Glenburn Approval Letter

Name Change of Film- Glenburn to Asylum

The name of our film was originally Glenburn because this was the name of the school in Skelmersdale that we were filming in. We had a meeting with the headteacher and site manager to get their approval of filming there. However, once they had learned that the name of our film would be Glenburn, they wanted it changed because they did to want to be associated with this trailer and if someone where to type it in in Youtube, it would appear and people could possibly be more interested in the trailer rather than the actual school. As a result of this, we decided to change our name but we didn't entirely know what to change it to. We had a brainstorming session in class and after several different ideas, we came to a conclusion that Asylum would be best. We came to this decision because the premise of our film was that four friends become trapped in a mental institution and a different name used for said place is an asylum. This a simple yet effective name as it holds a few connotations, such as offering protection and safety or an institution for the care of people, especially those with mental impairments, who require organized supervision or assistance.

Character Profiles

These are the character profiles that we have written as a group. They are thorough and provide a background for our characters and hopefully people might be able to get a a glimpse of their personality traits in the trailer that we are creating.

Issac-(Played by Joe Westall)
This character is part of the main group the film will be about, now Issac is the more realistic one in the group he likes to think things through first before jumping into anything so in the group before doing anything stupid he thinks of the consequences of what might happen, Issac is a family person has a big family and enjoys spending time with them all he has; Mum, Dad, two Sisters, Brother and 13 cousins and 14 Aunties and Uncles so he has a big family, he is also a big animal lover with having such a big family the majority of them have pets such as dogs and cats, Issac himself has 3 dogs which he adores.  A little bit about Issac he puts every one first instead of himself he is a very kind and caring person he will think of others before himself this is what probably helped him in getting his girlfriend which has been with now for about 3 years he treats every one with respect he never thinks low of others, he is a very sociable person likes to be involved with his mates as much as possible and do loads together go out cause mischief etc.

Teddy-(Played by Liam Rabbette)
Teddy is more of the chilled, laid back one in the group he just goes with the flow, Teddy doesn't really have a big family he is an only child so he likes to hang out with his mates because he hates being alone his dad left him was he was 5 so his mum has raised him up on his own with out re marrying so he loves going out with his mates. Teddy is really into his music and it is a huge passion of his and as a result of this is a member of a band called Flight of the Eagle and he is the lead guitarist. Teddy is very streetwise; he knows all the tricks of the trade.  He will do whatever his mates do and he is not worried about consequences or events that might happen, his main trait within the group is that he has no fear he will do anything and that is held in high regard with his friends.

Peter-(Played by Tom Parr)
Peter is the cool character of the group he is the person that in school every one knows who he is and wants to be him, Peter has a small family mum and dad and little sister he is really close to his sister he looks out for her all the time. If there is any trouble at school or if she is being bullied he is the first to be there and sort it out, he doesn't like resorting to violence he always sees different way to sort out situations without resorting to violence, he is a person which is always up for a laugh and looks out for his friends however there is another side to Peter were sometimes he likes to be on his own a be a lone wolf and none of his friends question this. Peter is a very logical person he looks at things from every point before making a decision and can spot a stupid idea from one of his mates and can understand quickly is an idea will work or not.

Luke-(Played by Max Schofield)
Luke is kind of the idiot of the group it starts from the fact that Luke has an average family mum and dad, little sister and a older brother, now he looks up to his older brother as a role model his older brother is mates with every one gets all the girls, and Luke wants to be like him so he tries to copy his personality.To his failure, Luke is very cocky and sometimes this gets into trouble because he doesn't know when to keep his mouth shut and his friends have pulled him out of some tense situations before, he is a loud person and doesn't really care what people think of him, he has a major flaw that he never thinks things through and has no common sense he just jumps into things before thinking and then realizes he has got himself into a mess and its up to his mates to get him out of it, he has abusive banter which can sometimes get out of control and cause arguments between the group but he looks out for his mates, however their is another side to Luke the real side when things start to get tension he acts like he is not scared and he is big and tough but as a matter of fact he is petrified of most things but he doesn't let other people see but his friends know this side of him.

