RESEARCH, PLANNING AND PRE PRODUCTION

FAVORITE MEDIA TEXTS:

(Horror genre)

THE OTHERS

DONT LOOK NOW

A QUIET PLACE

EVIL DEAD

CONVENTIONS OF HORROR GENRE:

SOUND:

Creepy sounds

Jump scare

Heartbeat or breathing

Use of silence in order to build tension

Enhanced diegetic sounds usually to make audience feel uncomfortable as well as to build suspense and tension

MISE-EN-SENSE:

Low-key lighting shadows and darkness used to create an ominous atmosphere

Dark color palette

Vulnerability and isolation

Shock and gore

Fear of the unknown

CAMERA WORK:

Slow tracking shots, sudden pans, and unexpected angles can create tension

Dutch angle shots in order to create a feeling of disorientation and discomfort

Shooting at night can keep the audience on the edge

FAVORITE OPENING SCENES:

THE CONJURING:

The opening titles to James Wan's 'THE CONJURING' (2013) similarly follow the main conventions of the horror genre, while expertly setting the tone for the film. Just like most films, we are shown the usual production company names, director, actors, and crew credits, but these are presented in a way that reflects the eerie and unsettling atmosphere that defines 'THE CONJURING'.

In THE CONJURING' close-ups of the haunting spirit and eerie objects like ANNABELLE' build tension and foreshadow the terror ahead. Quick, unsettling glimpses and sinister sounds create a constant unease, heightening the film’s chilling atmosphere.

KM 31:

Director Rigoberto Castaneda gives an engrossing lesson in opening a horror movie with 'KM 31' (2006). An eerie tone is established immediately by the cast's eerie performance and the chilly surroundings. The sensation of fear is enhanced by the creepy silence, disturbing sound design, and the dialogue's slow-building tension. The spectator is kept on edge by the choice to dwell on shots, gradually exposing more of the frightening enigma. The otherworldly forces at work are deftly introduced in this opening sequence, leaving viewers wanting more. An almost flawless start to a horrific tale.

THE STRANGERS:

The Strangers (2008) starts with an unsettling sense of dread, as the quiet, isolated setting is slowly introduced. Right from the beginning, the creepy silence and spooky soundtrack create tension, engrossing us in the silent horror that is going to transpire. The film's tone is established by the choice to keep the main characters in the dark about the threat until it starts to increase, indicating that this horror tale is more about constant psychological terror than it is about unexpected scares.

By skillfully introducing 'The Antagonists' and 'The Masked Strangers' and teasing their arrival with various clues, the scene builds suspense until their terrifying disclosure. Their deliberate, slow-moving actions hint at their relentless threat and provide us with a peek of their cold, unsettling character.

These two films show us how different techniques can be used to engage an audience: one takes its time to build tension and terror, while the other jumps right into the horror, creating a fast-paced, heart-pounding experience. Both are equally effective in immersing the viewer in the terror and setting the stage for what’s to come.

FORMAL SURVEY:

INFORMAL SURVEY:

TARGET AUDIENCE:

60% of our survey responses were from people within the ages of 18 to 25 and few people select the age group of 13+, which was our initial intended demographic. In my opinion the most common age of film with horror genre is 15+.

In terms of gender, our research suggests that males are more interested in this genre. However this conclusion is often based on pre conceived stereotypes, due to which we will be including both genders in our target audience.

The conventions highlight that the horror genre usually portrays a corrupt society that is somewhat similar to our own. Middle-class or lower-class people may find connection in this sense of realism. However, the elite and wealthy people typically avoid the genre because of its criticism of the wealthy and powerful. Furthermore, more conservative viewers are often turned off by the mature issues that are explored in horror films.

In conclusion, our target audience are mostly males aged 13 to 50.

BUDGET AND COST:

We estimated our confirmed and potential expenditures and created a budget spreadsheet.

EQUIPMENT

Ring Light 2300

Tripod 6300

Iphone 175000

SUB TOTAL (PKR) 183600

PROPS AND COSTUME:

Face Mask 1800

Piece of black cloth 2500

Smoke machine 8000

SUB TOTAL (PKR) 12300

ON SET FOOD:

Snacks 7000

GRAND TOTAL (PKR) 202900

LOCATION RECCE:

RISK ASSESSMENT:

EQUIPMENT AND TECHNOLOGY:

At first we plan to shoot the film with my Nikon D3400 DSLR, but when we are making the film with my camera its become difficult to record the scene. Due to this we decided to shoot the film with mobile phone. I make really good videos on my mobile phone, that's why we decided to make the video on the mobile.

With mobile phone we attach the tripod to make the video more stable. It helps achieve a more professional, polished look for your videos, which is especially helpful for content creation.

The third main equipment is ring light, which helps us to maintain the brightness in some areas where the light was a bit low. That's why we use a ring light to make sure everything looks clear and bright.

For editing we used my DELL laptop which I've had for around a year. I used to edit on this before, so that's why we chose it again this time.

PROPS AND COSTUME:

PROPS:

Laptop

Face mask

Smoke machine

Piece of black cloth

MUNTAHA'S COSTUME:

Jeans

Sweater

Sneakers

Face mask

Piece of Black cloth

AYAN'S COSTUME:

Slippers

Traditional attire

STORY CONCEPT:

A horrifying driver takes a shortcut despite warnings, only to face a horrifying encounter with a ghost that leads to his tragic end.

SCHEDULING:

18 OCTOBER

10:00AM - 11:15AM : Setup and Rehearsals

11:30AM - 12:15AM : Lunch

12:20AM - 2:00PM : Creating Set

2:00PM - 4:00PM : Recording

4:00PM - 6:20PM : Editing

6:20PM - 7:00PM Dinner

MOOD BOARD:

I made this mood board in October 2023, as part of our final project presentation. We thought this set of images perfectly captured the atmosphere we were aiming for. We also thought a mood board will greatly help us during the color grading process.

CHARACTER PROFILES:

THE WORKER:

A weary, unnoticed worker, he spends his nights drifting home from late shifts, his life defined by routine and exhaustion. He's a man of few words, hardened by years of labor, and lost in the monotony of existence.

One night, as he drives home, something shadowy crosses his path. In that instant, he’s thrust into a dark mystery beyond his understanding, just another pawn in a game far larger than himself.

Character Mood Board

PLAYED BY: AYAN

Character 2:

The shadowy thing is an eerie, emotionless force, moving silently through the darkness. Its intentions are unclear, but it leaves fear and destruction in its wake.

Character mood board

PLAYED BY: MUNTAHA

SCREEN PLAY:

We spent a while brainstorming different story ideas, ranging from genre such as romance to horror. We eventually settled on horror and I immediately had an idea for the project. I knew we needed something that didn't require too much acting but it requires a range of dialogue. This way we could focus on compositions, lighting and narrative techniques without worrying about the project coming off as amateur.

FINAL SCREEN PLAY:

STORY BOARDING:

My storyboarding is slightly different from my movie because we decided to change some scenes on the spot.

LOCATION:

This is the place where we shoot our As movie.

HIRING OF CAST AND CREW:

Prospect (1)

Prospect (2)

Prospect (3)

Umer Raza A’s