The document provides a summary of research conducted for a major project on horror film audiences. According to secondary research, the primary audience for horror films is 15-24 years old, with roughly equal percentages of male and female viewers. Research also found that horror film viewers tend to come from lower social classes. Primary research in the form of a survey supported these findings, showing a majority of respondents were female and in the target 15-24 age range. The research also helped determine elements for the film, such as a preference for earned scares over jump scares. Existing horror films like Ringu and It Follows are analyzed for effective camerawork, sound design, mise-en-scene, and storytelling that build tension and

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Final Major Project Research
By Connor Wiffen

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Audience Secondary Research
Age
• According to research done by Roy Morgan Research, Horror films tend to attract a slightly younger audience,
predominantly under 25’s where roughly 42% of the audience are women whilst 58% are men. Which is similarly show in
this statistic from the British Film Institute which tells that 67% of the audience for The Conjuring 2 was within the age
group of 15 – 24.
• Within the horror genre, violence, dangerous behavior, strong language, extreme horror, blood and gore and on occasion
drug use and scenes of sexual nature, are recurring topics. Because of this age certifications range between 12, 15,18
and R which used to be rare but has become far more common lately with the likes of Logan (2017) and Deadpool
(2016).
Social Class
Also from the BFI, I found a breakdown of genre preferences by gender
which concludes that male audience members exhibit stronger preferences
for science fiction, action/adventure, and horror films while women
preferred romantic comedies, family films, romances, and Musicals. This
survey also detailed that a younger respondents were more likely select
comedy, horror, animation, and comic book as their favourite genres,
whereas older audience members were more likely to select dramas,
documentaries, and classic films which ties into previous information I have
found online.
However the gender differences aren’t as statistically different as you would think
with it practically being an equal split with audiences which is leading me to plan my
short film to target towards a more nonspecific audience than initially assumed.
However in the past the more ‘cheap entertainment’ and traditional horror films
usually have a young attractive female lead that spends most of the films’ runtime
running and screaming till they defy the odds. This caricature of female appeals
more to the male audience as it gives them the sense of needing to protect said
character from whatever threat is coming after her and by extension be invested in
the movie however even though a ‘Final Boy’ ending is an extensively rare sighting
there are a few notable examples in films like Nightmare On Elm Street II: Freddy’s
Revenge and Evil Dead where one of their male characters survives the story, in
Evil Dead’s case Ash is appealing to both genders for different reasons due to him
being overly cool for the male audience and ties into the male hero fantasy whilst
his good looks and righteousness appeals to the female demographic.
Gender
This study of the UK box office compared to the population in consideration of the
different social classes shows that not only are people from social class C1 the largest
group to frequent the Cinema but also the biggest watcher of films from the Horror
genre at 32% of filmgoers and 29% of the total UK audience however classes D and E
are not that far behind. Grade E being non-working. Casual or lowest grade workers,
pensioners, and others who depend on the welfare state for their income whilst Grade
D is usually working class. Semi-skilled and unskilled manual workers. This makes a
lot of sense as the horror genre are usually on the cheaper side when it comes to
production so with the lower income and the recent reduction in cinema ticket prices
has allowed for members of these social classes to easily have access to this form of
thrill seeking entertainment and for the studios to make their money back rather
quickly even if the film itself isn’t very good making the genre quite profitable
regardless of quality.
The BBFC have given a range of certifications to Horror movies in the past for example The Hole was rated 12 for moderate
threat, The Conjuring was rated 15 for strong horror and Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003) was given a rating of 18 for
bloody violence and strong language. This shows that Horror as a genre can be garnered towards a wide range of
audiences as long as the content is appropriate which also suggests that Horror isn’t just about blood and guts but in the
intensity of the scares throughout.
UK box office (2005 – 16), by cinema audience social class and film genre
Grade C1Grade E & D
Horror films would relate to Mainstreamers as it is a very
popular genre throughout the year, this group seeks security
and wants value for money in their products and a lot of horror
movies are cheap entertainment so fit into this description
rather nicely. Another Psychographic they could fit into is
Explorers as they are always on the search for new
experiences and challenges which Horror is a great catalyst
for these types of experiences, they are typically younger
people so align with the pre-established audience I have seen
from doing research. However they could also go into the
Struggler category because they are usually looking for some
sort of escapism which can easily be gained by watching a
horror movie is one of the best ways to do so because
Psychographic

