Makeup for the main character: z-ombie

I have done extensive research into how z-ombie fx makeup is used in film and television. Firstly, I watched a series of youtube video tutorials to gain step by step ideas as to how I might go about creating the look.

Here are some of the videos I watched:
 

Here are the products I will be using on my actress, most of them I had already, but some of the special fx stuff I had to be especially. I bought the special fx makeup from a site called screenface.co.uk, a uk based special fx makup company. 

Click the link to see the presentation : https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1bXY9KigODyX-EXVMtZ4UDTZvyyV-VCrLfLkJlpVLmpE/edit?usp=sharing

Magazine hand drawn mockups

To get down my initial ideas. I drew a few mockups of potential cover designs. I sourced my inspiration from the popular film magazines TOTAL FILM and EMPIRE. Sorry they are facing the wrong way.

 

 

Locations moodboard

To gain ideas for the locations of my film trailer, I have created a mood board for potential location ideas. I want an almost industrial, dull feel for the locations for the scenes set in the present day, and a grand manor theme for the flashback set in the past.
Click the link to view the moodboard
http://www.flipsnack.com/erinlovescake/locations-moodboard.html

A film remake case study :The Fog

For my research into film posters, I have decided to compare a series of posters whose films have been remade. I will analyse both the original and the remake, firstly, I will analyse the posters of the 1980 and 2005 films 'The Fog'.
Click on the link to view the presentation.

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1O6O9NKp3u63kuY9yhjT1otrXJvlQDpWqWP_flPeuG6Q/edit?usp=sharing

Film Risk assessment

As it is mandatory that all films do a risk assessment before shooting, I thought I would construct a basic risk assessment table showing potential hazards during my film production process.

Film Production Risk Assessment

Film corporate image

Here is a presentation regarding the corporate image of films of the z-ombie  genre.

My Main Character costume

I have decided to make a moodboard concerning my main characters costume, both for the flashback and the present day scenes. I have used the online moodboard website 'polyvore' for this job.

Edwardian costume by erinswierdworld featuring vintage jewelry

For the flashback to the late Edwardian period, my protagonist will lean towards the more casual side of the fashion, even though she is wealthy (this will be obvious by the jewellery) , she will wear fairly plain clothes for that time such as a plain long skirt and white ruched shirt. I have decided to research Edwardian/1900s costumes to get an accurate realism picture for my trailer.

Imagery such as this:


Represents the style I wish to adopt for my flashback sequence. In the Late Edwardian period the most fashionable skirts cleared the floor and approached the ankle. The overall silhouette of women's dresses  narrowed and straightened, beginning a trend that would continue into the years leading up to the Great War, this new, more masculine style was being worn by women as a way of empowerment. In around 1897, the silhouette slimmed and elongated. Blouses/dresses were full at the front and puffed into a "pigeon breast" shape, the waist was sloped from back to front and was often accented with a sash or belt.

Protagonists costume ideas by erinswierdworld featuring a black button cardigan

 

Here is my moodboard for my protagonists present day outfit, she generally wears muted colours such as greens, greys and blacks to blend in with the crowd. As she has a shy, reserved personality her clothes are not loud or pattered, with delicate colours to suit her as a person. However, her boots will be leather and tough looking, to indicate to the audience that their is still fire in her and she is fighting back against the removal of her pills.

Looking at costumes of the protagonist in other films of a similar genre, I can see they have a similar colour scheme.

For example, in 'I am Legend' the protagonist often wears black to conceal himself from the z-ombies, and in 'WWZ' the lead character wears a green/grey military style uniform.

My Production Company

I have decided to create my own production company to produce my film, along with working title. Many films of my genre have more than one production company to produce different elements, my company will 'produce' and 'provide' cinematography.

 

Here is my production  company logo I made on adobe fireworks, I chose the name 'picture picture entertainment' as the repetition suggests they are focussed on filmmaking and the 'reflection' in the logo promotes the idea that they reflect various audiences into their films. Using the red 'H' in the middle of the logo adds a focal point to the logo, also ad red is typically associated with blood/earning/anger/suspense/danger, it indicates that the company mostly produces horror/z-ombie/thriller films. The typography of the logo means it can be added to any billing block on a poster and be easily recognised, also, as it is mainly black with a bit of red, the colour can be changed accordingly depending on the colour of the background image or colour scheme of the film.

Narratology

Narratology refers to both the narrative structure and the study of the narrative in a media text and the affects and the ways it affects the audience. The narrative of a film is the organisation of a series of events which make a story. We connect these events and make various interpretations of the plot. The narrative often follows a various 5 stage process, Tzvetan Todorov suggested this process:

·         A state of equilibrium at the outset

·         A disruption of the equilibrium by some action

·         A recognition that there has been a disruption

·         An attempt to repair the disruption

·         A reinstatement of the equilibrium 

The theory generally states that Equilibrium will occur at the start of the film, then there will be disequilibrium, and then equilibrium will be restored.

