Research and planning
Before producing our own film opening we spent some time researching, we looked at film making techniques, what makes the opening of a film captivating, the horror genre and film audiences.
Film Openings/Techniques/Audiences
Understanding Shot Types
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Audience Profiling
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Point of View Shot
Two Shot Over the Shoulder Shot Extreme Close Up Aerial Shot Mid Shot Close Up Long Shot Establishing Shot |
Used to show a scene from one of the characters’ perspective.
Two people in the frame, usually taken with similar proportions to a mid shot. Taken from behind someone’s shoulder to show the other person’s face. Used to show a conversation. Centres around one specific detail – one particular area of someone’s face. Used to create mystery or tension. Taken from a crane or helicopter to show a large area. Used to show setting before a scene. Shows a fair amount of a person, usually from the waist up. Used to show body language or a person in a certain setting. The subject’s face takes up the majority, if not all of the screen. Shows a person’s entire body, as well as their surroundings. Similar purpose to a long shot, but much wider - showing more surroundings. |
Name: Jack Simmons
Age: 17 Occupation: Student – Taking A-Levels at college in English Language, Psychology and Philosophy Family: Mother – Susan, aged 45, works as a primary school teacher Father – Paul, aged 47, works as an accountant Brother - Charlie, 19, studying Maths at university Socio Economic grouping of parents: B Psychographic: Egoist, innovator Segmentation position: Mainstreamer Personality and interests: being creative, is a thrill seeker – enjoys being scared, watches films socially with peers, dislikes sport/competiveness, enjoys crime/detective novels, very interested in the mind/psychology Film choices: Genres - Action/Thriller/Mystery/Psychological Thriller/Horror Films with multiple plot lines, action sequences, mystery elements, twists, male protagonist(s) and horror or psychologically thrilling scenes E.g. Inception, Fight Club, Memento, American Psycho, Shutter Island, The Game |
Film Opening Analysis - Avatar
Sound
- Incidental music: sounds tribal, with a strong beat – This is relevant to the film’s narrative as we later meet a tribe of creatures, it isn’t a sound that most of the audience will be very familiar with which also reflects the fact the species are a new discovery. The clear rhythm builds up a feeling of tension and uncertainty as it speeds up, putting emphasis on the moment after it suddenly stops.
- Voice over: Using a very serious tone, telling a story – The use of a serious tone is used alongside the incidental music to create a certain feeling of tension and mystery. The narrator’s voice goes quiet in parts, which adds to the air of mystery and leaves the audience gripped after a short amount of time.
- Additional sounds: Helicopter/Heavy Breathing – The sound of helicopter engines is not extremely clear, but can be heard slightly underneath the incidental music, this gives the impression of some kind of military involvement and fits in with the mise-en-scene . The breathing is diegetic, as we see a character wake up in a confined space, it is loud and heavy which may indicate nerves and gives the audience a feeling of being close to the character already.
Shots
- Sweeping aerial shots of forest – The aerial shots set the scene clearly in the opening of the film, as we see a forest filled with unfamiliar looking trees and clouds, the speed of the shot indicates that there may be some travelling or exploring in the narrative.
- Extreme close up, zoom out to close up shot of main character – The first we see of the narrator is an extreme close up of his eye opening, which then changes to a close up of his face, this confirms that this is a story about him and that he is the main character, because the audience already feel they have seen him in a personal setting. The use of close ups emphasises that the man is in a very confined space, and gives a sense of claustrophobia which viewers may be able to relate to.
Narrative
· The opening scenes give a clear impression that the film centres around a journey – with the man whom we hear speak, and linked directly to the land we are introduced to.
· The language used in the voiceover doesn’t uncover much about the narrative itself, as he speaks about freedom and his dreams but then cuts back to a sense of reality, joined by a shot of him waking up. This could indicate that the land we see before is a dream, or is somehow alienated from reality.
· The use of the scenery alongside the music and shot types used creates an exciting unfamiliar atmosphere, which contrasts sharply with the shots of the character waking up into reality – this could be an indication of the kind of journey the film entails.
- Incidental music: sounds tribal, with a strong beat – This is relevant to the film’s narrative as we later meet a tribe of creatures, it isn’t a sound that most of the audience will be very familiar with which also reflects the fact the species are a new discovery. The clear rhythm builds up a feeling of tension and uncertainty as it speeds up, putting emphasis on the moment after it suddenly stops.
