Micro elements for our horror trailer/ Storyboard

Today we drew out a rough storyboard. We want to include many shots that are vital to the horror genre. Here are some examples of camera shots and editing techniques we will include:

• We want to use close ups because they are seen a lot in horror films and trailers for many reasons; close ups of characters faces are used to clearly show their emotions, e.g. fear. Also close ups are used to give a sense of enclosed space and entrapment which makes the audience feel closer to the action, therefore scaring them more by feeling like their in the film with the characters experiencing the terror. Also, part of the scariness of a close up is that you are focused on a small part of a bigger scene, the viewer can't see the bigger picture, therefore it causes the fear of the unknown.
• We will use point of view shots because they are also often in horror films for more than one reason. A point of view shot from the victims is commonly used because it lets the audience to really get in the characters shoes and allows them to empathise with them, therefore they feel similar emotions to what the characters would feel, making them scared. Point of view shots from the villains perspective are used to make the viewer feel uneasy because they are usually used to convey that the villain is watching the unsuspecting victims. It also gives the audience more information than the characters because they know that someone bad is lurking, unlike the characters.
• Even though the whole trailer is from inside a house, we will only film in the evening because dark lighting is a crucial element of horror films. It is used because it is mysterious and doesn't allow the whole image to be seen clearly, therefore you don't know what could be there; it makes it easier for people and other things to go unnoticed.
• Our trailer will be fast paced as all teasers trailers, especially horror's are. The speed gets the heart racing and doesn't give too much away, you see a terrifying image, but before you know how or why, it cuts to another dramatic shot.
• For me, I think sound is one of the most important parts of any horror film and trailer because no matter how scary the image is, it doesn't create quite as big an impact if it is not backed up by a sudden, loud or eerie noise. In my experience of watching horror films, even when I'm hiding behind my hands, I still manage to jump out of my seat or scream at a well done horror film and this is because of the sound. We want to use music that builds up anticipation and tension then make the audience jump by using a quick, sudden sound.

We discussed as a group what we wanted out trailer to roughly look like and what camera angles and shots we wanted to use. We drew a storyboard and wrote the shots beside each drawing as a guide to what our trailer will be. Obviously there will probably be some challenges we face and changes we make to it as we are filming. To view the storyboard we have created a page.

http://soullessproductions.blogspot.com/p/storyboard.html