My film:

Equilibrium – (everything is how it should be) - The protagonist has a privileged lifestyle in the early 20th century.

Disequilibrium – however she gets infected during a z-ombie apocalypse around this period. Now, in 2014, she is the last remaining of the infected and is kept alive by pills.

Recognition of the disequilibrium: The government cut her pills by one pill a day for an unknown reason, her condition deteriorates as she becomes more z-ombie like, later attacking and killing a man who mugs her in a fit of rage.

Equilibrium restored: the audience don't know if or how the equilibrium will be restored, that is the cliff-hanger element of a thriller

My film conforms to the theory as a state of equilibrium occurs in a flashback, however most of the plot is in a state of disequilibrium, as I have found out that from my research that most z-ombie films have a positive outcome, I want to subvert this stereotype. Yet, this positive outcome has underlying problems, for example in the film '28 Days Later', the protagonists are rescued after a state of disequilibrium, but the rest of the UK is experiencing an apocalypse, this is highlighted in the films sequel '28 Weeks Later' where the infection, supposedly contained, managed to infect new victims.

 

Teaser trailer Pitch

I have created a pitch for my film 'REPLACED' using emaze presentation software. You may have to view it on full screen to see the text.

My chosen distributor

My chosen distributor is the media conglomerate UNIVERSAL STUDIOS, it is part of the 'big six' media companies and has produced many blockbuster and independent films so they can gain a wider exhibition in cinemas globally.

http://prezi.com/biihs0stj4zj/present/?auth_key=7e2um1z&follow=dt3yi0hs6gru&kw=present-biihs0stj4zj&rc=ref-54560461

Thriller film review

'the silence of the lambs' 1991
I chose to do a film review of the thriller film 'The silence of the lambs', this is because I want to look at classic thrillers and see any themes or techniques that appear to use in my trailer. Also, I want to develop a holistic understanding of this genre and to gain a genuine interest into the genre of thriller films. For me, The Silence of the Lambs is the best place to start.

Genre: Crime drama/ thriller/ horror
Directed by: Jonathan Demme

Starring: Jodie Foster, Anthony Hopkins and Scott Glenn
Written by: Ted Tally, based on the novel by Thomas Harris

Synopsis: trainee FBI agent Clarice Starling is recruited to solve the brutal murders of young women by the serial killer 'Buffalo Bill', she seeks guidance from the genius, notorious cannibal; Dr Hannibal Lector.

I have been putting off watching this film for ages, mainly because of everyone saying to me 'It's way too scary', 'It's ridiculously long', 'It's the best film I've ever seen', yes, they're all valid opinions, but I want to formulate my own views on this 'academy award dominating' epic of the 90's. Honestly, the temptation to look up the synopsis has been overwhelming, and I have already heard about a few key moments from people I know, but, I still wasn't prepared for what I was going to watch.

The first scene made me feel a little apprehensive, the simple panning and tracking of the camera through the woods seemed to me a little to tame for the genre of the film, only after the scene where the victims of 'Buffalo Bill' are discussed, I started to feel like I wouldn't be sleeping for a good few weeks. Foster's performance is outstanding, you empathize with her character and the fact that this highly dangerous and complex case is one of her first. Obviously Hopkins performance gains a substantial amount of credit, but Foster's character is the only one that you're sure isn't some kind of 'psycho/cannibal/cross dressing/murderer', you get the idea.

 Both Lector and Bill are highly complex people, firstly they live in complete seclusion, as Starling has to travel through many doors and hidden cells to get to them, well, at least Bill is their by choice, in a metaphorical sense they live in a concealed world as they are dangerous. 
Hopkins won an Oscar for his performance of Hannibal, despite only appearing in the film for 24 minutes and in only four scenes with foster, yet what he does with the small amount of lines he has to play with is remarkable, you despise him yet he is likable, so you feel guilty because of his sadistic attacks on his victims, which are a tad immoral. 

Even Starling and Lector are similar, both are shunned by their operating bodies, Lector, concealed in a cell by the law; living in utmost isolation, and Starling, looked down upon by the law enforcement because she is a young woman. The use of  point of view shots are cleverly deployed, male officials scrutinize and dominate Clarice, while the prison guards and Clarice take extreme caution with Hannibal. Also they both have bitter childhoods, Starling lost her parents at a young age which Lector sympathies with, he believes this makes her more vulnerable and interesting as a person, and Lector was abused as a child, though the film doesn't go into as much detail about this.     

 I have yet to find a film that I have sat bolt upright in my seat whilst watching, but this may be that film, honestly, the suspense is overwhelming, so much so that I don't really want to watch it again, primarily because I know what would happen and the suspense/thriller element of the film would be pointless. Like many films, I wish I could forget I ever watched it, some sort of drug from the film 'Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind' (another amazing piece of cinema) to make you forget certain memories would be great. 

