PP - Sound EG1: Bride of Chucky

Bride of Chucky (Ronny Yu, 1998)

PRODUCED BY: Midwinter Productions Inc, Universal Pictures.

DISTRIBUTED BY: Metrodome Distribution, Eurocine, Filmax (click here to see the full list).

BUDGET: $25m.

BOX OFFICE: $32m (USA), £500k (UK).

RATINGS: 5.2 (IMDb).



It starts with an audio bridge connecting the idents with the opening shots of the film. This sound is non-diegetic. This opening sound is typical of slasher films as has a lot of long drawn out notes and irregular faster beats. This is a common approach as the longer notes encourage the audience to hold their breath and the faster beats make the heart beat slightly irregular. These effects create more tension for the audience and make it more scary for them.
There is exaggerated diegetic sound of thunder, this is very precisely edited in and also adds to the anchorage of it being from the slasher genre. Bad weather and storms are often used in the slasher genre to reflect the bad that is to come later in the film.

As it gets into the main narrative of the film the music continues, but the 'tune' is different, showing this change. In this opening sequence intertextuality to Psycho and Jaws is used as they use some of the background sounds that were commonly used in those films. Sound is also shaped to fit zooms and are often exaggerated to ensure the audience pay attention to it. An example of this is the creaking locker door and the turning of the key. Throughout this sequence the sound is mostly continuous but the intensity varies.

When trying to build tension before the first victim the sound dies down a lot so that the tension of the scene can build naturally. This technique made the false scare here more effective and then the sound starts again when he is killed to intensify the situation.

Slasher EG7: Psycho

Psycho poster

Psycho (Alfred Hitchcock, 1960)
PRODUCED BY: Shamley Productions.
DISTRIBUTED BY: Paramount Pictures, Universal Pictures, Pioneer Entertainment (click here to see the full list).
BUDGET: $807k.
BOX OFFICE: $32m (USA).
RATINGS: 8.6 (IMDb).

'Psycho' title

The film was made in black and white, which was unusual for films created in the 60's. This was because the black and white acted as a censorship from the graphics of the blood. If the film had been in colour, it may not have got a cinema release due to the gore. The film was rated X, which, in those days, would have been worse than an 18. The ident of Panorama appears, and this is the only
one. The first credit that appears is 'Alfred Hitchcock's' then 'Psycho' , but the directors name appears before the movie title. The font in which the credits are run is a serif font, which is slashed to signify a split personality. Janet Leigh, starring as Marion Crane'. This tells the audience that this actor is a major star and is the most important character in the film. Credits to the backstage crew begin, and Bernard Herrmann's name appears. Herrmann was a very famous Hollywood film musician, and notoriously known for his Psycho soundtrack. He used long notes which, unconsciously, makes you hold your breath. On top of these notes, he used high pitched fast notes, which, unconsciously  speeds up your heart beat. These effects make you feel tense, and therefore scared. After all the credits appeared, 'Directed by Alfred Hitchcock' appears once more, reflecting the auteur theory. The credits stop at 1:50.
The major characters credits appear singularly and the minor characters credits appear grouped. The last actor credit that appears is 'And
Media Language:

• The first shot is an establishing extreme long shot of a city. It is also a birds eye shot, and a denotation.
• Text then appears, providing exposition. The location (Pheonix, Arizona), date (Friday 11th December) and time (2:43pm) appear.
• The camera acts as a 'hand of fate'. This is done by the panning shot, and how it focuses on a window, picking one person out of an entire city. This signifies how real the setting is, and how what eventually happens could happen to anyone. 
• The transitions used are smooth cross dissolves.
• The first character we see is a woman laying down on a bed, with a man standing over her, with use of narrative enigma here as we do not see his face. Because we can only fully see the woman, this signifies she is more important than the man. This interpretation anchored by the use of a high angled long shot.
• The way she is laying down and the fact that the man is putting on a shirt signifies she is sexually active and that the pair have just had sex. She is blonde and busty, which also signifies she is the scream queen of the film.
• The mise-en-scene is dark, except the woman who is in a bright white night slip, which again signifies she is important.

Assessing Past Coursework

The title has intertextual link to Scream (Wes Craven, 1996). The music being played has long notes and high notes, to raise tension. The music also reflects a child's toy, which links in with 'Tiny' from the title. The framing of the branches in the first shot connotes a point of view shot, and signifies some one is watching. The opening scene begins with a false scare and intertextual reference to The Omen (Richard Donner, 1976). The mise-en-scene is signified by the girly, pink bedroom. A bra is thrown onto the box of the doll, which signifies sexual activity. Elipsis' are used often. Female gaze theory is reflected. Camera placed in the cupboard breaks up the shots. More shot variation is needed, reactions and editing needs to be faster.



