Actor Profiles

From doing this I have shown why I have chosen these people to act in my film. Having the performance and film studies students is a really big help as you do not have to worry about their acting, due to the actors already having lots of previous experience. Having a student who does film studies is also a big help as when I am acting I have someone who knows how to use the camera behind it.

Storyboard

From doing this storyboard I now have an outline of what I want my film to look like. I can show this to my actors so that they have an idea of what I want. The actors will also be more determined when they see I have it planned out. If I went in to the setting without a storyboard They could of been put off by the lack of thought used to make the film and therefore be complacent whilst acting. With this storyboard I am confident I can get the footage I desire.

Institutional Research

I think the compay that would distribute my movie is Lionsgate Entertainment. I think this because They have distributed many films that can relate to my film. I definatly think that the intrest would be there.I could of gone ahead and said a big company like 20th Century fox or Dreamworks but They do not make as many films like mine. Lionsgate have made the Saw Franchise, See No Evil, Irreversible and the Hostel Franchise. My film relates to these films as it is too a splatter/slasher Horror. The twisted storyline would fit into a traditional Lionsgate movie.

Regulation Research

After looking at the BBFC (British Board of Film Classification) I have been able to declare an age for my film, that being 18 because of violent torture to a female incapable of defending herself.

Brief outline of who the BBFC are http://www.bbfc.co.uk/download/guidelines/BBFC%20Classification%20Guidelines%202009.pdf

Parts of the BBFC that re relevent to my film

The Obscene Publications Act

1959 & 1964

It is illegal to publish a work which is

obscene. A work is obscene if, taken

as a whole, it has a tendency to

deprave and corrupt (ie, make

morally bad) a significant proportion

of those likely to see it. However, no

offence is committed if publication

is justified as being for the public

good on the grounds that it is in the

interests of science, art, literature

or learning or other

The Obscene Publications Act has made me realise I need to tone down some of the torture ideas I have for the film. I cannot be as explicit I thought as I need to meet the BBFC guidelines

Consumer Advice is a brief

description of the content which

determined the classification

of a film, DVD or video game.

As well as noting particular issues

such as violence, sex, language,

drugs or any other matters likely to

be of concern, it can also highlight

themes, such as suicide, or contexts,

such as comedy or fantasy, which can

influence the strength of the material.

At the junior categories Consumer

Advice can also warn of behaviour

which may be potentially harmful if

copied, or highlight content, such as

characters in dangerous situations,

which might frighten or upset

younger viewers.

Consumer Advice indicates the

strength of individual issues by using

the terms ‘mild’, ‘moderate’, ‘strong’

and ‘very strong’, across the

categories. For example, language

at ‘U’ and ‘PG’ is likely to be ‘mild’

while at ‘15’ and ‘18’ language can

be ‘strong’ and ‘very strong’. Where

relevant, the frequency with which

the issue appears in the work is

also indicated.

Consumer Advice

The BBFC’s Consumer Advice enables

the public to make informed choices

about the films, DVDs and interactive

works available to them.

After reading the consumers advice, I now know that I need to warn people of the violence and language used in the film. I will do this by following the Consumer advice and having a small box on the back of the DVD suggesting the levels of violence, language, drug use and sexual activity.

Main Issue:

Horror

The use of frightening elements

which might scare or unsettle an

audience is part of a long tradition of

story telling and film making. Many

children enjoy the excitement of

scary sequences, but, where films

are targeted at a younger audience,

classification decisions will take into

account such factors as the frequency,

length and detail of scary scenes as

well as horror effects, including

music and sound, and whether there

is a swift and reassuring outcome.

Older audiences often pay to see

horror films because they like being

frightened or shocked and such works

are classified at an appropriate

category to ensure that the young

and vulnerable are protected.

Language

Many people are offended, some of

them deeply, by bad language. This

may include the use of expletives

with a sexual, religious or racial

association, offensive language about

minority groups and commonly

understood rude gestures. The extent

of that offence may vary according to

age, gender, race, background,

beliefs and expectations brought by

viewers to the work, as well as the

context in which the word, expression

or gesture is used.

For these reasons, it is impossible to

set out comprehensive lists of words,

expressions or gestures which are

acceptable at each category. The

advice at different classification

levels, therefore, provides general

guidance taking account of the views

expressed in public consultation

exercises.

Violence

Violence has always been a feature of

entertainment for children and adults.