- Voice over: Using a very serious tone, telling a story – The use of a serious tone is used alongside the incidental music to create a certain feeling of tension and mystery. The narrator’s voice goes quiet in parts, which adds to the air of mystery and leaves the audience gripped after a short amount of time.
- Additional sounds: Helicopter/Heavy Breathing – The sound of helicopter engines is not extremely clear, but can be heard slightly underneath the incidental music, this gives the impression of some kind of military involvement and fits in with the mise-en-scene . The breathing is diegetic, as we see a character wake up in a confined space, it is loud and heavy which may indicate nerves and gives the audience a feeling of being close to the character already.
Shots
- Sweeping aerial shots of forest – The aerial shots set the scene clearly in the opening of the film, as we see a forest filled with unfamiliar looking trees and clouds, the speed of the shot indicates that there may be some travelling or exploring in the narrative.
- Extreme close up, zoom out to close up shot of main character – The first we see of the narrator is an extreme close up of his eye opening, which then changes to a close up of his face, this confirms that this is a story about him and that he is the main character, because the audience already feel they have seen him in a personal setting. The use of close ups emphasises that the man is in a very confined space, and gives a sense of claustrophobia which viewers may be able to relate to.
Narrative
· The opening scenes give a clear impression that the film centres around a journey – with the man whom we hear speak, and linked directly to the land we are introduced to.
· The language used in the voiceover doesn’t uncover much about the narrative itself, as he speaks about freedom and his dreams but then cuts back to a sense of reality, joined by a shot of him waking up. This could indicate that the land we see before is a dream, or is somehow alienated from reality.
· The use of the scenery alongside the music and shot types used creates an exciting unfamiliar atmosphere, which contrasts sharply with the shots of the character waking up into reality – this could be an indication of the kind of journey the film entails.
Character Analysing - Heroes and Villains
Villain – The Joker
Film – The Dark Knight Facial disfigurements – un-human like, audience can’t identify so much, has been involved in something dangerous – violent? Clown image – Playing on childhood fears, psychopathic looking, stands out/recognisable General appearance – Greasy hair/grubby clothes – doesn’t wash and is dirty should be avoided, unnerving Personality – uses mind games rather than physical strength, carries knives with him because they cause more drawn out pain than guns, intent on ruining the plans of others Anonymity – reinvents himself, unknown past – mysterious so you don’t know his experiences, un trustworthy, no bare skin without make up on is ever shown Portrayal in the film Shots used - frequent use of close ups so we see his scars and the look in his eyes, shown walking away from explosions he has caused Incidental music - often shown without incidental music to emphasise his breathing and way he talks Other characters - high contrast to the hero because of their difference in clothing/cleanliness |
Hero – Indiana Jones
Film – Raiders of the Lost Ark Personality – dedicated to truth and his morals, extremely intelligent, follows his passions – archaeology and ancient civilizations, is a lecturer so he shares his knowledge, encourages adventure, expresses the importance of honesty General Appearance – as Indiana he looks rugged and his imperfections make him likeable, looks extremely masculine (in the stereotypical sense) which shows he is strong and protective, has a hat and whip – as trademark possession Realism – usually has a ‘normal’ life – superhero-like idea of another persona used to escape everyday life, audience can relate more to him, makes mistakes and gets hurt but carries on, Portrayal in the film Shots used – low shots to give the impression that the audience should look up to him Sounds/Music – Theme tune often used over his scenes – importance of his character/iconic Other characters – villains are fearful of his intelligence, many others look up to/obey him |
Film Opening 9 Frame Analysis - This Is England
9 Frame Analysis Presentation
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This Is England (2006) - by Shane Meadows
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Horror Genre Research
The Horror Genre - Documentary Research
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The Horror Genre: A Mini-Documentary
We put together a mini-documentary to show what we have learned so far from our research, including features on BBFC age ratings, notable horror directors and a short history of the genre.
Horror Film Conventions
Audience Expectations for a Horror Film
Horror Film Narrative Structure
Horror films generally follow Todorov's approach to narrative as this makes for a suitable order of events. I made a flowchart to show the plot using this theory and how it could work for a horror film.
