Sound Research

                  Hi There, It's Juan 

Sounds Role in Films

Sound is real important especially in all types of films especially under the horror genre. In order to encourage deeper psychological connection and increase the fear of the horror film, it purposely affects the viewer's psychological view. In modern horror films, sound often takes the place of the screen and, in some cases, even take priority over it. Sound raises the viewers encouragement to watch the film and it increases the scare factor to the movie. Sound is used in multiple different ways through movies including music, dialogue, sound effects, ambient noise, background noise and soundtracks. The three primary categories of film sound are music, sound effects, and dialogue. For the viewer these three sorts of sound are important.

Video of Foley: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1BQvCCB-PiA&ab_channel=Insider

In these YouTube video they show how sound is used in horror films and how when it is used it creates suspense and scare in the audience. I came across these YouTube videos while i was doing my research under the sound for horror films. It is two  really great videos and in my opinion I do believe they both can actually show efficiently how to use sound to better a film and how it is used in films today.

YouTube Video on the sounds of horror: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nthl4yD2ubY&ab_channel=GammaRay

Throughout my film I will be using lots of Foley sounds and music. I believe the music in the background of a scene or something important helps much with suspense and helps bring together the scare for the viewer. At the moment i do not know what song it will be but it will most likely be some type of beat that has no type of talking but more a serious tone. As I progress on the blog you will se my journey on this topic and the whole project together, thanks for reading.

Group Meeting

                   Group Meeting Chat

Today in class we did what my teacher called a group meeting. This is when she makes a group of 5 and we al take out our blogs showing it to each member of the group. For this group meeting my group consists of 5 people including me all classmates of mine. 

My group gave me a couple of ideas including making the fighting low, using lots of close ups shots and maybe even over the shoulder shots. I was told by my group to use these three ideas for my opening to help create suspense and thriller into the film, which is helpful. I told them how I don't want to show the face of the antagonist or show him at all throughout the opening film. So they came up with ways to show the presence of the antagonists but now show him fully. I personally liked the group meeting as I shared my thought with everyone and they critiqued me with my ideas as well. Also, we looked at each others blogs and I got to see different types of blogs and ways people show their information in their blogs.

Group Picture: 

While looking at everyone's post I saw lots of creative ways and ideas that they portrayed their items and information. Furthermore, hearing everyone's thoughts and plots shows the variety of things you can do for this opening scene. All the different genres and scenes showed are helpful to see the differences in people thoughts and ideas. Someone in my group called Abraham was even doing a horror film opening but it had some type of supernatural aspect to it. He said that the killer ends up killing a person in the beginning of the opening and then at the end it shows that the killer was actually the victim that died. I was confused so I asked him more about It and he helped tell the group that he was looking for some type of supernatural idea in his opening. In the group we even had someone say their film was going to be on a mental health problem where the main character is the antagonist and she kills people in her dreams. This was such a creative way to show the horror into a opening scene. She also said that the people she kills in her dreams end up dying in real life and so it brings so much confusion and thriller into the opening that it seems like a great opening scene. I always liked the whole group meeting idea cause sharing your thoughts and ideas to other people especially people in your class that you know seems like a great way to improve and make key changes into the film's opening.

Technical Elements Research

                  Hi, It's Juan Again 

Technical elements are key parts to horror films throughout this post I will be showing my conclusions after my research on this topic. Shots and angles are key elements to this genre as the goal is the have the audience scared and create suspense throughout the film. A couple shots and angles can do exactly this and help with the goal on the film opening and fit in with the genre which here is horror.

 

Dutch Angle: The dutch angle, which may also be called the canted angle, is a technique often used in horror films to create confusions and panic to the film. Often this show is used as a long shot or a medium shot as it can not be too close to the character so it shows his surroundings and movements. The rotating background will be shown with the character this will create lots of confusion into the viewer and bring suspense into the film. 

Youtube Video on dutch angle: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHYfsYQDr6M

 

Long Tracking Shots: In horror and suspense films, long tracking shots are an excellent way to give the audience the impression that the character is being followed or watched. The attacker's view could be from which the shot was taken. This type of shot can also be all about the surroundings, so it can be used to build a scary vibe. These extended takes are tiring as  they are so full of suspense and tension. These takes will not be too long in order to stop boring the viewers to the point where they stop watching.

Close Ups: Close ups are a key factor into bring suspense to the viewers. Showing the close features of items or a person helps create the scare into the audience by zooming in on the facial expressions of the character at hand. Also, by holding on the close up, jump scares are also used to create terror for a moment  In the audience. Even though this shot's not as wide as a establishing shot, there is large ways to be versatile with this shot. I will definitely be using lots of close ups in my opening scene and will do this because it will help improve and bring the idea of the whole opening together.