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Audience Primary Research
Upon creating a short audience survey with relevant questions to the production I have been able to collect
information from a limited people which will contribute to deciding on the details of the film. The first
question is rather inaccurate as I didn’t get that many responses from people around the ages of 21-30 but
the results seen here back up what I found whilst doing the Secondary Research where statistics published
by Roy Morgan Research show that the average age of the Horror Film audience are from 15 – 24.
Although my results do not cover this range in its entirety, I believe that my film will be able to be enjoyed
by an audience of ages 20+ regardless.
The partakers in my survey were mostly Female as you can see by the results above with
76.47% being Female and 23.53% being Male which whilst it does initially seem like a major
difference in percentage, I do need to take into account the limited amount of responses I
gathered when looking at this so I will mostly be referencing it when coming up with the
audience to target the film to but will consider the statistic from the BFI which states that Men
are around 58% of the audience whilst women make up 41% of it. The divide is rather small
so it would be safe to assume that when keeping the film somewhat gender neutral – it will
still appeal to both.
I wanted to ask the question of whether the audience preferred visible violence or for it to be
kept to their imagination as I myself have the opinion that less is more when it comes to horror
movies as whatever the audience can come up with in their own mind will always be scarier
than anything you can put on screen so whilst it could be considered lazy to not show what
happens to a character – it is entirely more effective and is perfect for a low budget film as you
can focus your time, energy and budget on the greater set pieces.
I wanted to ask the question of whether the audience preferred jump scares or
for scares to feel a lot more genuine as I myself dislike when a horror movie
employs a cheap scare with loud music or noise as it doesn’t feel like it was
earned which in turn makes it less memorable within the entire runtime of the
production and takes me out of the world the film is attempting to create so it is
refreshing to know that at least within the group of people that took part in my
survey, they too prefer a more earned scare than a cheap jump one.
This was a simple preliminary question to see if and how
many people actually like the genre of film I am wanting to
make and as the results back up, Horror is still a very popular
genre within the film industry which is also shown by the
recent successes of films like Halloween (2018), A Quiet
Place and Bird Box on Netflix. Whilst the classic view of a
Horror movie has changed since the classics – new
interpretations and formulas are still being produced and
being successful.
The results of this question are what I was expecting
them to be as I specifically chose locations that I not only
have access to but also those of which I plan to use. I
wanted to include locations that would be relatable to the
target audience as this makes it easier for them to put
themselves into the narrative and by extension – make
the tension and fear affect them a lot greater.

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Summary
Upon collecting Audience Secondary Research from multiple sources I have surmised that the audience for
my Horror short film will be between 15 to 25 years old, however from there on it is acceptable for any age
above it. As for the Target Audience’s gender the research suggests that the ratio between viewing figures
for both male and females are so similar in terms of percentage that by following the usual conventions of
horror films that don’t target a specific audience, I will be able to hopefully have the film appeal to a much
larger audience and keep the contents appropriate for the audience I target. Looking into the statistics
surrounding the social class of the audience that commonly watches Horror films I can see that it is people
from Grade E who are usually non-working. Casual or lowest grade workers, pensioners, and others who
depend on the welfare state for their income whilst Grade D is usually working class. Semi-skilled and
unskilled manual workers. This means that it would be in my best interest to make elements of the film
relatable to people from this demographic by using locations, items etc that they would be used to seeing or
using which also plays nicely into taking them out of their comfort zone when I see fit within the narrative. I
also created a survey to obtain some Primary Research from my Target Audience and whilst I didn’t get as
many results as initially anticipated, I did get enough results to help determine the audience I am aiming the
film towards with backing up statistics I found during the Secondary Research as well as helping me to make
the foundation of the film by determining scares to feel like they were earned which in turn makes it less
memorable within the entire runtime of the production and takes me out of the world the film is attempting to
create so it is refreshing to know that at least within the group of people that took part in my survey, they too
prefer a more earned scare than a cheap jump one. Along the same lines as this, I asked if the audience
preferred to see visible violence or for it to be kept to their imagination as I myself have the opinion that it is
entirely more effective and easier for someone on a smaller budget to produce the film.
Audience Secondary &
Primary Research

