Watching Films for More Inspiration Blog Post #43

 Rewatching Films for more Ideas!

Hi guys, welcome back to another blog. Today, I will be talking about a film I rewatched in between filming days to get so many more ideas for shots and scenes in our film opener. Ok lets get started! 

To begin with, during shooting days, I rewatched Scream to get some new ideas and angles for our movie opener. I already stated on the Inspiration Blog that I watched movies like Halloween, It Follows, and The Strangers, so this blog will be about why I rewatched Scream and what I got from it. When I watched the movie, I focused on how it built tension before anything actually happened. Some scenes start slowly, with normal conversations, which eventually make sudden shifts more shocking. This made me realize that keeping the beginning of the opener slow and subtle would make the end even better. Another big idea I got from rewatching was camera movement and angling. Scream used a lot of tracking shots and wide shots to show the space around the characters. From this, I realized that showing the background and environment is equally important as showing the character. 

The sounds and their placement in the movie also gave me ideas for my opener. Scream used a lot of sudden and sharp noises that would scare the audience or make them alert. Because of this, I will make the notification that Kyle gets louder, so it contrasts with the constant background noise.

In conclusion, rewatching a movie like Scream between filming days really helped me make better decisions and improve myself as a filmmaker and editor.

Analyzing Character Blog Post #22

 Analyzing Characters 

Hey guys, welcome back to another blog. Today, I will be explaining and analyzing the characters found in our movie opener. Characters are a very important part of a film since they progress the movie and are key to the success of a film. Now to get to the explaining...

Sebastian

So, for my little cousin Emmanuel's character, Sebastian, he is supposed to be a little hispanic boy minding his own business late at night. He then encounters the dead body of Amaar long after he is gone. His character is supposed to symbolize innocence since he is a little boy. He is wearing a puffer jacket, since it is cold and drizzling outside. The colors of the jacket are blue and black, blue mainly symbolizing the cold and stillness of the environment. He is outside because he went for a late-night walk and wanted to clear his mind after being at a chaotic home. His goal is to make a better life for himself. His personality is chill, kind, and very emotional.

The Killer

For my character, The Killer, I am supposed to be a stalker who attacks his victims at night. I am the antagonist of the film. I target those who are alone and vulnerable. I am supposed to symbolize the evil and horrible things in this world. His motivation is to feed my hunger by doing these terrible things. My costume is a dark blue jumpsuit. Again, the dark blue symbolizes the cold and lifeless soul inside of my character. The character's mind is very unstable since he commits these crimes and does not feel any remorse. He holds an axe, which makes him dangerous and able to attack at any moment. The axe gives him power over others since it is a weapon that can cause harm. His personality is ruthless; he has gone through pain and will not stop until his job is finished.

Kyle

For Amaar's character, Kyle, he is supposed to be a high school student walking home late at night. He is the protagonist of the film opener, but since he dies, you can say he was unsuccessful. He is supposed to symbolize the vulnerable and helpless people of the world. He is targeted by The Killer late at night, and since the environment is dark, he does not know what hit him. His motivation is to become a top student and study as much as he can. He has just come back from the public library, since he does not have the money to get something better and closer to home. His mind is very clouded, since he has pressure from his family to become top of his class, and he wants to prove to his family that he is capable. His outfit is a normal teen's clothing, consisting of sweatpants, a black shirt, and Jordans. He also has a backpack, which shows he is coming home late from something revolving around school or his studies. 

Color Blog Post #21

 The colors in our film opening!

Hey guys!! Today, I will be explaining some of the main colors that we will use in our movie opening, and what message and feelings they will invoke. Since we do not have a large budget for our movie opener, we are going to try and show these colors through our setting and costumes. Now to the explanation for each...

Black

To begin with, the color black will be a very dominant color in our movie opener. This color naturally creates a feeling of darkness and danger. You associate it with the unknown and what we can't see. In color theory, the color black absorbs light and does not reflect it. This will make the viewers nervous for what may come next since you cannot see what may happen. We plan to use black in some of the environment (if possible) since it will hide details and create suspense.

