Research into target audience - BBFC Classification.

The BBFC regularly follow a set of guidelines and regulations to produce the certificates that appear on any film/DVD that is passed through. This is in order to prevent any harm to viewers that think are unsuitable to watch the content that is shown in the film. The certificates are regularly updated to ensure that the guidelines are up to date and are progressing as time goes on. The Guidelines and regulations that are used are the result of extensive public consultation and research, meaning that the BBFC are in theory giving the public what they want and at the same time keeping them 'safe'.
Below is a list, showing all the certificates that are currently used;



The U symbol stands for Universal. A U film should be suitable for audiences aged four years and over. However, it is impossible to predict what might upset a particular child, especially at this lower end of the category range.




 PG stands for Parental Guidance. This means a film is suitable for general viewing, but some scenes may be unsuitable for younger children. A PG film should not disturb a child aged around eight or older. Parents should consider whether the content might upset younger or more sensitive children.




12A means that anyone aged 12 or over can go and see the film unaccompanied. The A stands for 'accompanied' and 'advisory'. Children younger than 12 may see the film if they are accompanied by an adult (eg someone over the age of 18), who must watch the film with them.




The 12 certificates if for those wo are aged 12 and over only. The 12 certificate is just for videos, DVDs and Blu-rays. 12A is for films at the cinema only.




No-one under 15 is allowed to see a 15 film at the cinema or buy/rent a ‘15’ rated DVD. 15 rated works are not suitable for children under 15 years of age.




Films rated 18 are for adults. No-one under 18 is allowed to see an 18 film at the cinema or buy/rent an 18 rated DVD. No 18 rated works are suitable for children.




The ‘R18’ category is a special and legally restricted classification primarily for explicit works of consenting sex or strong fetish material involving adults. Films may only be shown to adults in specially licensed cinemas, and video works may be supplied to adults only in licensed sex shops. ‘R18’ videos may not be supplied by mail order.

Conventions of a Horror film.

Lighting; 

The lighting in a horror film is usually quite dark. Low key lighting is commonly used as it creates a sinister atmosphere. Most people are afraid of the dark as the thought of the unknown is scary, this is why using low key lighting is effective as the viewer can relate to how the character may feel. Also the darkness always the use of shadows become more apparent. Seeing a shadow would be more effective then just seeing a character holding a weapon, as you can see them, shadows add to the mystery and suspense.

Location -

Locations in horror films can range widely. Location for a horror film is a key part to setting the mood for a film. Usually the location is in a isolated area in perhaps a derelict building, mansion, a basement, a cabin etc. Isolation is quite key as it can help the viewer connect with how the character may feel, eg; alone. For example; if a character was in a busy New York street getting chased with a gun, it wouldn't be as effective as a character running through a abandoned hospital with the sound of running footsteps behind them.

Clothing-

In horror films, colour connotations are usually used to portray - red, black, navy. Dark colours such as these are represented as not everyday clothes that most people would wear. This takes the horror film out of reality and also low key lighting usually used in horror films go with the dark clothing to create the characters who intend to cause harm blend into the shadows, such as the image below.

Weapons - 

Weapons are one of the key props used in horror films as they show and represent the conflict between characters. Weapons range from; Knives, guns, saws, hammers etc, anything which could cause harm to someone. Although the weapons would not be real and made of alternative materials such as plastic, the weapons are made to look realistic enough to look believable.

Blood -

A large amount of blood can be normally shown to represent how gory that particular scene is and that a character will have obviously been seriously hurt. A pool of blood is clearly never a good sign so it would show to the viewer that something bad has happened. 

Camera Work- 

Lots of camera angles can be used in Horror genre films. However when we see Hand Held, Low angle, close up etc, its more un-organised which can add to the mystery of that scene. This type of amateur camera use can be very un-steady for a viewer to watch as they can only see what that character wants you to see, meaning the background and surroundings may not be visible to see creating mystery. 

Characters- young/teenagers

Younger characters or a group of teenagers are commonly used in horror films as stereotypically they can be seen as more vulnerable to a horror situation then probably an adult would be. Teenage characters may also be used to relate to the target audience the film is aiming for. Teens watching the film may feel a connection to them or feel more sympathy.

Film Magazine Front Cover Analysis.

Total Film Magazine.

Above I have copied an image of a previous issue of total film magazine. This issue is clearly focusing on the film 'Inception' as the layout and images are centered around it. 

Looking at the top of the magazine it appears that 'Birdseye' images of building have been used to 'fill in' the logo, I think this is effective as it relates to the film and also looks unique which indicates to the readers that perhaps the film is. Also, the tag line at the top 'THE MIND BLOWING ISSUE' also relates to the film as its all about the mind. From this the audience can establish that this film is of the thriller genre
Leonardo DiCaprio is the dominant image on the cover as his image has been placed in the center  This suggests to the reader that he may be/play a key role/character in the film.  Looking at how the character is dressed in a suit, with his hands behind his back and with a suspicious face suggests to us that his character is complex, the reader could also guess from this that he may be a main protagonist in the film.
Strapped across the middle is the title of the film 'Inception' which placed on top of DiCaprio again suggests that he plays a main role in the film. There are also more taglines used below the title 'Inside the ultimate head trip' and also 'the 27 most mind-blowing movies ever' the first suggests that DiCaprio is the head trip and/or that the magazine have more information on the film inside alternatively making the audience want to buy the magazine to find out more. Whereas the second tagline suggest that the film 'Inception' is mind blowing, indicating to the viewer that its a must see.