Classification decisions will take

account of the degree and nature of

any violence in a work

Works which feature the following

are likely to receive more restrictive

classifications: portrayal of violence

as a normal solution to problems,

heroes who inflict pain and injury,

callousness towards victims, the

encouragement of aggressive

attitudes, and content which depicts

characters taking pleasure in pain

or humiliation.

Sexualised violence or works which

glorify or glamorise violence will

receive a more restrictive

classification and may even be cut.

A strict policy on sexual violence and

rape is applied. Content which might

eroticise or endorse sexual violence

may require cuts at any classification

level. This is more likely with video

works than film because of the

potential for replaying scenes out

of context. Any association of sex with

non-consensual restraint, pain or

humiliation may be cut.

From reading this I have to make sure if I was to classify my film at a younger age I would have to meet this guidline, however with my film being 18 rated I can get away with alot more violence and scary scenes. Again, If I was to classify my film a lower rating such as 15 I would have to make sure I meet the lanaguage guidelines. In a 15 I couldnt have much language consisting of racisim or sexism, the same with some of the very powerful swear words.

The British Board of Film

Classification (BBFC) is an

independent, non-governmental body

funded through the fees it charges to

those who submit films and video

works for classification. Here, and

throughout the Guidelines, video

works are taken to include video

games, and films and programmes

released on DVD or Blu-ray, or

distributed by means of download

or streaming on the internet.

Target Audience

Choosing a target audience has helped me aim to where I want my film to be. I will have to direct scenes in the movie to appeal to the my target audience. I can do this by having fast paced editing and lots of match on actions. I will also have stereotypical male features and working class features. Such as the killer has Nike sports trainers on. This shows that he is a working class citizen and out of this torture chamber he leads a normal life buying the same things as ordinary people.

Film Synopsis

See No More Synopsis.

David Taylor (18) is a twisted ADHD sufferer who plots to torture the girl of his dreams who has hurt him, Jemma Stevens (16). It is Friday the 4^th April 2009 and Jemma has had a good day at school. She has found out that the head of 6^th form has allowed her to join next year and be able to do the subjects she desires to do. She has started her relationship with her long term controlling boyfriend Shaun and she has a party to get ready for on Friday evening. Also on this day David Taylor admits to Jemma that he loves her. The mentally ill lad draws Jemma a picture off him drilling the eyes out of her boyfriend in order to win her love. Jemma Is shocked and disgusted and tells David, in front of the entire year group, to never talk to her again. David is hurt and decides this is what he must do to Jemma.

David’s lives near an abandoned house which he consistently plays in and makes weapons in. The house has not been used for 20 years as it is where his granddad hung himself. The house is dark with no electricity and has a problem of decay. His mum and dad never go in there, they have told David it is out of bounds. David however breaks his parent’s rules and makes a torture chamber in the house. He uses the old chairs in there for taping victims up and his dad’s old tools that he no longer uses. He makes a desk out of scraps of wood also taken from the scrap yard.

The next day on his drive home he knocks out a stranger with a bat and puts her in the boot of his car and drives him to the barn. The stranger wakes up taped to a chair with her mouth taped up and a figure standing in front of him. The figure is David. With no explanation to the stranger David begins to hammer the kneecaps of the stranger, he then begins to pierce a screwdriver through her ear and cut up her arms. David then gets a phone call from his mum which he goes into the other room to answer. The stranger begins to escape from the taped up chair and hobble her way to the exit to plead for help. David however catches this and manages to pull the stranger back in time before Jemma walks past and sees a hand come out of the door.

Saturday 5^th April. The day after Jemma’s party she is very hung-over and walking home. David waits behind the corner of her street waiting for her to walk past. When she does he again knocks her out with a bat and dumps her into the boot of his car. Again he drives her to the barn. 3 hours later Jemma wakes up dazed and confused as to why she is taped up in a chair. She starts trying to get out. David then walks through and begins torture on her too. After scarring her face with a knife David realises he forgot the acid he wanted to pour over her. David proceeds to drive off to get it. Jemma manages to get out of the chair and attempt to escape. She realises she cant as the windows are bolted shut and you can only open the door with a key which David has. Jemma starts to walk around the house and finds the stranger which David tortured before. After being totally horrified and disgusted Jemma takes some piping out of the rotten walls and hides behind the door waiting for David to walk back. As he arrives she whacks him over the head with the pipe which dazes David. She drags him into the room he tortured her in and repeatedly starts to hack at his legs with the knife and smash his face in with the pole. She then pours the acid that David bought back intending for use on Jemma over him and David dies.