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Existing Products
Ringu (1998) Camera
Sound
Story
As is common in a lot of Japanese horror productions, the characters on are hardly ever in the center of the
frame which takes the viewer’s focus away from being able to see the entirety of the screen creating dead
space and is rather effective at increasing the tension even when there is no visible aspect of horror being
displayed on screen. Throughout the film there are many instances of full shots that show the every character
on screen at once from an angle as if someone was watching them which is also a reoccurring angle choice
from the start – The angles being as if viewed by something hiding in the darkness, out of sight adds to the
uncomfortableness of the viewer with the already eeriness of here being so much open space on screen at
once.
Mise En Scene
The lighting throughout the film is rather naturally plain
by all accounts but the darker corners of the locations
(Houses, Offices etc) are particularly dark in comparison
when the scene needs it to be- the way Japanese
houses are constructed with either wide open spaces
with sliding doors or a more compact layout with normal
doors creates interesting locations for horror’s to be set
within because they either give you the sense of being
trapped in an open space or being trapped in a confined
one – praying on the human nature of being free. This
setting also works as a juxtaposition to the horrors that
are occurring within the film with the supernatural
elements.
Hideo Nakata amplifies the sound of mundane objects throughout the movie such as a telephone ringing tone,
a Polaroid camera and general ambient nose which make the viewer rather uncomfortable when watching
because the Director wants to create fear in everything around the characters. The telephone ringing sound
breaks the viewers’ attention as the tension begins to build as their first reaction would be to think the phone in
their room is the one ringing – investing the viewer in the movie’s world. Another interesting thing Nakata
employs within the sound design to help set the tone is by using different types of music for each day as they
pass by, giving the viewer a sense of something positive or negative possibly happening on the specific day.
His use of sound design is effective in creating fear and tension in scenes with little or no dialogue.
The plot is rather simple when looked at out of context but the
way it unravels as you watch, focusing more on the characters
than cheap jump scare unlike a lot of recent Hollywood produced
films makes it not only entertaining to watch but also allows for
the tension to progressively build throughout and the pay off be
more satisfying. The story comes full circle when the victory is
taken away from them with the main character realising that
copying the tape and showing it to someone else is the only way
to save themselves from the curse, leading to a bittersweet
ending of her driving into the sunset with a plan to show it to her
father

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Existing Products
It Follows Camera
SoundEditing
Story
Mise En Scene
The camerawork in It Follows presents the mundane and normal as unnerving which bleeds out of the screen and adds to the
fear that something bad can happen at any time to anyone or be caused by anyone that you walk by day to day. Shots that
sweep across a screen and then towards a character is also a common occurrence throughout the film which does simulate the
feel of something slowly following them. Around the 50 minute mark there is rather nice sequence where the camera rotates on
a single axis around where the main characters are walking towards something but instead of just having the scene happen off
screen, the camera turns around to remind the audience that they are still being followed as the story progresses. This
techniques increases the tension with planting a seed in the audiences mind that the creature could be behind the camera at
any time. The looming shots of every day occurrences like an empty backyard or a rather long take of a character at school
creating the sense that dread is always right around the corner “The goal for most of the visual approach was to play things in
wider shots, finding interesting compositions and letting the scene play out with minimal coverage. We wanted to convey a very
distant, sterile feeling to the camerawork, trying as much as possible to lessen the audience’s perception of a human presence
behind the lens. “ - DP Michael Gioulakis
The soundtrack can go from being rather melancholic, and somber to being scarily eerie depending on the scene in question –
In this way the soundtrack is as unpredictable as the monster chasing the main characters. As for both the diegetic and non
diegetic sound in specifically the scene seen above as when the main character begins to walk down the hallway a lot faster
than before, the music begins form a beat against her own steps as if playing along with the sound effects. This technique
invokes the feeling of being followed as if hearing footsteps that don’t belong to you when going up the stairs. Yet again the
mundane sound of footsteps in addition to the thumping soundtrack continues the theme of presenting the normal as abnormal.
The soundtrack is synth based, echoing back to the soundtrack of Halloween by John Carpenter utilising a very prominent piano
which resurfaces through a large majority of the tracks, they continue to build up just like the tension does through the scenes
they are used within. It also contains a multitude of motifs that have striking resemblances to booming percussion. a shrill
klaxon, Instances of corrupted synths, a window shattering and a cluster of digital buzzes and whines.
The film engages the audience in its tightly imagined reality by using a wide range of claustrophobic and alienating visual styles
to create a world that on the surface looks familiar to our own yet is still distinctly abnormal. The locations throughout the film are
all normal everyday places i.e a school, a house, a beach and a swimming pool – there’s nothing scary about these places but
with the threat constantly close behind them it creates a sense of dread wherever they go. The costumes the characters wear
are also not out of the ordinary being standard to teenagers of the modern age however this is juxtaposed by how small and
vulnerable they seem to be when in more revealing clothes, the creature usually shows itself when they are in a lack of clothes
which ties into the theme of how sexual activities can be dangerous when not handled correctly. As for the lighting throughout
the film, during an interview it was said “I took my lighting cues from a variety of references David and I discussed. The still
photographer Gregory Crewdson was a large inspiration for much of the visual language, as well as Lynch, Hitchcock,
Cronenberg and others. I tried to keep things motivational but with slight theatrical elements. As part of our visual motif, we
wanted to be able to see far into the distance, so our night exteriors were no different.” Bright colours are almost saturated when
in daylight whilst the darker colours are almost as black as night.
The plot is again rather simple as it follows the same structure as
Halloween essentially but the concept is unique enough to stand
on its own, John Carpenter is clearly an influence on the production
as a whole. It uses the creature as a metaphor for teenage sexual
activities and the risk that goes with them which is effective
towards its target audience, in a sense the film is a teen stalker
movie which builds up to an eventual ‘climatic’ battle with the evil
force where it is seemingly beaten. However it sort of concludes
with a sequel tease like a lot of other horror movies do, in
accordance to opening up a potential franchise.
The entirety of the film is embodied within a dreamlike haze and
what sets it aside from other horror movies, it almost refuses to cut
when most would but It Follows straps the audience down into its
world and forces them to witness everything as it is happening. For
example when a character is clearly being followed by the creature
the scene makes you sit there, unable to warn them of their
impending doom until the very last moment when they finally notice
it and gives the audience a sense of relief before snatching away
again for the process to repeat once again.