Navy Blue

Next up is navy blue. Naturally, this color adds an unsettling tone since it is cold and lifeless. You may associate this color with isolation, sadness, and even maybe nighttime. I plan to use this color to make a scene feel unsafe. Also, I plan to make the killer's costume dark blue to make him feel soulless  and empty inside, just how a killer would be. A dark blue tint in the during editing may also make it feel more disturbing.

Dark Green

Lastly, I plan on using dark green in the background of the movie opener, especially like bushes, leaves, and trees. Normally, dark green in horror represents sickness or decay, but in our movie opener, we plan on using it to make the environment feel overgrown and shadowy. This will make it feel more threatening and scary for the viewers since something can be hiding in the bushes or that someone is watching from afar. Bushes and trees can look like figures in a way, which will make viewers second-guess themselves.

Costuming Blog Post #20

 The Costumes used in our Movie!

Hi guys, welcome back to the blog. Today, I will be talking about the costumes in our movie opener. We did not have a large budget, so we did the best of our abilities to get some good outfits.

This photo is of my character's costume. Since I was The Killer, we chose this because it was fitting for the character and similar to some other slasher movies. I am wearing a dark blue jumpsuit and black boots. The black boots add to the aura of my character since they look old and used. The jumpsuit makes the character look ready and experienced in doing something heinous like this. I also have an axe by my side. You also cannot see my face, which makes me mysterious and dangerous. The costume suits my character very well, and it was not too expensive, allowing us to use the money in other areas. 

This is a photo of my little cousin's costume for the character Sebastian. He is wearing a black and blue puffer jacket, and I believe it is a pretty normal outfit. In the movie, he is just a bystander and sees the lifeless body of Kyle. The picture I got of him does not show his whole body. The dark blue and black jacket fits him a little big, making him look smaller than he is (even though he already is a little boy), and it makes him look like a normal person. It is cold and static outside, which is why he is wearing the jacket. We chose this outfit since he already had it at home, and we felt like it matched the vibe of the movie.

Lastly, for Amaar's character, Kyle, we gave him a pretty normal fit used by many teenagers in America. He is wearing a black shirt, grey sweatpants, and Jordans. We chose this outfit since it makes him look casual and like Sebastian, a normal person. He also has a bag since he came from studious activities. We chose this outfit for a similar reason to Sebastian's outfit. Amaar had it at home, and since it was a casual outfit, it suited his role as the victim.

Screenplay Blog Post #19

 Screenplay for our Film Opener!

Someone Follows

Written by: 

Santiago Giraldo

Amaar Farooq

FADE IN:

EXT. EMPTY SUBURBAN STREET – NIGHT

An EMPTY STREET.
Streetlights buzz faintly.

Dense BUSHES line the sidewalk, unmoving.

Too quiet.

KYLE (17) enters frame — a teen with a backpack, relaxed, casual. He walks with an easy rhythm, scrolling on his phone, completely unaware.

CUT TO:

POV – BEHIND A TREE

We watch Kyle from the darkness.

Branches partially block the view.

Kyle continues down the sidewalk, oblivious.

CUT BACK TO:

EXT. STREET – NIGHT

Kyle’s phone VIBRATES.

He stops.

Looks down.

ON PHONE SCREEN:
Unknown Number
“I see you.”

Kyle’s smile fades.

He looks around.

Nothing.

His breathing quickens. He pockets the phone and starts walking faster.

CUT TO:

CLOSE ON: LEGS

Heavy boots step into frame.

Dark JUMPSUIT PANTS.

Slow. Purposeful.

A foot SNAPS A BRANCH.

CRACK.

CUT TO:

Kyle spins around.

KYLE
Hello?

Silence.

Kyle backs up, panic setting in. He turns and RUNS, not knowing what made the noise.

CUT TO:

EXT. BUSHES – NIGHT

Hidden in shadow, THE KILLER reaches down and GRABS AN AXE.

The metal glints faintly.

The Killer steps forward, following Kyle — unseen.

CUT TO:

Kyle skids to a stop.

He turns.

His eyes go wide.

He’s spotted something.

CAMERA PANS RIGHT — toward where Kyle is looking.

