Lighting

Adding different films over a light can create different moods to a film, e.g red creates a sense of horror.
We experimented with different colours of light during class today, here are some images from our lesson:

Chiaroscuro Lighting

Chiaroscuro Lighting:

The chiaroscuro technique dates back to the time of Renaissance paintings. Also sometimes called Rembrandt lighting, it often pertains to having one solitary light source and depicting stark contrasts between light and shadow. This style of lighting may seem minimalistic, but it yields very dramatic results. The high illumination contrast creates 3D depth on an otherwise 2-dimensional surface. 

Standard three point lighting

The Three Point Lighting Technique is a standard method used in visual media such as video, film, 

still photography and computer-generated imagery. 

Key Light

This is the main light. 

It is usually the strongest 

and has the most influence on the look of the scene.

It is placed to one side of the camera/subject so that 

this side is well lit and the other side has some shadow.

Fill Light

This is the secondary light and is placed on the opposite 

side of the key light. It is used to fill the shadows created by the key. 

The fill will usually be softer and less bright than the key. 

To acheive this, you could move the light further away or use some spun. 

You might also want to set the fill light to more of a flood than the key.

Back Light

The back light is placed behind the subject and lights it from the rear. 

Rather than providing direct lighting (like the key and fill), its purpose 

is to provide definition and subtle highlights around the subject's outlines. 

This helps separate the subject from the background and provide a

 three-dimensional look.

Anonymous' opening speech - Idea 1

Our characters - Idea 1

Each of our characters are being killed by anonymous because they are public figures. It needs to be public figures that are killed because anonymous wants the deaths to go on mainstream news channels in order to get the Million Masked March known by all.

• Model or Actress - will be killed/tortured by having acid thrown on her because she represents vanity
• Politician - will be killed/tortured by having eye lids sewn together because he represents corruption and lies
• Musician - will be killed by being hung because he represents conformity
• Policeman - will be killed by being severely beaten and cut all over the body because he represents corruption
• Banker or Accountant - will be tortured by having his hand removed because he/she represents theft from the poor

Film's Cool - With Jesse and Kate (Script writing)

Kate Hardy and Jesse O'Mahoney came back to our college to help us improve our scripts for our horror trailer. This film's cool session was the most challenging as Kate and Jesse told us their opinions about our scripts and what must be changed. They did not hold back on us which helped us feel like actual script writers. This film's cool session enabled us to improve our scripts, it also taught us that trailers do not need to tell the story but instead capture an audiences attention so we must keep our dialogue short and relevant. Below are some images of the film's cool session:

Ideas for our Horror title

1) Anonymous

2) The Unidentifiable

3) The Unknown

4) The Unnamed

Ideas for text that will appear during our Horror trailer

The corrupt fear him

The honest support him

The heroic join him

On the 5th of November 2013...

This is what the media didn't want you to know

How will our characters be killed/tortured?

Ideas for how our characters will be killed/tortured:

1) Sewn lips and eyes to portray the idea of those in government positions are liars.

2) Cuts over body and throat to symbolise the cuts in benefits

3) Hanged from an important building/ home to enhance the building or homes relevance to the story

(This is a cartoon drawing to symbolise an individual being hanged because I found the more realistic images more disturbing)

4) Burnt body/hair to create an individual as anonymous and makes them featureless 

5) Cutting of a person's tongue to symbolise lies

6) Cutting of a hand to symbolise theft

Synopsis One - The Million Mask March

On the night of the 5th of November 2013 in the busy town of London, thousands of people joined a march that is being supported globally by those who want to protest against corporate greed, a corrupt government, austerity and citizen surveillance. Dissatisfied with the media black out, Anonymous has decided to ensure that the Million Mask March achieves global recognition through being aired on main stream news channels through actions that are so gruesome, they will never be forgotten. This new found footage shows one mans obsession and determination to create a night that will be irreparable and be in the minds of those who live in London Town until their deaths.