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Existing Products
Camera
Sound
Story
Mise En Scene
Scream (Mostly Opening Scene)
Wes Craven uses a multitude of sounds throughout the film, for example it opens with a phone ringing and a heart beating
rapidly until the character picks the phone up causing the sound to vanish – leaving only the dialogue and sounds of crickets
from the outside to remain, Craven has already played on the viewer's senses with the beginning of the scene so there’s a
looming apprehension that something bad is going to happen. After this the scene changes to an outside view of the house
where the camera is focused on a tree in the backyard, this is again accompanied by the sound of crickets and other noises
commonly heard at night, however in those noises is the distinctive creaking sound as a swing sways back and forth, this again
is Craven creating a feeling of tension as it is a sharp contrast between the other more peaceful night noises. Craven is a
master of subconsciously sowing seeds within the audience’s mind by using sound effects that don’t necessarily fit with what is
being shown, notably the scene where the principal uses a pair of scissors that sound more like a knife which could possibly
throw the viewers off the sent of their initial guess at the killer’s identity. However the soundtrack of Scream is where it really
shines, it’s bombastic when it needs to be yet calmer where appropriate – Sidney’s Lament for example is almost choiristic in
style with ghostly female voices howling as a part of the track, it is sad which fits as being Sidney’s theme but is also rather epic
symbolising that she her ‘battle’ throughout the film is a large scale yet tragic venture that will be surrounded by ‘ghosts’
whether they be the true nature of someone she knew or the costume the masked killer wears.
Wes Craven is a master at using a camera in Horror movies, a establishing shot of a phone within a house is used to open the
film which is a conventional location for a film of the this genre and is immediately relatable to the audience. The next segment
involves the camera tracking Drew Barrymore’s character from behind as she walks from the kitchen, checking the doors are
locked. Which Craven could be using to have the camera symbolise Ghost Face on the phone as he is stalking her. Craven
employs a multitude of different shots to great effect throughout, some of the more impressive and notable ones include a
Medium close up shot of Casey which shows her facial expressions distinctively showing her sudden realisation and fear. An
Eye level shot which shows a close up of Casey’s face as she tries to peak through the window, it is framed in such a way that
the frame of the glass resembles bars. He uses a long shot showing Casey crouching down to the floor out of frame in a small
contained area of the house, representing the vulnerability of her in the situation. Ending the opening sequence with an extreme
long shot which shows Casey’s body hanging from a tree which works off an eye line match from her parents who come home
to discover her body. With my favourite shot from the film being when a character looks through the window as the ghost face
is reflected in it.
Wes Craven plays with the stereotype that a young blonde girl is dumb, weak and innocent as not only does the film open late
at night but she is also alone in a rural area that she feels safe in yet it also means she is trapped with nowhere to go. The
house in design is very spacious and even with multiple light sources, Craven never has it all fully lit but this also gives a sense
of warmth within the darkness. This segment also uses a variety of long shots as she is moving around the house which acts to
show the viewers the household and the possible escape routes around the house, this continues to build fear and suspense.
As for her outfit, she is wearing ordinary clothing that people would back in the 90’s being a basic jumper along with trousers.
This again acts to create a sense of innocence within the character and for the audience to relate to them more. Craven uses
lighting in an interesting way with having lower key lighting which suggests the feeling that something isn’t right and is used to
change the mood of the scene entirety as she becomes more and more into a dangerous situation – The most noticeable
nature of this is when she moves into the higher key lighting found in the kitchen to the darker corridor, the mood is changed by
the conversation between her and Ghost Face becomes a lot more ominous.
The plot of Scream is rather generic as well but it masterfully
parodies the slasher genre whilst also reinventing it, it plays on
all the tropes yet exists in a world where everyone knows about
them I.e. the constant references to past Horror Movies and the
use of rules within the world of the film which come into play as
the film progresses. The most obvious example of this is in the
opening scene where not only does a jock character die but a
blonde girl is the practically the first victim which is a common
character archetype to die first in a conventual horror narrative.
The twists and turns that the film plays with are also similar to
other horror movies with how it plants seeds as to who the killer
is until of course the major shake up of the genre is revealed –
there are two killers.

