Welcome to my blog, displaying my research, planning and production evidence for my new horror films promotional package.

 

 

 

The progression of Horror films: 1922 - Present

 

 

Original Brief

I have been set the challenge of creating a detailed package to promote a new film within the horror genre. The promotional package itself will include a film trailer, film poster and the front cover of a film magazine. The three pieces I create, will attract and lure in the target audience of my new Supernatural Horror film. However, the main aim of these three pieces is to promote the film itself and to effectively feature, the common conventions of the three types of media listed above. Lastly, I will aspire to make my three pieces of media original, unique and eye-catching so that my chosen target audience will be successfully encouraged to go and watch my new film. I will ensure this new film fulfils their needs and exceeds their expectations.

It is said that ‘’Horror films seek to elicit a negative emotional reaction by playing on the audience’s most primal fears. Horror films often deal with the viewer’s nightmares, hidden worst fear, revulsions and terror of the unknown.’’ This quote may sound appealing too many; those who thrive on watching horror films and feel a sense of satisfaction afterwards. This is because horror films are for many; their favourite piece of media, therefore they are looking for a horror film that is able to make them feel satisfied and lifted.

Choice of Sub-genre; Explanation

The Subgenres of Horror Films:

Slasher:

Slasher films often include a masked psychopathic killer that kills a series of victims in a gruesome and gore-filled way. Common props used as weaponry within this sub-genre are knives, chainsaws and axes. The outcome of these films usually result in the lone female surviving and her then dispatching the killer temporarily.

Supernatural:

Supernatural horror films often feature ghosts and spirits at the centre of their narratives. Furthermore other extraordinary phenomena such as miracles, curses or strange ‘going’s on’ could also feature. Common conventions in supernatural films are mediums, séances, flashbacks or past lives or occasions and sometimes a possessed person more often than not a child. It can be argued that horrors featuring a supernatural presence can often be scarier than others. 

The sub-genre I have selected for my horror trailer is Supernatural. My main reason being that the majority of supernatural horror films include an equilibrium which present the characters/family enduring in their normal day to day life, until something destructive occurs and eventually affects them in an unexpected, unwanted manor. This convention enable me, as a watcher to get into the film as it reflects reality and does not portray a very false narrative. The supernatural horror film ‘The Exorcist’ received mixed reviews from its critics quoted below:

Upon its December 26, 1973 release, “ranging from ‘classic’ to ‘claptrap'." Stanley Kauffmann, from The New Republic, wrote, "This is the scariest film I’ve seen in years. The only scary film I’ve seen in years…If you want to be shaken which I found out, while the picture was going, that that’s what I wanted; then The Exorcist will scare the hell out of you." Variety noted that it was "an expert telling of a supernatural horror story…The climactic sequences assault the senses and the intellect with pure cinematic terror."In Castle of Frankenstein, Joe Dante stated, "An amazing film and one destined to become at the very least a horror classic. Director Friedkin’s film will be profoundly disturbing to all audiences, especially the more sensitive and those who tend to 'live' the movies they see; there has never been anything like this on the screen before."

The Exorcist was nominated for a total of ten Academy Awards in 1973, winning two. At the 46th Annual Academy Awards ceremony, the film won two statuettes”

Psychological:

Psychological films are an escape from the gore and violence you expect from a slasher film. This sub-genre of films will feature a disturbed individual whose mental problems unnerve and terrify audiences, whilst containing fewer deaths. The ‘psycho’ will usually look like a ‘normal’ human being, before their monstrous nature is revealed to the audience.

Gothic:

Gothic horror films are traditional in style, harking back to original horror stories, like Frankenstein etc. These types of films tend to feature ghostly apparitions and phantoms however monstrous demons are common but also a handsome hero will enter the dark world of the movie to save the day. Women that feature within gothic horror films are represented as a damsel in distress.

Set in the past, mists, forests, masculine character that saves the day.

Target audience profile

Gender: Both male and female.

Age: 18-35

Professional Status/Educational background:

 If the target audience are in the age bracket of 18-21 then they will most likely be in full time education and possibly have a part time job that helps give them a feeling of independence. They might be studying in collage or at a university with subjects ranging from academic English and History, to more creative subjects like Drama, Art or Media. However if they audience is in the age bracket of 21+ it is expected that they will be in a full time job that they enjoy and are passionate about. Many of them will probably be working class because they have just started their careers at the bottom and are trying to work their way up, whilst others have gotten luckier and have landed the perfect job straight away.

