GROUP: Concept Development

MB: Discuss the ways Horror Films are Produced and Distributed

The success of a film is based on whether it makes three times its original budget, so one would naturally assume that Horror films produced by one of the Six Majors are bound to be more of a success that independent films made by small companies such as Vertigo Films, an independent company based in the UK. However, this is not always the case. Majors such as Warner Bros. (Time Warner) may have produced well know horrors such as "The Conjuring" (Wan, 2013), but some of horror's most loved classics were made by independent companies, such as Vertigo Films' "A Night in the Woods" (Parry, 2012)


The Conjuring (Wan, 2013)

The story of paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren that work to help a family terrorized by a dark presence in their farmhouse. The films comes under the Psychological Horror genre

Production

• The film was produced by Tony DeRosa-Grund, Peter Safran and Rob Cowan. The Safran Company (An independent company) and New Line Cinema (A subsidiary of Time Warner) were both studios used in the production


• Development of the film began over 20 years ago when Ed Warren played a tape of Warren's original interview with Carolyn Perron for producer Tony DeRosa-Grund. DeRosa-Grund made a recording of Warren playing back the tape and of their subsequent discussion. At the end of the tape, Warren said to DeRosa-Grund, "If we can't make this into a film I don't know what we can."


• "The Untitled Warren Files Project" was the working title for the film 


• Principal photography began in late February 2012, lasting for 38 days. Shooting took place primarily at EUE/Screen Gems Studios as well as other locations in and around Wilmington, North Carolina

Distribution

• The film was initially intended to release in early 2013, but decided on a summer release date after gaining a positive reception from test audiences. The film was ultimately released on July 19 in North America, and in the United Kingdom on August 2


• The film went on to make $41.5 million after it's opening weekend, breaking the record set by "The Purge" (DeMonaco, 2013) a month earlier for biggest opening weekend for an original horror film


• After its initial run in theatres, the film turned out to be a box office hit by grossing over fifteen times its production budget with a worldwide total of $312,459,667


• The Conjuring was released in Blu-ray and DVD formats by Warner Bros. Home Entertainment on October 22, 2013

The film's massive success can be largely put down to the fact that it was distributed by a major conglomerate like Time Warner, who are able to use their subsidiary companies and synergistic promotional activity to promote their film. Horror films are often harder to promote to a large audience, as TV spots are often not available before the watershed, and don't often produce merchandise

"A Night in the Woods" (Parry, 2012) 

Brody, his girlfriend Kerry and their friend Leo go hiking in Dartmoor's Wistman's Woods, so named because of its legendary haunted past. That night jealousies, sexual tensions and strained relationships come to a head turning what should have been a peaceful camping adventure into a trip to terror. This film can also be placed under the Psychological Horror genre, but Stalker Horror also emerges here

Production

• The film was produced by Nick Love, Allan Niblo, James Richardson and Huberta Von Liel. Vertigo Films played a big part in producing and distributing the film in the UK, but it was distributed by Tribeca Film in the USA and Front Row Film Entertainment in UAE and Middle-East


• Despite research, I was unable to find a production budget for the film, but from reviews on websites such as IMDb and Rotten Tomatoes, it's clear enough to see that the budget was low, with no major locations and a simplistic "found-footage" style of filming


• Richard Parry both wrote and directed the film. Including himself, the cast and crew for the film was relatively small, another suggestion of a low budget


• It premiered at the Fright Fest Film Festival in the UK in August 2011, but wasn't released until September 2012, suggesting that the budget was more or less used up after the premier

Distribution

• The film, unlike The Conjuring, did not go on to be shown in cinemas and went straight to DVD on 10th September 2012


• There is no indication of how much the film went on to make, but one can only assume that it was low due to its lack of advertising and a cinema run


• Reviews of the film varied, but all retained the notion that the film was a "rip-off" of The Blair Witch Project (Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sánchez, 1999) even down to sharing a similar release poster


• Despite poor reviews, the acting in the film was praised by many critics, claiming that while it resembled Blair Witch, it surpassed it realism

It is clear to see from this example that large conglomerates certainly have the advantage in distributing their films as they have more disposable income as well as subsidiary companies that can be used to advertise their movies. However, while "A Night in the Woods" may not have been a success itself, it does not mean that independent films never succeed. The Blair Witch Project itself was an independent production and is considered one the greatest horror movies of all time. A Night in the Woods only failed due to its lack of budget, lack of advertising, and lack of originality. The later may well be something to consider when planning for our final piece.