Film name ideas

I have created a mind map to show my film name ideas. I will ask for feedback on each name then make a valid judgement as to which one I would use. I have used my research into previous z-ombie and thriller film titles to help me with m decision.

From my research, I have decided on the title, 'REPLACED' as it has very strong connotations of my chosen genre and of my films plotline, thus my final project will seem more cohesive to the audience as their understanding forms a complete package.

A gap in the market/ Unique Selling Points

I have chosen to continue with film trailer idea one, this is because it is the most unconventional idea out of the two, and subverts some stereotypical conventions of a z-ombie thriller (such as extreme gory violence and weapons). Here are some ideas as to why my film has various unique selling points.

As you can see from this diagram (below), my film literally 'fills' a gap in the market, other z-ombie films are generally hybrids of a mixture of genre, as their hasn't been a z-ombie film with drama/thriller elements, my film will fit that gap and create a new hybrid genre.

• I have noticed my film will fit into a gap in the market, for example, the lead role will be a Female character, this subverts the usual stereotype that the lead role of this genre is usually male (Such as Will Smith in I am Legend, Brad Pitt in WWZ and Cillian Murphy in 28 Days Later), a female protagonist will widen the market as both female and male viewers will be attracted to see the film, female because of the female lead and relatable prospects, male because of the z-ombie ideologies used.  (attract male and female to z-ombie film, to widen the market)
• Also, from my questionnaire I found out that most of my target audience view trailers on an online format, this is because my age group use the internet frequently. So, my trailer will feature on sites such as youtube, facebook and IMDB to build up an online audience, this use of below the line marketing will attract my niche audience of young adults who are comfortable with the online age, this BTL interaction will give the marketer the ability to successfully tailor the message the film gives in a more personal way to the audience. This BTL system is efficient and cost effective as it directly targets the intended group. 
• The film will also be unique as it will be set after the recovery of the apocalypse, around 100 years after, usually these films are set during the apocalypse, during the recovery period or chronicling the initial causes. My film concept will be unique as their is not a film of this kind on the market set in this type of world, this will make the film more intriguing to audiences
• My film will also portray realism as a key element, as it will be set in a suburban area in the present day rather than some shining city 200 years in the future, the audience will realise that the film is down to earth and realistic, this makes the plot more intimidating/shocking as it is 'close to home'. This builds upon the construction of realism theory that realism is more convincing to an audience, the non professional actors and natural light will emphasise the realism used, also my film deploys emotional realism as a key theme, an audience is more likely to connect with a character that is emotionally realistic.
• My film is unusual as it is from the z-ombies perspective, this is unusual as in these films the z-ombie is usually seen as the antagonist, in my film the audience gets the chance to see the antagonists perspective and is able to sympathise with her. From my research, the only similar film that adopts this idea is Warm Bodies, where the male protagonist is a fully developed z-ombie from the beginning and gradually becomes more human, my character is a stable z-ombie at the start but gradually gets more vicious.
• The potential marketing scheme will be a unique selling point, the visual campaign I intend to deploy will be a mixture of a poster, magazine feature, a small documentary that will be released online about the making of the film using my friend as a Stills photographer ( a behind the scenes feature), a facebook and instagram page (viral marketing). This promotional package will attract my younger audience and keep them maintained/hooked through various marketing devices. The visual campaign will give the audience a 'narrative image' to understand the premise/story of the film.

Film jargon

As part of my initial research, I decided to look at jargon I didn't understand when it comes to filmmaking, this will be really helpful when it comes to my trailer as I can clearly explain the scene to my actors. I can also use this jargon in any planning sheets, call sheets or research in the future on this blog to make my work more cohesive. I obtained the list from Empire magazines website.
 
 ADR: (Additional Dialogue Recording)  re-recording lines after shooting to replace poor-quality sound or slightly alter line delivery. Often used to eliminate swear words to gain that audience-friendly PG-13. Occasionally used to re-dub one actor’s voice with another.

Back projection: An age-old technique where pre-recorded footage appears behind the actors being filmed, often used for driving scenes. Now, it’s largely been replaced with green screen.

Blocking: The process of running through a scene prior to filming to decide where the actors will move and where lighting and cameras should be placed.

Boom: The large fuzzy microphone on the end of a pole . It floats above the actors, close enough to pick up dialogue but, ideally, far enough up or down that it doesn’t appear in the shot.

Call sheet: A list, usually created by the first assistant director, of actors who will be required on set for each day’s shooting, what scenes are scheduled and which locations will be used.

Change pages: If a script is altered while filming is underway, any changes are handed out onset in the form of “change pages”. These are normally a different colour to the original script.
Clapper: A board displaying key information about the scene being filmed (scene number, take number, film name), filmed by the camera before each take. On top (or bottom) is a piece of wood on a hinge (traditionally painted in black and white stripes), which claps down to the board, allowing for audio-visual synchronisation.

Clean speech: A take in which there were no errors with dialogue recording.