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Existing Products
Summary

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Horror Conventions
Settings:
Anything that connote
isolation or being alone i.e:
· Urban environments
· Dark streets
· Abandoned houses
· Cabins
· Woods
· Graveyards
Technical Codes:
• They usually utilise low and high camera angles.
• POV shots are common to either make the audience feel as if they are within the scene or watching from the
monster’s point of view.
• Depth of field is commonly played with as it obscures the background for even greater tension.
• Canted angles to create confusion and disorientation.
• Long tracking shots to create tension.
• Extreme close-ups of protagonist’s face to show their fear.
• Quiet scenes with sudden sounds to create tension.
• Slow editing which creates suspense and an unsettling feeling;
Narrative Structure:
A lot of horror movies end a way which allows for a sequel and thus enable a franchise, for example Nightmare On
Elm Street or Child’s Play. There’s always a protagonist, a man or a ‘final girl’ of the film, usually this character is a
girl who must solve problems in order to save themselves or others around them. As for the narratives, a common
thread is that after an event that turns the killer into what we see on screen, the villain returns to their home-town
and begins to prey on teenagers. These teenagers represent ‘immoral’ and usually make dumb decisions that get
them or their friends killed. They usually are the reason for the horror elements in the first place. Noel Carroll, in his
essay ‘The Philosophy of Horror’, details the narrative structure of a traditional horror movie in three stages:
• The first he names the ‘Onset phase’ where a disorder is created, generally in the form of a monster.
• The second Carroll calls the ‘Discovery phase’, where the characters of the story discover that the disorder has occurred.
• The third phase he calls the ‘Disruption phase’, where the characters destroy the source of the disorder and restore normality.
Themes
These Include:
Good vs. Evil
Religion and the Supernatural
Nightmares, Madness, Insanity, Suicide
Childhood Fears and Issues
Revenge
Science gone bad
Murder, Death, Hate
Demons
• Visual style: Often dark colours like red and black (links to evil, blood and danger etc).
• Lighting is expressive and non-naturalistic. Low-key lighting can help to crate dark shadows and
unfamiliar shapes in the blackness. Lighting can be motivated in the world of the film (like
bonfires, fireplaces and torches).
• Props can help us to further identify horror genre. Specific props can be identified with a certain
villain or character (Chainsaws, Machetes, Knife, Claw Gauntlets etc).
• The iconography of the monsters help to connote extreme fear, disgust and terror: Werewolves,
Vampires, Mummies, Frankenstein and many others.
Iconography