Empire Magazine.

Above I have copied an image of a previous issue of Empire magazine. The main focus of this issue is clearly a movie special on Harry Potter as again the main image and tittles are areas surrounding the film. The main image is of Daniel Radcliffe staring as Harry Potter in a costume from the movie. The image clearly shows him to have been through some sort of ordeal as his face is covered in blood, all cut, broken glasses and is covered in dirt. This is enticing to the audience as they would want to know what the main event was for him to end up like that. This keys into the idea of the genre of fantasy meets action-adventure indicating that the film will contain fights, dangerous situations and possibly a lot of blood. The title 'EMPIRE' is also stripped across the top in big, red letters. The colour red could relate to the film being that red conotates to danger but also could relate to the blood on his face. Puffs and pugs have also been included on the sides of the magazine - relating to the image as they are all telling of articles in the magazine to do with Harry Potter. The puffs and pugs are placed mainly to the side so they do not distract away from the main image being Harry Potter. This means it is still the focal part of the magazine so all fans of Harry Potter will be attracted to buy it.

Film Poster Analysis.

Cloverfield - 

Looking at the 'Cloverfield' film poster you can clearly see that it is an image of what seems to be New York under attack. I think the image is very haunting and looks unbelievably realistic which is potentially the scariest part. I think the tagline is very intriguing for the reader to ask what exactly has found what?. I think the font for the title is used cleverly as it sort of gives a hint as to what the film genre is, which is sci-fi meets horror. I think this comes across in the title in the way the typography is sort of highlighted with shine coming off the letters. I think the colours that are used are all pretty similar and dull. The different shades of blue and the grey off the smoke contribute together to make the image look more devastating and almost abandoned as there is no sign of light as all the buildings show no light.




The Amityville Horror - 

This poster for The Amityville Horror is slightly more sinister as it features more to look at. Such as;The house in the background looks derelict, haunted and unloved, as though no one lives there. This could cause the viewer to think, why is this man there?. The male then is standing in the centre holding a weapon in one hand and the other fist clenched. This obviously represents that this man is aggressive and is out to hurt someone. Another contributing factor is the slight etched in writing which reads, 'catch 'em & kill 'em'. Aside from the statement being sinister, the way it has being written looks like someone has quickly scribbled it down to send a message, perhaps to the man?. The title also stands out with the different design of the 'Y' and the flame like colour it has. The ' Y' looks as if it could resemble something that is used/shown in the film, moreover it looks like blood coming together and possible running down a drain. Also the black background suggest that the house is possibly isolated.



The Cabin in the woods - 

Above I looked at the film poster for the film 'The Cabin In The Woods'. There is not a lot to this poster, but I think not having much on there actually makes it more effective. The image used is not a very nice image of the cabin. When we think of a summer cabin, you'd think of grassy banks, sunny rays and the cabin to look loved and lived in. This image however is very isolating and creepy. The cabin is stood alone which is made more visible with the black background behind it, used to create a shadow effect. The black also makes the tag lines stand out, make the viewer more attracted to read them. Also the trees we can see on the sides looks as if they are leering over the cabin, this could indicate as to why its so dark. The colours used are again quite creepy. The black and red used are dark and sinister. They could also be used to show colour connotations; black being- death, mystery, evil and red being- blood, danger and horror.

Sin City -

Below I looked at and analysed a poster for Sin City, I looked different aspects of the poster, such as the; font, language, lighting, positioning, actress, colours and captions. Looking at these I concluded why they could be effective.

Although the posters I looked at above were not advertisements for a teaser trailer, I felt researching them will still help in influencing ideas for my own.

Horror Genre - Trailer Analysis - Insidious.

Insidious 

Camera Work - 
When the trailer first begins we see mid shot being used of a male sitting on a chair. Using a mid shot allows us to see both his worried facial expression and rigid body language which suggests to the viewer that he is afraid of what is going to happen. A close up is then used to show a metronome set of to tick by a unknown character who is saying 'you ready?' in the background. This close up indicates that the male in the chair is focusing on doing something, which we do not yet know. A zoom shot is then used to show the male closing his eyes again looking as if he is preparing for something. This is effective as it makes the viewer think, what?. The zoom then carries the scene to a panning like the male who was in the chair was thinking about it, establishing shot which shows a stereotypical, suburban american home. This allows us to understand where the film will mainly take place. There are then five quick shots of the male with his supposed family which again suggest that the male is thinking of. The theme of the trailer then switches when we see a wide shot of a young boy falling of a ladder and falls into a 'coma' which the doctors cannot describe. From that point on throughout the trailer you see a lot of the woman walking around the house and witnessing strange things. Further on, we see a wide shot of the young boys bedroom with a large figure with what seems like a claw for a hand. This straight way reveals to the viewer that the boy is perhaps being haunted. A close up of an elderly woman's eye, looking around also indicates to us that she is worried about what is going on in the house. After that point the shots come in flashes of scary drawings, the woman running and a creepy shot of a red figure behind the male. These quick shots allow the viewer to see parts of whats to come but they will not have the ability to fully understand other then the fact that something is there.