Final Girl Theory

The final girl theory is the name for the traditional girl fighting the killer at the end of the film in a slasher horror film (thriller too). This has been observed in extremely successful horror films such as "Friday the 13th", "Nightmare On Elm Street", "Scream" and so on. The final girl will usually have a connection to the killer, such as a long lost relative, or an obssessed lover.

The theory was thought up by an author called Carol J. Clover. She wrote a book entitled "Men, Women and Chainsaws: Gender In The Modern Horror Film." Clover suggests that in these films, the viewer begins by sharing the perspective of the killer, but experiences a shift in identification to the final girl partway through the film.

Through researching this I have decided to use this theory in my film. I will be "torturing" a girl in the opening scene. A girl walks past the house who does not see the torture victim pleading for help, but does hear a scream, and after searching around the house outside and not seeing anything she thinks nothing of it. The girl who misses this becomes the final girl in the film. However I am just showing the opening scene so you will not see this in my film.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Final_Girl_theory

Codes and Conventions Part 2

From doing this I have decided on my genre of film to make - that being a slasher horror. By researching further into the genre I have learnt more specific iconography, codes and conventions about the genre. I have learnt a brief history about the genre. This all helps towards making my film as I have to aim my story on these traditional codes of Slasher to make it look like a slasher. If it does not look like the genre then I can not get a high mark.

Codes and Conventions of the genre

This slide is a summary of codes and conventions of a horror film.

From doing this summary of the horror genre codes and conventions I have learnt that there are many sub genres of horror.  You cannot call a film a horror now without another word in front of it to describe the film, such as slasher, splatter, psychological, monster (frankenstein, werewolves, vampires, zombies etc.) I have also learnt about what must be included in the genre such as, a slasher horror would have alot of blood and a non mechanical weapon such as blades, axes and swords etc. Where as in a psychological horror there would be alot of shadows, unexplainable doors shutting etc.

Change Of Choice To Film

Over the weekend I got permission to use a camera so I can have a go at filming and see what it is like. After enjoying it so much I decided to try and record a film and got some really good footage which I would like to work on and make a film out of. Therefore I am no longer making the music magazine. I am going to keep my work up on here that I have done for my music magazine and I am confident I will be able to do it all again for my film.

Audience Research: What does Industrial Metal mean to you?

Audience Research final from Jason Lee on Vimeo.


From This research I have learnt that Industrial Metal is not as well known aroound here. The genre is a big genre in countries such as America where bands like Nine Inch Nails, Marilyn Manson and Fear Factory originate, but over here the audience know the bands, but do not know what genre they are classified as. This could be because British metal music consists of New Wave of British Metal and Metalcore so other sub genres of metal are not as well advertised and talked about.

Preliminary task for Magazine

Doing this I have decided that I want to make the magazine instead of the film. I enjoyed making up interviews and getting pictures of people playing instruments. I enjoy the writing and theory side in contrast to the practical side.

Regulation Research

I have read through the Editors Code Of Practice (http://www.pcc.org.uk/cop/practice.html) and identified the following that appeals to what I am publishing

From the editors code of practice I have found out that I have to do the following:

·          I have learnt that I have to ask permission to take photos of the bands used in my magazine. I can’t have any sneaky photos of them that they do not know about.

·          If the people I ask to take pictures of say no, I can not keep asking and pressurising them into doing so.

·          I have to ask permission of the school to take pictures of the band.

·          If I wanted a person aged 16 or under to be in my magazine I would have to ask permission from the school to photograph and interview them.

Here is a summary of what the editors code of practice is.

THE editors' CODE

All members of the press have a duty to maintain the highest professional standards. The Code, which includes this preamble and the public interest exceptions below, sets the benchmark for those ethical standards, protecting both the rights of the individual and the public's right to know. It is the cornerstone of the system of self-regulation to which the industry has made a binding commitment.

It is essential that an agreed code be honoured not only to the letter but in the full spirit. It should not be interpreted so narrowly as to compromise its commitment to respect the rights of the individual, nor so broadly that it constitutes an unnecessary interference with freedom of expression or prevents publication in the public interest.

It is the responsibility of editors and publishers to apply the Code to editorial material in both printed and online versions of publications. They should take care to ensure it is observed rigorously by all editorial staff and external contributors, including non-journalists, in printed and online versions of publications.