Poster Analysis - 'Orphan'
Horror Posters - Typography Analysis
Mirrors - The use of red is conventional of the genre as this colour signifies danger and blood. The backwards 'R' is relevant to the title of the film, and the font is fairly basic and easy to read.
The Skeleton Key - The colours used suggest light coming through an opening, which may be relevant to the narrative as 'key' suggests a doorway and thus possibly an opening. The use of the '£' in place of the 'E' works well aesthetically and may hint at an aspect of the plot. The typography itself is clear and stands out well against the background. Orphan - The typography looks like the writing of a small child, which works well with the title of the film. The glow is typical of the horror genre and gives an unusual, unsettling feel to the word. The Ring - The typography used for this is uneven, all in lower case and looks handwritten, suggesting there may be children in the film who could be the antagonist(s). The use of a circle around the writing connects directly to the title being 'The Ring'. The glow indicates the importance of the ring itself and the supernatural power it may have, this also helps the entire thing to stand out well from the dark background. The Rite - The most notable feature of this title is the use of a cross to replace the 't', this links to the title of the film and reinforces the idea that there is some focus on religion in the film. This is fairly common to the horror genre. The font is easily readable, the main word being larger adds focus to it and, as is common, the white and silver colour scheme makes it stand out well against the dark background of the DVD case and poster. Lovely Molly - The use of colour here is unusual for the genre, and connotes an almost earth-like feel. This is reinforced by the presence of the insect logo, which may make the viewer question the plot and gives another dimension to the title. Play Time - The typography is typical of the genre because it is distressed looking which connotes danger and some sort of attack. Although it is white - making it bold against the black - the splatter effect may be reminiscent of blood which is an icon of the horror genre. The font looks as though it could be handwritten by a child which links to the title being 'Play Time' as this suggests the involvement of children. The Last House On The Left - The use of colour is particularly effective here, as the red on the word 'house' suggests that it is a dangerous place. The font itself is standard, but the slight distressed effect is a subtle way of indicating danger. The splattered blood across the centre of the title reinforces the idea of the danger and is an icon of the horror genre. |
Horror Genre - Iconic Sounds
The sounds used in horror films are incredibly important, it can be argued that they are key to the film more so than many other genres because they have such a huge impact on what the audience receives from the film.
Sound effects The use of added or amplified sound effects in horror films adds a lot to the scenes. For example, making the sound of a clock louder emphasises the passing of time so the audience become more aware of it, this kind of technique is used in the horror genre to encourage tension and anxiety in the viewer. Additional sounds - almost like musical score - also have a similar impact, using a heart beat or steady drum beat which increases in pace or volume helps to build atmosphere. Spoken slogans used throughout a film can also be considered effective sounds, such as the line 'What's your favourite scary movie?' used in the Scream films. Iconic diegetic sounds such as screams or gunshots are associated with the danger or violence in films, on hearing these sounds the audience will become aware of the genre. Incidental music Classical music is generally unusual in modern films, but those in the horror genre often include detailed score with impressive musical depth, this is again used as a tension building technique and can often be seen to give the film a certain identity - for example films based on devil posession and exorcism may use a variation of traditional Christian score. Music can also be used to enhance the cuts within the films - faster music with faster cuts, slower music with slower cuts. This helps to evoke a certain feeling in the audience, such as adrenaline, anxiety or fear. Pieces of music, if used effectively can also help sell the film as a brand, the themes to Psycho and Jaws are a classic example of this. |
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Horror Film Opening Scene Analysis
Silence of the Lambs
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Sound The institutional details are not accompanied by any sound which is common in the horror genre as it removes the usual novelty associated with the companies, taking away the familiarity. Over the opening credits plays 'Ave Satani' a piece of music composed by Jerry Goldsmith as the theme song for the film. The title means 'Hail Satan' which is relevant to the title and the focus on religion. The song itself uses Latin phrases relating to 'anti-christ' and to 'satan', the use of a foreign language helps to make the audience feel unsettled as they are generally unaware of what is being said. The music opens with piano and slowly builds as the credits roll, the chanting becomes louder and more intense - this could be foreshadowing of later events in the film or of the narrative structure. When the title shows at 34 seconds, a stronger note is played, this not only places emphasis on the title but also helps to draw the audiences attention. The use of a different note could suggest that the omen is something out of the ordinary. Chanting and instrumentals of this style are common to the horror genre, and have frequently featured in films centered around religion and the anti-Christ. The first diegetic sound heard is the engine of a car and the hum of traffic, this familiarity contrasts with the incidental music which has come to an end. The car appears to be travelling at a fairly high speed and the sound of a horn can be heard, this could suggest a feeling of danger although there is no obvious danger. |
The Omen
The voiceover at 1:46 is used to introduce the character as someone who has something to hide as he doesn't speak aloud to other characters. This also gives the impression he is one of the main characters, although what he says - such as 'the child is dead' - don't make it clear whether he is the antagonist or protagonist.
