Research : The Importance Of Sound In Horror Films

Sound is often overlooked in films but it is often the single most important element in setting the mood for the scene. Music has the ability to set the tone for how events will unfold. Music may progressively build to signify that a dramatic event is about to happen or it may be upbeat to lighten the mood. Horror films rely heavily in sound clips to create a scary scene. One does not think about it but if one were to remove the sound from a horror film its fear factor would decrease dramatically. John Hubinette in his article “Music and Sound Effects in Horror Films” stated that music is more powerful in horror films than any other genre.The purpose of a horror film is to scare its viewer and the director tries to do that in all ways possible. Scenes in horror films are usually graphic and may contain images that are meant to scare or repel us from the movie and, coincidently, keep our attention so we do not look away. Therefore putting the right piece of music at specific times are critical.

As you can see in this video clip that the use of sound in horror films is extremely important. As you can see in the first clip without sound you could mistake it as a comedy, for example when the girl gets tripped up it is quite amusing. If you were to put some bubbly music in the scene it would become more of a comedy than a horror. When you watch the cli with sound it is much more eye catching and intense, it almost draws you in as you want to look away but you just can't. 

As you can see in this film clip the use of sound is very important as you could mistake this for a film in the 'Wacky' genre. This is because of the funny faces and the quote, 'Heres Johnny' could potentially make people laugh rather than feel frightened. Putting the right type of music in this was critical as if you put the wrong type in such as a cartoony sound you would mistake it for a Comedy or anything other than a horror.

In this clip the importance of sound is at its best as if their was no sound added you would struggle to know when the shark is attacking and approaching. These two things really build tension which plays a massive part in the clip. Without the sound this clip would mean nothing to the audience and it would be much less interesting.





Research: The Importance Of Opening Titles

Before considering what our opening titles would include and how it would be displayed in our short film, we felt it was necessary to do some extensive research on it . Doing this would allow us to understand how certain features of the titles will affect the overall outcome and atmosphere given to audience. When we acquire this knowledge it will tell give us a good idea of what to add to give a scary and horror like opening title.

When researching the importance of opening titles I first went onto the website http://www.artofthetitle.com then i looked at opening titles of several movies to get an idea of how they are presented and in which order they show the names of the people that were involved in the making of the film. This would give us an idea of what common opening titles are like which would help us to know what names should go first, how long, what font, colour and what size to make it.

This is the clip i watched to carry out all of the task i was set to do.

I watched the film opening Se7en and noted all the times and the text that came up all the way through the opening. I also used the same text style that the title had so i knew exactly how it came up.

I carried out this task by watching the opening credits of Se7en and looked specifically at the font style, size, colour etc on the screen. I made notes on this and looked at when it was happening and put it in order of what came first, for example the most recent at the top of the page.

I carried out this task by looking at the opening of se7en and specifically looking at the visual elements meaning picking out the images that had an effect on the viewer. For example i looked at what would have the most effect on the viewer and what created the atmosphere.

I carried out this task by listening to the opening of Se7en and zooming in on the sound. I included the most effective sound as well as the background sound as this makes the viewer feel tension as it is being created. I also carried out this task by what emotions the opening made me feel whilst listening/ watching it. diegetic and non-diegetic sound was both used.

Analyse the codes and conventions of horror films as shown in the openings of 'Dead Wood' 'Dead Mary' and Wrong Turn'

In the film the Wrong Turn codes are effectively used. Codes are system of signs which create different meanings. codes can and are usually divided in two categories which are technical and symbolic. Technical codes are all the different ways in which the equipment is used to tell the story in the media text. Such as; The camera work when filming, for example the uses of different camera angles such as the way the angles change quickly to create effect. Also  the editing process and the use of sound (dietetic and non-dietetic). For example in the film opening of Wrong Turn the use sound is eye opening as the beat draws you into the scene. Symbolic codes show what is beneath the surface of what we see. These are usually shown through mise-en-scene. The characters actions when filming sows you how the character is feeling inn that scene. For example the use of the location and the establishing shots right at the start the opening. Also the use of make up.

Also in the film  opening of  Wrong Turn conventions are also effectively used. Conventions are things that are common in certain based on what their genre it is in. For example in horror films some conventions are where two characters are in the middle of nowhere and can't escape or get help when in danger and also when a character is being chased in a house they run past the door that is unlocked and go upstairs where they are trapped, or someone trips over when they are being chased and get killed. However in the opening of Wrong turn one person is running away and is a male character and he runs to a dead end, this creates a feel that the actor is trapped and that he has no possible way of getting out of the way of the situation he is in.