Storyboards

Location: Glenburn, Skelmersdale

This is the location that our group decided to film on. We that it had a certain eeriness to it and for this reason we thought it would be the most suitable.

Copyright Letter

                                                                                             Deyes High School
                                                                                             Deyes Lane
                                                                                             Maghull
                                                                                             L31 6DE
                                                                                             0151 526 6109
                                                                                            www.emptywebprod.co.uk

Dear EA,

We are in year 13 and are currently working on a horror movie trailer for our coursework. As a group, we decided that one of the songs that you use on your hugely successful game 'Dead Space' would match out trailer perfectly. We our requesting to use this song and we accept any terms and conditions you may have. We can guarantee that our trailer is not being made to gain any profit. 
We look forward to hearing from you.

Regards, 

Empty Web Productions

Production Company Name- Empty Web Productions

In order to come up with the production name, we had to think of something that is associated with the things that scare us. The easiest way to do this was to create a web diagram and write it down. We branched a lot of ideas off and we had a semantic field based on Spiders. We decided that seeing a spider web without a spider in it creates suspense, leaving you to think we it has gone. Empty Web Productions seemed fitting enough.

The Wolverine- Poster Analysis Two

First Poster Analysis- Saw

Magazine Analysis One

Magazine Analysis Two

Trailer Analysis- Saw

When looking at this trailers structure, the first scene shown is out of context and does little in exposition, but serves to set the tone for the rest of the trailer with low key lighting and a blue filter used to create an eerie atmosphere and an over-the –shoulder shot putting the audience in the place of the character. After this brief scene, the trailer then goes on to show the production companies’ logos, usually done at the beginning of a trailer.

The next segment gives us a little more insight into the story, by showing us two of the main characters as well as the villain, jigsaw.  Voice overs are heard from jigsaw throughout most of the trailer, which is effective because while he doesn't say much, the deep effect on his voice tells the audience enough they need to know about him, by signifying that this is a character shrouded in mystery. A very effective quick barrage of edits, showing newspaper clippings, also gives the audience an idea of what this character is about without giving too much away.

At about the middle point of the trailer, the music picks up in tempo and begins to increase in intensity, a common convention of horror trailers. At this point the trailer edits between scenes and various texts describing jigsaw, the words ‘killer’, ‘voyeur’, and ‘psychopath’ are all shown in between scenes from the film with more expository dialogue about the killer over the scenes. Also, it should be noted that the edits between the scenes in the film and the text are not simple cuts but fades to black, again emphasizing the eerie atmosphere.

Something worth mentioning at this point is the consistent use of colour filters (mostly green) used throughout the trailer at this point, similar to the blue filter at the beginning, adding to the scary atmosphere. Also in the scene scenes shown with the filter is the low lighting, working in conjunction with the filters to create an eerie atmosphere, again, similar to the beginning of the trailer.

At about 1:30 into the trailer, the music greatly intensifies, increases in tempo and volume. The edits also become a lot faster between scenes from the film and text. The first text shown in this last part of the trailer is ‘this falls’, indicating to the audience when the film will be released. The scenes from the film being shown are also seemingly far more dramatic moments than before, coinciding with the increasingly dramatic music. Finally, at the music’s climax, the title is shown as well as one last voice over from jigsaw reinforcing the premise. While he doesn't ask a rhetorical question, his last voice over has the same effect, saying “live or die, make your choice” which again, isn’t a rhetorical question, but it still leaves the same effects, leaving the audience with a choice.

The Wolverine- Background

The Wolverine is based on a comic book that was written in 1982 by Chris Claremont and Frank Miller and it has been adapted into a screenpaly written by Christopher McQuarrie, Mark Bomback and Scott Frank. The film's plot is, as it says on Wikipedia, "Some time after X-Men: The Last Stand, Logan travels to Japan, where he engages a figure from his past in a fight that has lasting consequences. Vulnerable for the first time, and pushed to his physical and emotional limits, he confronts not only lethal samurai steel, but also his inner struggle against his very slow aging, emerging more powerful than ever before."

