Distribution

'Who's There?': First Draft

'Who's There?': Behind the Scenes

Music and Sound

After shooting our opening for the first time, I began experimenting with various pieces of music that would compliment our footage well and fit into the horror genre. I wanted to find music that featured eerie and uncomfortable sounds that would put my audience on edge when watching. When watching, I want them to feel uncomfortable and scared and music will help in doing this. 

For inspiration, I have researched a variety of slasher horror soundtracks. This helped me know what music I was looking for. I learnt what was needed in a horror movie soundtrack for it to be frightening, for example, staccato. All soundtracks are discordant and jarring which is what will put the audience on edge and make them feel uncomfortably scared when watching which is what I aim to do as I feel music plays a big part in scaring an audience. Below are the three major slasher soundtracks I researched, Friday the 13th, A Nightmare on Elm Street and Halloween.

Friday the 13th

A Nightmare on Elm Street

Halloween

From these soundtracks from popular slasher horror films Friday the 13th, A Nightmare on Elm Street and Halloween it made it easier to know what soundtrack I wanted for my opening. I searched for copyright free music on www.purple-planet.com and found some that I thought would match my footage well. Below are 3 soundtracks that I considered to have in my opening.

Insidious: This soundtrack begins to set an eerie atmosphere but as it goes on, uncomfortable sounds are introduced making the piece more harsh and discordant. This matches my footage perfectly as I want to create an eerie, creepy atmosphere at the beginning of my opening when Sam finds the newspaper article about the masked killer, then I want the music to turn more jarring with the use of staccato when Ben enters the forest and the Masked Killer is shown for the first time. I ended up choosing this soundtrack to be the one featured in my opening as I feel as if it would match the footage just as I want it to.

Sepulchral: I liked this soundtrack due to the distorted piano as I feel as if it could make the audience feel uncomfortable with fear and suspicion. The piano could also link to the vulnerable and child-like nature of Sam as he is scared when he finds the newspaper article about the masked killer. However, I do not feel as if this piece would compliment my footage just as much as I would like it to. Also, I believe this distorted piano soundtrack would sound better in a paranormal horror film, not a slasher as slasher films tend to be a lot more jarring and fast-paced, like the three existing examples above.

Executor: Similarly to the first of my chosen soundtracks, this one features jarring and discordant sounds to make the audience feel uncomfortable with fear. However, I prefer the first one in the way that it builds up instead of starting jarring straight away. I do not feel as if this would match my opening at the beginning when Sam and Ben are speaking.

After receiving feedback from my draft opening, I realised I needed to feature more sound effects. As a result I have since added some sound effects to make my footage look more effective and to conform to the slasher horror genre. Before, GB turned around when he was in the forest however there were no noises as to why he did turn around, so I added a sound effect of a twig snapping. Furthermore, I added a sound effect of the Masked Killer breathing through the gas mask over the POV shots to make it clear that it is a point of view from a killer and at the end when he kills GB, I believe this has made the ending of the opening more scary for audiences.

Potential Target Auidence

Props

Audience Feedback

We showed the synopsis for our horror film 'Who's There?' from various people that we know and asked them to give us feedback from it. We made sure we asked people that are different ages and genre to get an accurate and different response. Below is a video showing all of the feedback we received.

Shot List and Shooting Schedule

Original Shot List (Day 1)