 

GROUP: Treatment

The chilling tale of the group of serial killers known as "The Faceless Ones", named as such because of their favour of plain, white masks...

 

Neil Peck was nothing but a banker and a father in the small town of Fackenden. Yet, on his way home in the early hours of January 1st 2009, his wife Mary and daughter Lily are taken hostage by this murderous gang. Blissfully unaware of the horror that he would face on his arrival home, Neil continues to drive through the winding trees of the night. Meanwhile, his family are bound and gagged by the faceless villains, preparing nooses for their seemingly imminent death. As Neil pulls into his driveway, the faces of his family and the foes are illuminated by the headlights. However, it is only as Neil enters his garage, hearing his wife's scream that alerts him to their peril. But his desperate attempt to save them is futile, as when he bursts through the front door, the chair preventing his wife and daughter's death is knocked from beneath them, hanging them and leaving Neil broken and empty, vulnerable to the clasp of the faceless killers...

MB: The Shining (Kubrick, 1980) Technical Analysis

 

Camera	Duration	Mise-En-Scene	Effects
Warner Bros. Picture Logo	0:00 to 0:12	The shot is only meant to display the distributor, like many films	N/A
XLS: An aerial shot of an island tracking in. As it goes past the island, the camera tilts to the right	0:13 to 0:30	The somewhat “demonic” soundtrack creates a sense of foreboding. The audience has not yet seen anything scary, but the music suggests they will	Main soundtrack enters at the beginning of the shot. The shot fades into the next one
XLS: Bird’s eye view of pine forest with a road running through the centre.	0:30 to 0:50	A lone car is driving on the road. The distance of the shot somewhat distances the audience from reality, making the shot feel very empty, but still important	The scene fades in from the previous shot. The music continues to play
XLS: Aerial tracking shot over hills following the same car.	0:50 to 1:08	This shot remains distant, much like the previous shot. This is only extenuated by the fact that there are no longer any trees	The scene is cut straight in rather than a fade. The music enters a second section at around 0:53, a slower sound using   different instruments
XLS track in to MS: Aerial tracking shot that   tracks in closer to the car. Tilts left as camera goes past the car	1:09 to 1:39	The shot reveals more details about the scene. The car is a Yellow VW Beetle, perhaps suggesting a more happy side to this horror story? Or perhaps a rather twisted view of happy. Credits begin the appear in this shot also,   merely rising from, the bottom of shot, a pale blue colour. Perhaps this simple effect is used so as not to distract the audience.	The scene is cut in. The music continues as previously, but acting credits as well as the name of the film begin to appear
XLS: Bird’s eye view shot of the car driving through coastline area	1:39 to 2:09	This shot is very similar to the beginning of the last shot, perhaps   suggesting illusion? Or disorientation in the film? The car goes through a tunnel in the side of the cliff, which is aimed to make the audience predict what will happen, however, the car is fine on the other side and the audience are made to feel stupid for trying to guess	The scene is cut in. The music grows louder, perhaps suggesting the scene is near “fever-pitch”. Credits continue to  appear
XLS track into LS: The camera continues to follow the car at a distance	2:10 to 2:33	The shot appears open once again, creating a very isolated feel (until a second car goes past, but that’s not important) The cliff face could also connote a certain danger to this journey, or perhaps a sign on things to come	The scene cuts in. The music continues as credits appear
XLS: Continued track on the car	2:33 to 2:44	The introduction of snow to the mountainside gives the audience an idea of setting. It also, seemingly obviously, creates a sense of cold, or chill	The scene cuts in. The music continues as the final credits appear
XLS: Track alongside the mountain, first shot of the Hotel	2:44 to 3:00	This final shot reveals the destination of the car and its driver, a small hotel. This also reveals to the audience the setting for the film. This isolated area seems much too desolate for a hotel. Perhaps the setting is aimed to unnerve the audience from the very beginning	The scene cuts in and the music reaches its climax, signifying to the audience that this is the final shot.

