Storyline (final)

First 2 minutes:

It's Halloween, and 4 friends are conversing over what they should do for the night. The idea of visiting the ruins of Moorecliffe orphanage is bounced around, an institution that has been abandoned for nearly 70 years. 2 of the friends are unaware of what happened at Moorecliffe, other than the haunted reputation it has held since the terrible event. As the 2 friends give hints to what actually happened at Moorecliffe as a voice-over, the audience experience the horrible events that took place in the wreckage that is Moorecliffe Orphanage.

2 minute sequence

Draft 1:
Kim, Lizzie, Todd and Richard set off from their night out trick or treating, deciding they were too old for such a practice and needed something more daring in their lives. Deciding to visit Moorecliffe Orphange, a place that has reportedly been haunted since the 1943 Moorecliffe Massacre, they set out to prove that ghosts do not exist. As atheists, they are completely confident that there is no life beyond death, and there will be nothing but an abandoned institute. Richard and Todd are determined to freak the girls out as much as they can, jumping up behind them as much as possible, until something moves behind the wall and Todd is accused, but the laughter of children can be heard... Following the sounds, we do not see where the teens go, but a few seconds later their screams can be heard and the screen blacks out.

Draft 2:
Group of kids talk about orphanage
cuts to Montage of orphanage from past
with voice over (of group)explaining what happened...
title sequence
modern kids
I DONT KNOW WHAT TO DO!!!!

Monday's Plan

On Monday 25th February, we plan to film the opening park scene as part of our first 2 minutes of our film. To do this, we need to get a camera, multiple copies of our script, as well as the cast required to film the scene.

However, because the time we plan on filming is after school has finished, the park may be occupied. If this happens, we plan to film the moorecliffe scene instead.

At the opening shot of The Shining, the camera (on a soaring air flight), this establishing shot shows the scenery, and where the most part of the film will take place. It sweeps and covers the whole landscape, and the sea, until it eventually until the camera changes shot and angle, now starts following a bright yellow VW beetle from a birds eyeshot. The shot is now closer and more directly focused to isolate a single important aspect of the shot - the car. The main surrounding in this shot are mainly trees, mountains and water, which effectivly increases the effect of isolation. The camera follows the car along a long and twisty road, tilting and paning the scene, but maintaining its' focus on the car. Next the camera changes shot, and is now scanning the landscape, still following the car, but on a much lower plane, with even more view of the mountains than in the prevoius shot. The shot then changes, and the camera is now following the car on the same road, but the scenary has changed to a more rocky mountain, with less greenary. After this the camera soars towards the car from the rear, establishing the original tiny yellow spec, now as a car, and the title sequence rolls, stating directors, actors and finally, the title. After this, the camera follows the car more, the more changable scenary, and tunnels, finally to a snow-covered mountain top aray of landscape. The camera then loses the car, and focuses on a building, set deep in the mountains.

Script (rough)

Kimberly, Todd, Richard and Lizzie


BLACK SCREEN: 1982

Setting - park

Todd: Guys c'mon this is boring as hell. It's halloween, we need to do something insane
Rich: I wanna go to Moorecliffe, no one's been up there in years, it can't be that scary
Kim: It's supposed to be haunted isn't it? Ghosts don't even exist, there's no point it's not like there's going to be anything good up there.
Lizzie: You never know Kim, you know what happened up there, right?
Kim: No?

Fade shot to walking up to the orphanage


Todd: We're gonna have to break in, it's been boarded up since the massacre.
Kim: Massacre? No one told me about a bloody massacre.
Lizzie: Aww are you scared? Wimp.