Editors should co-operate swiftly with the PCC in the resolution of complaints. Any publication judged to have breached the Code must print the adjudication in full and with due prominence, including headline reference to the PCC.

Audience Targetting

I believe My Magazine will appeal to the younger audiences aged between 14- 22. I think this because it has an interview with a band the similar age who is breaking out and making themselves known in the music industry at a young age. It can inspire other young musicians to come out and motivate other musicians to form a band that can succeed.

The Style
The style of music for the band I am interviewing is Industrial Metal. This is a well known genre which consists of repetitive riffs and double bass drums. They usually have controversial lyrics too. It is usually fast paced so people can "mosh" to it, or at least "headbang." This creates a lively atmosphere of people being active and moving at a fast pace. This appeals to the Teenage audience as that age range is usually the range that people go to concerts and jump around moshing and headbanging. This type of active dancing can be seen as violent to some people and does not usually appeal to the older generation or the very young generation.

The Interview
 I will be interviewing the band about their debut album release. I will be talking about how they got to know the producers of the album and what happened along the way on making it. I will also be asking about what their future plans are and if they will be touring. Again I believe this will appeal to the age range of 14-22 because it is the age musicians start to experiment with genres of music and start to play local gigs to help form and gel a band together. This interview would help inspire the audience to follow the footsteps of the band and try and become as successful as them.

The bands genre of music is Industrial Metal. This consists of reppetative riffs, 8 bit drum beats and shouting vocals. The music can be seen as angry and violent because of the "punch" the riffs have in terms of repeatting itself. The riffs and drums beats are very quick and loud and repeat themselves roughly every 4 seconds. This angry sound in music could mean the genre appeals to a working class citizen. With the recent recession and credit crunch and the lack of jobs available, or people being made redundent, Alot of people became angry as their life was basiclly coming to a halt. Some people may of listened to Industrial metal to let the anger out.

I belive Gender is not an issue to the genre. The male gender Is where the genre is stereotypically classed due to the angry sound of music and Men singing about the lost love from a women. However Some industrial metal bands such as Nine Inch Nails and Marilyn Manson have sex icon front men (Trent Reznor off NIN and Brian Warner off MM) They are good looking guys with powerful voices and this appeals to the female gender.

Audience Research 1

Questionnaire

1.      Gender?

2.      Do You Read Music Magazines?

3.      What is your favourite genre of music?

4.      Do you listen to any other genres of music?

5.      List 5 bands that you listen to regularly

6.      How regularly do you buy a music magazine?

7.      Do you go to converts that magazines advertise?

8.      Do you enter magazine competitions?

9.      Do the free gifts in magazines appeal to you?

10.  Does the magazine you buy keep you up to date with your favourite bands?

Analysing Magazine Covers

From doing this I have learnt that metal magazines use alot of dark colours. They also have a very dominent title so that we know what magazine we are reading. They also have a main band article dominating the front cover with a picture of the band. There is also lots of writing and sometimes pictures around the front covers advertising what else is in the magazine.

Magazine Ideas

Magazine Ideas

My Magazine will be focusing on my band Sedna, There will be an interview held with them asking about how the band came up with the idea of becoming an Industrial Metal band. The interview will ask the band what they are doing currently, how their recent album release has been successful and what they plan on doing to the world of Industrial Metal.

The Front Cover will feature a Picture of the band Sedna, and have the band name written over them in big bold writing. The cover will also feature a small picture of Alex Metters With his guitar; it will tell you that on page 12 there is an interview with him talking about his Melodic Death metal project that he wants to start.

The cover will also feature a picture of a Guitar you are able to win in a competition as well as interviews with other bands.

The contents will feature pictures of the band Sedna, all on their instruments. Their will also be a picture of Alex as he goes on his quest to create a Melodic Death Metal Band.

The Magazine title will be “Start the Pits” This is named after Metal concerts having “Mosh Pits” or “Circle Pits” for the fans. This is dancing to Metal.

Genre Comparrison. Codes and Conventions of 2 Genres.

From doing this I decided that I would look further into Industrial Metal and use that genre as the one I use for my magazine. Researching two genres meant I had a choice in which I could do for my magazine. I picked Industrial metal because I like imagery the genre uses and subjects they sing about. It would be interesting to bring in the genres imagery into the pictures I take of the band, and to include the song lyrics subjects into the interview.