Mise-en-scene

When filming our teaser we had to take into consideration the mise-en-scene that we would need. We research the conventions of a gore/ slasher film and what props are commonly used within the film and trailers. The props are extremely important as the help inform the audience what the genre is as gives them an insight into what they are about to watch. I have placed the props that we used under three categories:

Torture equipment

One of the main priority's when planing we had to ensure we used the correct equipment to convey the idea that this will be a slasher with gore. Therefore we had to use objects with connotations of pain, danger and fear. Not only this, these objects were most commonly seen across the genre when completing our research.

Saw

•  We chose to include the saw as this is one of the most common pieces of equipment that is seen across the genre. In films it is used for cutting bone and creating deeper wounds.
•  I had the idea of using a saw from the Saw franchise. One of the scenes show people trying to survive by cutting off limbs.
• The sound that is used with this tool also conforms to the genre as it is an easily identifiable sound . When used in a horror film it increases the 'fear factor' as this is something that many people have it their household and would not be considered difficult to obtain. This creates a sense of reality for the film and intensifies the fear. 

Mallet

• I also incorporated the mallet, it is a large powerfully tool and is extremely heavy. I gave this to the actor who plays the antagonist as it portrays the character as powerful.
• The use of the mallet as a weapon is truly terrifying, although it is not commonly used in horror films, it could be useful for its destructive properties. The audience can only imagine the excruciating pain of being hit with a large and undeniably heavy hammer.

Pliers

• This is a more delicate and small tool that contrast the the previous images I have shown. The pliers however though small can create lasting pain. 
• During our planning and filming sessions we used the pliers to 'break' the fingers of our victim. We shot this sequence several times to ensure it look affective.
• When we placed the footage into Final Cut Pro I wanted to use a bone cracking sound as he twists the finger round. This appeared to work very effectively after receiving audience feedback it was shown to be one of the more popular scenes in the trailer as it cause the effect of disgust and fear in the audience.
• We also considered using the pliers for pulling off the victims nails as it is a smaller tool. We had practised however the scene would had been too slow for the pace we wanted to create in our trailer.

Rope

• The rope was extremely important in our filming, we had considered the use of zip ties however we came to the conclusion that rope would cannote a dark and sinister situation.
• When we filmed the rope scenes I made sure to tie the rope as tight as possible, this was not to harm the actor, but to make the situation more believable. We also included fake blood around her wrists to convey the idea that she had been trying to escape.
• Rope is seen throughout all horror genres, mainly gore and possession films. We wanted to follow these conventions with the incorperation of the rope as we regularlly subvert the conversions as our teaser trailer is a modern consept.

Small axe

• The small axe / hatchet is once again a convention of slasher horrors and therefore we chose to use this in our trailer. We did research and found a slasher film named "Hatchet" witht the killer using this as their main weapon.
• Much like the mallet it was for background prop purposes only. It also shows the user as a strong indervidual and places them in a powerful possition.

Extra Deatail

Detroyed Chair

• When researching it came to my attention that the chair is usually destroyed from the victim trying to escape the situation. We wanted to include this small detail into our trailer and therefore we had an old chair and destroyed it with different tools.
• Some of the examples in films appeared very clinical and metal, however due to being a student with a restriction on what we could use. Although for our genre I believe that this style of chair was very effective.

Plaster table

• The prop of the table was very problematic as we needed something that could be easily transported and could fit in a reasonably large gap. Therefore we came to the conclusion that a plaster table would be usefiul for this situation.
• When torture is shown within films they commonly have close ups of the villain with their back to the victim looking at the table with their tools layed out. This was an important factor as we wanted to properly pressent the tools instead of leaving them scattered on the floor. I also conveys that the killer is a methodical thinker conveying him as dangerious.

Pin Board

• Finally for this section we also have the pin board demonstraighting his line of thought and how it developed to this situation. The pin board also supports the idea that he is a methodical thinker with a reason for their actions. I also suggests that he has been watching the victim from a young age due to the younger photos of  the victim. This increases the fear in the audience as it suggests he has been planning for a long period of time.