ALL LAUGH

Kim: Ghosts don't exist, why would I be scared?
Rich: You still don't know what happen though, do you?
Kim: No..
Lizzie: Moorcliffe was an orphanage..
Kim: I knew THAT!
Rich: Let her finish!
Lizzie: In April 1943 someone escaped from the insane asylum, seeking revenge from everyone that he could.. The first place he stumbled upon was Moorecliffe. He claimed to be the long lost parent of a 5 year old girl, making up a story that fitted perfectly with the history that the orphanage knew of her. No one knew how he got the information but after claiming the girl to be his, he went on a huge rampage. Killing everyone, orphans and staff, except the one girl.. he saved her for last. No one knows where either of them went..
Todd: *makes Kim jump*
Kim: AAHAHAHAHAHAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAARGGGGGH scream. You're a dick, Todd..
ALL EXCEPT KIM LAUGH
Kim: Not funny guys.

-View of Moorecliffe-

Rich: There it is.
Todd: Yup.
Lizzie: It's smaller than I remember.
Kim: I'm going to stay here..
Lizzie: NO YOU'RE NOT *drags Kim*
Rich: There's nothing to be scared of, like you said before, there's no such thing as ghosts...

-Zoom out to view them walking around the back of the building*

Audio scream and fade to black.

Film Title

After a discussion with our group regarding the possible titles of our film, we decided to call our film 'Moorecliffe'.

We feel this would be a suitable title for our film because it creates a sense of intriguement in the viewer because it isn't clear what the title means. It is also linked with our film because our film is set in an orphanage called 'Morecliffe Orpanage'.

Film Treatment (first 2 mins)

To get our audience engrossed in our film, we plan to start our film with a thrilling start, which ends on a cliffhangar at the end of the title sequence.

The title sequence sees a group of teenagers venture into an abandoned orpanage, despite rumours of atrocities that occured there in the past. With the group being somewhat hopeful of not encountering any paranormal occurances. The boys of the group become intent on freaking out the girls. This is until they see something move. Richard is accused, despite him not performing the movement. Childrens screams are heard, and as the camera moves away fading to black, we hear further screams, leaving the fate of the teenagers not known to the viewer.

Possible distributors

Distributors are companies in charge of promoting something, in this case, films. They are in charge of advertising and trying to get as many people to go see it/buy it/let them know about it and they should do everything they can to make that happen.

Some distributors specialise in certain genres, for example the distributor of Se7en, New Line Cinema, will probably distrubute mainly thriller and horror films. They were also the distributor for Snakes on a Plane and the Final Destination films.

Because we are students, are film in most likely to be an independant low budget film, using everything that is available to us and using it as effectively as we can. We could use a distributor like Metrodome Distributors. This would be more suitable than a bigger distributor for us, as they are a successful english company that would probably promote the film really well, as they have done with films such as Shifty.

Film Treatment (Full Film)

Our film is a psychological thriller that takes place across two time settings, with the film intercutting between the two settings. The film sees an intrigued group of teenagers tresspass into an abandonded ophanage after a night of trick or treating.  They did this, despite rumours of the place being haunted since a massacre at the orphanage in 1943.

After the group barely escaping the haunted house, the group become dertermined to discover the secrets of the orpanage. They return after finding out everything they can on the previous events that occured there in the 1980s when a group of teenagers also investigated the orphanage - they did not return.

The group return, intending on getting to the bottom of the mysterious orphanage. A night of frightful, thrilling antics ensue.




Overall, I think our film is unique in the sense that it could fall in both the horror, and thriller genres. I also think that the film could fall into the phsychological thriller / horror sub-genre.
I also think our film is unique because it takes place across multiple time setttings - making the film more sophisticated and deep than an average horror film.

The target audience for our film would be anyone over the age of 15 because this is our intended age certificate for our film. Also, because our film appeals to a broad audience because it appeals to the fans of both the thriller, mystery and horror genres.
Because our film is an independent film, it would also most likely appeal to the independent film fans 'niche'.

Film Title Ideas

- Moorecliffe
- Mindless
- Orphan
- Massacre Madness
- Insane
- 1982
- Moorecliffe Massacre
- Hallows Eve
- Wander
- Curious

Questionnaire

We are going to write a questionnaire for friends, fellow students and family members to fill in as feedback for the storyline of the first 2 minutes of our film.