His tone of voice is cold and dark, this, paired with the sound of the traffic helps to create a certain unnerving atmosphere and encourages the viewer to feel negatively towards the character and possibly feel some fear of him. As he continues to speak, what he is saying seems to suggest that he could have committed a murder or has been involved with one, and the repetition of the phrase 'the child is dead' reinforces the cold and unnerving atmosphere. |
The DescentThis file is a voice-over analysis of the first 6 minutes of The Descent
During the institution credits there is incidental music which suggests a feeling of growing tension, this builds up to the first sound being screams but without any indication of the source. This is conventional of a horror film as it suggests fear and danger with a feeling of mystery.
The shot cuts to an establishing shot of the women in a boat and we find that the screams are in fact screams of laughter and there is little in the way of serious danger. The colours in this scene are fairly dim and the only lighting is natural. The women are dressed in blue but one of them is in red which makes it clear that she might be the one to cause some sort of danger or problem later on. After a pan across the water showing the dangerous journey they are about to experience – this could signify what will happen in the film – there are frequent jump cuts and close ups between the characters and we see their facial expressions clearly. The sounds in this scene are all diegetic and consist of screams, laughter and the sound of rushing water. This creates an intense, loud, feel, which gives the audience an idea of what the characters are experiencing. The feeling of calm following the water rafting signifies the return of the equilibrium which is a convention of the narrative of most horror films. The representation of men and women is unusual as the women are the ones who are in danger and are shown as strong. The one man in this scene is shown in a negative light as it is clear that he has a secret relationship with the girl who is shown in red as well as an honest relationship with another character. He is also taking on the role of most females by taking care of the child. The scene in the car is calm and feels natural, with only the sounds of cars and dialogue and over the shoulder camera shots, mid shots and slow cuts. The car crash follows a calm equilibrium and happens without any expectation as it takes place over one shot beginning with a conversation between two characters. On colliding with each other, we hear the sounds of the cars and the camera cuts quickly to show what has happened. This fast movement and loud noise will evoke a feeling of surprise in the viewers. The violence of the pole impaling the characters head and the shots of blood are conventional of the horror genre. The return of the silence after the crash and the death of the character is also a convention of the genre as silence helps to build tension and could signify death. The high shot of the two cars shows the scene of the crash and has various icons of the genre such as the blood, the broken glass and the dangerous copper pipes. The scene fades slowly to black and the tension building incidental music returns from the very opening of the film. In the shot we see a little girl and a birthday cake which fade into shot slowly but are partly obscured by shadow. The camera zooms into the candles as she blows them out one by one in slow motion, this builds mystery and makes the audience wonder what the significance of this scene is. The cut to the woman in hospital and back again gives an indication that the girl is somehow connected to her. The sound in this scene is ghostly and heightened, which makes it intense for the audience to watch. The use of the little girl is a convention of the genre as young children are often used to cause fear because of their innocent appearance, the birthday cake has a similar effect. The scene where the woman is alone in the hospital bed also gives a feeling of the unknown, as she is the only thing lit in dark and unfamiliar surroundings. The only sounds are diegetic and we hear heavy breathing and the heart monitor flat line when she moves. The use of the high shot shows the characters weakness as it portrays her as smaller in contrast to the strong woman we see in the very first scene of the film. The use of lighting in the corridor is conventional to the horror genre as it is dark and lit using cold colours. The darkness creates a feeling of mystery and death, and the colours make the shot look as though it is filmed on a night vision camera which makes it look creepy. The use of dialogue and the woman calling for ‘Jess’ is familiar to the previous scene with the girl blowing out the candles, as the camera showed the words ‘Happy Birthday Jessica’ on the cake. This confirms that the little girl is a significant part of the woman’s life. The long shot of the woman shows that she is dressed in a hospital nightgown which is a signifier of the horror genre. The lights slowly turning off suggest that she is being chased by something unknown and the impending darkness creates fear in the viewer. |
The close up of the woman breathing deeply is effective as it gives the impression she is somehow possessed or is not herself and the use of a zoom and blur behind as well as the tunnel effect moving the focus to her connotes her importance.
