The video above shows a horror film from last year’s AS Media Studies class. This film is identifiable as a horror, mainly because of the unexplainable monster at the end and the title clip. The sequence demonstrates a lot of range in terms of shot types. Long shots are used to establish environment, but not used very frequently. This is most likely due to the fact that the same environment does not need introducing many times. Mid Shots are used the most in the clip, but sadly not to the users’ advantage. The MS gives across a sense of normality, which removes the desired suspense that you would expect from a horror. The use of the OSS at the end is very effective, and I feel is quite clever to use. However, the first time it is used appears quite empty, possibly because of the lack of musical influence to dictate the audience’s emotions
The majority, if not all of the camera angles are at eye level. This does not show much range, nor does it compliment the sequence. Because of the lack of range, the sequence appears quite normal and standard, preventing it from developing both fear and suspense
The sequence overall is very well framed, very rarely if ever, faltering with the framework. The only negative point to pick out is the camera is occasionally tilted and there is an instance where the rule of thirds is not adhered to, and the camera has simply moved back from the original position. This creates a sense of disorientation, because there camera appears almost to have jumped. Whilst saying that, it could be considered that the shots have an apparent disagreeing and misunderstanding of space. There are instances where the character has too much space to move in and others where the character has almost no room to move in
The mise en scene of the piece is quite standard. In terms of the storyline, the setting suited it well but I cannot help but wonder if it could have been developed more to offer more of an effect. The same applies to the body language of both characters involved. The main character did not appear very scared of the monster when they encountered each other, but was unexplainably walking tentatively toward the shed/outhouse/building of some description. The costume was relevant to their role and was fitting for the scenario
A key point that disappointed me was the lack of effective sound in the piece. The piece could so easily have been more effective if the right sound or any sound for that matter was added to the ‘empty’ scenes as I call them, e.g. when the character is walking from place to place. Nothing is happening there; that is the perfect place to put in an underscore – give the audience the impression something will happen. The majority of the sequence we are just waiting, not necessarily eagerly or anxiously anticipating, just waiting for something to happen. At the end, I feel that the ‘Oh sh*t’ should have been replaced with a high octave string, the raise the atmosphere of the scene. The sound or lack thereof really disappointed me, as it could have improved the piece is so many ways
The editing was okay, to say the least. However, the special effects toward the middle provided nothing toward the sequence, and if anything made it look more amateur than it should have. They were quite confusing, particularly raised question as to the relevance of them and how they would fit into the overall piece. There were occasions where the shot was held for too long, others where the shot could have just been removed altogether. The order of the scenes was well decided and enabled smooth transition from one place to another, but this may have been accompanied by the fact not very much really happened
Overall, I cannot help but think this piece could have been improved greatly. There was a distinct lack in many basic applications which could have raised their standard by quite a bit. However, despite this, the candidate showed basic skills and a reasonable understanding of conventions
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