INtro to Horror
Welcome to my Nightmare
Intro: Alice Cooper Music Video: Welcome to my Nightmare Watch the Short Lights Out. What do you recall of the ‘rules’ of Horror Films? In groups, brainstorm all the Horror films you can remember seeing. Which ones did you find laughable? Which did you find frightening and why? Discuss
|
|
Viewing and Analysing
Research Piece:
Research German Expressionism. Definition: German Expressionism refers to a number of related creative movements beginning in Germany before the First World War that reached a peak in Berlin during the 1920s. Watch, I believe a computer is narrating this one, some key facts about German Expressionism ----> |
|
|
Here are some helpful links:
1. Google Doc GERMAN EXPRESSIONISM IN FILM 2. Watch 10 classic German Expr. Films 3. The Movement 4. Info on Films and Background 5. An Introduction to German Expressionist Films Task (on Google Classroom): In pairs, complete the following German Expressionism Working Doc - making connections between German Expressionism and the Horror film genre. Do not complete the Silent Movie and Horror Movie Sections until we study those in class, please. |
Let's take a look at the famour film Nosferatu
We will only watch a short clip from 31:00 minutes.
Please note the use of lights and shadow in this section.
EXTENSION PLUS: Wanna see more? Take a look at The Golem (1920). Again, using light and sound to create an atmosphere for the viewer. |
|
German expressionism elements
German Expressionist Films (1920s-1930s)
Examples: The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, Nosferatu, The Last laugh, Metropolis, M, The Golem |
|
silent movie TTC (Take the challenge)
TASK (2 classes)
Documenting the process of making a film Your assignment is to create a Silent Film. See details below. Silent Movie Soundtracks LINKEDDates:
September 11th - Storyboarding September 16th - Taking initial shots. Note: please discuss your German Expressionist shots that WILL be in your film. What is the intended purpose for each shots? September 18th - editing September 20th - Analysis (see details below) |
What needs to be done:
- Come up with a story.
- Write a script - even if there is no dialogue, you must write a script. Need help? Take a look at the screenplay for The Artist below.
- Think about how shots will fit together and how cinema is not just about the things that we see.
- Create a storyboard based on your script - pay attention to how you will communicate the story visually and try not to assume that your audience is familiar with your piece, you have to create a complete narrative that requires no pre-knowledge of the text.
- Ask yourself how the sequence will cut together
- How it will sound?
- What are you trying to achieve - Realism, Non-realism, Expressionism, Emotion - not sure what these terms mean? Please do a quick search to know more.
- Your aim is to create a film that does not rely on the spoken word to communicate a story.
- Create a schedule for your production process, this should include pre-production, production and post-production
"The first ever film version of Lewis Carroll's tale has recently been restored by the BFI National Archive from severely damaged materials. Made just 37 years after Lewis Carroll wrote his novel and eight years after the birth of cinema, the adaptation was directed by Cecil Hepworth and Percy Stow, and was based on Sir John Tenniel's original illustrations. In an act that was to echo more than 100 years later, Hepworth cast his wife as the Red Queen, and he himself appears as the Frog Footman. Even the Cheshire cat is played by a family pet.
With a running time of just 12 minutes (8 of which survive), Alice in Wonderland was the longest film produced in England at that time. Film archivists have been able to restore the film's original colours for the first time in over 100 years. |
Film Parameters:
|
What is silent film?A Silent Film is a bit of a misnomer. There is sound, it is just not synchronous dialogue. Silent Films were often produced with musical scores attached to them. So, there was a soundtrack that was played live during the viewing of Silent Film runs from 1894-1927. 1894 marking the first known film and 1927 is when The Jazz Singer, the first film with synchronised dialogue was released.
|
Student silent film project |
Main elements of Silent Film:
- No synchronous dialogue
- Intertitles to communicate parts of the story to the audience
- Live music and sound
- Acting that emphasised body language and facial expression
- Frame rates that varied between 12-26 fps (frames per second)
- Tinting - the film was given a wash of colour
- Silent Films were/are far more sophisticated than people initially give them credit for and handled all forms of genre: drama, epic, romance and comedy...
Analysis
Game:
Who Am I?
Rules: you can only ask YES or NO questions.
Analysis:
Analyse the opening sequence from the original Japanese “Ringu” and the American re-make, “The Ring.”
Consider the differences between the 2, and how the culture of the film makers is reflected in the films.
This is assessed as a presentation.
What do I need to make my presentation a success?
1. Group 1 (Achi, Park, Nadav) : Research the cultural context of the film makers.
2. Group 2 (Alex, Shyla, Naoki) : Research the cultural context of the film Ringu.
3. Group 3 (John, Zach, Shafeeq, Winner) : Research the cultural context of the film The Ring.
4. Group 4 (Claudia, Craig, Will): Research the movement - German Expressionism.
Who Am I?
Rules: you can only ask YES or NO questions.
Analysis:
Analyse the opening sequence from the original Japanese “Ringu” and the American re-make, “The Ring.”
Consider the differences between the 2, and how the culture of the film makers is reflected in the films.
This is assessed as a presentation.
What do I need to make my presentation a success?
1. Group 1 (Achi, Park, Nadav) : Research the cultural context of the film makers.
2. Group 2 (Alex, Shyla, Naoki) : Research the cultural context of the film Ringu.
3. Group 3 (John, Zach, Shafeeq, Winner) : Research the cultural context of the film The Ring.
4. Group 4 (Claudia, Craig, Will): Research the movement - German Expressionism.
How to make a horror a film
Watch
New Horror Trailer SNL Highlight Research: Read the following articles:
Read Edgar Allan Poe's The Raven: http://www.houseofusher.net/raven.html Discussion: What are the elements of horror? Class 2 Watch: Simpson's House of Terror Scream Opening Read Wes Craven's Scream opens with a self-contained master class in horror Discussion: Chalk Talk - tone, mood, rhythm, etc. Task: Create our own TTC Horror |
|
TTC: Horror FilM
Your film must have:
1. Lighting - contrasting, dark lighting, shadows, etc. Play with lighting.
2. Music - used to build and create tension - should be LOUDER than usual and should be consistant.
3. 3 - 5 shots that create or build tension.
4. 1 - 3 jump scares.
5. Costumes - planned out and used to communicate meaning.
6. Framing - planned out and used to communicate meaning.
7. Developed Protagonist
8. Repeat shots (one unexpected element in one of the sequences)
9. Edits used to build tension at some point in the film.
10. 2 - 3 elements from German Expressionism.
11. Setting needs to be established through film.
12. Villain - supernatural and/or suffering with a extreme mental disorder.
13. Time between 2 - 3 minutes.
1. Lighting - contrasting, dark lighting, shadows, etc. Play with lighting.
2. Music - used to build and create tension - should be LOUDER than usual and should be consistant.
3. 3 - 5 shots that create or build tension.
4. 1 - 3 jump scares.
5. Costumes - planned out and used to communicate meaning.
6. Framing - planned out and used to communicate meaning.
7. Developed Protagonist
8. Repeat shots (one unexpected element in one of the sequences)
9. Edits used to build tension at some point in the film.
10. 2 - 3 elements from German Expressionism.
11. Setting needs to be established through film.
12. Villain - supernatural and/or suffering with a extreme mental disorder.
13. Time between 2 - 3 minutes.
AS a summative, you will be asked to create a Production portfolio.
additional resources
|
Note:
I have heard that there are some iOS/Android Programmes that have Horror Film Making - know of any? Share with the group.
I have heard that there are some iOS/Android Programmes that have Horror Film Making - know of any? Share with the group.
|
|
|
|