Personality:

The personality of our target audience can be described as friendly, because they enjoy spending time and hanging out with their friends. They also like making new friends and are good at making others feel welcomed. The target audience is happy to lend a hand if they see someone struggling and get easily exited when they hear about new upcoming films or good news in general. They are quite mature but also like to be a bit childish at times so they can relax and just have fun.

Marital/relationship status:

The target audience are made up of those who are single and those who are in a relationship. If they are single, they are happy with their current status and just hanging out with friends. If they are not single, they are most likely in a committed relationship or have been married for a while.

Hobbies/ interests/ favourite pastime:

The females within the target audience adore having nights in on the sofa whilst watching some movies with their girlfriends and order a takeaway to treat themselves, or dig into a bowl of popcorn and sip on some beverages. Other times they may enjoy going out to pubs and restaurants for a nice change of surroundings. The males prefer going out with their mates to pubs and watch sports like football. They also enjoy watching TV and movies at home whist relaxing or playing videogames online. They prefer takeaway foods like pizza because they don’t particularly like cooking; nevertheless they try to eat healthy as often as they possibly can.

Favourite films, books, TV programmes:

Orphan, The Exorcist, Paranormal activity set, also likes violent thriller films such as Taken. These kinds of films are enjoyed by the target audience because it brings them to the edge of their seat and gets their adrenalin pumping. They may also enjoy programmes like ‘Life on Mars’ because they like the mystery and not too complicated but well thought out narratives.

‘24’ is another programme they like to watch occasionally. This tense action packed crime drama almost injects the audience with adrenalin and they can’t stop watching until the ordeals are resolved.

Other films they enjoy include psychological thrillers like ‘Shutter Island’. This film brings them more mystery and the goal of solving it. Being a thriller, it brings about more action and tension and they enjoy this movie in particular, because it features elements of psychological horror; from dark lighting and shadows, to the character doubting his own sanity.

Favourite book recently read, would be novels including drama and unexpected happenings for example:

 The book named ‘15 seconds’ written by Andrew Gross which is novel about a male who gets punished for indirectly supplying a female with a medical drug that caused her to have a car crash and kill a mother and baby. The female then ends up in prison, however years later her dad takes action and causes a long winded horrific plot to get Henry Steadmen (the doctor) put away for murder. The novel therefore concentrates on a long tortuous process that Vance (the female’s father) causes. The target audience thoroughly enjoying novels that take them on adventure and leaving them wondering what will happen next.

For the younger members of the target audience, the book ‘Skulduggery Pleasant’ by Derek Landy would prove to be an exciting read, full of mystery, deception, detectives and a little bit of the paranormal. The novel is about a young girl whose uncle mysteriously dies and she ends up inheriting his estate. Soon after, strange people start to target her and with the help of an; even stranger detective, she has to solve what really happened to her uncle and protect her own life. Whilst not telling anyone else what she’s up to.  The target audience enjoys this book because it offers some lighter reading, but still has their favourite elements of mystery, death and the unknown. This novel, unlike most also offers some humour and clever whit throughout the adventure, giving the target audience a bit of joy while they read.

How often do they watch horror?

They watch horror films possibly at least once a month but watch them more often in the winter times when the dark evenings are back in season and horror films tend to be released in the cinema. They enjoy watching them both at the cinema and in their own home. They may even have a small collection of their favourite horror films or possibly posters of them.

Why do they like the sub-genre of Supernatural?

The supernatural sub-genre; is our target audience’s favourite due to the conventions it features. They find the idea of spirits, demons, black magic and unexplainable paranormal occurrences a lot scarier than the thought of a lose killer that can be caught. They like how supernatural horrors can turn the most innocent thing like a toy, into the centre of fear for the characters; and how the villain or threat can’t always be killed, so the way the characters deal with the villain needs to be a lot more clever or unusual. This is another reason why the target audience find supernatural films more interesting than the other genres.