The white font on a black background for the titles signifies realism. The bottle of alchol in the boys hand signifies he is going to die. Point of view shot with shaky camera work signifies to the audience the boy is drunk. The framing in the bushes is well planned, and this signifies voyeurism. The violence and diegitic sound is missing when the attack occurs, which isn't realistic. The blood on the snow works well. Narrative engima is used, as the camera films the killers feet as they drag the body. Polysemic techniques are also used, as it is unknown whether the attacker is male or female. The camera effect is changed to appear as if the audience is watching CCTV footage. The acting is poor, no major reaction to being kidnapped. Shots are layered however shots could be faster. The rattle of the chain works well. The mise-en-scene is well thought out and planned. Intertextual reference from Psycho (Alfred Hitchcock, 1960).



Titles appear with animation and transitions. Point of view shot signified by shaky camera work. Diegitic sound is missing and verisimilitude (achieving realism) is lacking. Intertextuality from Scream (Wes Craven, 1996) from the popcorn scene, however this opening uses a kettle instead. This both reflects and condones tension. Post-modernism is also reflected.

Slasher EG6: April Fools Day

April Fools Day (Fred Walton, 1986)
PRODUCED BY: Paramount Pictures, Hometown Films, YCTM.

DVD cover

DISTRIBUTED BY: Paramount Pictures, United International Pictures (click here to see the full list).
BUDGET: $5m.
BOX OFFICE: $12.5m (USA).
RATINGS: 5.9 (IMDb).

• The first shot is home footage, of teenagers waiting for a ferry to take them across to an island their friend owns. The girl in the footage is blonde.
• The girl is describing herself and is talking about sex, which signifies she is the typical scream queen character of the group.
• There is another girl, who refuses to talk to the camera. This signifies she is more reserved and 'different' from the group.
• There are another two boys also making sexual references which signify they're the typical jocks of the group.
• The shot is then a close up of a plastic mannequin being dragged along the floor. The sound is amplified, which has the effect of making the audience jump.
• The character dragging the mannequin is a brunette girl, refusing help from another woman. This signifies independence and that she is the final girl archetype. She quotes 'It's going to be bloody unforgettable' which signifies something is going to go wrong.
• As the camera is panning the room, it stops and focuses on a jack-in-a-box. The girl goes to pick it up and there are then what appear to be flashbacks of the same girl receiving the jack-in-a-box as a present when she was a little girl. 
• A 'Happy Birthday' banner is shown and non-diegitic, high pitched music begins to play. Credits begin to roll and the music is happy. Everything seems normal until the little girl winds up the jack-in-a-box and a scary figure appears. There's a scream and the tone of the music changes. We go back to present day where the same girl stops winding up the jack-in-a-box and places it back on the shelf, and walks away smiling.

Slasher EG5: All The Boys Love Mandy Lane

All The Boys Love Mandy Lane (Jonathan Levine, 2006)

DVD cover

PRODUCED BY: Occupant Films.
DISTRIBUTED BY: Ascot Elite Entertainment Group, Optimum Releasing, Future Film (click here to see the full list).
BUDGET: $750k.
BOX OFFICE: $41k (NDL).
RATINGS: 5.7 (IMDb).

• The film is set in a highschool, and the first shot is of a girls chest then the camera pans up to her face. She is blonde and everyone in the corridor is staring at her. The theory of the 'male-gaze' (Laura Mulvey) is reflected here, as the camera films her body as she walks. The girl has the appearance of a scream queen, however later on in the film she appears to have the personality of a final girl character.
• She is introduced as 'Mandy Lane' by a jock, and all the boys begin to speak to her. This signifies she is the main character, hence the name 'All The Boys Love Mandy Lane'.
• She gets into a car, and the next shot is of a pool party, with teenagers drinking, smoking and engaging in sexual activities.
• The opening ends here, and the film begins.

Credits:

• The music playing is non-diegitic and high pitched.

Slasher EG4: Peeping Tom

Peeping Tom (Michael Powell, 1960)
PRODUCED BY: Michael Powell (Theatre).
DISTRIBUTED BY: 20th Century Fox, Canal+, Anglo-Amalgamated Film Distributors (click here to see the full list).
BUDGET: £135k.
BOX OFFICE: $83k (USA).
RATINGS: 7.7 (IMDb).