Continuity report: A list specifying everything that happened when a scene was filmed, including weather conditions and camera settings. This is meant to prevent continuity errors creeping in between takes or during reshoots. Also known as the “continuity script”.

Dailies: The prints of footage shot the previous day, often viewed by the director and producers at the end of each day to monitor progress. Also known as “rushes”. Can cause side-effects ranging from nervous breakdowns to over-confidence back at the studio.

Dolly: A small platform for the camera, designed to roll along special tracks. Although Steadicams have reduced their use, dollies have certain unique strengths.

Dope sheet: A list of scenes that have already been filmed, usually compiled by the assistant cameraman.

Foley: this is the art of simulating certain noises in post-production to enhance particular moments. Foley artists might smack a piece of leather to get a good punching sound, or snap a carrot when a bone is broken.

Gate: When shooting on film, you’ll often hear the assistant director shout, “Cut! Check the gate!” This is to ensure that the camera and film is free of any impurities or blockages  that would render what’s been filmed unusable or call for another take.
Greenscreen: A technique where actors perform in front of a stark, monochromatic background, usually bright green or blue. This is then replaced with a background image, often with CGI. Also known as “bluescreen” or “chromakeying”..

Insert: A close-up, often filmed by the second unit, usually of an object.

Magic hour: The short time just before sunset when light levels change dramatically and very quickly, enabling golden shots that will look “very Terrence Malick”. See the opening shot of Hot Fuzz or virtually any Michael Bay movie.

Matte shot: A shooting technique where painted artwork (ordinarily on glass) is combined in-shot with live action, to create the illusion of a grand backdrop. It’s old-fashioned, but still used by Peter Jackson and others for those invaluable epic visuals.

Pick-ups: Footage filmed after shooting wraps, usually of minor shots. In the case of something like The Lord Of The Rings, however, pick-ups were major and essential.

Print: Along with “Check the gate!”; “Print it!” is a fun but antiquated catchphrase on film sets. It means that the latest take of a scene was good, that everyone’s happy they have the shot needed and that it should be developed.

Re-shoots: Footage filmed after shooting wraps, re-doing scenes from the film rather than adding additional scenes or minor reaction shots etc. The existence of re-shoots is often seen as evidence that a film is in trouble, so filmmakers will go out of their way to describe re-shoots as pick-ups.

Shot list: A planned list of the scenes and angles to be shot that day, including details such as location, and which actors and departments are involved.

Shutter speed: The length of time a frame of film is left exposed in the camera, or that the shutter is open on a digital camera. Varying this means that you vary the amount of light that enters the camera. If the speed is slower, this allows more light but also more motion blur.

Steadicam: A specially designed harness attached to the camera operator, which stabilises the camera as they move it. Invented by Garrett Brown, the Steadicam eliminates the need for dolly tracks.

Stills photographer: An official photographer who will snap on-set pics while scenes are being rehearsed or shot, for use in promoting the film.

Rhubarb: Background conversation by extras. So-called because extras were often asked to mutter the word “rhubarb” to produce the effect of genuine conversation, with their mouths moving convincingly.

Whip-pan: When the camera pans particularly quickly, resulting in motion blur. This is often used to sneak in a hidden cut, as in the lengthy opening shot of Serenity.

Wrap: End of shooting. As in, “That’s a…”

Ensemble cast posters

As a bit of research before I started the my film ideas, I decided to look at ensemble cast posters. Their are loads of different types, usually each type fits with a certain film genre. I accessed the information from the EMPIRE magazine website. 

Some key features of the thriller genre

To research more into the thriller genre, I have decided to conduct some research into typical themes of thriller films. I will apply some of these films to specific examples in thriller films.

• The protagonist faces death, either his and/or her or somebody else's, often somebody close to them. (In the film 'Looper', where in 2074, when a mob wants to get rid of someone, the target is sent into the past, where a hired gunman awaits. If the gunman fails to kill them, they are hunted own themselves.) 
• The antagonists accomplices are nearly always initially cleverer and/or stronger than the protagonist, and his/her forces. (In the film 'Prisoners', the antagonist succeeds at first by kidnapping the protagonists children.)
• The main plotline for the protagonist is often a mystery/quest. (In the film 'Non-Stop' the protagonist gets a text saying someone will die on the plane he is marshalling every few minutes until he transfers a sum into an account, he must find out who is the terrorist.)
• The narrative construction is dominated by the protagonist's point of view, the audience emphasises with the character as they often have a harrowing backstory.( In the film 'The Silence of the Lambs', the plot is told from the protagonists point of view, her backstory, which is troubled, connects her with the antagonist who also has a troubled past.)
• All action and characters must be realistic or natural in their representation on screen. Thriller films often need to be realistic as the plotlines pose potential threat, added realism heightens this frightening effect on the audience. (In the film 'Zero Dark Thirty', the plot is based on true events, so the film must incorporate various realistic elements such as the characters personalities to make it a success.
• The two main themes that define a thriller is the desire for justice and  morality. (In the film 'The Judge' lawyer Hank Palmer returns to his childhood home where his father, the town's judge, is suspected of murder, he sets out to discover the truth)
• Their is often the presence of innocence in a corrupt world. (As seen on the film 'Flight Plan' where the protagonists innocent daughter is put in danger when she goes missing)
• The protagonist(s) and antagonist(s) often battle each other, on a physical and  mental level. (In 'Gone Girl', the protagonist emotionally battles with the media who thinks he is guilty of his wife's murder)
• Either by accident/ curiousness, each character is placed into a dangerous conflict or situation that they are not prepared to resolve. (In the film 'The Equalizer' A man believes he has put his mysterious past behind him, but when he meets a young girl under the control of Russian gangsters, he can't stand by)

