Main Developed Idea For a Horror Film Development

Our first, and so far most developed idea is a horror film based around a masked serial killer, the film follows a psychopathic male in his mid 30's who's condition was brought on after his mother walked out on him as a child. The character suffered mental scarring throughout his teenage years which was added to by school bullies picking on him for his weird nature, he often has nightmares taking him back to the point of his life when his mother walked out on him and wakes up left in a rage which he struggles to control. The first sign of his illness was picked up by a teacher worried about his sudden lack of progression in his school work, he had also noticed that he was an unpopular student and was very much a lone wolf. The teacher advised him psychiatric treatment to build on his social life which he rejected without thought. The character kept a diary throughout school and regularly updated it with hateful messages aimed at fellow classmates. Although deemed weird he had an outward appearance of a calm and harmless nature which is why he was considered an 'easy' target for bullies. As a teenager he picked up an unhealthy obsession with serial killer Ted Bundy who killed what was believed to be around 100 victims. Bundy strangled his victims and later used various hospital tools to bludgeon them, our character imitated these techniques (copycat killer). Ted Bundy was almost a role model to him. His (character) victims were usually in their 20's with long purple/ red hair and a slim build, these targets resembled his mothers appearance at the time he last saw her. The murders occurred in depressive episodes following the nightmares of being abandoned as a child. The film will end with one of the killers victims managing to escape from his grasp and calling the police. When the police arrive the killer is left hiding in a barn surrounded by police but whether he is captured is left out in the open. We decided to end it on a cliffhanger so the audience are left feeling tense and answering questions themselves. This also leaves it open to a sequel film which can be decided depending on the success of this film.

Summary of Four Film Ideas (Pitch)

On friday Tom and Ismail (me) had to pitch four film ideas to the class, jake had turned up late to the lesson so me and Ismail had to present with only three of our ideas. The pitch ran fairly smoothly although the main point of our chosen story didnt cross over to the class well. Maybe this was because we were slightly unprepared and i'd left my notes on the blog. We were pleased that the class had some useful feedback on the ending to our story because we were debating whether our killer would be caught or remain on the loose for a cliff hanger type finish. They suggested that the murdered remained on the loose to for a climax to the story rather than simply getting caught.

In all the pitch didnt go so well, but the knowledege we gained from the classes opinions could prove to be a huge help to our storyline, so in one way it could be deemed a success. If we were ever to do this task again, we learn't that to ensure the task is completed to the full potential that was expected, we should get more prepared and organised. And we can not have any major mess ups due to the fact that one of the member is late or away from lesson and contains the work that is needed for the lesson. Therefore to prevent this we should make sure that we come on time, but for any reason if it is not possible to come to lesson, then the person should notify his partners before the lesson and give him a copy of the work needed. But, hopefully the group has relised there mistake and this inccident would never happen again.

Basic Four Ideas of Horror Films

1.) Haunted Island

A group of mates decide to go on a holiday to explore a Caribbean island. They have some people that tour them around the island. While they were exploring the island, they come across a part of the island that has a barrier around it with signs on it saying 'DO NOT ENTER, DANGER!'. They all become very curious and want to go and see what is behind these barriers, because it is pretty unusual to have barriers in a abandoned island. The tour guider tells them they can't go across and forces them to go back to the camp site. At midnight the group decide to sneak out so they can see what the barriers are blocking. When they cross the barriers and explore the place, they realise that there is nothing interesting there. But when they turn back they don't know which way they came. Therefore they are lost and look around to try and get back to the camp. When they make a move back, they will hear a someone screaming and chanting behind the brushes and trees and when this happens, one of the people in the group would mysteriously go missing. This happens continuously till the girl is left. Then later on the journey back, they would see that the group member that went missing would be either hanged up on trees, brutally slaughtered or body parts scattered around the area with chunks missing from them as if someone was eating the person. The girl who is the last one remaining fights her way out and finally meets back at the camp but then she sees that the camp has been destroyed and there is no one there. Then right at the end a spear is thrown at her which goes through her stomach which just leaves her dead on the floor.

2.) Abandoned

A middle aged man who's mother walked out on him as a child. He is very unsociable and has no friends due to his strange nature. He was always picked on at school and became a very angry and lonely boy. Now in his 30's he keeps having dreams of when his mother walked out on him as a child and waking up crying and in a panic. It all becomes too much for him and he goes out on the attack brutally murdering women that look similar to his mom. He stalks women that look like his mother and puts up pictures of them in his basement, and one by one he murders the women, crossing them off his list as he goes along.

3.) Killer Cruise

A group of six friends win a free cruise trip online. They were six excited but vulnerable people and when their ship stops off at an island for the day it all went horribly wrong for them. They got off expecting to explore the island and spend a hot day drinking and sunbathing, but this didn't occur. The ship took off leaving them stranded and without food or drink. This was not the end of their worries though as evil tribe folk that rule the island come out hunting them to slay them and eat them. They are in a race against time trying to stay alive avoiding being murdered and being the tribe folks dinner long enough till they can get off the island.

4.) When Ouija Board Goes Bad

Some youths aged 18 to 20 throw a party and towards the night one person pulls out a Ouija Board and persuades everyone to play it. Some people freak out and decide to leave the party, others want to play it to prove that its a fake and nothing spiritual will happen. When they begin to play the game, nothing happens so the leave the game and carry on with the party. Then all of a sudden the glass on the Ouija Board starts to move on its own. Someone sees this and tells everyone, they all begin to put there hands back on the glass to see what happens. The spirit talking through the Ouija Board begins to play games with the people such as giving them dares to do and telling embarrassing secrets. At the start its all jokes and fun, but then when a girl told the spirit that she isn't going to do the dare that was given to her, this upsets the spirit and makes him angry. All of a sudden they all are trapped in the room and all the doors are jammed. The people try to open them but it was impossible. Then the spirit gives orders to the people to torture the girl who denied the dare in order to get out the house. Then different sorts of tools begging to appear on the Ouija Board. Everyone gets freaked out and the girl grabs a knife and runs to the corner threatening anyone that came near her. Then the glass moves on its on and gives another order telling the people to kill each other and the last person standing can leave the house. One person tries to phone someone for help but then his reception goes up and down as if the spirit was messing around with it. Then the group pick up a weapon each with some people left out with no weapons. But no one has tried to kill anyone yet. The spirit then tells them that they got 30 minutes left till they are locked in for ever. Then they all panic and start screaming at each other then the girl who denied the dare at the start gets the knife and cuts he throat which leaves her dead on the floor.

Our Continuity Piece

Here is what we produced from our short clip to demostrate some basic rules of filming.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0w8E5boqnc