• The first shot is an extreme close up of a closed eye. The music is non-diegitic with strings. As the eye opens, the notes become higher.
• Music fades out, as the next shot is of a dark street is shown. There's a blonde woman, in a red skirt looking into a window and a man is whistling and walking towards her. She is pacing around, as if she's waiting for someone.
• We see a camera, hidden in a coat, and a hand adjusts the coat so the camera is more hidden.
• The camera then changes to what the camera hidden in the coat is seeing. The man walks towards the woman, and stands right behind her. She turns around and simply says 'It'll be 2 quid'. Her blonde hair and tight clothing signify she is a scream queen character, and this line also gives the audience the impression she is a prostitute and is sexually active, although this impression is not anchored.
• The man follows the woman down an alley way and into a building. They both advance into a bedroom, and she beings to undress herself. 
• As she takes off her belt, we see a shadow of the mans hand reaching into his coat pocket and grabbing something. There's a sharp noise, and a light shines onto the woman's face. The audience do not know what the man is holding, but the woman is scared, and she begins to move back. As the man gets closer, we see more emotion on her face. She begins to scream, then the camera switches to a projector.
• The man is now watching the film, but there's use of narrative enigma as we only see the back of the mans head.

..Credits:

• The titles appear as he is re-watching what he filmed. As the title 'Peeping Tom' appears, high pitched fast piano notes begin to play.
• The font is sans-serif.
• The man stands up as she begins to undress on the film, then sits down as she is killed. It is unclear how she's being killed.
• The last credit to appear is for the director, then the screen fades to black.

Slasher EG3: The Last House On The Left

DVD cover

The Last House On The Left (Wes Craven, 1972)

PRODUCED BY: Lobster Enterprises, Sean S. Cunningham Films, The Night Co.
DISTRIBUTED BY: Hallmark Releasing, Filmways Pictures, Future Film (click here to see the full list).

BUDGET: $90k.
BOX OFFICE: $3.1m (USA).
RATINGS: 5.9 (IMDb).

• Firstly, we're provided with exposition 'based on a true story'.
• The first shot is of the camera panning across a lake. There is diegitic sound from the noise of birds in the surrounding trees.
• Everything seems and appears peaceful, and normal.
• The next shot is of a letterbox, with the name 'Mari' and a love heart written on it. This signifies this girl is important to the film.
• A car pulls up at the letterbox, and the man leans over to open the door. A dog jumps in, and both the dog and the man seem familiar with each other, which signifies the man goes to the house a lot. There is a medium-close up as he is going through letters, which are all for Mari.
• He climbs out of the car, and puts the letters into the post box. Exposition is given, as he is talking about how 'beautiful' Mari is.
• There is then a shot reverse shot, of who the audience presume to be Mari looking in the mirror, and the man leaning against his car.

Credits:

• As the titles appear, there's a sense of voyeurism and the camera moves through a woods, and focuses on a window. As the film title appears, we see a girl showering, through the frosted glass.

Slasher EG2: Halloween

Halloween (John Carpenter, 1978)
PRODUCED BY: Compass International Pictures, Falcon International Productions.
DISTRIBUTED BY: Warner-Columbia Pictures, Miracle Films, Arte (click here to see the full list).
BUDGET: $320k
BOX OFFICE: $47m (USA).
RATINGS: 7.9 (IMDb).

Boy and girl kissing

• The non-diegetic music is fast paced, which raises your heart beat, but also has long notes on top, which sub-consciously makes you hold your breath to raise tension. There is then children chanting a Halloween rhyme. 
• Exposition is provided, as we're told where the film is set, the year and the day. There is also a blueish tint to signify coldness, and supernatural behaviour. 
• The first shot is a point of view. The camera emerges from behind a tree, and  focuses on a house. The camera is shaky, to signify voyeurism, and to make the audience feel like they're walking towards the house

  

  Hand grabbing the mask.

  themselves.
• The camera pans across to the side of the house, and watches a girl and a boy kissing on a sofa. The boy grabs a clown mask, and kisses the girl, then they advance upstairs.
• We then see a light upstairs being turned off, which signifies the couple are having sex.
• The camera moves into the back garden, and who ever's sights we're experiencing enters the house and grabs a knife out of the kitchen. There's a close up of the knife, to focus attention on the weapon.
• The figure moves throughout the house, then we see the boy standing on the staircase putting on his t-shirt. He then leaves and the figure goes up stairs.
• The clown mask is on the floor, and a hand grabs out and picks it up. The figure puts on the mask, so it is harder to see the surroundings.
• They walk into the girls bedroom, and she's sat brushing her hair topless. She turns around and calls out the name 'Michael' which signifies she knows who the person is. She is then stabbed several times, and the killer leaves the room.
• They go outside, and a car has pulled up. The audience presume this couple to be the girls parents. The man takes the mask off the killer, and a young boy is revealed. It is now clear that the boy is the girls brother. There is a close up of the boys face, which shows shock.
• The ending ends at 7:00, with an ellipsis jumping forward 15 years.