Scene and Shot	Order of Shot	Location	Shot Description	Framing	Action	Dialogue	Actors	Props	Notes
1 1	1	Pathway	Bare trees	CU
1 2	2	Pathway	GB and GC walking through field	LS			GB, GC
1 3	8	Outside Chapel	GB and GC walk in front chapel and notice a newspaper article	LS	Pan		GB, GC	Newspaper article
1 4	9	Outside Chapel	CU of newspaper article	CU			GC	Newspaper article
1 5	10	Outside Chapel	GC talks to GB	MS		“Have you heard about this guy?	GC		Worried
1 6	13	Outside Chapel	GB talks to GC	MS		“The Masked Killer? Yeah, it’s cool right?’	GB		Confident
1 7	11	Outside Chapel	GC talks to GB	MS		“Cool? More like crazy”	GC		Taken back
1 8	14	Outside Chapel	GB talks to GC	MS		“You scared?”	GB		Laughing
1 9	12	Outside Chapel	GC talks to GB	MS		“Me? No. Anyway, it’s getting dark come on”	GC		Worried
1 10	15	Outside Chapel	GC drops the newspaper article and GB and GC leave	LS	Pan		GB, GC	Newspaper article
2 11	16	Outside Forest	GB and GC approach forest	LS	Pan		GB, GC
2 12	17	Outside Forest	GC talks to GB	MS		“Ben, no, it’s getting dark and with all this stuff about the masked killer, going through the forest isn’t the best idea”	GC		Worried
2 13	19	Outside Forest	GB talks to GC	MS		“I knew you were scared, don’t be such a girl”	GB		Laughing
2 14	18	Outside Forest	GC talks to GB	MS		“Whatever, I’m going the other way”	GC		Angry
2 15	20	Outside Forest	GC walks away from GB, GB looking back at him	LS			GB, GC
2 16	21	Outside Forest	GB looks at forest and turns around to look at GC, GB looks worried but determined	MS			GB
2 17	22	Outside Forest	GB walks into forest	ELS			GB
3 18	24	Inside Forest	GB walks through forest, looking back now and then	LS			GB
3 19	29	Inside Forest	AC’s point of view of GB	POV LS			GB
3 20	26	Inside Forest	GB’s feet that are getting quicker as he becomes more frightened	CU			GB
3 21	25	Inside Forest	GB walking faster	LS			GB
3 22	30	Inside Forest	AC’s point of view of GB	POV LS			GB
3 23	27	Inside Forest	GB gets out his phone of pocket	LS			GB	GB phone
3 24	28	Inside Forest	GB calling GC	CU			GB	GB phone
4 25	3	Pathway	GC walking back	LS			GC
4 26	4	Pathway	GC taking phone out of pocket and looks at who is calling	CU			GC	GC phone
4 27	5	Pathway	GC answers phone	CU		“Hello? Ben?”	GC	GC phone	Worried
4 28	31	Inside Forest	GB backing away in shock	POV MS			GB
4 29	6	Pathway	GC on phone	MS		“Ben stop joking around its not funny”	GC	GC phone	Angry
4 30	32	Inside Forest	GB backing away in shock	POV MS			GB
4 31	7	Pathway	GC hears scream from GB, he puts phone away and begins to turn back	MS			GC	GC phone
5 32	23	Outside Forest	GC running to forest	LS			GC
5 33	33	Inside Forest	GC walking through forest, looking back now and then	LS			GC
5 34	34	Inside Forest	GC turns around out of breath	CU		“Who’s there?”	GC		Frightened
5 35	35	Inside Forest	GC turns around and notices GB on floor covered in blood, he runs up to him	LS			GB, GC	GB fake blood
5 36	36	Inside Forest	GC kneels down beside GB who is dead	MS			GB, GC	GB fake blood
5 37	37	Inside Forest	AC approaching GB and GC holding knife	CU			AC, GB, GC	Knife Gas mask	Expose GB and GC in background, blood on knife at all times
5 38	38	Inside Forest	AC approaching GB and GC	MS			AC, GB, GC	Knife Gas Mask	Expose GB and GC in background,
5 39	39	Inside Forest	GC stands up and backs away from GB and backs into a knife that AC is holding up	LS			AC, GB, GC	Knife Gas mask	Expose knife in AC’s hand
5 40	40	Inside Forest	GC pours blood from his mouth, he groans and falls to his knees	MS			AC, GC	GC fake blood Knife Gas mask
5 41	41	Inside Forest	GC falls to ground next to GB	LS			AC, GB, GC	GB GC fake blood Gas mask
5 42	42	Inside Forest	AC’s point of view of GB and GC dead	POV HA			GB, GC	GB GC fake blood
5 43	43	Inside Forest	LA of AC	LA			AC	Knife Gas mask
5 44	44	Inside Forest	AC looking over GB and GC, he begins to take mask off but scene ends before	LS > CU	Zoom		AC, GB, GC	GB GC fake blood Knife Gas mask




Original Shooting Schedule (Day 2)