Youtube Video on Close Ups: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbO3BOsFacc

   I will be using all of these different types of shots and angles throughout my opening film this is research I was and have been doing on specific shots used lots of times in horror films. Throughout the post I show pictures and even the YouTube videos I had watched while completing my research on this topic. This research was done through the past couple days I believe I started doing this on Tuesday, its now Thursday. Hopefully you all enjoyed these posts and i'll see you in the next one. 

Project Schedule

                 Hi There, It's Juan 

So today in class I was reminded by my teacher to add a schedule to the blog. The schedule would show my days planned for every week. Though one week will be research and planning and others will be filming it is best to keep everything together and organized and follow a schedule to be precise with time.

Week 1: This week was all about planning and research. 

Week 2: By the second week I should have a overall idea of how I want the plot and the opening to go.

Week 3: By week 3 I will have the shooting schedule ready at the end of this week. Also, I will be completing a storyboard to show my ideas in the shots and angles I want throughout the film opening. As I want to bring lots of suspense into the opening I will be using lots of close ups and high angle. Also, in the week I will be developing the script and creating a shot list to use when filming.

Week 4: On the fourth week I will continue on with the research and planning for the project. Later throughout the week I will begin filming and creating some mise-en-scene elements. I wanted to add some mise-en-scene that I made into the opening. I was thinking about making my own newspaper and it showing the killings that have been happening in the story or some type of events in the story that have been going on.

Week 5: This week is a important week. By this week I should have finished my production maybe in the middle of the week and started editing at least on the weekend. If all goes to plan I should be editing my film opening by Friday and adding transitions, effects and more to the opening. Again, sound elements are really important for a horror film so throughout the week I will research more of sound and how to effectively use it in editing to scare the audience. 

Week 6: On this week will be ding research and watching samples of the creative critical reflections others have done. Also, if all goes right I shall have my editing to the opening completed and everything will be finished with the opening scene.

Week 7: On week 7 I will continue on with the research and post that process on my blog, and then hopefully by the end of the week being my creative critical reflection. 

Week 8: Finally,  I will create final, overall project reflection and also post my project all together including both the CCR and the Opening to the film.

Post 4 ( Week 1)

                       Hi There, it's Juan 

Ok so this is the final post of the week. This week we did a total of 4 posts and I think it all shows my planning into this project. The project is supposed to be a opening scene to a film, the rest you choose. My genre for this opening is as shown in past blogs, Horror. The whole idea for me is to show the viewer that the remainder of the film is going to be a horror, in just the opening scene. As time went on I thought about adding some comedy into the horror and changing some stuff up. 

I believe I have parts of the  scene planned out but not the entire of the opening ready. I wanted there to not be much characters added into the opening scene. I have asked some friends of they wanted to participate in my project and be the actors for my characters and most of them have said yes. I wanted the opening to start off with the credits. As the credits are being displayed in the background I want there to be some type of imagery playing out maybe I can do handheld camera techniques and walks around different room of the house before getting to the living room. In the living room I wanted there to be 2 male characters sitting on the couch watching some type of sports. In this scene there will be lots of mise-en-scene and stuff like chips, a ball of the sports chosen, and many more items. I wanted to show the antagonist of the opening with only pov shots. When he moves we will use handheld motion to capture what he does. Most of the scene will be the two men talking and constant cuts back to the antagonist. the setting will be a dark and, if available, rainy day. In the scene one of the 2 characters gets up and leaves to the bathroom. There is when the antagonist strikes and the opening completes. I wanted to finish it off with a transition to a bright sunny day and the outside of a house. If all goes to plan and the editing is done correctly i do really believe it will be a great opening to the film. 

To be Continued....

Portfolio Project Planning ( Sound Post 3)

 

                                Hi, It's Juan Again 

Paragraph 1:

Sound is going to be a key element to my project. The opening scene to my and most horror films has to have lots of sounds inputed to help create suspense and bring the audience to more of a conclusion of what the whole film will be on. For my sound elements I was thinking of having a clock constantly ticking as the opening goes on. Also, sound effects will be added when I am editing for situations when suspense kicks in.

Paragraph 2:

I'm currently doing some more important research on the sound part of my opening scene and which types of different sounds I should be using for specific parts. Like I said before I wanted to add some type of sound or item that resembles the popcorn that was used on the film scream. The popcorn in the opening of scream helps build suspense and excitement to the following events which was the attack of the antagonist. I was thinking of having a phone calling in the background like maybe a phone being called throughout the incident. No, the incident of the opening scene will not be revolving on the phone but I wanted the scene to constantly cut back to the telephone ringing. I think that helps make the viewer on edge and scare hem up a bit.