10. +
Horror Conventions
Summary
Upon collecting and looking at a multitude of Horror Conventions during this and the background research
sections I have been able to determine which elements I would decide to emulate into my own production,
for example I will be using POV shots to make the audience feel as if they are within the scene or viewing
the lead character from the monster’s point of view, it will also possibly be implemented to show some sort
of action from said character’s point of view. I will be playing with the depth of field within a scene as it is a
great way to obscures the background for even greater tension, As for the type of angles I intend to use –
these will include low, high and canted angles to create confusion and disorientation for the audience and to
display the feelings of the main character. There are a few shots that I also have in my mind before I
properly visualise the scenes I want to include and how I want to show them, these include extreme close-
ups of the protagonist’s face to show their fear, long tracking shots to create tension and quiet scenes with
sudden sounds to create an eerie atmosphere and possibly scare the audience. In terms of Iconography, the
colour scheme will use dark colours like red and black which link to evil, blood and death for an example.
The lighting will be expressive and non-naturalistic with light sources that seem impossible to exist i.e. a light
in the forest. I will also be implementing low-key lighting within the inside and some of the outside scenes to
help create dark shadows and unfamiliar shapes in the blackness of the backgrounds – I may also use
lighting that is motivated within the world of the film like from a lighter or torch. Specific props that I may use
to emulate how the villains in certain franchises are memorable by their ‘weapon’ including a knife (The most
practical weapon to acquire) although I do not intend to show the eventual fate of the main character. In line
with the environments of the film and the usual conventions of horror films, I intend to go from a normal
homely setting to juxtapositioning it with dark woods and creepy old buildings – creating the sense of having
all familiarity taken away from beneath the audience’s feet and enhance the horror aspects of the narrative.

11. +
Potential Camera Techniques
Close Ups - used to see reactions on the actor/actresses face. This is the shot that shows the most emotion
from the characters.
Tracking/Panning Shot - These shots are used to connotate movement, it can be used to make out a
character is being followed or watched. It also could establish a scene so the audience can see the full view.
Another use it could have is using the camera as a way to build the suspense as the audience doesn’t know
what could be coming.
Tilted Angle Shot – This type of shot can be a dramatic way to build tension and could be used to imply that
the camera is being manipulated by some sort of otherworldly entity.
Long Shot – Great way to establish a scene, This can help to show how isolated the location or character is on
screen.
Low Angle Shot – These kinds of shots can help to emphasise how small the character metaphorically is
compared to the more intimidating villain of the piece. This can help to make the audience feel as scared as the
character does and get the sense that the villain is overshadowing them.
Handheld Shots – This shot bleeds the action on the screen into reality. It makes the audience feel like they
are in the character’s shoes and allows for the panic of said character to be conveyed a lot easier as the
audience can fill it in with their own fears.
POV Shot– This shot allows the audience see the film through the eyes of a character or villain, again making
them feel as if they themselves are being stalked or being unable to help the character on screen as they can
see what they cannot. This technique can also lead the viewer to become emotionally attached and give more
profound reactions to things that happen to the character.
Over The Shoulder Shot– This type of shot is perfect for building tension within a scene as it allows the
audience to see whatever is about to happen at the same time as the character does on screen, meaning they
are just as unprepared as them. It is also a good way of showing that the character is being stalked as well as
hiding the surroundings from the audience – keeping them in the dark.

12. +
Potential Editing Techniques
Cutaways –
A Cutaway is an editing technique the interruption of a continuously filmed action by using a view of something else.
Smash Cuts–
A Smash Cut is a cut that occurs without warning in the middle of a scene and transitions abruptly to another.
Jump Cuts –
A Jump Cut is a cut in which two sequential shots of the same subject are taken from camera positions that vary only slightly
if at all.
Fades to Black –
This is usually used to signal the beginning and end of a scene.
Straight Cut –
This editing technique involves one shot to suddenly end and the next shot to abruptly come onto the screen. It allows
unnecessary footage to be removed or shortened.
Elliptical Editing –
Another type of editing that again cuts unnecessary actions from a sequence.
Subliminal Cut –
A cut that consists of a few frames which go by so fast that the viewer is only subliminally aware of them.
Seamless Editing –
An editing technique that cuts between shots that are very well matched to the action and flow without the audience really
noticing that there were even any cuts.