In the film opening of Dead Mary codes are effectively used. Codes are of signs, which therefore creates meaning. Codes can be divided into two categories for example technical and symbolic. Technical codes are all the ways in which equipment is used to tell the story in a media text, for example the camera work in a film, the editing or the use of sound (dietetic and non-dietetic).  Symbolic codes show what is beneath the surface of what we see. Symbolic codes are usually seen through aspects of miss-en-scene. For example, how a character's actions show you how the character is feeling. For example in when the girl snaps the phone of the side of the car to create tension and she looks at her phone with angry. This is a code for her to come across as angry however in the build up to that moment she looks relaxed but the music is tense to create the feel of danger.

  

In the film opening of Dead Mary conventions are effectively used. Conventions are things that are commonly used in films that give the  film that specific genre. For example in horror films some conventions are that the characters are in the middle of nowhere and can't get help when he/she is in danger. For example Kim and Matt are in the middle of no ware and Matt needs to fill up the car. this creates the conventions that Matt and Kim are helpless with no helping hands anywhere. Another example is when someone is being chased in a building and they run past the door that is unlocked and then go upstairs where they are trapped instead. Although non of these most typical conventions happen in the opening, they are however trapped in in the countryside no where miles away from anyone. If this is not made clear to you Matt does state it. Also there is a the make up, the characters look clean, creating the feel that they are okay but, we know at any moment with the music playing in the background.

In the film opening of  Dead wood, the use of codes is effectively used. Codes are system of signs which create different meanings. codes can and are usually divided in two categories which are technical and symbolic. Technical codes are all the different ways in which the equipment is used to tell the story in the media text. Such as; The camera work when filming, The editing process and the use of sound such as the really disturbing music at the start which creates the feel that their is danger there. (diegetic and non-diegetic). Symbolic codes show what is beneath the surface of what we see, which links back to the music making the feel that their is danger. These are usually shown through mise-en-scene. The characters actions when filming shows you how the character is feeling in that scene. For example the facial expression that the girl has when she sees the man get pushed of the cliff and also how scared she is when she is running away.

In all 3 film openings they are in the middle of nowhere and can't escape for example in Wrong Turn  they are on a cliff miles away from anyone and it is actually stated in the opening just in case you didn't pick it up. When in danger and also when a character is being chased. For example in the opening just before the male character gets to the top of the cliff and killed, meanwhile it is pretty obvious that their is no one around to help. and also when the woman manages to miraculously fall from a great height and have no major injuries and very few minor, to mange to run through a forest. 

With all 3 of these films all of the characters are within there early-mid twenties and which can be presented in a number of different ways for example it could be showing that no matter what physical condition u will not escape, and the youthful getting into more danger than people of other ages or even innocents to the young and the become easy victims. Also all of the women seem to be weaker than the males and show a lot of flesh to show that they are very exposed to a threat and would not have much to protect them. They also use the camera to show how isolated they are by using establishing shots to show the vast forest that they are in, this is shown in all 3 of the movies letting us know that no matter how far away they are from calling for help when the need it. This is shown exceptionally by the male figure shouting "What are you screaming for" when the women falls and scares herself.


Camera
Sound
Mise-en-scene

 

Research: Codes and Conventions Of Horror Films

Codes are of signs, which therefore creates meaning. Codes can be divided into two categories for example technical and symbolic. Technical codes are all the ways in which equipment is used to tell the story in a media text, for example the camera work in a film, the editing or the use of sound (dietetic and non-dietetic). Symbolic codes show what is beneath the surface of what we see. Symbolic codes are usually seen through aspects of miss-en-scene. For example, how a character's actions show you how the character is feeling, a character's costume can be decoded to help us understand what type of person they are, certain props have suggestions or connotations which can be de-coded by the audience, and so on. Some codes fit both categories – non-dietetic music for example, is both technical and symbolic.

Conventions are things that are commonly used in films that give the  film that specific genre. For example in horror films some conventions are that the characters are in the middle of nowhere and can't get help when he/she is in danger. An other example is when someone is being chased in a building and they run past the door that is unlocked and then go upstairs where they are trapped instead of running out the front door to safety, or someone trips over a log or any type of object when they are being chased.

Codes and conventions are combined together in any type of genre. It is not enough to discuss a technical code used such as camera work, without saying how it is conventionally used in a genre.
For example, the technical code of  lighting is used in a way in all film genres to create effect. It is a convention of the horror genre that side and back lighting is used to create mystery and suspense.