Ideas for questions:

1. Name
2. Region (Where are you from)
3. What age certificate would you give this film?
4. Where would you expect to see this film? (Cinema, Online, TV, etc)
5. What are your thoughts on the storyline?
6. Would you go see this film?
7. Is there anything you don't like about the film?


Update:
Actual questionnaire:

Film Title Ideas

• Watched
• The Orphanage
• Returning

Research Into Title Sequence

Film title sequence are a massive part of the film as they establish the film they are there to draw people in if the title sequence is boring and drawn out then people are less lickly to watch it and more lickly ro turn the film off. They also help to develop charaters and give the audience a hint into what is goin to happen in the film.

For example the film seven which was directed by Kyle Cooper, who's orginality in the films title sequence inspired many young directors. The

Full Film treatment

Title:
Length: 150minutes
Audiecne: Our film is aimed at at a audeicen mainly between the ages of 16-21 gender doesnt really matter for our film as it is suitable for both male and females. There are elementsd of our film that both genders will like for examplefor females they will like the drama and the mystery aspects more as our film is abit similar to a TV Drama and woman tend to watch them more than men. For males they will like spooky bits more and the gore. Our film may also appeal to people that like horro films and also people that only see films that are made by independent film companies.
Synopsis: Everyone knows the story of the madness that is Moorecliffe Orphanage. On the 26th April 1943, the orphans that still lived there were massacred by an escaped mad man, along with all the staff with them, the orphanage abandoned ever since. There are people in the local asylum who only reside there due to their visit in 1982, at the ages of 16 and 17. Kimberly, Mark, Richard and Lizzie set off at the beginning of the night of Hallows Eve, set out to roam the ruins of Moorecliffe Orphanage to prove that ghosts do not exist, and came out barely alive. Olivia, Luke, Jade and Hayley, teenagers of the present day: follow in their footsteps, but prepare themselves for the possible horrors to come, visiting at first on the 5th February 2013, oblivious to the events to come. Escaping from the horrors with seconds to spare, the teens realised that they have underestimated just how powerful the spirits of the orphanage are, and they are going to up their game to get to the bottom of the investigation. Reading books on the Moorecliffe Massacre, on the fate of the teens that visited there in 1982, and even visiting the asylum that they are now bound in, the teenagers delved into the depths of the history of Moorecliffe, determined to uncover what actually happened that night.
Suggested Elements: Our film is set both in the present times and also show what happened in the past in the years of 1943 and 1982. this makes our film unique to most films as it will have flash back as well as explain the story of the orphans. Our film is also set in an orphanage. In adition to this our film with also have graphic murders which will make our film only suitable for a surtain age group as the murders which will horrific.

2 Minute Treatment

Title:
Length: 2 minutues
Audiecne: Our film is aimed at at a audeicen mainly between the ages of 15-21 gender doesnt really matter for our film as it is suitable for both male and females. There are elementsd of our film that both genders will like for examplefor females they will like the drama and the mystery aspects more as our film is abit similar to a TV Drama and woman tend to watch them more than men. For males they will like spooky bits more and the gore. Our film may also appeal to people that like horro films and also people that only see films that are made by independent film companies.
Synopsis: Kim, Lizzie, Mark and Richard set off from their night out trick or treating, deciding they were too old for such a practice and needed something more daring in their lives. Deciding to visit Moorecliffe Orphange, a place that has reportedly been haunted since the 1943 Moorecliffe Massacre, they set out to prove that ghosts do not exist. As atheists, they are completely confident that there is no life beyond death, and there will be nothing but an abandoned institute. Richard and Mark are determined to freak the girls out as much as they can, jumping up behind them as much as possible, until something moves behind the wall and Richard is accused, but the laughter of children can be heard... Following the sounds, we do not see where the teens go, but a few seconds later their screams can be heard and the screen blacks out.
Suggested Elements: Our film is set both in the present times and also show what happened in the past in the years of 1943 and 1982. this makes our film unique to most films as it will have flash back as well as explain the story of the orphans. Our film is also set in an orphanage.