Day/Date	Scene	Int/Ext Day/Night	Shot Descriptions	Location	Actors	Props
SHOOT DAY 1 FRIDAY 21 NOVEMBER 2014
1100 - 1230	1 Part of 4	Ext. Day	1: GB and GC find a newspaper article on a masked killer outside chapel 4: GC talking to GB on phone	Monkston Park: Pathway / Woolstone: Chapel	GB GC	Newspaper article GC phone
1245 - 0130	2 Part of 5	Ext. Day	2: GB and GC approach a forest, however GC does not want to go through causing them to part 5: GC running to forest	Monkston Park: Outside Forest	GB GC
SHOOT DAY 2 WEDNESDAY 26 NOVEMBER 2014
1015 - 1130	3 Rest of 4 Rest of 5	Ext. Day	3: GB enters forest and becomes scared 4: GB backing away in shock 5: GC enters forest to find GB dead, AC kills GC also	Monkston Park: Inside Forest	GB GC AC	GB phone GB GC fake blood Gas Mask Knife

However, after we shot on the first day (Friday 21 November 2014) and began to edit we decided to change our shot list as well as our script and storyboard and cut a couple of scenes to ensure our opening doesn't run over 2 minutes long. Our final shot list and our final shooting schedule (Day 2) are below.

Improved Shot List (Day 2)

Scene	Shot: Order of Appearance	Shot: Order of Shooting	Location	Shot Description	Framing	Action	Dialogue	Actors	Props	Notes
1	1	1	Pathway	Bare trees	CU
1	2	2	Pathway	GC walking on pathway by himself	LS			GC
1	3	3	Pathway	GC notices newspaper article	LS			GC	Newspaper article
1	4	4	Pathway	CU of newspaper article	CU			GC	Newspaper article
1	5	5	Pathway	GC shocked by what he has just read	MS			GC	Newspaper article
1	6	6	Pathway	GC continues to walk, carrying the article	LS			GC	Newspaper article
2	7	11	Outside Forest	GC meets GB	LS			GC, GB	Newspaper article
2	8	12	Outside Forest	GB dialogue	MS		“Hey, why do you look so scared? What’s that?”	GB		Confused
2	9	13	Outside Forest	GC dialogue	MS		“If you think I’m going through that forest with you, forget it, I’ve just been reading about a masked killer whose approaching people around here. Haven’t you heard about it?”	GC		Angry and Worried
2	10	14	Outside Forest	GC hands the article over to GB	CU			GC, GB	Newspaper article
2	11	15	Outside Forest	GB dialogue	MS		“It’s highly unlikely that this will happen to us today. You’re being stupid, anyway it’s probably someone having a laugh”	GB		Confident
2	12	16	Outside Forest	GC dialogue	MS		“Whatever, I’m going back”	GC		Worried
2	13	17	Outside Forest	GC walking back whilst GB looks back at him	LS			GC, GB	Newspaper article
2	14	18	Outside Forest	GB beginning to believe GC but he enters forest	CU			GB
2	15	19	Outside Forest	GB drops article and walks enters forest	LS			GB	Newspaper article
3	16	20	Forest	GB walking through forest, looking back now and then	LS			GB
3	17	21	Forest	GB walking through forest, beginning to get scared	MS			GB
3	18	22	Forest	AC’s POV of GB	POV			GB
3	19	23	Forest	GB’s feet getting faster	CU			GB
3	20	24	Forest	AC’s POV of GB	POV			GB
3	21	25	Forest	GB getting phone out to call Sam	LS			GB	GB phone
3	22	7	Pathway	GC walking back	LS			GC
3	23	8	Pathway	GC’s phone begins to ring, he gets it out of pocket	CU			GC	GC Phone
3	24	9	Pathway	GC sees who is ringing	CU			GC	GC Phone
3	25	10	Pathway	GC doesn’t answer as he just thinks GB is joking around, he puts phone away and continues walking	MS			GC	GC Phone
3	26	26	Forest	GB realises GC won’t pick up, he puts phone away	LS			GB	GB phone
3	27	27	Forest	Weapon held by AC	CU			AC	Knife
3	28	28	Forest	GB scared	CU		“Who’s there?”	GB		Terrified
3	29	29	Forest	Over the shoulder shot of AC	MS			AC	Gas Mask, Knife
3	30	30	Forest	360 degree shot of GB’s POV then he looks behind him and sees AC	POV			AC	Gas Mask Knife
3	31	31	Forest	AC stabs GB causing GB to fall to ground	MS			GB, AC	Gas Mask, Knife
3	32	32	Forest	Ben pouring with blood from his mouth falls to ground	CU			GB	Fake blood	Dutch tilt
3	33	33	Forest	AC looking over GB who is covered in blood, dead	LS			GB, AC	Gas Mask, Knife, Fake blood
3	34	34	Forest	AC about to take mask off but before he does, cuts to black	CU			AC	Gas Mask