Content

• The feeling of isolation created by the Extra Long Shots is useful in making the audience aware of any “oncoming danger”

• The reveal of the hotel connotes a sense of mystery even before anything has happened to it

What could the group take from this?

• The use of long tracking shots could be good in setting the scene for our opening sequence, particularly in the car as the protagonist returns home

BBK: Discuss the ways Horror Films are Produced and Distributed

The ways in which films are produced and distributed vary as to who is producing the picture and whether they are part of a industrial conglomerate such as Warner Bros, a subsidiary of Time Warner and independent producers such as British film studio Vertigo Film

Orphan (Jaume Collet-Serra 2009)

Orphan is a 2009 horror film about the adoption of a small girl named Esther, before long the truth behind Esther mysterious and secretive past starts to unravel in this psychological horror

 



Production

• Produced by Leonardo Di Caprio, Joel Silver and Susan Downey and made by the studio Dark Castle Entertainment a subsidiary of Warner Bros.


• Shot entirely in the Canadian cities of Toronto, Port Hope and Montreal.


• Warner Bros. edited the movie's trailer to remove Esther's line "It must be hard to love an adopted child as much as your own" after receiving numerous complaints from adoptive parents and foster care organizations. The line remains in the movie itself.


• The movie was originally written to take place during the fall, and some exterior shots were filmed to establish this. Shortly before principal photography was set to begin in December 2007, the Toronto locations were hit with near-record snowfall, forcing the change of setting to winter. One of the scenes written out as a result was a Halloween carnival at Daniel and Esther's school.

 

Distribution

 

• The film opened making $12,770,000 total at #4 film in the box office for its opening weekend


• Released on DVD and Blu-Ray October the 27th 2009 in the US by Warner Home Video


• It was released on DVD and Blu-Ray in the UK on November 27th by Optimum Releasing 


• Each release included advertised extra scenes and an alternative ending.


•  The film has grossed a total of $78,337,373.


• Film posters, teaser trailer, theatrical trailer, viral marketing campaign using advertisement across websites

 

This example is an example of how conglomerates like the six major Hollywood studios keep majority of their profits within the company as Time Warner has used its studio subsidiary (Dark Castle Entertainment) and its own distributor (Warner Bros. Pictures). However when it came to distribution in the UK we can see that a deal was made with English based institution Optimum Releasing a subsidiary of StudioCanal part of the Universal Conglomerate.

 

Industrial filmmakers are also given the opportunity and budget to use a range of visual affects  in order to make their films bigger and better each time. The bigger their budget for production also increases their budget for marketing meaning that they can afford to use more forms of media to get their product in the public eye, along with this the development in technology and web 2.0 means their target audience (15-24) who predominantly use technology will view any viral marketing regularly.

 

The Strangers (Bertino 2008)

The Strangers is an independent horror film based around an incident in which a couple is murdered by masked home invaders.

 

Production

 

• Produced by Vertigo Entertainment and Mandate Pictures


• Film written by director Bertino and is said to be inspired by crimes happeing around his neighborhood as a child and the killings of the Manson Family.


• Filmed on a $9 million dollar budget the production started in 2006 and ended 2007


• The house was constructed as a set for the picture

Distribution

 

• Marketing started in 2001 as the director Bertino and stars attended Comic-con and screened the teaser trailer and answered questions. 


• Later the trailer was released with a television spot and on


•  YouTube through viral marketing


• The films released was post-poned many times but was eventually released May 30th 2008 


• $20,997,985 in 2,467 theaters, ranking #3 at the box office and averaging $8,514 per theater


• The film eventually earned $82.3 million worldwide.

This example goes to show that the success of a picture isn't always determined by the power of the producers. As a films success is determined as whether it makes three times the original budget this picture was a major success for independent cinema. However due to a smaller budget independent film makers like Bertino do not have as much access to expensive visual effects which can attract larger audiences, as well as not being part of a major conglomerates meaning it is harder to acquire synergistic promotion as well as cross-media convergence. Although this lack of a ultra high budget hasn't stopped Bertino from branching into viral marketing and acquiring a TV spot for the theatrical trailer.  