As she runs from the darkness the backwards dolly shot brings the audience along, it is fast which makes it more unnerving. The sound of her breathing and the dramatic sound effects convey the despair and panic of the character, evoking a similar response in the audience. The extreme long shot down the corridor reinforces the despair and again makes the character appear small and insignificant compared to the darkness, this is conventional to the genre. As she comes into contact with another character, the woman screams and the lighting comes back on showing to us that the previous darkness was in her imagination, which makes her appear psychologically unstable and weak which contrasts with the character we see before the crash.The scene fades slowly to black and the tension building incidental music returns from the very opening of the film. In the shot we see a little girl and a birthday cake which fade into shot slowly but are partly obscured by shadow. The camera zooms into the candles as she blows them out one by one in slow motion, this builds mystery and makes the audience wonder what the significance of this scene is. The cut to the woman in hospital and back again gives an indication that the girl is somehow connected to her. The sound in this scene is ghostly and heightened, which makes it intense for the audience to watch. The use of the little girl is a convention of the genre as young children are often used to cause fear because of their innocent appearance, the birthday cake has a similar effect. The scene where the woman is alone in the hospital bed also gives a feeling of the unknown, as she is the only thing lit in dark and unfamiliar surroundings. The only sounds are diegetic and we hear heavy breathing and the heart monitor flat line when she moves. The use of the high shot shows the characters weakness as it portrays her as smaller in contrast to the strong woman we see in the very first scene of the film. The use of lighting in the corridor is conventional to the horror genre as it is dark and lit using cold colours. The darkness creates a feeling of mystery and death, and the colours make the shot look as though it is filmed on a night vision camera which makes it look creepy. The use of dialogue and the woman calling for ‘Jess’ is familiar to the previous scene with the girl blowing out the candles, as the camera showed the words ‘Happy Birthday Jessica’ on the cake. This confirms that the little girl is a significant part of the woman’s life. The long shot of the woman shows that she is dressed in a hospital nightgown which is a signifier of the horror genre. The lights slowly turning off suggest that she is being chased by something unknown and the impending darkness creates fear in the viewer. The close up of the woman breathing deeply is effective as it gives the impression she is somehow possessed or is not herself and the use of a zoom and blur behind as well as the tunnel effect moving the focus to her connotes her importance. As she runs from the darkness the backwards dolly shot brings the audience along, it is fast which makes it more unnerving. The sound of her breathing and the dramatic sound effects convey the despair and panic of the character, evoking a similar response in the audience. The extreme long shot down the corridor reinforces the despair and again makes the character appear small and insignificant compared to the darkness, this is conventional to the genre. As she comes into contact with another character, the woman screams and the lighting comes back on showing to us that the previous darkness was in her imagination, which makes her appear psychologically unstable and weak which contrasts with the character we see before the crash. |
Scream 4
Straight away with the institutional detail you hear the iconic phone ring, this is often used in horror films especially slashers. Along with the ringtone there is a tension building sound effect.