13. +
Potential Editing & Camera
Techniques
Summary
My goal is to present the film in a unique way that gives it a style that represents me, The most notable Camera
techniques I will attempt to utilise where appropriate are a tracking/panning shot which I will use to emphasize how
isolated the character is and help to emulate that to the audience. Another is the Over The Shoulder Shot which will help
me have the audience to see whatever is about to happen at the same time as the character does on screen to
maximize the fear effect. There’s also the Tilted Angle Shot which I will use to build tension and make the audience feel
uncomfortable and unnerving whilst watching the film which is important for creating a horror film. Close Ups will be
utilised as well with how they can be used to express the fear or other emotions that the character could be showing. I
will be using Low Angle Shots to emphasise how small the character metaphorically is compared to the more intimidating
villain of the piece which will come into play when she makes her true first appearance. With any production I prepared
to adapt the camera techniques to suit the scene once I fully develop my vision for the film and if I am unable to recreate
said vision on the day for whatever reason. As for editing techniques, I plan to implement a multitude within the post
production process of the film, although I am fully prepared for these to change once I actually have the footage, the
ones I have a pretty good idea that I will be using when the time comes are Cutaways which I will use as an interruption
to a continuously filmed action by using a view of something else from a different perspective. Smash Cuts can help to
keep the audience uncomfortable and unable to completely follow what is happening as they occur without warning in
the middle of a scene and then transition abruptly to another, I could essentially use this as a form of Jumpscare.
Another editing technique I would quite like to include is a subliminal cut where scenes go past at such a speed that the
viewer is only subconsciously aware of them which would allow me to plant images into their minds that could come up
more prominently further into the film. Finally the editing technique that I would most like to implement into my own work
is Seamless Editing, this cuts between shots that are matched in some way to the action and flow without the audience
really noticing that there were even any cuts – for example someone picking up a drink in one scene but there’s a similar
scene it cuts to where the same action is taking place, changing the location, character etc without sharply cutting to
them. This is the kind of editing I enjoy in a film as it absorbs you into the world of the film and helps to prevent the
audience’s immersion from being broken by a scene or shot transition.

14. +
Potential Props & Equipment
Equipment List:
• Fog Machine
- Already Owned
FREE
• Outside light
- Already Owned
FREE
• Petrol Generator, 2.6kVA
Portable Petrol Generator
https://www.hss.com/hire/p/generator-
portable-2-6kva-petrol
One Week Hire
£28.00
Prop List:
• Blank DVD Disk – £8.00
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Optical-Quantum-10-
Pack-Inkjet-
White/dp/B0040NK0SU/ref=sr_1_9?s=electronics&i
e=UTF8&qid=1550577326&sr=1-
9&keywords=White+Printable+DVD
• Fake Blood - £3.99
https://www.redcarpetfx.com/products/ben-nye-
professional-stage-
blood?utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=googlepla&g
clid=CjwKCAiA767jBRBqEiwAGdAOrzYQ7wXlREw
Fdbz8PzOPWQiL4BVgh2wu9Th19o2AO0XD89RT
KRcR2hoCy1YQAvD_BwE
• Prop Weapons
https://www.bladesandbows.co.uk/new-stuff-just-in-
70-c.asp
• Camera (600D)
- Already Owned
FREE
• Tripod
- College Hire
FREE
• Boom Mic
- College Hire
FREE
• RODE Shotgun
Microphone)
- College Hire
FREE
• Handheld Audio
Recorder
- College Hire
FREE
• LED video Light
Panel
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/produ
ct/B01L8XQN2Q/ref=ox_sc_act_title
_1?smid=A1M6RRW6BWW6Q1&ps
c=1
£29.99
Overall cost:
Separated
£28.00
£29.99
£8.00
£3.99
Needed budget:
£69.98

15. +
Potential Costumes
Everyday Clothes (Possibly Provided by Actress)
Romacci Women Boho
Dress Casual Irregular
Maxi Dresses Vintage
Loose Long Sleeve
Cotton Viscose Dress,S-
5XL
Costume for Ghost
https://bit.ly/2SRFgPm
Plus Crochet
Lace Open
Shoulder Maxi
Dress
https://bit.ly/2SeQzMo
https://amzn.to/2GzwQ8J
Amazon – Price £16.99
LightInTheBox – Price
£10.45
Boohoo – Price £12.00
Haunting Beauty
Ghost Costume
Amazon – Price £36.75
https://amzn.to/2GAX0ba

16. +
Potential Filming Locations
Reception
The Woods
Queenswood School

17. +
Potential Filming Locations
Reception
The Woods
Queenswood School
The reception of the school is a perfect place for the weird old location I want to include as part of the
narrative because not only is it extremely easy to access with my Nan working there and having a multitude
of contacts within the school but with the building being rather old in design it means that the environment
has the old timey feel I want for the lead to be sent to. I will need to cover anything that relates to the School
though as because of the policy for filming there – they cannot allow it. However there is quite a large
disadvantage in that as I could potentially struggle to cover them without it looking fake and the final
disadvantage is that I only have a limited time to film there as I am not able to when the school is in function.
The woods surrounding the school are again a perfect place for woods I want to include as part of the
narrative because not only is it extremely easy to access for the same reason but the slight mixture of
human architecture and nature creates an environment that within a horror concept could be quite unsettling
to the audience as for example there are several locations where there is a lamp post leading into the woods
or large open spaces that will make it easier to get equipment in and out. The advantages of this location is
that I have access to it at any time and it is a lot safer than the more public locations for the time of day I
would like to fill along with that I won’t have to worry about any interference whilst filming.