GROUP: Wilderness Woods - Final Cut

This is the final cut for Wilderness Woods task. We believe that this task has taken more of an active stance in filmmaking and has allowed us to experiment with different filming techniques, such as tracks, steadicam and handicam. The final product also include a range of post-production effects, as well as a soundtrack and sound effects to add depth to the film

 



 

Strengths

• Continuity was adhered to. Shots flowed well together. Adventurous shots also enhanced the viewing experience (particularly the "camera kick" shot)
• Sound effects were used where appropriate, allowing the audience greater realism
• Soundtrack used reflected the action and was kept at a reasonable volume so as not to disturb speech
• Worked on targets from first preliminary task

Weaknesses

• Storyline was relatively generic, but clear and concise in the time given

Targets

• Plan all shots in advance, using storyboard techniques
• Decide on non-diegetic sound in the planning stages of production
• Create an in depth storyline to attract the audience

 

BS: Discuss the ways Horror Films are Produced and Distributed

Introduction

• Since the start of film making in 1888 from the Lumier Brothers technology has evolved vastly, this has allowed new and innovative methods of production and distribution and has changed film globally. 
• Warner Brothers, a large industrial film production house has in its time created some of the most iconic horror films, such as The Exorcist (Freidkin 1973) which Incorporated special effects in its production, and very early but effective advertising campaigns.
• Vertigo Films is a smaller independent production house, who too have produced a number of well known films such as A Night in the Woods (Parry, 2012) which saw great success, a lot like The Exorcist but used very different production and distribution methods.
 

 

• The Exorcist had a cast that consisted of names such as Lee J.Cobb and Linda Blair. Using well known names in the production of this film meant that it could entice a variety of audiences as a result, of previous films they have starred in, and meant that there was already an established fan base before the film was even released. the producers of this film also took their cast into great consideration, for example they originally considered Marlon Brando as the role of Father Lankester Merrin, but did not pursue this decision as it would have become a "Brando movie", which was not what they were trying to achieve.
• The director Friedkin was an established director of horror and was hired on his experience and Warner Bros. wanted to achieve the same energy as one of his previous films, The French Connection
• During the production of this film Fredkin used the 'old Hollywood directing style' which consisted of manipulating the actors to get a genuine reaction which would make the film and events within seem more realistic.
• The music within this film was key to achieving the desired reaction from the audience, although instructed to 'soften' the music Friedkin ignored this. modern classical compositions  and  strings were used to portray scenes of danger and to encourage fear throughout the audience
• Locations were also another key aspect of achieving the desired effect of the film, real historic sites of religious connotation were used as it is based loosely on true events and allowed the film to seem as realistic as possible.
• Throughout this film there are a number of special effects used, which were engineered by makeup artists. CGI effects were also used when creating the well known 'spider walk' scene, to digitally remove the wires that suspended the actress 

 

 

Horror films in general cost far less to produce than other films, this is an extreme advantage for the independent film companies as they usually do not have such a great deal of money available.

• There are many pro-filmic effects throughout this films which is usually different to an industrial production who more often add in effects in post production, this means that it does not cost so much which is key as independent studios don't have such a large budget to make the films
• It is also very important to note that there was no written script, as well as reducing the cost of a professional script writer it also meant that the actors and their reactions were more natural and realistic, this helped to achieve a "found footage style"
• After researching this film i could not find a stated budget for the production and distribution of this film, but can conclude it was low due to expenditure cuts during the production of this film
• The location is a key aspect of this film as well, it is shot as in the title in a woods, they did not need to recreate this on a set nor use technology such as green screening, because the locations were minimal it again meant that it was cheaper to produce this film. 

 

• The Exorcist was a widely distributed film with a dvd feature that was digitally remastered for the new technology, this allows the film to be played and aimed at a wider audience through the ease of DVD
• There was also a TV documentary 'The fear of God: the making of "the exorcist"' two audio comentaries and interviews with the director and writer. this has meant there is a lot of cross media convergence and horizontal promotional activity which has allowed the film to be such a success as it is now, and will continue to be, as it was the first film of its kind.
• The film was then re-released in cinemas in 1998 due to its earlier success and was submitted for home video release for the first time in February 1999 and was shown for the first time on TV in 2001 channel 4

• A Night in the Woods again kept the distribution costs as low as possible, an example of this is distributing the film on free social networking sites such as Facebook 
• For its premier the film was released at the UK film festival in August 2011
• The film has now been released on DVD and VOD
• To target its desired market 16-25 the trailer was released on YouTube which is an easy and accessible was to advertise 
• The trailer again is a key part of the distribution success, it showed scary moments which would appeal to its main audience.
• Distribution costs for this film were very low due to advertising on social networking sites

                                         

 

Conclusion

 

The distribution and production of indie films and industrial films differ vastly, but in some elements in similar ways.