Nothing there.

Empty sidewalk.

CAMERA PANS BACK TO KYLE’S POSITION —

Kyle is GONE.

CUT TO BLACK.

Silence.

A beat.

CUT BACK IN:

Kyle lies MOTIONLESS ON THE GROUND, face turned away.

A pair of boots steps into frame.

Hands grab Kyle’s legs.

He is DRAGGED OFF CAMERA.

CUT TO:

NEW ANGLE – TREELINE

The Killer drags Kyle into view and LAYS HIM AGAINST A TREE, his body limp.

The Killer raises the axe.

SWING.

CUT TO BLACK.

The sickening SOUND OF THE AXE CONNECTING echoes.

CUT TO:

Kyle’s body is now PINNED TO THE TREE, the AXE BURIED IN HIM.

Lifeless.

Still.

CUT TO:

EXT. STREET – LATER – NIGHT

Small footsteps.

SEBASTIAN (10) — a little boy in a dark blue jacket — walks cautiously down the same street.

He stops.

Looks up.

His eyes lock onto Kyle’s body.

Sebastian freezes.

Horrified.

The streetlight flickers above him.

CUT TO BLACK.

TITLE CARD:

[MOVIE TITLE: Someone Follows]

FADE OUT.

And that's the screenplay draft for Someone Follows!

Gantt Chart Blog Post #18

 Blog Chart for our Film Opener!

Hi guys, welcome back to another blog. Today, I will be talking about our schedule for the rest of this final project. This will include development, pre-production, production, and post-production. Ok lets get started!

To begin with, this is a Gantt chart that took me a while to graph and plan out. It includes all the major things we have done and will do, and how many days we plan to do each thing. First is the development stage. From week 1-3, we did brainstorming for about 3 days, script writing for about 2 days, planning set for about 4 days, and blogging, which took  6 weeks to do, which is the length of the entire schedule. The blogging is very tedious since we have to explain everything included in our film, and the grand total we have to do is 46. But never mind that. Now, from week 3-4, we have pre-production. This included casting for about 1 day, set design for about 2 days, locations for about 2 days, and costumes for about 1 day. Everything besides costumes has been done by both Amaar and I. Costuming has been done by me. Next, we have production. This includes set building, practice filming, and actual filming. Set building will take 2 days, practice filming will take 1 day, and actual filming will take 2 days. Lastly, we have post-production. This includes main editing and sound editing. We plan to take 3 days on main editing and 2 days on sound editing. In conclusion, this Gantt chart will help us coordinate everything we have done already and what we will do soon.

Graphic Design and Font Use Blog Post #17

Graphic Design and Fonts in our Film Opening!

My partner Amaar and I spent some time discussing what fonts and graphics we wanted to incorporate into our film opening. We know that the font and graphics in a movie's opening really set the tone right off the bat. They give the audience a strong visual hint about the film's genre and help evoke a sense of fear.

Since our's is a horror or thriller, that usually means opting for rough, jagged, or shaky text to instantly create a vibe of danger, chaos, or suspense.

We have chosen these five potential fonts and graphics for our movie.

1. Scratchy Font

A sense of unrest and instability is conveyed by the scratchy font, which effectively engages the audience's emotions. It also appears to be dripping blood, which is exactly in line with our theme and message and evokes even more feelings in general.

2. Glitch Font

The audience feels more tense and uneasy because of the glitchy font, which appears to be all jumbled up. It intensifies the turbulence in the atmosphere and adds a degree of uncertainty.
3. Weapon with Reflection

The jagged typeface and the image with the reflection of a face really make me uncomfortable. The audience is drawn into the scenario by the reflection, and the tension is increased by the crisp font. The encounter is undoubtedly made more unsettling by it.

4.  Gloved Hand Holding Weapon

 

Many of the feelings we want to evoke in our audience are evoked by the concealed hand carrying the weapon. First of all, since we don't know who the murderer is, the disguise lends a sense of mystery and tension. As a result, viewers are left wondering about their identities and intentions. The thrill and suspense are further increased by the hand lifted in the air, which implies that the murderer could strike at any time.