The budget for this film was over $100 million so there must be a lot of CGI and expensive set designs involved. There were many different, exotic locations were the film was shot, including New South Wales and Tokyo.

Hugh Jackman reprises his role as Wolverine. Jackman has played Wolverine five times before. These films were X-Men, X2, X-Men: The Last Stand, X-Men Orgins: Wolverine and a brief cameo role in X-Men: First Class. A lot of the actors are Japanese who are relatively unknown to International audienes.

History of Film Trailers

Film trailers have always been the main selling point of any new film that is to be released. Film trailers have undergone incredible changes over the years to get the audience always gripped and wanting to actually see the film. Trailers have also adapted in the technologies they use from simply the use of colour to now where the majority of the trailer is in CGI (computer generated imagery). There are two main types of film trailer, the promotional trailer which is often short and is simply used to sell the film or promote it, there is also a theatrical trailer which is usually longer and contains a lot more information and we can pick much more up from it.

One of the earliest trailers that was released was the 1937 Walt Disney film Snow White. Throughout this trailer there is a heavy use of large text put on screen which conforms to the stereotypical 'bigging up' of the film "nothing ever like it'. Also, throughout the entirety of the trailer, there is no use of any clips or segments of the film, but instead pictures and clips of Walt Disney himself describing the film and why he is so happy with it. This style would never be used in the modern day film industry as companies now thrive of hinting story lines and showing clips of the film.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kWr9e4JN5I

Just over 20 years later, Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho was a wholly original and experimental method of how a trailer could be different to the conventional ones of that time. In this trailer, the audience is shown around the Bates Motel by Hitchcock himself to give us a feel for how it looks. Unusually, this trailer is 6 and a half minutes long, with the end of it being the famous shower scene where the curtain is pulled back and the woman screams. This clip would give the audience something to be intrigued by.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=grOrDB4_8Pk

Another key trailer comes from 1977 which Star Wars: A New Hope. This trailer was instrumental in being one of the first trailers of its time that featured its special effects that were considered way ahead of its time in a major role as the vast majority of clips of the film were highlighting its technological capabilities. However by now its use of a voice over was now seen as common and it also still used large text to advertise the film further.

The main development in trailers since has been the use of music that is now seen as a necessity in film trailers as well as further use of CGI. Also in modern trailers there use of music that is fitting to the trailer and music that helps to create an atmosphere within the trailer, as well as small snippets of scenes to leave us wanting more, often the best scenes are shown in the trailer to make the audience want more.

Summarising Blake Snyder's ten types of movies

Blake Snyder is a screenwriter who has sold many of his spec scripts to various distributors and production companies and made millions of dollars from it. A screenwriting manual he has written, Save the Cat, has sold millions of copies worldwide. There is a section in this manual in which Snyder describes the 10 different types of movies out there and has examples of films which would fit into each category or genre.

Monster in the House: This genre is where films like Jaws, Tremors, Alien, The Exorcist, Fatal Attraction and Panic Room would fit into. The name "Monster in the House" refers to the suspense built throughout the film and jump scares that they provide when the so-called 'monster' appears.

Golden Fleece: This type of film is where the main character aims for one thing but ends up discovering a different thing: himself. A lot of rests on how the character changes as the film goes on and the actual aim that he or she sets out for becomes secondary.  Examples of these films include Wizard of Oz, Star Wars, Back to the Future and Planes, Trains and Automobiles. 

Out of the Bottle: These films usually centre around wish fulfilment and how a character, usually down on their luck, find themselves in bizarre situations because they have wished about something that they never thought would happen. Examples of these type of films include Bruce Almighty, Liar Liar and Freaky Friday.

Dude With a Problem: This type of film is usually based around a seemingly ordinary  character who have been put in circumstances that require them to dig deep down inside themselves to discover that they have a lot potential to do more. Films like this include Die Hard, Schindler's List and Dude, Where's My Car?.