Questionnaire Analysis

The respondents to my questionnaire were as varied as possible:

- Gemma Cox aged 17

- Connor Slevin aged 17

 - Simona Rubakova aged 17

- Amber Goonersekera aged 18

- Gerard Durkan aged 20

- Aisling Beamish aged 21

- Indi Hull aged 22        

- Stefan Hodge aged 25  

 - Sarah Garrison aged 29

General analysis of the answers I received:

The opening question of my questionnaire enquired the age the age of my respondents and I ensured that the age range I used was varied which to match my target audience. When asked what genre of film do they prefer many selected the choice of horror, however in addition to this they also selected other genres like comedy, which signifies most of them enjoy and appreciate watching a wide range of films.


The third question asked what is your favourite horror film and why; expectedly the information I received was not easily comparable as each of the films have the contrasting narratives however the plots do feature some of the same conventions such as dark colour schemes, a fast montage of shots. Some of the films named in the answers were Wolf Creek, The Ring, Orphan, and Paranormal activity 3 and The Uninvited.

The fifth question asked the target audience what features within their favourite horror film caught their attention and kept them intrigued. There was an element that was apparent in many of the answers which was the use of a fast editing that lead the audience to feel uneasy. One element that many of the respondents seemed to also allure was the sense of reality that was depicted within the horror movie e.g. In the Supernatural horror Paranormal Activity 3 the main characters are two young sisters. The girls are portrayed as innocent and vulnerable; therefore seem like an easy target for the haunting spirits. Moreover, the fact that the film is evidently filmed with a hand held camera reinforces the feel of real life action and a family’s regular evening routine.

A film poster is a key element used when advertising a film that is soon to be released either in the Cinema or on DVD. The respondents of the questionnaire were asked, what in particular on their given film poster caught their eye. May it have been the main image, the colours, the text or a different symbolic convention? A popular feature used on film posters; that the audience claimed to like was the images that feature a large empty background and a smaller attractive element e.g. a person, an object etc. In general they believe that these types of images should act as a cliff hanger and leave them wondering what the narrative of the film entails.

The response to the eighth question; I found to be very positive. I was able to conclude from the answers provided that many of the respondents watch films usually at cinema or on DVD that they have purchased or possibly borrowed. This therefore signified to me that it must be harder to watch/assess films on YouTube and the internet in general, as those options within the multiple choice answer were not selected.

 

The closing question asked what type of colours and images do they believe clearly represent, that a film poster or a film trailer is advertising the horror genre. Overall the feedback was strong. They explained colours like black, grey, white and red are effective and used to symbolise horror. In addition they believe that imagery of danger, despair, mystery, violence and upset, is typically horrific imagery.

 Evidence of the feedback I recieved is illustrated below:

 

Questionnaire regarding the Horror genre

 Please circle answers/provide a small sentence.

1. Which age bracket do you fall into?

16-20            21-25           26-30             31-35

2. Which of the following genres of film do you like?

Romantic               Comedy                 Horror                  Sci-fi                  Action            Adventure

3. How often do you watch films?

Once a week              Once a month             One every two months            Every three months+

4. What is your favourite horror film and why?

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5. What features of your favourite horror film, caught your attention? What scenes within it; made it enjoyable for you?

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6. Have you ever been to see a film simply because the trailer/poster was so satisfying? If so, what was so appealing about the trailer/poster?

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7. Is there any feature that you look for in a film trailer or poster or that would instantly catch your attention?

Yes/No       Details................................................................................................................................................

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8. What services/devices do you use to watch films? Circle more than one if desired.

The internet                     DVD’s                        Cinema                       YouTube                Other...............

9. What colours/images on a film poster, would signify to you that the poster is representing the horror genre and why? Details please

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Pitch and feedback on initial ideas

 

TRYING TO UPLOAD

Powerpoint Presentation of my Pitch

Horror pitch from rybas002

Film Poster Overview

 

 

 

 

I have looked at eight film posters that advertise films from the Supernatural sub-genre of horror; matching the sub-genre of the horror trailer I am planning to produce. By performing this investigation and further analysis on three of the posters I will hold knowledge on the typical conventions that feature on Supernatural, horror film posters. This will provide me with a platform of information that will support and aid, myself and my peer; when creating our own film poster.

The typical conventions of film posters feature in each one of these eight I have chosen. The general conventions being a title that is the most important text within the frame reflected by its font and size, an image that dominates the page and is the main focus for the eye of the audience providing them with a hint of the narrative, a slogan that relates to the main image and as wanted by the target audience; effective horrific imagery. 