z-ombie and thriller film title research

To aid in the development of my film title, I have researched different film titles of existing z-ombie and thriller films, this will help me develop a series of conventions that these genres have when it comes to film titles.

Click the link to view the presentation:
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1zQaofrUPS3UywpNPHJgpSGwotUobfH67hv7wEK_HFAY/edit?usp=sharing

Types of film trailers

To understand the types of film trailer out there, I have created a powtoon slideshow discussing the various formats a company may use. Generally, the bigger the film, the more of these formats they will use as they have the funding to do so.

Production company research

To look at different production/ distribution companies, I have decided to do some research into different conglomerate and independent companies to see which ones will produce and distribute my film.


Warner brothers:

'I am Legend' a film of a similar genre to mine, was distributed by Warner Bros pictures.
Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc., formerly known as Warner Bros. Studios, is an American producer of film, television, and music entertainment. It is a  subsidiary of Time and has several subsidiary companies, including Warner Bros studios, Warner bros pictures, Warner bros interactive entertainment, Warner bros television, Warner bros animation, Warner Home Video, New Line Cinema, TheWB.com, and DC Entertainment. Warner owns half of The CW Television Network.
Warner brothers is a MEDIA CONGLOMORATE meaning it has lots of money/ media ownership. It can also market films through subsidiary companies (a practice known as synergy) . Its  Budgets are often  $100 million dollars +, leading to Enormous profits/ cycle of self-sustaining profits.
In 2012, the Warner Bros. Pictures Group grossed $4.3 billion at the worldwide box office, with both its domestic and international divisions crossing the billion-dollar mark for a 12th consecutive year, an achievement unmatched by any other studio to date.



DNA films:

'28 Days Later' is a 2002 z-ombie horror produced by DNA films, as it is of a similar genre, I am considering watching the film to gain more inspiration on the camera angles, costumes and props to use in my film trailer.

DNA Films is a British film production company founded by Duncan Kenworthy and Andrew Macdonald. It has been one of Britain's most successful independent film production companies in the last decade or so.
Productions include Dredd 3D, Never Let Me Go, The Last King of Scotland, Notes on a Scandal, 28 Weeks Later, 28 Days Later, Sunshine, The Beach, Trainspotting and Shallow Grave. The companys highest grossing film is the 2003 hit rom-com 'love actually' making $246,942,017.

Sky-dance productions:

They produced the z-ombie action epic 'WWZ', this is a film of a similar genre to mine however as it was produced on an epic scale in many locations by a fairly conglomerate company, it is different to my trailer which will be produced by a small scale independent company.

Skydance Productions is an American film and television production company based at Paramount Pictures in Hollywood, California. Founded by David Ellison in 2010. His vision was to build a new kind of media company, dedicated to telling the epic stories , creating grand-scale cinematic experiences, and building partnerships with the world's best storytellers, most of the films are action or sci-fi based. The company raised $350 million to co-produce and co-finance films with Paramount Pictures. Skydance is responsible for feature-length films including True Grit, Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol, Star Trek Into Darkness and World War Z. They produce and finance several blockbusters a year.

Working title:

They produced the z-ombie comedy Shaun of the dead, which is a similar genre to my film trailer. My trailer would most likely be produced by a company like this as they are independent so more attention is payed to the narrative, but they are well known throughout Britain so they could help my film attract a predominantly British audience. 

Working title is an Independent film company, often these companies have low budgets of £1-2 million and produce British films gaining modest returns .Working Title Films is a British film production company, based in London owned by Universal Studios
In 1999, Bevan and Fellner launched a subsidiary company named Working Title Productions, commonly known as WT². Films produced include Shaun of the dead, four weddings and a funeral, paul, Bridget Jones diary and Les Miserables.  

Mood board for trailer idea two

I have created a 'board' on pintrest to help me visualize what my film could include. I have used pictures of props, locations and costumes to create a generalization of Plot idea Two. Follow Erin Harper's board Plot Two ideas on Pinterest.