Rites of Passage: This genre is usually about change and how the characters come to deal with these changes in their lives. A lot of these changes vary depending the age of the character, including puberty, divorce and death among many other things. Films included in this category are American Pie, Ordinary People and 10.

Buddy Love: This is a very universal and relatable genre as it is much like everyday life with a best friend or even a couple in a relationship. Usually, they encounter something that may end this relationship but ultimately end up stronger because they have fought past it. Films like this include Ted, Rain Man and Lethal Weapon.

Whydunit: Unlike the Golden Fleece genre, the Whydunit isn't about the hero changing, its about the audience discovering something about human nature that they didn't think was possible before the "crime" was committed and the "case" begin. The audience are forced to ask themselves why we had to do whatever we did. Films like this include Chinatown, Citizen Cane and Mystic River.

The Fool Triumphant: This genre focuses on an underdog-type character who rises up and becomes triumphant. Many of these stories involve luck and hope and how the character lives through everyday when people underestimate his or her abilities. Notable examples are Forrest Gump, The Pursuit of Happiness and Being There.

Institutionalized: This type of film is usually about a group of characters and how one of them tries to expose the group as something else but ultimately lose their identity to the group. Prominent example include Reservoir Dogs, One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest and The Godfather.

Superhero: This is the opposite of 'Dude With a Problem.' The character is an extraordinary being who finds themselves exposed to the ordinary world. A lot of other characters challenge these 'superheroes' because they are envious of their power but ultimately they realise it is best that these superheroes are a benefit to them. Notable examples of this genre are X-Men, Spiderman, Gladiator and A Beautiful Mind.

Trailer Terminology with definition

A trailer is a series of selected shots from a certain film that is being released in the near future. Trailers are used to entice the public so they usually use some of the best shots contained within the film: albeit explosions for an action film, or the funniest scenes for a comedy, to make the film seem great and to entice the audience. A trailer has a time limit which it cannot exceed in order for it to be shown in theaters which is two and a half minutes. Once a year however, studios or distributors are allowed to exceed this time if they feel it is necessary for the film.

Plot Summary:
Many trailers have a "three act structure" similar to a feature film. Act 1, the beginning, starts outs with establishing the premise of the story. Act 2, the middle, drives the story further and usually ends with a dramatic climax. Act 3 usually features a prominent piece of "signature music" which is usually recognisable. This then leads up to the last act which is almost always a visual montage of memorable moments which will feature in the film but may also contain a cast run of famous actors that help sell the film.

Voice-over:
A voice-over narration is commonly used in trailers in order to set up the premise of the movie and provide explanation when necessary which will make the trailer easier to comprehend.

Music:
Music is a vital part in a trailer because it adds tone and sets the mood. The music is usually not from the film itself because it has not entered post-production yet and the score has not been composed. Therefore, the music used in the trailer can be music from the score of other movies, popular music which is chosen to match the tone of the film, "library" music previously composed to be used in advertising, specially composed music or songs such as knock-offs of recognisable songs.

Cast, crew, and studio information:
A cast run is a list of the stars that appear in the movie. This can also be the same for the director or producer if they are well known and have made successful movies throughout their career. A billing block is used in the majority of trailers which shows a list of the principal cast and crew who worked on the movie. This can appear either at the start or end of the movie and tends to be the same list seen on posters or print publicity materials of the film. Studio production logos are usually featured at the beginning of the trailer whereas in the late 1970's, they were only put on the end of the trailer.

Technical elements:
Video resolution: Trailers are usually presented in the same way as the feature film, whether it is in 35mm film or a digital format. Improvements in internet connection means that many trailers can be distributed at resolutions up to 1080p HD quality.
Sound Mix: most movie trailers are presented in Dolby Digital or another multichannel sound mix. Stereophonic sound enhances any sound effects or music, which makes it one of the focus points of modern trailers.

Brief

For A2, the task is to create a trailer, using original ideas and lots of planning including storyboards, pitch, shot lists, chapter sheets for takes, running order of shots/scenes, poster mock-up and magazine front cover mock up.