Production Logo

Here was a concept for our group's production logo which I created using Adobe Photoshop. I used a simplistic style that was easy to remember and easily printable / presentable on a variety of medias.

The Sixth Sense

The Sixth Sense is a thriller film about a child who communicates with spirits that aren't aware that they are dead. Malcolm Crowe, a professional child psychologist is visited by one of his ex-patients who seems extremely unhappy, and after   realising how much his problems have increased since he stopped seeing the patient, the psychologist takes on the task of curing a young boy with similar symptoms of the ex-patient. The child is pinned to have mental health issues, and no one believes his claims that he "sees dead people". His mother is running out of solutions to her child's increasing problems, and Malcolm is his only hope.

I am going to evaluate the first fifteen minutes of the film: The Sixth Sense.
I have chosen this film because it relates to my own storyline, in the fact the it is a film about ghosts and the problems that they can cause. I could get some ideas from the use of camera angles, etc.

The opening sequence is just a black screen, rolling the opening credits in a classic white font. There is a slow, sort of eerie music playing very faintly, and slowly the volume of it increases building up to the first shot of the film.

The first thing we see is a black screen, and whatever is there is indistinguishable at first. A few spots of light show up and slowly get brighter, but at a pace that still keeps an eerie edge to link in with the music of the opening credits. We then see 2 curved lines of orange light come on and begin to get brighter, becoming apparent that it is a filament of a bulb.  The music then stops and a bang is heard, showing us that there is a person present in the scene. The shot then switches to what appears to be a room, but our vision is blocked by some shelves or a book case. The shelves are out of focus, and we see a woman's legs walking down some stairs into what appears to be the basement of a building. She stops suddenly at the bottom of the stairs and looks at something close to the camera, making the audience wonder what she is looking at, and why she has suddenly stopped with this shocked look on her face. She then slowly walks to the shelves that we are looking through, and we realie that it is a wine rack. She examines a few of the bottles, looking up and down the shelves and the camera follows, still looking shocked or confused (intriguing us to wonder why this could be). She picks up a bottle from the top shelf, and looks at it closer, then looks at the shelf more confused and shocked. The camera zooms into her face to create suspense and intrigue us to know what it is she is looking at.

Research Into Possible Distributor of Your Film

Film distributors are a company who's role is to promote your film, making it more accessible to as many people as possible. They are in charge of promotion (advertising, showing them at film festivals etc), they could also set the release date for a film.

There are a variety of distributors for film, who specialise in certain genres of types of film.
For example, New Line Cinema mostly distribute dark horror / thrillers aimed at an older audience. They distributed Se7en, Snakes on a Plane and the Final Destination films.

Because our film would most likely be an independent, low budget film a more suitable distributor would be a company like Metrodome Distributors. They would be more suitable because they are an English company and have distributed many successful independent British films such as Shifty.

Research Into Title Sequence

Film Title Sequences are essential in establishing the genre of a film, as well as showing what direction the film is heading in.

An example of a successful title sequence was se7en - which went on to influence future title sequences because of its originality.  David Fincher chose Kyle Cooper to direct the sequence who's attention to detail saw the sequence become an iconic opening.
The director intended the sequence to show inside the killer's mind as he constructed his diaries and books. As well as this, the sequence displayed the cast of the film and made the dark themes of the film easily identifiable.

It is also common for title sequence of a film to put the audience in a certain frame of mind and to portray an idea in a certain way, without necessarily revealing the narrative of a film. For example, in 'Run Lola Run', the themes of time is shown with the multiple shots of a clock.

There is also a drug theme shown in the title sequence because of the unusual psychedelic feeling the title sequence shows.

This establishes the themes that the film contains without revealing details about the film's plot.
You could also relate title sequences of films to an analogy about the similarities between film and literature. For example, the narrative of a film is like the story from a book, whereas the title sequence of a film is relatable to a poem because they both often express thoughts, themes and ideas.