Mood board for trailer idea one

I have created a 'board' on pintrest to help me visualize what my film could include. I have used pictures of props, locations and costumes to create a generalization of Plot idea One.  Follow Erin Harper's board Plot One idea on Pinterest.

Narrowed down plotlines

I have narrowed down my ideas to Idea 1 and Idea 3, so to make up my mind about my final concept, I want to piece together some potential information about characters, clothing, props, storyline, titles and locations. As both of my trailer ideas are under the branch of z-ombie thrillers, they will have a dark theme and concept, therefore they will not be one for the light-hearted.

Brainstorm of trailer plots

I have made a brainstorm of four ideas to help me decide which one to pursue for my film trailer, as I am continuing with the hybrid genre idea of a z-ombie thriller so all of my plot ideas will revolve around a z-ombie theme.  

Ratings of films of a similar genre

As part of my research, I have chosen to look at film classifications for films of a similar genre to mine, a z-ombie thriller. I have looked into each film, giving a plot outline and highlighting why it has that particular rating. This will hopefully enable me to establish conventions of films of my genre at different ratings to allow me to take into account how much violence etc.. may be used in my trailer.

Iconography board

To get a holistic understanding of my chosen sub-genre, I need to create an Iconography board that displays typical conventions of z-ombie thrillers. My board will include some elements from thriller films and z-ombie films. I have used the website polyvore to create something known as a 'set' to display my ideas. 

z-ombie thriller iconography noodboard by erinswierdworld featuring vintage wall art

My chosen genre in depth

I have chosen to create my own sub genre of a thriller film, a hybrid 'z-ombie' thriller. This genre will encompass many violent and scary elements of a zombie film with suspenseful and complex elements of a thriller. This hybrid genre will most likely be rated a 15 due to the typical gory conventions of z-ombie films, however, adding a thriller element softens these conventions through the use of a clever plot line. This hybrid genre could also have elements of a survival horror, which is a horror story about a protagonist who is put in a risky and life-threatening situation. From my questionnaire, I found out that most people from my chosen target audience, 17-30 year olds, like thriller films but aren't keen on z-ombie films as they are stereotypically seen as over-violent, parody or slasher films. I intend to change this misconception by making a hybrid z-ombie thriller to add realism and suspense to another wise violent genre. As the 'z' word to describe the undead it currently a banned word from the internet due to our councils restrictions, I will be referring to is in the format of 'z-ombie' on all my publications (sorry :) )
This is a mindmap to show some of the basic conventions of this genre. I will create a future mindmap for my final trailer and assess how it challenges or conforms to these conventions.

My questionnaire results.

To research into what films consumers preferred and what platforms they watch the trailers on, I constructed a 10 question survey on 'survey monkey' and emailed it to my respondents. This questionnaire will help me to tailor my film trailer to a certain demographic. I decided to make my pie charts and graphs from my questionnaire by transferring the data to Microsoft Excel than to Microsoft word so I could create a graph/ pie chart, I did this as it shows that bit of extra effort rather than just print screening the graph of survey monkey, also you can visually see the results and what proportion of people preferred what. The answers will influence how I construct my trailer, and it will help me decide what my demographic wants/ expects from a film trailer.

The BBFC

As part of my initial research I chose to look at the BBFC film classification site to look at different age ratings so I can make an educated assumption as to what my film will be rated. Age rating have a strong influence as to what demographic watches the film, for example, you wouldn't have a horror film rated as a U as people will bring their children along to it, therefore exposing them to harsh imagery, thus causing them to complain to the film distribution company.

Genre research

I decided to research some basic genres of film to gain a holistic understanding of the film world. I want to make a valid decision on my chosen genre based on my research of all genres.

Comedy:

The main purpose of a comedy film is to amuse and induce laughter, it deals with unusual behaviour, designed to entertain an audience. This 'feel good' genre is extremely popular among all ages and genders, however most modern comedies are rated a 15 as taboo language and inappropriate storylines are used. There are many types of screen comedy such as

•  slapstick :which involves over exaggerated physical movement (films like 'happy Gilmore')
•  comedy of manners: a comedy based on the class system or a scandal, it can be classified by its witty dialogue (pride and prejudice)
• spoof: this satirizes other films by pointing out their flaws and making fun of them (Airplane! / Scary Movie),
• romantic comedy: provides a spin on the usual boy meets girl relationship to please audiences (27 dresses/ knocked up)
• comedy horror: mainly rated 15 or 18, these films put a light-hearted spin on the usual comedy.
•  black comedy : discuss taboo subjects (often inappropriate subjects) such as drugs, war and murder whilst adding a comic element. (Dr. Strangelove)

Action:

Action films involve one or more heroes solving various challenges requiring physical traits and achievements, extended fights, extensive stunts and car chases. Story and character development are generally secondary to explosions, fist fights, gunplay and car chases. Both historically and currently, action films have wide commercial appeal and enjoy box office success. The action film does revolve around a narrative, but more importantly, it revolves around a hero. What often springs to mind when you think 'action films' are the specific actor, such as Harrison Ford, Bruce Willis, Sylvester Stallone, Bruce Lee, Steve McQueen, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jason Statham) and the obstacles their character(s) must overcome. 