Film's Cool - Christine Blundell's Make Up Academy

During a film school session we went to Christine Blundell's Make Up Academy to learn more about special effects and make up to use in our horror trailer. Christine Blundell is an Oscar winning make up artist whom has worked on many film sets, including the latest James Bond Film Skyfall. 

Christine Blundell

Below are some images of what we were taught by Christine Blundell's students while we were at her academy:

Example of how to create sewn lips

Example of acid burns

Example of a deep cut

What did we learn?

- How to create special effects for our horror trailer using easily accessible materials that we can afford. -These special effects were also very quick to create but still looked professional. 

The Million Mask March - Our Horror Trailer Idea

Russell Brand discuss his opinion of the British Government. The feelings of Brand are those shared by millions of individuals from around the globe. This shared feeling is what created the global mass movement  'Anonymous' organisation to create the million mask march. 

We believe that the idea of civilians not being truly happy with what those in power is a good idea for a horror trailer. 

Anonymous

Horror Poster Analysis

Horror Poster Analysis

Horror Trailer: My Team

From looking at the skills each individual of my team has it is clear that together we have everything needed to make a successful horror trailer in terms of advertisement of our trailer, the filming of our trailer and editing our trailer. In addition to this we have Saima who can act and Zahra and myself who can create make up looks to make our trailer look more professional. Moreover, Gavin will be extremely helpful in researching other trailers to ensure ours is on the same level as those you see on TV.

Horror: Killer Research

The Male Gaze: Laura Mulvey

The media concept 'The Male Gaze' was created by Laura Mulvey in 1975 as she believes that audiences are forced to see through the eyes of a heterosexual male. This idea implies that directors sexualise women for the enjoyment of the male audience. This is due to the fact that camera shots linger  on the female body for the pleasure of men. This objectifies women as females are made to be seen as if they are there simply to arouse males which in turn decreases a women's sense of equality as she begins to feel subordinate to men.

Laura Mulvey

Examples of The Male Gaze

Feminists view The Male Gaze Theory in one of three ways:

1. How men look at women
2. How women look at themselves
3. How other women look at women

However, after viewing the two videos above it could be argued that it is unfair to criticise men for staring at women's bodies because the camera purposefully lingers over  body parts and make them become sexualised. Although, because the bodies of these women are being admired by the men in the videos is could make ordinary women who are viewing the videos feel as if they are not good enough because they do not have the same body. This makes us question whether it is in fact a 'male' gaze. 

Moreover, it is important to questioned the idea that some women enjoy being looked at which would in turn be a criticism of the theory, for example women in beauty pageants.

It could also be argued that it is acceptable to look at women but gazing is inappropriate. This is because gazing signifies a relationship of psychological power and the individual gazing could be viewed as being superior to the 'object' of the gaze.

Furthermore, we must question whether gender roles have been created by the media as the 'Male Gaze' is implemented in everyday life, in terms of perfume ads and music videos.

Proving the 'Male Gaze' theory in Horror trailers:

Carrie Trailer (2013)

1

2

3

4

 Jennifer's Body (2009)

1

2

3

4

Men and Women: Categorising Facial Expressions

Marjorie Ferguson (1980) identified four types of facial expressions on the cover photos of British women’s magazines:

Chocolate Box

                                    

Chocolate Box: half or full-smile, lips together or slightly parted, teeth barely visible, full or three-quarter face to camera.

Projected mood: blandly pleasing, warm bath warmth, where uniformity of features in their smooth perfection is devoid of uniqueness or of individuality.

Invitational

Invitational: emphasis on the eyes, mouth shut or with only a hint of a smile, head to one side or looking back to camera. 

Projected mood: suggestive of mischief or mystery, the hint of contact potential rather than sexual promise, the cover equivalent of advertising’s soft sell.

Super-smiler: full face, wide open toothy smile, head thrust forward or chin thrown back, hair often wind-blown.

