The Grudge - Film Opening

Camera  - At the start of the opening sequence, there is a point of view, hand held action. This is to show the person walking down the pathway to the house. When we see the house, it is a low angle shot which makes it seem bigger and more threatening. There is another hand held shot of when the door is being opened. This makes the opening seem like a documentary of someone showing the audience around the house. During the sequence, there are many close up shots to show the two character's facial expressions and for detail, for example, the rope in the hanging scene. A match on action is used to show the camera panning down the house to then go on to do the same thing in the Grudge's bedroom. This is a good way of making the scenes flow together. There is use of a tracking shot where we see the various different items on the floor, and this is to give us clues about the plot or the character's.

Sound - At first in the sequence, there is diagetic sound of the trees rustling whilst the character is walking up the path. This is to make the scene sound more frightening. Some more diagetic sound from the sequence includes birds and crows squawking, footsteps walking up the path, dripping of the blood, heavy breathing from the Grudge, slamming of the door, blood spattering onto the wall, young children laughing, pages of a book turning, tapping noises and screaming. These are all used for dramatic effect to make the scenes seem scarier. There is also use of some non-diagetic sound, which is used to create suspense.


Mise-en-scene and Editing - Some of the typical horror film objects in The Grudge include trees, a big house, windows, blood, chairs and table, a cat, rope for a hanging. These are some of the items that the audience would expect to see in a typical horror film. Some less obvious items which feature in The Grudge opening include slippers, litter, kitchen utensils and children's drawings. All the items in a horror film will have some kind of being behind them.
There are many jump cuts in the sequence to emphasize the confusion and panic of the situation. The lighting is mainly very dim which is used to emphasize the frightening plot and characters of the film.

Film Company And Ideas For My Film

Some examples of film companies are 20th Century Fox, Metro-Goldwyn Mayer, Streamline Pictures, Universal Studios, Walt Disney Pictures, and Columbia Pictures.

   

20th Century Fox is a major American film company and is part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. It was founded in 1935 and has produced popular films including Planet of the Apes, Star Wars, and Alien. It has also been the producer of many popular TV programmes including Family Guy and The Simpsons. The company is a member of the Motion Picture Association of America.



Metro-Goldwyn Mayer is an American film company which was founded in 1924.

Columbia Pictures is an American film and distribution company and is owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment, and is one of the leading film companies. It was founded in 1919 by Jack and Harry Cohn and John Brandt.

Another film company is Walt Disney Pictures is a part of the Walt Disney Company. It is also a member of the Motion Picture Association. Some of their most popular and successful films include Alice in Wonderland, and Toy Story 3.

I have decided that my film would be produced by an independent film company. It is a British based film and so would only really appeal to a British audience. So it wouldn't need a contribution from other major film companies. Carrying out research on different major and independant film companies helped me to decide on which one I would use for my own film.

Props In Horror Films And My Film Opening

There are many different kinds of props that are often used and associated with horror films, and ones in which the audience would expect to see when watching a horror film. These kind of props include knives, fake blood, saws, guns, gloves, cobwebs, skeletons, bones. These are the things that we often find when watching horror films.

   

Sometimes, there are props used which you wouldn't necessarily expect in a horror film. They can be used to create an effect, as they must relate to the topic of the film in some way. These could include things like a TV, a mobile phone, a piece of jewelry, a book, a piece of clothing, a radio, a car etc.

                

 

In my film opening, I didn't really need to use any of these kinds of props. This was because the purpose of the opening was to portray normality within the group of friends. This is shown up until the kidnap scenes, although no significant props are needed until later on in the film.

Storyboard For My Film Opening

1 and 2. These are the first two scenes for my opening. The first scene starts off as presenting normality with the group of friends in the park. This is shown as an establishing shot. Scene two shows them walking up the path to the main location of the opening. This is done as a pan camera movement with the building in sight.

3 and 4. Scene three is showing the group of friends beside the building and talking amongst one another. One of the characters (the victim) is is in the centre of the shot with two of her friends either side of her. Scene four shows a figure being zoomed in on although we don't see who it is. While we see this there is general chat from the group of friends in the background about the building.

5 and 6. Scene five is showing the main character who is about to walk in to the building. This is a mid close up shot. Scene six shows the other friends running off and hiding whilst main character walks into the building. This is also done as a mid shot. There is diagetic sound of the characters running, and may be some non-diagetic sound playing softly in the background.

7 and 8. Scene seven shows a pan from left to right around the inside of the building without showing the main character. There is some non-diagetic sound whilst the inside of the building is being shown. This could include eery or ghostly voices. Scene eight shows the outside of the building once the main character is inside it. The whole scene is silent apart from the diagetic sound. There may be some non-diagetic eery music playing quietly in the background.