Mise- En- Scene - 
The house that the film is set in is quite strange as it looks like a normal family home. However, it is quite large meaning it creates an eerie feel when we see one character there at one time. For example when the woman is home and she can here strange voices/heavy breathing coming from the baby monitor. Facial expressions used throughout the trailer are used very confusingly. At the beginning the male in the chair looks troubled however it then changes to him with his family being happy. Again this changes when the trailers mood changes at the point of the boy falling when again all the characters we see from that point look worried/frightened. Costumes used are shown to replicate the characters as normal day to day people, such as jumpers and jeans. Dark costumes and shadows are used when it comes to showing anything represented to be not 'normal' such as the the dark figure in the corner of the boys bedroom.


Sound - 
Throughout the trailer there is both non diegetic and diegetic sounds used. Examples of diegetic sounds used is when we hear the characters in conversation or the heavy breathing that we can hear coming from the baby monitor. The heavy breathing along with the look on the characters facial expression of confusion and horror is alarming to the viewer as it indicates that she does not know what it is. Towards the end we hear the woman in the background saying 'I want to leave' twice showing the viewer that she is frightened. Also, non diegetic sounds used such as the ticking of the metronome is used to perhaps represent that this family are up against time to figure out what is going on with their son and also the sound of the rocking horse creaking back and forth is again alarming to the viewer as it is clearly rocking by itself or by something unknown. The music in the background in parts of the advert of bangs, crashes and screeches are very alarming causing the viewer move quickly with the sound. 

Editing - 
The editing of the trailer starts of quite slow, relaxing almost when we see the male in the chair focusing. This slow paced edit continues through until again when the mood of the trailer switches when the young boy falls off the ladder. After this point the edit quickens, and the shots start flashing to different scenes quite rapidly. Continuous editing is also used at the beginning when we are brought from the room the male is sitting in to the outside of the house. This allows the viewer to begin to understand where the film will possibly take place.

Researching Genre- Horror.

Horror:

Horror is a film genre seeking to elicit a negative emotional reaction from viewers by playing on the audience's primal fears. Horror films often feature scenes that are aimed to startle and scare the viewer; haunting and supernatural themes are the most frequent and commonly used. They may also overlap with the fantasy, supernatural, and thriller genres.

Horror films often deal with the viewer's nightmares, hidden fears and terror of the unknown. Plots within the horror genre often involve an evil force, event, person, commonly of supernatural origin, into the everyday world. Many elements included in horror films are things such as; ghosts, aliens, vampires, werewolves, demons, vicious animals, monsters, zombies, cannibals, and serial killers.

Codes and conventions associated with horror films:

• Location - normally the character/characters are placed in a lonely, isolated area e.g. a church, graveyard, attic etc.
• High/low camera angles - reveal power/lack of power
• Jump Cuts - quicken time
• Diegetic Sounds - give a sense of realism
• Non Diegetic Sounds - e.g. monster sounds to evoke fear
• Low-Key Lighting - create an eerie atmosphere
• Colour - generally dark

What makes a successful trailer?

There are many ways in which to make a film trailer successful. These ways include;

Not giving too much away

Don't be too cryptic 

Speak to the audience to attempt to aim your film at 

Introduce some, but not all of the characters that will feature in the film 

Capturing the right mood in keeping with the genre of the film 

The sound must be interesting. For example; Voice-overs, no sound at all etc. 

The editing used such as; Blurs, quick cuts etc

Editing.

Editing:

There are many forms of editing that can be used to show continuity and is used in a way of effectively carrying a scene from one to another. Examples of editing are;

• Straight cut 
• Continuity 
• Fade up/down 
• Dissolve 
• Cross-cut 
• Cut away 
• Pacing (slow/fast) 
• Slow motion 

Camera Movement.

Establishing shot - 

Very Wide Shot -



Wide Shot - 




Medium Shot-



Medium Close Up -



Close Up - 



Extreme Close Up -



Point Of View Shot -



Long Shot -



Two Shot -



Crane Shot - 



Aerial Shot -



Low Angle Shot - 



High Angle Shot - 



Eye Level Angle Shot -



Canted Angle -



Over The Shoulder Shot -



Panning Shot - 

Sound.

Diegetic Sound -
Example; 

• voices of characters 
• sounds made by objects in the story 
• music represented as coming from instruments in the story space ( = source music)

Non - Diegetic sound -
Example; 

• narrator's commentary
• sound effects which is added for the dramatic effect
• mood music

Sound Bridge - 
 Example; 

• Continuous music from one scene to another
• Music that carries one scene to another

Ambient Sound - 
Example;

• Background noise
• Sounds present at the location or the scene.

Synchronous Sound -
Example;

• Noise seen on screen
• Conversation on screen

Non-synchronous Sound -

Example;

• Things that you cant see
• Gun Shot in the dark