5.  Blood Splatter

The story is made more dramatic by the drops of bright red liquid, which are obviously blood. The viewer is immediately drawn in by that vivid red, which heightens the eerie atmosphere by conveying a sense of fear and danger. Additionally, it serves to emphasize the story by letting viewers know that there is probably some sort of crime or danger taking place in the movie.

Preparing to Film Blog Post #16

 Our Preparations for Filming!

Today, I will be planning out everything for our film, such as locations, props, actors, costumes, dates, and film equipment!

Location

We haven’t picked a spot yet, but we’ve got a potential empty house that could work for filming the opening scene of our movie at night. A house would really be the perfect backdrop for that scene, so we might also consider using Amaar’s place or my home.

Times and dates

The plan is to shoot after dark since that’s when the scenes will look best. We’re aiming to film during winter break, wanting to wrap up all the shooting before it ends. We’re thinking sometime between the first and second week of that break.

Costume

Figuring out costumes isn’t too complicated. We just need a nightgown for the actor playing our victim. For the serial killer role, which I’ll take on, we’ll go with a black suit, maybe add a mask and cap to complete the look.

Film gear

We’re planning to borrow a camera from an old friend for filming. We’ll also use a lamp to create some flickering effects, and a flashlight will help with the spotlights and shadows on close-up props.

Props

Making props might be a bit tricky. We’ll need things like blood splatters, blood-stained footprints, maybe a fake weapon, and some dolls that fit the theme. For the blood effect, we can use red food dye or paint, and we’ll put that dye or paint on the bottom of a shoe for the footprints. As for the doll, we could either buy a creepy one or take a regular-looking doll and make it look scary with some markers and artsy touches.

Actors

This part is definitely the easiest to figure out. We won’t need a lot of actors since the opening focuses more on the atmosphere and setting. We really just need one actor, who can play both the victim and the spooky serial killer. It should be easy enough for our friend to take on the victim role. I think I’ll handle the serial killer part, which might need someone with a bit more experience.

Mood Board Blog Post #15

 Mood Board!

Hello readers, this is the mood board I created based on our horror/thriller film opening. Because our movie fits into 2 similar genres, it was quite easy to put together. I will be explaining the reasoning behind each image and what it means in terms of the film's opening. First of all, the three images at the bottom are based on the killer. He is seen in the dark and almost like a shadowy figure. He is choosing which mask to wear to cover his face and keep his identity a secret. Also, you can see his choice of weapon, which is a knife. Near the top, you can see a toy doll, which is what the killer leaves at every crime scene. Next to it, is a dark room with dim lighting, which is what I want the setting to look like. Also, the bloody puddles and the caution tape are things found at every crime scene. Below is an image of a girl running away from something, which is a scene I want to incorporate into the film opening. Again, you can see a suburban house which is the home of one of the victims. You can see the moon which is when most of the killings take place, nighttime. Also, below those pictures, is an image of a girl who seems to be scared inside of her own home. This is a feeling I want to create in the opening. I want the viewers to be feeling paranoid and scared of what is coming next. All of these images have dim lighting, which is the lighting I want for the film. It adds to the suspense and thrill of the movie.

So, to conclude, this mood board captures the general feel and look of the movie perfectly. I hope to begin making it a reality soon!

Project Storyboard Blog Post #14

 Storyboard Drawing!

Today, I will describe the narrative depicted in the storyboard. 

Scene 1: 

• Shot A: The scene begins in a dim, silent setting. The audience is presented with a close-up of an unfamiliar person's feet as they slowly ascend a staircase. The solitary sound of their footsteps is the only audible element, instantly creating a sense of tension. 
• Shot B: The silhouette of the mysterious figure is cast on a dark wall. They remain completely motionless. This shot compels the viewer to focus on the silhouette.

Scene 2: 

• The camera captures the back of an unidentified stranger, who is covertly observing a victim preparing for bed.