9 and 10. Scene nine shows the kidnapper's arms reaching out and grabbing/pulling the main character. Before this, from inside the building there will be some non-diagetic eery music to build up suspense just before the kidnap takes place. Scene ten, distant screams can be heard from character's friends from nearby. There are close ups of some of the characters to show their facial expressions.

11 and 12. Scene eleven shows a pan shot again of around the inside of the building, from left to right after the kidnap has happened. Scene twelve shows the friends running in to see what has happened to the victim. There is diagetic sound of talking and panic from the other characters. Some non-diagetic music will play in the background, which signifies the danger and the panic of the situation.

While making my film, I had to make some changes that would improve the sequence of my opening. I had to change some of the scenes around so that they could link together easily. For example, I took the scene of panning around the building, and used it in the second or third shot. I did this so that the audience would know that something was wrong, even before the characters would. I also changed some of the camera angles around so they weren't all too similar to each other. I will also make some changes to the sequence whilst editing my opening, e.g. sound and the order of scenes.

The purpose of the storyboard was to help me to get my film opening in the right order in terms of shots/camra angles. It also helped me decide which sound effects to use for different scenes.

Preliminary Task - Preparation For My Film Opening

This is my preliminary task which I have created as part of the preparation for my coursework.

This is a short clip of a boy walking into a room, sitting down and having a conversation with another boy. It is to show continuity, and different camera angles such as the shot/reverse shot.

Although, some of the conversation in the shot/reverse shot has been cut off as I didn't allow enough time for it to be filmed properly.

The preliminary task helped me to understand more about the importance of the continuity effect, which helps to cut out errors and makes the sequence flow well. Also about the 180 degree rule, also used to avoid continuity errors.

A Typical Viewer For My Film And Representation

A typical viewer for my film would be someone who has an interest in horror films such as Paranormal Activity or The Grudge. They would be between the ages of 15 and 18, as this is the age range I am creating my film for. When carrying out research on horror films, I found out that many of them are targeted to someone of the age of 15-18 or older, for example The Grudge.  In my questionnaire, I found that many of the people I asked were within this age range.
The most popular genre of film chosen was horror and comedy. Some examples of favourite horror films included The Grudge, Inception, and The Ring. From these ideas, I decided that a typical viewer for my film would like to see elements or conventions of these films, in other films that would be made.

    

These elements will include ghosts, blood, gory scenes, and torturing scenes.

Representation

The main social class that I have used in my film opening is lower class. This is because all the characters I have used are older teenagers who are 15-18. I have represented them so the stereotype of teenagers has been reinforced, as going out with friends, and being quite daring or rebellious. I have represented them in this way because this is the idea that the audience will have about this group of people, as they can relate to them in some way as they are in the same social group. Also because the opening is only 2 minutes, and so I had to make it fairly easy to guess what the main stereotype or social group was. 

Script For Filming My Opening Sequence

Script for Opening Sequence of My Film

Opening titles

Distant chat amongst group of friends whilst walking up the hill

Character 1: Hey guys! I’ve heard there’s this really spooky place further up the hill. It’s supposed to be the most haunted place around here.

Character 2: Oh come on! I doubt we’re gonna find anything that interesting round here!

Character 3: Well why don’t we just check it out?

First 3 characters walk on while others follow

Arrive at location

Character 3: Well is anyone actually gonna go in then?

All look and mumble amongst one another

Character 4: Oh my days, I’ll go shall I?! Honestly you guys….

Character 4 walks in the building while the group of friends run and hide as a joke

Character 4: (From inside) You guys don’t seriously think there’s ghosts in here right? Laughs Guys? Guys?

Camera while inside, pans around the room

A quick shot of outside the building

While inside, see the kidnapper’s arms reach and grab the victim

Screams can be heard by the friends outside

Friends run in to find their friend has gone missing

End of opening

  

This is the script that I have used for my opening two minutes. It worked well when making my film, although I had to make a few changes. For example, I took out Character 3's lines and gave them to Characters 1 and 4. I did this because it made the film easier to follow. I added in some different shots so that I didn't have similar shots all the way through the film. I also cut some parts out which I thought wouldn't work, for example, the friends running away and hiding. I also did this to save time, as I didn't think it would fit in well with the rest of the sequence.
For the actions I scripted to be at the of the sequence, I have decided to make them so they don't all appear at the end. When editing, I will change them around so we see them at various points in the opening. Overall, the sequence of my script worked well.