part of the girl, she has the innocent young girl type of appearance that I was looking for in my film. I also picked her as she is a good actor, who can act natural infront of a camera.



Conspiracy - Soundtrack Research

Dark Nightmare - Soundtrack Research

Demented Dreams - Soundtrack Research

Eerie Angel - Soundtrack Research

Final Sacrifice - Soundtrack Research

Haunted By Voices - Soundtrack Research

In Remembrance - Soundtrack Research

Legion - Soundtrack Research

Universe - Soundtrack Research

Animatic

This is my original animatic based around my original idea and location. When I was half way through the storyboard, I changed the location and therefore the film doesn't match the storyboard I have done.

I thought that I would start with a shot of the main character approaching the location, as this would set the scene for the audience. I also thought that zooming up on the cemetery gates, with the cemetery name carved into them would be a good effect, as the audience can put a name to the place.

In the following scene the camera zooms into a close up of a gravestone, and at that point you hear a ghostly male voice. The reason I chose to do this is because it links the voice to the gravestone, making it clear that it is something creepy and supernatural, rather than someone else in the cemetery.

The camera then pans around the cemetery, showing the audience that there is nothing there. This again enforces the thought of something paranormal going on.

I then chose to have a male voice saying one thing, while a female voice says something different. This gives the impression that there is more than one spirit focused on the main character. I used a male and female voice, rather than two male/female voices so that the audience can easily make a distinction between the two.

I decided to show some sort of phenomenon on camera, to keep the audience interested. It also give the audience an idea of what seems to be haunting the main character, and that it is something quite sinister that should probably be feared.

making our own soundtracks

Last week we had a lesson learning how to use Cubase to record our own music. We experimented with changing instruments and trying sound effects, such as gunshots and birds. I had fun messing around with the different instruments and found a few that I liked. There is a possibility of making my own soundtrack, although i may still use a non copyrighted one.

Change of location

Due to lack of time I have changed the location for my film from St. Peters church in Newdigate to Kensal Green Cemetery in West London. This is easier as we visit the cemetery every Saturday so don't have to go well out of our way. It is also a bigger cemetery that St Peters, and much older, with many spooky possible settings. However, kensal Green is a busier cemetery, but I'm hoping to go early to avoid many people who usually go in the afternoon.
                             

 

This is a picture of a small part of the cemetery, and from the graves you can tell how old it is. It makes for a very creepy setting.

This is the main pavement away from the chapel towards the back of the cemetery, and can be quite spooky when quiet.

 

 

 

 

This is an old catacomb to the north of the cemetery. Under the crumbling pavement is the catacomb where bodies are kept before burial or cremation. It is now overgrown and abandoned.

costumes - Ghost character

I have had to think very carefully about my actors costumes, as I have had several ideas and I need to pick the one best for the role and film.

One costume idea for my ghost character (my mum) was a victorian looking outfit, to reflect a different time period. This is common in films as ghosts are often thought of being mainly from victorian times and past eras. The trouble with this idea is actually getting a costume in the first place, and getting one that fits an adult.
                
  This would be the kind of dress I would like my actor wearing, as it is a traditional victorian dress that the audiece will immediatly recognise as a different era.   


The second idea I liked less but it was more likely to be used as we already had the items. I was going to have the actor wearing all black, a black hoodie or hodded jacket and have a scarf over her face. I would then put a blurring effect to distort the image. 

     

Costumes - main character

My main character is going to be wearing casual clothing, such as jeans and a rock-band hoodie(probably Disturbed). The reason I have chosen this is because in the film she has gone to visit someone's grave, which is something where casual clothing is realistic. Also, due to unfortunate circumstances I have fallen behind schedule and no don't have the time to find other clothing, so casuals is the easiest option.

Diary : 15/01/2013

Tuesday 15th January 2013

Today I created and uploaded 6 practice titles for my film, including my final decision. I need to finish my storyboard and make it into an animatic, as I am planning to film this weekend and begin editing next week. I still need to complete my soundtrack research, or make my own soundtrack, and upload my actors photos. I have now completed the costume research for my ghost character, and have nearly finished the costume research for my main character.

My Chosen Title

The film title I have decided on is EVP, because it is short and stands out, as well as being suitable for my story. I have decided to use the colour red for the title to stand out more.

practice Title 6: Gateways

The title 'Gateways' came from a book on Paranormal Phenomenon that i'm currently reading. The term refers to the possibility that there a spiritual gateways or doors between the world of the living and the land of the dead. Again, I thought this appropriate for my film as the cemetery is acting as this gateway in my opening two minutes.

Practice Title 5: Ghost Walking

The title 'Ghost Walking' was something I came up with one lunchtime and stuck in my head. I like it as it isn't an obvious title but i'm not sure it fits right with my film. I used the font 'Invite Engraved SF'.

Practice title 4: Haunted

This title originally came from a song title, but I thought it would be appropraite for my film where the character is literally going to be haunted. however, I didn't think it was a very creative title and it didn't appeal to me as some of the other's did. For this reason I probably won't use it. It was created with the font 'Engravers MT'.

Practice title 3: EVP

EVP is an abbreviation for Electronic Voice Phenomenon, which is when we pick up speech from the dead (spirits) with machines. I liked this title as it is appropriate for my story and is short to catch people's attention. This title was created with a font called 'Copperplate Gothic Bold' and is the title I will most probably use.

Practice Title 2: Sinister Spirits

This is the second title I came up with. I Played around with it a little more, even changing the spelling of the word 'Sinister' to 'Synister' for a different effect. Again I have done both in black and red.
Below is the title with the altered spelling:

Practice Title 1: Spiritually Sour

 

The title Spiritually Sour came to me during a Sociology lesson. I liked it because it's not too over-the-top scary but still has that spooky vibe to it. I have designed it in black and red, using the font 'Charlemagne Std'. Below is the red version of the title:

 

Diary - 08/01/2013

Tuesday 8th January 2013.

It is the second day back at school after the christmas holidays. I had originally planned to film over the first week of christmas (excluding christmas day and boxing day) but both my mum and sister came down with Norovirus. I then diecided to move it to the 2nd week, over my birthday and the weekend over my grandparents, who live nearer to the location. Unfortunately my mum came back down with something and spent most of the week in bed, meaning I had to play carer. Because of this I am having to film at weekends starting from 12th and 13th. As well as filming I am working on my storyboard/animatic, scripts and shot lists and uploading my already created practice titles.

Opening Title analysis

Below are the opening credits of House Of 1000 Corpses, a low budget horror movie directed by shock rocker Rob Zombie.

 The order of the credits is:

• film title
• actors names
• casted by...
• music by...
• costume design by...
• make up effects
• producers
• directors

 



The font Zombie has used for the credits is bold and draws your attention to them. He has used the colour red, as it is noticable and is connected with danger, suitable for a horror film. He has used quite a large font size, so that you immediately notice them.

In my own film I probably wont include all of these credits, just the main ones like main actors, directors and film Titles. Obviously I will also have production companies (Lionsgate & Twisted pictures). Also, I wont have all of my credits rolling over the background film. My Production logos will be on their own, as will the directors name, but the characters will probably appear as the films playing.