The Main Characters

Andrea Catalano

This is the main character in my film. It took me forever to choose a picture that she actually agreed to letting me post! Even though she did not want me posting a picture at all, she was kind enough for this one time.

My friend Andrea is very good at conveying emotions in a character. Although she does not act as a hobby, she certainly did very well and was a great choice for this character.

In the film, she plays a character who has just recently been through a very traumatic experience. She does not know if what's happening around her is real or a hallucination. Combine that idea with horror and suspense... There are many things that can be done with that.

Giving out any more information than that will expose my plot.
                                                                                                                                                  

Camille Morar

This is the other person involved in my film. Don't worry, there were no complications in agreeing to post this picture.

As a lover of film herself, my friend Camille was a big contribution to my film not only with her character, but also external contributions were made such as helping me plan out some of my scenes and what she thought should be different to make the story better.

Her role in the film is to accentuate my other character's visions. The way she does this is also giving out too much information, and I don't want that just yet.

Very soon, we will see how both these characters set the mood for my film and ultimately improved my initial ideas.

Changes Have Come

After a review of my plot, I have made couple of changes.

I told many people my ideas for the film opening that I am creating. Every person I have spoken to has had a different opinion on how to approach some of my scenes. I find this very helpful because it is all constructive criticism that I can take into account when I begin filming.

Since I am creating a suspense/horror film opening, many of my friends have given me different ideas as to how to proceed with the climatic points of the piece. In this genre of film, these are key points to capturing the audiences' attention. Some of notes that I have written down, I am implementing into my piece, and others I have decided to leave out. It was great to hear the opinions of my friends because this is what is going to help my piece turn out even better. I was able to see what should and should not be stressed in this type of film.

Even though I have made a final decision as to what I am going to do, what happens in the scene is still a surprise to come.

Location Found!

I have finally found the place where I'm going to film my production!

My friend is in the process of moving into her new house. Although it has such a nice view and it makes me just want to relax, I couldn't help but realize that all I was thinking about while I was there was that it is the perfect setting for what I am trying to shoot. Since it was the first time that I had seen the house, she gave me a tour of the place. While I was walking through the house, the scenes came to me as if it were actually happening right in front of me. I was able to visualize everything in an instant.

If all goes well, then I should be starting my film very soon. Time to hope for the best!

Key Points

I've been watching many videos that have to do with suspense and horror. What I realize is that they all have some things in common.

There were three things that caught my eye every single time.

First, the lighting. I watched several amateur videos, competitive videos, and even videos that were made just for fun. In every setting, the lighting either started very bright and continually got darker or it just immediately started out with low lighting all the way to the end. The reason for this is to set the mood for the piece. Viewers usually associate darkness with evil and mystery. What makes dark lighting so effective is that the viewer is not able to see everything clearly. Then, from one moment to the next, you flash something that is piercing to the eye. Combining this with the element of surprise makes the viewer believe that something else will pop out and keeps them entertained. Another thing about lighting is that it develops a frightening atmosphere. Creating an atmosphere is key to make the viewers stay on the edge of their seat.

After that, the sounds. Sounds, like the lighting, also influence the mood of the piece. Knowing where to place certain sounds can affect the atmosphere dramatically. For example, in a horror film it is common to hear music that starts out very quiet. The viewer can hear it, but it is not dominant in what the senses pick up. As tension rises in the piece, the music gets louder and louder until there is a climactic point. At this climax, the shocking part of the piece occurs with a pop out scare or something that horrifies the viewer. After this, the music falls back low or just stops completely, interrupting the viewers tension, but still maintaining the creepy atmosphere. It keeps the viewer wanting to see if anything else happens.

Finally, the editing. Fast paced editing was used in some pieces while others used long takes. In some cases, the piece used a combination of both. Fast paced editing creates tension with the viewer and does not allow them any time to develop their thoughts about what is happening in the scene. Long takes are used more for showing the reaction of characters to what is happening in the surroundings. Long close-ups of the character's face create an intimate feeling and spark terror within the viewer. When combined successfully, the piece feels real and shocks the audience very well.

To make my film a success, I must incorporate all of these aspects effectively.

The Master of Suspense

Alfred Hitchcock

Alfred Hitchcock, undoubtedly one of the best film directors of his time, was known for his stunning ability to play with the emotions of the viewer. Nicknamed "The Master of Suspense," he certainly lived up to the reputation that he earned.

A "master of technique" would be a term that I would use to describe his works. He excels at being able to place the viewer in the position of the characters and spark emotion through the plot.

In my own film piece, I would like to explore these same techniques and implement some of them into my own creation.

Film Techniques of Alfred Hitchcock - the link provides a look into some of Hitchcock's techniques and helps to become familiar with what he looks at to give each piece its own unique feeling.

Bays, J. (n.d.). Film Techniques of Alfred Hitchcock - suspense, camera angles, style, editing, basics. Retrieved March 9, 2015, from http://www.borgus.com/hitch/