•  Action adventure film: an adventure film that follows some action film conventions, such as car chases and firearms, this sub-genre is mainly targeted towards families as it often includes some slapstick emelemts .
•  (Raiders Of The Lost Ark),
• The cop action film: follows the story of one or more 'cops' trying to solve a case, this sub-genre often has a comedic spin attached to it. (Bad Boys 2),
• The sci-fi action film: follows a sci-fi plot but involves the ise of battles, firearms and futuristic weaponry. (Aliens),
• The martial arts action film (47 Ronin),
• The action comedy: an action film featuring comedic elements, usually rated 15 as their is strong, bloody comic violence involved. (Hot Fuzz),
• Military action: set during a war or conflict where the plot follows particular soldier, can be both historical or futuristic. (Fury)
• 'girls with guns' : portrays a strong female protagonist who makes use of weaponry, male characters in the film are often at her command.( Lara Croft: Tomb Raider)
• Spy action: a secret agent is sent on a secret espionage mission and make use of both 'cool' gadgets and firearms. ( The James Bond Franchise)

Crime:

A crime film focuses on the lives of criminals. The stylistic approach can portray grittily realistic portrayals of real-life criminal figures and criminal heists. In this genre, criminal acts are almost always glorified.

• Detective: This follows a detective and usually, his associate, solving a complex crime committed by a notorious criminal. This genre often features highly complex and clever plots to allow the audience to make their own conclusions about who committed the crime and why. (Sherlock Holmes)
• Courtroom Drama: This presents law as a fictional drama, it often sees the case from the lawyers point of view (The judge)
• Murder mystery: A film that revolves around a homicide(s) where a detective tries to figure out the culprit, often putting their loved ones and other people in danger. (The silence of the lambs)
• Gangster:This sub-genre focuses on gangs and criminal organizations  Gangsters are the subject of many movies, particularly from the period between 1930 and 1960. (The Godfather)

Sci-Fi:

A sci-fi film often embraces futurism, technology, and space travel. Science-fiction in the 50's dealt mostly with invasions of Earth by aliens or  mutations. Special effects feature strongly and as technology grows, more and more Sci-Fi's are available in 3D using the latest camera equipment.

• Apocalyptic/post apocalyptic fiction: this sub-genre depicts a world set after a disaster such as war, plague, zombies etc., it focuses on the traits and minds of the survivors and how they interact with each other and the end of a human civilisation. (The war of the worlds)  Post apocalyptic films take place in a society where their is a lack of technology/modern resources. (The Hunger Games)
• Hard science fiction: this is where the science is the main focus and could be seen as realistic, scientific focus is considered a main part of the plot. (Jurassic park)
• soft science fiction: soft science fiction isn't really concerned with the science involver, but the more social side of it. (The Planet of the Apes)
• Military science fiction: essentially military elements added to a sci-fi (edge of tomorrow)
• Social science fiction: this genre is more concerned with the humans in the scientific society and highlights human behaviour and interactions. (Gulliver's travels)
• Space opera: emphasises space travel and shows how humans cope with a space lifestyle. (Prometheus)
• Planetary romance: this shows exotic alien worlds and focuses on the physical background of the setting. This genre is more concerned with the adventures on the planet, rather than the transportation to that location. (Avatar)

Horror:

Horror films designed to frighten or shock the viewer through the violence or supernatural, this genre can sometimes overlap with science fiction. The impact of horror films has drastically changed thorough the decades, something once scary in the 80's such as the shining, would now be categorized as a psychological thriller. Today,  the term "horror" is  applied to films which display more explicit gore (Saw/ Texas chainsaw massacre) as audiences are becoming less and less impacted upon by horror films.

Ghost story: This sub-genre concerns dead spirits haunting the living world and how humans react to them (The woman in black)  

Monster: a genre depicting a monster/ mutant/ werewolf/ zombie that terrorises the population causing both death and despair, often monster films refer to creatures of traditional folklore.

Occult stories: discusses themes to do with the 'opposite of good religion', such as devils, demonic possession, antichrist, exorcisms, witchcraft and  daemons. (The exorcist/ the devil inside)

Slasher: this sub-genre usually features a male serial killer hunting down a group of people, the violence is extreme and detailed. Most of these films are rated 18 or X as they touch upon very disturbing topics.

Survival horror: this genre follows a protagonist who has to overcome some sort of obstacle such as zombies, a murderer or even themselves (28 days later)

Romance:

This genre deals with a sentimental relationship between two (or more/ love triangle) characters as its basis. Possibly the biggest purveyor of escapism in film, the romance film creates an assumption of what romance is like. The basic structure for these films are when two lovers who meet, fall in love, and then must deal with the obstacles thrown in their way, often portraying great sacrifice from one of the individuals. Many sub-genres have stemmed from this main genre to attract a wider audience, yet the main audience is predominantly women who truly immerse themselves in this world of fictional escapism.