Furthermore, there are other patterns that also feature within these eight posters. Each poster seems to use a young female as the character within their main image. Each female is portrayed as being in danger, therefore making them seem vulnerable, defenseless and weak.  They each seem scared as if they have experienced some sort of tourture of mental pain. In the ‘The Unborn’ poster, for example, only half of Casey’s (the female character) face is visible; to illustrate that she is terrorfied by the figure of her unborn twin brother. Her hands are down by her side reinforcing the fact that she is weak as she does not seem ready to defend herself and fight back. In the poster for ‘Sinister’ the young girl in the main image is facing away from the audience therefore making her seem hurt; in pain and not willing to interact with others. It is evident that the young girl created the horrific figure on the wall, so we can tell that the female protagonist is mentally unwell.   

Each female which is presented in Supernatural horror films play the role of one which will fight against whichever demon, presence or curse is presented as a threat to them. Another thing that can be noted is that, in many cases, the female protagonist is young and attractive. She does not, however, appear to be a ‘bimbo’. This makes sense, as the ‘bimbo’ stereotype does not have the intelligence, bravery or resourcefulness to fight off the dangerous threat. The female however, can still be labelled as attractive, as throughout the film she shows off her universal beauty.

In four of the eight posters we see demonic/possessed/scary children. In half of the eight posters I have studied, demonic/possessed children feature.  This reinforces the idea that such characters are common in supernatural horrors and that children often appear as conduits of evil. This could contasts significantly with the stereotype of children as innocent, joyous, sweet and adorable; evil children are a freak of nature and are timelessly terrifying. In each of the posters the children show no emotional yet a devil like stare. The young girl in the ‘Sinister’ poster can not face the audience, adding to the overall idea that evil lurks within her mind making her refrain from interacting with humans that are sane however her innocence is not totally lost.

The images used in the posters are designed to evoke emotions of fear. The horrific imagery used emphasises that the unknown is uncontrolable during the dark lonesome night. The main images successfully represent and reflect the Supernatural sub-genre of horror.

The image featured in the poster for ‘The Possession’ is  disturbing, with a decomposed hand having emerged from the mouth of the female to claw at her face. In the eight posters; masks, wielding knives, chainsaws and no bloodied victims do not feature as they are all imagery signalling some of the other genres within horror; which are Slasher, Gothic and Psychological. Instead, we see decaying hands and demon-like claws, ghostly figures, images of the fires of hell and tormented souls and the suggestion is that the threat in these films is supernatural (created within the mentally ill mind of a human).

There is a consistent pattern with regards to colour too. Dull, dark and blunt colours have been used such as pale blue and grey. Those being common as they help to create a sinister and unwelcoming mood. In individual posters for The Unborn, The Possession, The Last Exorcism and Sinister, the female is represented as being drawn and taken into a world that is cold, dark and hard to escape from. Their entire existence is now revolving around the battle that they must fight; it defines and characterises them.

In each poster, the title of the film is placed in a conspicuous position and, as expected, it is the largest text on the page. In six of the eight posters, the title is positioned at the bottom of the poster, beneath the image; therefore becoming a typical layout convention (the idea is that the audience will be presented with the title, once they have been drawn in and ‘seduced’ by the image).

Most of the posters introduce institutional information that is postitioned at the base of the poster and seven of the eight feature a tagline that helps to anchor  or reinforce the meaning of the image or to reveal more about the narrative. The tagline on The Unborn poster reveals that ‘Evil will do anything to live’ which compliments the faded out image of the young boy peering back at the female in the mirror as she stands there in complete terror. Other text on the posters that is used to attract the target audience of previous Supernatural horror films are quotes such as ‘Based on a True Story’ or ‘From the makers of Paranormal Activity and Insidious’.

The idea that a film has been inspired by a real supernatural occurrence makes the film much scarier for audiences, as they feel that the same thing could really happen to them. This is a reason why the Supernatural genre within in horror is the most popular; within the statistics of the films being produced and the audience going to view them.

It can be agreed that the text presented to the audience is simple, readible and, often, sans serif font. All the posters in the selection are effective. They also have simplicity in common, with minimal text and the image, stark, bold and dominant, doing most of the talking and illustrating an element of the narrative.