Credits:

• The font is sans-serif.
• The background is black, and there is a pumpkin on the left. The colour of the font changes from orange to red, which reflects the flame coming from inside the pumpkin.

Slasher EG1: I Know What You Did Last Summer

I Know What You Did Last Summer (Jim Gillespie, 1997)
PRODUCED BY: Columbia Pictures Corporation, Mandalay Entertainment, Summer Knowledge LLC.
DISTRIBUTED BY: Entertainment, Sony Pictures Entertainment, TriPictures, Era (click here to see the full list).
BUDGET: $17m.
BOX OFFICE: $72m (USA), £4.4m (UK).
RATINGS: 5.5 (IMDb).

Continuous opening shot of ocean

• The opening starts with a continuous shot of the ocean, as the credits appear. There is diegetic sound of waves, and non-diegetic rock music playing in the background, with an electric guitar and somebody singing. The music has a steady tempo and the notes are quite low. This creates a feeling of relaxation rather than panic. 
• The sun is also low in the sky, which is a polysemic signifier as it could be rising or setting. There is also a blue tint to the sky and mise-en-scene which usually signifies that something supernatural is about to occur, or is occurring. The waves are choppy, and are crashing against rocks. This signifies that there is danger and dangerous things are going to happen in the film.
• The shot doesn't change, but it moves to pan over a cliff and a road and becomes an establishing shot as it zooms out to show the audience the entire setting.

  

  Cliff

• The music has changed, and long, drawn out strings have been introduced. These notes add tension to the music, and make the audience feel 'nervy' and get a sense that something isn't quite right. 
• The camera continues to pan across, like a hand of fate, and then begins to zoom in and focus on a man standing on the edge of one of the cliffs. He is wearing a blue top and dark jeans, so kind of blends in with the mise-en-scene. 
• The shot then changes, to a close up of a coin of some sort. The next shot is a low angle of the man holding the coin. The low angle signifies his lack of power, and that he is in a vulnerable position. He flicks the coin and it spins round, creating diegetic sound. The sound is like a high chime. 
• There are then shots of the man looking down the cliff into the ocean. There is a point of view shot of the man looking at the rocks below This allows the audience to experience the emotions and thoughts he is feeling. This shot signifies that he is having suicidal thoughts. 
• There is then diegetic sound of birds and wind coming from the bushes behind him, so he turns around to check if anyone is watching. He is also drinking a bottle of alcohol which signifies he is drunk, and possibly depressed. 
• There is an over the shoulder shot looking down onto the rocks, which makes the audience feel anxious as it appears as though he is about to jump. 
• The opening ends as there is a loud bang from fireworks. There is a close up of the man looking up at them, then the shots changes to a party. 

Slasher Overview Vodcast

Top 10 Distributors

2012 Top 10 Film Distributors in the UK:

1. Sony: Total gross = £210m
2. 20th Century Fox: Total gross = £191m
3. Warner Bros: Total gross = £147m
4. Universal: Total gross = £137
5. Walt Disney: Total gross = £123m
6. eOne: Total gross = £81m
7. Paramount: Total gross = £79m
8. Lionsgate: Total gross = £68m
9. Momentum: Total gross = £51m
10. Entertainment Film Distributors: Total gross = £37m
SOURCE: http://www.mi6-hq.com/news/index.php?itemid=10724

My Definition of Distribution

A film distributor is a company responsible for the marketing and distribution of a film. They can set the release date of a film and the method by which the film can be exhibited or made available for viewing e.g. cinematic release, TV, DVDs etc.

SOURCE: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Film_distributor
http://www.screenonline.org.uk/film/distribution/distribution1.html

http://www.bbc.co.uk/filmnetwork/filmmaking/guide/distribution/distribution

http://www.distribution.la/

http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/movie-distribution.htm

Possible Location: Linton Camp

This is an assortment of videos and images of Linton Camp, which is an ideal, and possible location for our production.

Woods in which Friday the 13th was shot

These woods are the woods in which Friday the 13th was shot. At Linton Camp, there is a wooded area like this near by, which we will be able to use for filming the chase scenes.

Woods in which Eden Lake was shot

These are the woods in which Eden Lake was shot. Although these trees are more spread out, they are a good example of the location we want to shoot our opening sequence in. Woods like these can be an effective location, as it is easier for someone to be stalked in an enclosed wooded area.