There happens to be then a stereotypical young pretty girl who answers the phone, this again is iconic for horror films. The person on the other side has the recognisable low evil voice. So far it’s your stereotypical horror film. Now we know there are two young girls, home alone going to watch a film the use of dramatic irony to suggest to the audience that something is going to happen. The dramatic irony continues, as they talk about how bad horror films are she pulls out a knife, this is foreshadowing what may happen later. When there is mention of iconic horror elements there is an increase of dramatic and tension building music. The language that is used suggests straight away that the film is rated 18. The use of camera angles and shots are flat and not very dynamic which is what you would expect of horror films. The shots that are used reinforces the dramatic irony, masking the fact that the audience actually know what will happen. The use of the term ‘this is the last person you will ever see alive’ is iconic to the genre. The phrase is mainly used by the other person on the phone, hiding their identity. The tension is being built now that the phones continue ringing, the dramatic music helps towards this as well as the shots where the audience expect something/someone to pop up. The doorbell then rings and they scream which adds even more tension. The angles and shots are more dynamic, which gives the impression that something is going to happen. When it doesn’t this gives a sense of relief and then when it does it’s unexpected. |
The characters doing what the antagonist tells them to do is stereotypical and frustrating for the audience. It’s dark outside which is iconic, as it’s mysterious and suggests danger.
Just as you think they’re safe and the audience starts to relax, something makes you jump, as it’s unexpected. There is then the iconic stabbing by a masked villain; there is a lot of blood and screams, which is iconic of the genre. The other character then turns around to run away and runs into his knife, this again is unexpected. The use of incidental music builds up and is dramatic as well as this you can hear the struggle and choking of the character and the squelch of blood. The villain then runs away and we see the character slowly slide to the floor, being all very dramatic and stereotypical. We hear a scream and then we find out that what we’ve just seen is a part of a film within another film which is an unusual twist and makes us realise that the film we are watching isn’t that stereotypical. |
Planning For Horror Film Opening
Production Company
Company ProfileName: Shadow Play Productions
Founded: 2012 Based: Birmingham, United Kingdom Founded in 2012 by Amelia Coldicott, James Graney and Sophie Sutcliffe, Shadow Play Productions is a brand new independent production company aiming to work alongside independent filmmakers in the UK. We specialise in feature length and short films and hope to work around the horror/psychological/mystery genre to create inspiring and original productions. Associated Productions Companies
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When designing our logo we took our research into consideration and decided to make use of a monochrome theme, this creates a darker look which suits the genre. The distressed font and background connotes damage or danger which directly relates to horror films, this was something we considered important when creating the logo.
Distribution CompanyUniversal Pictures - We chose to work with Universal Pictures because they are a worldwide recognised company and work in all genres and budget levels. Universal have been known to work with Working Title - the company in which WT2 are a subsidiary of.
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Karma Plot Synopsis - Initial plan
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Karma Opening - flowchart synopsis |
Props
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Shooting Locations-Bedroom
-In school corridor -Behind school building -Living Room party -Street |
CastingImogen - Samantha Thomas
Harriet - Elizabeth Jenner Jessica - Sophie Sutcliffe Emily - Aimee Wood Matthew - Christopher King |
Location Photographs
Imogen's Bedroom (Shots: 3 5 7 8 9 10 13 16 18 30)
School (Shots: 12 14 17 19 20)
Character Profiling - Main Characters
ImogenAge: 16
Appearance: blonde hair, casual dressed, [something wrong with her, like a scar/self harming?] Characteristics: not popular, secretive, isolated, reclusive Story: She used to be part of the popular group, Harriet’s best friends used to be hers. Harriet has took everything from her and has bullied her for months. Imogen is no longer in the group and is isolated. She can’t take the bullying any longer but what will she do? Representation: teenager – represents a minority, those who have been victimised and bullied to the point of self-hatred/despair. Females – firstly represents stereotypical female who is helpless and weak, later represents an opposing view by being deluded, an individual and seeking revenge for her own interests. Victim – appears weak and in need of help Villain – becomes determined, driven by hatred/past experiences, focused on violence |
HarrietAge: 17
Appearance: Ginger hair, casual but fashionable Characteristics: Popular, centre of circle of friends, leader, attention-seeker, respected Story: She joins the school late and gets involved with Imogen’s group of friends, leaving Imogen on her own. Harriet continuously bullies and upsets Imogen to the point of making her life unbearable and provoking revenge. Representation: teenagers – focused on popularity/hierarchy, materialistic, self-absorbed Females – stereotypical ‘blonde’ focused on appearance/other people’s perceptions, opposing stereotypes by being a bully Villain – unusual as she is more focused on verbal abuse than violent acts, aware of her power over the victim Victim – later becomes victimised butshe is unaware of her status and the plot against her |
Storyboard - Draft 1
(click the images to view them in full size)