Portfolio Project Planning (Location)

                                          Hello, Juan here 

Location planning is going to be the way I start off my planning. I'll be talking on my thoughts and ideas of both my location and also some mise-en-scene elements in the opening scene. This all will be reflecting over my final product I the opening scene. These planning post will show my process and journey into finishing the project and having hopefully a great opening scene. 

Hello there so here we are back again but now I'm going to be bringing up my thoughts on the background, location, and mise-en-scene of my opening scene. At first thought I wanted to film in a couple locations like my home and School. After further thinking I realized that's it's likely better for me to stick to one general location instead of more than one. If I can set everything up correctly I should be able to film in my home. The only thing with this is that there is generally lots of people at my house but i'll make it happen. For my mise-en-scene I want there to be something like maybe a smaller object that shows everything going on it another way. As in the film scream there was the popcorn I want there to be something in the background that people can notice and it will help build suspense into the opening. My opening scene should have darker colors in the background. I was thinking of starting in the kitchen, in the kitchen the only light that will be on in the whole house is the kitchen light and maybe one more. I want there aspect of it all to be serious and a darker location than usual. One thing I definitely wanted to add is some type of comedy into the opening. The genre for the film as a whole is horror comedy. So in the opening I want there to be something that shows that later on in the film there will definitely be come type of comedy added onto it. Maybe a funny item being picked up or something to do with the mis-en-scene there will most likely be something funny to the horror of the opening scene. 

Sound is also an important element to my opening scene as my genre is horror. I want there to be a clock ticking in the back and the scene goes on. When editing I will add lots of sound and noises throughout the scene to add more suspense and further frighten the viewer. I will be doing further research into this topic and showing it in the next couple blogs. Again, this planning of my mise-en-scene will end up showing my process to creating my opening scene.

TO BE CONTINUED

Horror Genre Research

                                        How is it Horror?

I'm going to be doing this genre research for my portfolio project. I chose horror as i think its the most fit for my ideas for the opening. Horror has always been one of my favorite genre's as it brings so much suspense and thrill into films. For my opening i wanted there to be some type of comedy in the horror aspect of the film, similar to the film " Scream" so throughout the opening shots my goal is to add some type of comedy in it. This some of the research I have done on the genre, with a couple examples of great films in the genre. 

Content: The purpose of a horror movie is to make the viewer feel fear, terror, worry, and fear. These films are usually disturbing and rely on presenting peoples worst nightmares and fears in order to scare them. Horror movies often focus on the appearance of an evil person, personality, or situation. Suspense, fear, violence, gore, and the paranormal are the five main components of horror. These things help to create a scary and frightening environment. The reader is put on the edge of their seat by suspense, which creates tension. The main goal of a horror story, movie, or TV show is to make the audience feel uncomfortable by using terrifying events, themes, and visuals. 

Production Techniques: In horror, the downtime, build-up, and scare should follow a consistent pattern. Give the characters (and the audience) some downtime to catch their breath. Let them think about what is taking place. Based on what people reveal and how they respond, develop your characters. But after the shock arrives, keep increasing the suspense in order to possibly startle the viewers. Also, open areas are usually associated with vulnerability. Using wide backgrounds with little to keep the character safe from risk or by placing the camera to create negative space around the character, this is normally done through the design of the environment. A horror film cannot be completely scary overall. The audience would get bored or sometimes too frightened as a result, which would weaken the effect of the story you are trying to portray.

Marketing: A horror movie's usual target audience ranges in age from 15 to 25. Young adults and teenagers enjoy thrills, which is the most common reason for this. Younger audiences are more likely to be excited by these thrills than older ones. People naturally become interested when they hear stories about a terrible horror film that will make freak or not want to continue on watching.  Even though horror movies are not necessarily one's cup of tea, one still feels the want to see the film in question to see if it is really as horrible as everyone says.

SAMPLES:

The Shining: 

"This is a psychological horror movie from 1980 that Stanley Kubrick produced, directed, and co-wrote with author Diane Johnson. Jack Nicholson, Shelley Duvall, Scatman Crothers, and Danny Lloyd star in the 1977 Stephen King novel adaptation. With his wife, Wendy Torrance (Duvall), and young son, Danny Torrance, Jack Torrance (Nicholson), a promising writer and sober man, gets a job as the off-season keeper of the remote historic Overlook Hotel in the Colorado Rockies (Lloyd). "Shining" psychic abilities are a gift to Danny. Jack's sanity deteriorates as a result of the supernatural forces that live in the hotel after a winter storm traps the Torrances in the snow".