Improved Shooting Schedule (Day 2)

Day/Date	Scene	Int/Ext Day/Night	Shot Descriptions	Location	Actors		Props
SHOOT DAY 2 SUNDAY 30 NOVEMBER 2014
1100 - 1200	1/3	Ext. Day	1: GC notices newspaper article when walking to meet GB 3: GC walking back ignoring GB phone call	Monkston Park: Pathway		GC		Newspaper article GC phone
1200 - 1300	2	Ext. Day	2: GC meets GB and tells him about The Masked Killer, GC goes back however GB enters forest	Monkston Park: Outside Forest		GB GC		Newspaper article
1300 - 1500	3	Ext. Day	3: GB enters forest and becomes scared, he then come face to face with The Masked Killer and is	Monkston Park: Inside Forest		GB AC		GB phone GB fake blood Gas Mask Knife

I then submitted my draft for my opening and recieved feedback to re-film some shots and add a few to improve further. The shot list and shooting schedule below is for when we will film our pick up shots. 

Shot List For Pick Up Shots (Day 3)

Scene	Shot	Location	Framing	Description	Dialogue	Actors	Props	Notes
1	1	Pathway	CU	Bare trees
1	2	Pathway	LS	GC walking to forest		GC
1	3	Pathway	LS	GC notices newspaper article		GC	Newspaper article
1	4	Pathway	CU	CU of newspaper article		GC	Newspaper article
1	5	Pathway	MS	GC shocked at what he just read		GC	Newspaper article
2	6	Outside Forest	LS	GC continues to walk, carrying the article		GC	Newspaper article
2	7	Outside Forest	LS	GC meets GB outside forest		GC, GB	Newspaper article
2	8	Outside Forest	MS	GB dialogue	“Why do you look so scared? What’s that?”	GC, GB	Newspaper article
2	9	Outside Forest	MS	GC dialogue	“If you think I am getting home through the forest today you can forget it, haven’t you heard?”	GC, GB	Newspaper article
2	10	Outside Forest	CU	GC hands over the article to GB		GC, GB	Newspaper article
2	11	Outside Forest	MS	GB reads article then GB dialogue after laughing	“You really think this is going to happen to us?”	GC, GB	Newspaper article
2	12	Outside Forest	MS	GC dialogue	“Whatever, I’m going to walk back the other way”	GC, GB	Newspaper article
2	13	Outside Forest	MS	GB looking at GC walking away		GB
2	14	Outside Forest	LS	GB approaching forest, he drops newspaper article		GB	Newspaper article
2	14/15 (New)	Outside Forest	MS	GC looks back at GB as he walks back the way he came		GC
3	21	Inside Forest	MS	GC walks forwards but then stops and walks backwards, gets his phone out and calls GC		GB	Phone
3	22	Pathway	LS	GC walking back		GC
3	23	Pathway	CU	GC’s phone begins to ring, he gets it out of his pocket		GC	Phone
3	24	Pathway	CU	CU of phone, he realises it is GB who is calling		GC	Phone
3	25	Pathway	MS	GC looks annoyed, he thinks GB is trying to trick him into something		GC
3	25/26 (New)	Pathway	CU	CU of phone as he declines the call and continues to walk		GC	Phone
4	35	Outside House	CU	CU of gas mask the masked killer was wearing in cardboard box, sound of someone walking closer then voice of girl in background asking about it	“Dad, there’s just one more box from the attic”	EB	Gas Mask, Box

Shooting Schedule For Pick Up Shots (Day 3)

Day/Date	Scene	Int/Ext Day/Night	Shot Descriptions	Location	Actors	Props
SHOOT DAY 3 SUNDAY 11 January 2015
2:00 – 2:30	1	Ext. Day	GC walking to forest, he notices newspaper article on his way	Monkston Park: Pathway	GC	Newspaper article
2:30 – 3:00	2	Ext. Day	GC meets GB and tells him about The Masked Killer	Monkston Park: Outside Forest	GB GC	Newspaper article
3:00 – 3:30	3	Ext. Day	GB walking through forest and GC walks back from forest when GB calls him	Monkston Park: Inside Forest / Pathway	GB AC	GC phone
3:30 – 3:45	4	Ext. Day	Gas mask in box when new family are moving into house	Monkston Park: Pathway	EB	Gas Mask Cardboard Box