Contemporary romance: this is a romance film set at the time they were written, in films before 1970, the women tend to be housewives while after 1970 the women have careers. (The Notebook)  

Historical romance: focuses on a romance between two characters in a period setting where issues from that period such as women's rights, threaten the relationship. (Jane Eyre)

Romantic suspense: Often the heroine is the victim of a crime , and works with the hero, who is often a protector, such as a police officer, FBI agent, bodyguard. At the end of the film, the mystery is solved and the interaction between the hero and heroine has developed into a solid, often cliche relationship. (An officer and a gentleman)

Paranormal romance: this often blends a variety of sub-genres such as horror, paranormal, sci-fi and thriller to produce a romance that appeals to both sexes. (Ghost)

Science Fiction romance: a romance film in a futuristic setting (Avatar)

Fantasy romance: A key feature of romantic fantasy involves the focus on relationships and social, political, and economic factors^. They are often completely fictional and tend to exaggerate a romantic relationship to suit the epic scale of the films budget. (Robin Hood: The Prince of Thieves)

Fantasy:

This genre is commonly associated with the fantasy worlds of imaginary lands. Key motifs include fairy's, knights, mythical creatures, wizards, epic battles, chivalry, pirates and fairy tales. Most of these films are aimed at children or young adults, children watch them because it depicts their imagination on screen, young adults watch them as they are often franchises that they have grown up with. This genre could be seen as a form of escapism as completely inaccurate and fictional worlds come to life on screen, creating a sense of awe and wonder. Many of these films are big budget blockbusters and a conglomerate film production company is needed to fund the countless special effects and stellar cast.

Fairy Tales: a genre about various magical creatures and folklore fables (Snow White and the Huntsman)

Epic/High fantasy: this genre expresses the use of highly sophisticated worlds and developed characters to produce a highly commercially successful film (Lord of the Rings/ Harry Potter)

Heroic fantasy: this chronicles the tale of fantasy lands and epic hero's who 'save the day' (Hercules)

Science fantasy:  A fantasy story  with mythical elements that can be scientifically explainable, basically combining science fiction elements with fantasy elements. (The hitchhikers guide to the galaxy)

 

Historical:  

This genre deals with historical events and the real historical figures involved in it. Sometimes these films can be over romanticised or are adapted from fiction novels, however, historical events and themes are at the heart of all these films. These films pay a lot of attention to detail to re-creating events that have shaped the world we live in today. The type of films that deal with completely fictional characters in historical settings would be called costume films or period dramas. Some other films dealing with historical past would relate to some other genres and types, such as westerns, musicals, fantasy, war dramas, biographies, etc

• Autobiography: a persons life story, often narrated by themselves (Mr Turner)
• Biography: somebody's life story as told by someone else (Marie Antoinette)
• Memoir: similar to an autobiography but it only shows a snippet of someone's life.
• Historical fiction: This entails a story that takes place in the real world, with real world characters, but with several fictionalized or dramatized elements.
• Alternate history: this genre poses a "what if" scenario where  some historical event occurs differently (or not at all), so the course of history is alternated (never let me go)
• Period piece: where a historical backdrop is used but the plot, themes and character may be over dramatized (Amadeus) 
• Costume drama: Lavish costumes and locations take center stage 

Thriller:

This type of film features suspense, excitement and tension. Every genre could have thriller elements to it, like mystery, detective movies, gangster movies, crime, spy films, science fiction, film noir, occult and horror genres. Information is often withheld  from the viewer as an important device, also  action setpieces such as gunfights and chases are rare. Violence is only used for pivotal points and only where necessary, unlike a slasher film where sporadic violence is frequent. Thrillers often present a vision of the world and society as dark, corrupt and dangerous, often the ending is positive, however, extreme sacrifices have been made. After World War II, thrillers became increasingly more menacing, filmmakers such as Alfred Hitchcock leading the way, but the gore, explicit violence and sexuality that define  the genre today didn't appear until after the Hayes Code was abolished in 1969. Since then the genre has been stretched with films by various directors who each continue to twist and expand thrillers into new areas. Famous thriller filmmakers include, Martin Scorsese, Brian De Palma, Neil Jordan, Ridley Scott and Roman Polanski.

Disaster-thriller: where a disaster is the main point of focus, something like a weather related disaster or a disease epidemic (contagion)

Psychological thriller: here, the psychological condition of the protagonist or, antagonist is highlighted. The plot is often complex and has many layers of meaning and possible outcomes (Shutter Island)

Crime thriller: this revolves around detectives and the crime they must solve, the plot is usually extremely suspenseful. (The Silence of the Lambs) 

Techno-thriller: where technology is the main culprit of the film (The Terminator)