Source: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0081505/plotsummary/

The Conjuring: 

" In 1970, paranormal investigators and demonologists Lorraine (Vera Farmiga) and Ed (Patrick Wilson) Warren are summoned to the home of Carolyn (Lili Taylor) and Roger (Ron Livingston) Perron. The Perrons and their five daughters have recently moved into a secluded farmhouse, where a supernatural presence has made itself known. Though the manifestations are relatively benign at first, events soon escalate in horrifying fashion, especially after the Warrens discover the house's macabre history. The Conjuring is a truly scary horror movie that's based on a true story about a haunted house, a demon possession, and an exorcism. It's more frightening than gory; no characters die (except a dog), and not much blood is shown, except during an intense demon-possession scene at the climax".

Source: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1457767/plotsummary/

Scream:

"Scream was considered unique at the time of its release for featuring characters aware of real-world horror films who openly discussed the clichés that the film attempted to subvert. Wes Craven re-invented the slasher-horror genre with this modern horror classic, which manages to be funny, clever and scary, as a fright-masked knife maniac stalks high-school students in middle-class suburbia. Craven is happy to provide both tension and self-parody as the body count mounts - but the victims aren't always the ones you'd expect. With a tongue-in-cheek technique that combined basic scares with conversation and took a critical attitude toward slasher film traditions, it turned upside down the conventional idea. The movie includes several of the era's teen idols".

Source: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0117571/plotsummary/

Portfolio Project (Week one)

                                      Hi There, It's Juan

What a day! I really can not stop thinking on how I should start my portfolio project after class on Friday. So I have the details of the whole project, understand what to do, and how it should all be set up but after class you really see how serious this whole thing is. I believe a good way to start with the planning of the whole project and ideas is coming up with the genre for the film.

At first I thought about the film being about a soccer player and his journey to being a professional player. But then I had to remember that I'm  doing a opening so filming that might be a little too much. But, I was also thinking about doing a horror film and progressing from there. I think I'm going to end up going with the horror film and making a Scream type of opening. A opening to a film where you do not see the antagonist of the film but rather hear him only. I was thinking of a couple things like maybe after the credits and the title the film starts with a shot of the victim at home not thinking about much maybe getting ready to go out when then it cuts to a POV shot of the antagonist or something around that. I want to make sure that there is some type of shot that shows the movements of the antagonist without actually showing him on the opening. Also, ill make sure to have lots of close shots to help with the horror theme of the opening. I'll figure everything out as time goes on but for now I think its good that I have the general idea of what I want the opening to be about and the genre as well. 

Music Marketing Blog Post #2

 

Research: The research with the group was a good way to start off. We decided as a group to split up the research in different sections for different members to complete. When done we would talk about what we learned as a group and share it with one another. I personally learned lots about the companies we researched and also the artists. This helped me also check out the history and current progress of the labels with their artists.

Brainstorming/Planning: For the planning of our project we started kind of  rough in a way. We had a whole plan planned out in around Day 2 of out project. We decided to go after school to the library and from there we look around for some cool places to film at. Well when Wednesday came and we were to film, two of my group members had said they were sick and could not make it to the after school filming. So me and my group member Dylan decided it was best to change the storyboard and change all of our planning and make something work in school. 

Music Video: The same day of the scheduled filming date during class Dylan and I began filming around the courtyard and other places to get some basic shots for the music video. We took videos of birds, clouds, and even some rain we saw from afar. We decided to get some shots of Dylan and try and find something around the area that can help and fit in with the Lyrics to our song. The next class day my group members felt better so we continued on filming, we got permission from the coach to enter the Basketball Gym and film some shots in there. We decided to change the storyboard again and include some shots in the basketball courts. We added some learning and helping of others into the video with the basketball seen and decided it will look good with some editing to it.

Post-Production: Well post-production I didn't take music of a part on as I didn't edit the video. I did help with putting the videos in order on Adobe premiere but after that I had sent it to Dylan and he added the music and made some transitions and edits onto the video. The editing part of the music video was Dylan's idea as he said he would enjoy the editing of our video.

Presentation: Our presentation was done after the Music Video was completed. We talked about distribution, marketing and more key topics with the upbringing of the music video. The presentation took around 2 days to complete on power point as we added lots of information on it and decided it was better for us to have more that less information as we didn't really know how much was to be added on it. When the day came I believe as a group we were confident and knew our research to when we weren't really worried on mess ups during presenting to the class. In our presentation to the class we should our whole power point including the Music Video. I believe it went well but after watching my classmates videos ours definitely could have been better in many ways. I like the whole presentation idea as it helps me learn new things when watching both the videos of my classmates and reading over the presentation.

Final Summary: I learned lots throughout the whole process of completing the project. I also met new people as half of my group I didn't know before the project. When watching the presentations and Music Videos of my classmates you can see the differences and editing techniques that were used by them which helps one see new ways to edit and new things like small details that can be added into the post-production of a video. This project will definitely be helpful when developing my Cambridge portfolio as it shows both the process and the improvements that could have been made throughout the project. When looking back on this post you can see our entire process into the project and how things can change quickly if not planned correctly.