Projected mood: aggressive, ‘look-at-me’ demanding, the hard sell, ‘big come-on’ approach.


                                   
Romantic or Sexual: a fourth and more general classification devised to include male and female ‘two-somes’; or the dreamy, heavy-lidded, unsmiling big-heads, or the overtly sensual or sexual. 
Projected moods: possible ‘available’ and definitely ‘available’.


Studying women's facial expressions has made it clear to me the different categories that particular facial expressions can fall into and also how a facial expression can change the entire meaning of an image. For example, if the model on the cover of the magazine showing a Super-Smiler was not smiling so boldly, it would take away the fun from the magazine and make it seem as if the magazine was more serious which could make some people question whether they want to purchase the magazine or not. This is important as when I create the poster for my horror film I want to get the meaning of the image to come across in a way that makes an audience want to look at it longer because its interesting.






In a study of advertisements in women’s magazines, Trevor Millum came up with various other categories for women's facial expressions:


1. Soft/introverted: eyes often shut or half-closed, the mouth slightly open/pouting, rarely smiling; an inward-looking trance-like reverie, removed from earthly things.
2. Cool/level: indifferent, self-sufficient, arrogant, slightly insolent, haughty, aloof, confident, reserved; wide eyes, full lips straight or slightly parted, and obtrusive hair, often blonde. The eyes usually look the reader in the eye, as perhaps the woman regards herself in the mirror.
3. Seductive: similar to the cool/level look in many respects - the eyes are less wide, perhaps shaded, the expression is less reserved but still self-sufficient and confident; milder versions may include a slight smile.
4. Narcissistic: similarities to the cool/level and soft/introverted looks, rather closer to the latter: a satisfied smile, closed or half-closed eyes, self-enclosed, oblivious, content - ‘activity directed inward’.
5. Carefree: nymphlike, active, healthy, gay, vibrant, outdoor girl; long unrestrained outward-flowing hair, more outward-going than the above, often smiling or grinning.
6. Kittenlike: coy, naïve (perhaps in a deliberate, studied way), a friendlier and more girlish version of the cool/level look, sometimes almost twee.
7. Maternal: motherly, matronly, mature, wise, experienced and kind, carrying a sort of authority; shorter hair, slight smile and gentle eyes - mouth may sometimes be stern, but eyes twinkle.
8. Practical: concentrating, engaged on the business in hand, mouth closed, eyes object-directed, sometimes a slight frown; hair often short or tied back.
9. Comic: deliberately ridiculous, exaggerated, acting the fool, pulling faces for the benefit of a real or imaginary audience, sometimes close to a sort of archness.
10. Catalogue: a neutral look as of a dummy, artificial, waxlike; features may be in any position, but most likely to be with eyes open wide and a smile, but the look remains vacant and empty; personality has been removed. 


In addition to this Trevor Millum also came up with 5 facial expressions for men which could be viewed as being very similar to his facial categories for women:


'Catalouge', in the catalouge look the model will always look artificial and wax like. The features can be any position when using this look be more or less all the time the model will have eyes open wide and a smile. The looks remain vacant and empty with personality removed.









'Comic' The comic look is always deliberately ridiculous, the model will be pulling silly faces/ acting the fool. and the image is always exaggerated.













'Practical' the model will have a concentrating look on her face. Engaged in business, the majority of the time the mouth of the model will be closed. Eyes object directed, sometimes a slight frown is used. And hair often tied back or in a short style.











'Seductive' The seductive look is also similar to the cool/level look in many respects - the eyes are less wide, perhaps shaded, the expression is less reserved but still self-sufficient and confident; milder versions may include a slight smile.









'Carefree'  Is normally active, healthy, vibrant, outdoorsy, often smiling or grinning.





Studying male facial expressions has given me the same insight as studying females facial expressions. However, I think unless it is seductive, practical or catalogue the picture must be chosen carefully otherwise it could look comical.