18. +
Potential Filming Locations
Hatfield House

19. +
Potential Filming Locations
Hatfield House would be my dream locale for the old timey building wanted for the narrative as the
architecture is incredible and the fact that it is steeped in history makes it a lot more interesting of a location
to film in. The huge wide open yet cold rooms of the house would be perfect for the sense of eeriness I want
to convey in this section of the film. However there are a multitude of issues filming there, I would be under
strict instructions and getting the required permissions could be rather difficult as a lot of professional
productions film there like the TV series Victoria or the recent film The Favourite. There is also the possibility
of not being able to even film at the time of day I would like which would impede on the atmosphere and
make it impossible to create the scenes. It would also give my film a more professional look overall which
could enhance it, although the minimalistic location of Queenswood could be more effective. There may also
be the issue of having an even tighter schedule to film under because of this which could add a lot of stress
onto the production and everyone involved.
http://www.hatfield-house.co.uk/filming-at-hatfield-house/
Contacts for filming
Sarah Cardall-Spawforth T: 01707 287001 | M: 07740 267137
| Email: s.cardall-spawforth@hatfield-house.co.uk.
Hatfield House

20. +
Potential Filming Locations
Gobion Wood

21. +
Potential Filming Locations
Northaw Great Wood

22. +
Potential Filming Locations
Northaw Great & Gobion Wood
These two locations are very similar so I have decided to combine them in this summary and are a
much larger space to film in than the woods at Queenswood, Gobion Wood is a public wood that
has trails for easy traversal with the equipment I would need to bring – looking at pictures after
visiting there myself, I can see that the denser woods would be very effective at conveying the
isolationistic mood I want the audience to feel – the landscape has some rather interesting spots
throughout with open spaces, bridges, tunnels and rivers as well as a huge archway that towers
over the treeline which again under the Horror concept could be quite unsettling to the viewer. The
disadvantages of this location is that I will absolutely have to deal with public interference, It covers
a large amount of land and as I am not familiar with the area there is a chance I could get lost. The
other woods, Northaw Great as said before is very similar in landscape to Gobions but is more like
a traditional woods without any human created structures aside from a couple bridges which could
work in my favour when keeping the world of the film consistent with not including any extremely
out of place architecture. This location has similar disadvantages to that of Northaw Great with the
possibility of public interference and as I am again not familiar with the area there is a chance I
could get lost.

23. +
• https://www.bfi.org.uk/sites/bfi.org.uk/files/downloads/bfi-statistical-yearbook-audiences-2016-2017-09-27.pdf
• https://cmpalexgilbey.weebly.com/uploads/3/8/8/7/38878453/horror_film_research.pdf
• https://movio.co/blog/unmasking-horror-moviegoing-audiences/
• https://civicscience.com/horror-movie-fan-facts/
• https://saraeveninga2media.wordpress.com/2012/10/09/audience-research/
• https://www.amazon.com/Horror-Films-Preferences-Reactions-Communication/dp/0805811745
• https://www.slideshare.net/scarlettchristou/secondary-research-42644087
• http://www.participations.org/Volume%209/Issue%202/4%20Redfern.pdf
• https://stephenfollows.com/social-class-of-cinema-audiences/
• http://www.bbfc.co.uk/
• https://jessicasessionsblog1.wordpress.com/2017/05/17/target-audience-the-horror-channel/
• https://psmag.com/social-justice/psychology-horror-movie-fan-halloween-scary-cinema-93375
• http://iconicpictures.weebly.com/conventions-of-horror.html
• https://louisabroadheadmediablog.wordpress.com/2011/12/13/codes-and-conventions-of-horror-films/
Bibliography
http://www.definitionmagazine.com/journal/2015/3/11/it-follows-shoot-story.html
https://www.videomaker.com/article/c3/17056-
when-editing-a-horror-movie-or-thriller-timing-is-
key
https://www.shutterstock.com/blog/classic-horror-film-
techniques
https://itstillworks.com/12557564/how-to-edit-a-horror-movie
http://lexieemariie.wixsite.com/alexissolis/single-
post/2016/08/25/Editing-Techniques-in-Horror-Films
https://prezi.com/o_wylsnd1gvq/editing-styles-of-horror-films/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0Qd_dZVuVs
https://www.scaretissue.com/post-production-tips-to-make-your-horror-film-extra-eerie/