 Scene 3: 

• The introduction skips over the violent moment, jumping straight to the aftermath. 
• Shot A: The stranger is seen walking through a dimly lit hallway. Dramatic lighting is provided by lightning flashes and thunder outside, briefly illuminating the corridor. The camera focuses on their hands, from which blood drips slowly from both the knife and their fingertips. 
• Shot B: A close-up shot highlights the floor, revealing blood-soaked footprints and trails left by the stranger, heightening the audience's suspense and excitement. 

Scene 4:

•  The final scene features a brief shot of a doll left at the site of the victim's murder. This peculiar item at the crime scene adds a strong sense of mystery and hints that the killer might be leaving a signature clue. 

So, this is the complete summary of my storyboard. Hopefully, when we begin filming, the movie will resemble this vision. It took me about an hour to sketch this due to my trash drawing skills!

Specific Film Inspirations Blog Post #13

 Specific Film Inspirations for our Film Opening

For our movie, we took a lot of inspiration from horror classics due to their simple but flawless execution of following the conventions of horror/thriller movies. Today, I will be showing you the exact movies that inspired us to make our movie.

1. Annabelle (2014)

In the movie Anabelle, there is a toy doll that gets possessed by an evil spirit and begins to haunt the people who own the toy. This film changed the way people viewed dolls due to the fact that it made people believe they could maybe move on their own or have something evil tied to them. So, we took inspiration from this and used a toy doll in our movie as a symbol of evil and malice that the killer will use to scare and taunt his victims. We will use a doll that is made out of similar material and wearing old clothes, since it makes it look broken and withered. This adds to the scare factor and will surely grab viewers' attention!

2. Scream (1996)

In the movie Scream, there is a killer on the loose who is hidden behind a mask. The directors use this to their advantage by adding suspense and mystery around who is behind it. They use visual withholding perfectly, allowing viewers to keep watching to see who is behind the murders. In our movie, the killer's face will be hidden and will not be seen to add suspense, just as Scream did. The victims in our movie will be constantly paranoid due to a mysterious figure targeting them, allowing us to make viewers afraid. Also, we will make a similar shot to the one pictured, where the killer is watching the victim and is still hidden by the mask.

3. Lights Out (2016)

In the movie Lights Out, there is an evil entity that can only attack in the dark and uses it to its advantage. The movie uses dark lighting or no lighting at all to maximize the fear instilled in the viewer. In our movie, we will use dark lighting or no lighting to create the same effect in viewers. In the movie, when the room is dark or quiet, the main characters know they are either being stalked or about to be attacked. In our movie, we will have something similar. The victims will be paranoid about the dark settings and the unknown that is lurking around them. Also, we can use everyday settings, which helps our budget because we can tone down the lights there and still make it professional.

Genre Conventions Blog Post #12

Genre Conventions of our Film

Today, I will be breaking down all the ways our film will adhere to the conventions of our genre. In the film, we will be including lighting, composition, camera shots, sound effects, camera angles, camera movements, and the mise-en-scène normally found in horror/thriller movies.

Since our film is about a Serial Killer, it will include:

Camera angles: Over the shoulder (display the toys the murderer left behind over his shoulder without showing him)
Point-of-view (present the victim from the murderer's perspective before to his attack)
Dutch angle (dolls approaching the hallway)

Camera movements: Zoom (zoom into the trails' blood, zoom into the doll's eyes, zoom into the silhouettes on the wall)
Static photo of footsteps and toys
Whip pan (highlight tension in the room or hallway)
Dolly (create suspense by tracking the footsteps in the corridor)

Sound effects:
Thunder to build suspense and a spooky atmosphere
Footsteps to build tension and enigma
Fear and stress are created by creaking flooring.
Blood trails are formed by blood droplets.

Lighting: To provide a great deal of suspense, it should be completely dark with only sounds.
Using flickering lights to evoke stress and anxiety
Use spotlight lights to draw attention to clues such as blood trails and dolls.
Using shadowed lighting to draw attention to silhouettes

Composition: Using contrasting shots to highlight the dolls in the same shadowed frame
Negative areas to draw attention to items and evoke tension
frames that are filled to convey a sense of overwhelm

Camera shots: Intense close-ups (doll eyes, blood trails)
Close-ups (footsteps on the ground, dolls)
Medium shots (shadows, walls, and halls)