Industrial films have very large budgets, of which they can spend on distribution and advertisement, therefore can reach a wider variety of audiences.

But as these films try to target the same market through the actual appeal of the genre as oppose to the content of the film it means both industrial film companies and independent companies don't have to spend as much on advertising campaigns. This is a particular benefit for the smaller budgeted independent productions.

BBK: The Woman in Black (Watkins 2012) Technical Analysis

Camera	Duration	Mise-en-scene	Audience Effect
ECU Shallow focus	0:00-0:10	Miniature tea set prop	Associated with childhood innocence
ECU Shallow focus	0:10-0:13	Stuffed doll expressionless with minimal facial resemblance	‘Uncanny Valley’ effect along with audience association with innocence
CU Shallow focus	0:13-0:16	Victorian expressionless china doll	Period revealed, eerie nature of children’s toys makes audience uneasy
MS Three shot	0:16-0:21	Young girls introduced, Victorian dresses	Introduction of young girls, sense of vulnerability
ECU	0:21-0:23	Victorian doll (expressionless), theme of girls hands	Representation of youthful caring (brushing the dolls hair)
ECU	0:23-0:25	Victorian doll sleeping	Representation of kindness and innocence of children
MS	0:25-0:28	Two shot girls smiling and playing	Continued representation of playful innocence
CU	0:28-0:30	One shot girl smiling	Connoted children’s innocence
CU	0:30-0:33	Doll tea party	Theme of control over the dolls
MLS	0:33-0:40	Girls positioned in high angle	Their gaze connotes a presence within the room with the high angle showing their vulnerability to it.
MS	0:40-0:43	Body language as they turn away provokes motivated shot	Their unity connotes that they are being controlled by a singular force
MLS Track in shot	0:43-0:46	Exterior shows they are not on ground level	As the volume turns up the audience are made uneasy due to the girls controlled nature and attention to the window
MS	0:46-0:48	Three shot girls start to stand	Connotes control
CU	0:48-0:49	Girls rise into shot	Connoted control
CU	0:49-0:50	Shot of shoe	Shows audience they are now standing
CU	0:50-0:51	Miniature teas cup falls from shot	Sudden lack of care for surrounding connotes control from external force
CU	0:51-0:53	Cup smashes at girls feet	No diegetic sound or body language reactions connotes no awareness of surroundings
CU	0:53-0:0:55	Shot of feet start to walk	Doll left behind connotes innocence lost
CU	0:55-0:56	Foot steps on tea pot smashing it	Connotes innocence lost
CU	0:56-0:59	Foot steps on doll	Connotes innocence lost
MS	0:59-1:04	Three shot girls walk in line expressionless toward window
MLS	1:04-1:08	Three shot each girl stands a one window
CU	1:08-1:12	Girls hand opens window	Audience feels unable to stop inevitable
LS Tracks backward	1:12-1:24	Girls step from ledge into the light	Audience shock at the childrens murder/ suicide
CU Zooms out	1:24-1:27	Dolls expressional face	The dolls expressionless face reflects that of the girls
LS Track backward reveal shot	1:27-1:32	Empty room tracks back to reveal silloutte in black vail	Figure connotes the force that was controlling the girls.

CONTENT

• In the Extract we see three girls who are playing with a tea set as they are 'possessed', forcing them to commit suicide, 
• The symbolism of the girls control over the expressionless dolls is replicated as they themselves are controlled later in the sequence.
• A theme of motherhood and innocence is prevalent as the girls care for there toys without any knowledge of the evil that awaits
• The audience are shown that the girls have been controlled in some way by depicting them as losing all interest in their surrounding to the point that they are stepping on their own toy

WHAT COULD WE TAKE FROM THIS?

• I particularly like the use of vulnerability and ideologies surrounding children in order to evoke emotional reaction and maternal/paternal instincts of the audience
• The use of close up to show actions without revealing character is a concept worth exploring