Make-up

Darker colours

• We used these darker colours for the bruises and the cuts on the victim. We used this for the bruise eye and cuts allong her face for the close up images of her face. The makeup is very important as it makes the situation believable as if she was actually being harmed by the killer.
• We also used the greans and blacks to discolour the gag to make it appear dirty and used. This shows that he has had previous victims, this is shown within all films that use the prop of a gag for the vimtims in order to keep them quiet.

Fake blood

• Finally there is the fake blood that we used multiple times in the photoshoot. This prop was to convey the gore aspect of the film as we do not have acess to complicated consmetics we had to relie on the fake blood to bring in the gore aspect.
• Its uses consist of blood dripping off her hands, making the cuts appear fresh with fake blood and the victim spitting out blood.

Prop: Chair

For our project I wanted to make the situation look as realistic as possible, in order to do this I wanted to create a chair that appears to have been used several times before for different victims of the killer. When making the chair I thought of different details in which would be seen on a torcher chair, deatails such as nail marks with dried blood and hair caught on splintered sections of the chair.

I used bright red makeup to make the blood on the chair as I knew that it would last longer then fake blood and it would appear more clearly in comparison to fake blood

I also broke the backing of the chair as I believe the victim would be struggling a lot which would likely break areas of the chair, I also included blood along the top and side to create the idea that the wood haddug in to the victim while they were tyed down.

I added some extra deatails to the seat as it would not stay comepletely clean through the process, I used the bright red makeup and coffee to stain the chair to create the dirty effect.

This is the section at the top of the chair, here I have placed some hair in to a splined area that I created through using a plane as the victims head would be resting or agaist this area of the chair, the likely-hood is that some hair may have been pulled out while they were trapped on the chair.

I made some scratch marks as if the victim was either trying to escape or 'coping' with the pain. I added some blood into the marks to make them more realistic and to show the desperation in which the victim would have felt. To create this effect I used metal screws and ran them up and down the areas in which I wanted this effect. The jaggered effect from the screw is very effective in recreating the situation.

This is the final product of the chair, I used a plane to carve in to the wood further and sanded down the sides to make the chair appear less glossy and more worn down and used.

The Process

I have created the following video to show the process in which I comepleted to achieve the final product:

Slasher Horror Prop Deconstruction

Weapons in slasher films are often objects that can be used to cut through the flesh. This is why this sub-genre of horror is known as ‘slasher’. The weapons symbolise death. Sharp objects are normally used therefore weapons such as guns will not be seen in a slasher film. Weapons used include:

• Knives
• Axes
• Saws
• Hammers
• Razors

A specific weapon may be reserved for a specific victim. The weapons usually inflict a slow and painful death.

Masks- The killer normally remains unknown throughout the film to create an enigma and to keep the audience captivated by guessing the outcome. The killer may be unmasked towards the end of the film or if there is going to be a sequel the killer often remains masked.

Ropes, chains, blindfolds- These props are used to symbolise constraint and ambush. They add tension by showing the victim being imprisoned causing the audience to think will the victim escape or die?

Scream 4 (2011)

    ·The killer wears a mask to keep his/her identity unknown. The mask does not look like a human face but more like a ghost.

    · The killers weapon is a knife- in this image the knife already has blood on it to show that he/she has stabbed someone.

  
Saw V (2008)

     ·   A masked killer. The mask used shows the features of a face such as the mouth eyes and nose. However, there are no specific details such as the eye colour or whether this man has a beard so he is still unrecognisable.

     ·   The main weapon used in this film is a saw which is shown by the title of the   film.

     ·   The film also includes different traps that the victims become stuck in

 

Halloween II (2009)

     ·   Masked killer. His mask looks a bit worn and broken showing that it has been well used and may have been used in the previous 'Halloween' movie.

     ·   The weapon used is a knife as seen in this film poster. He looks as if he is about to stab someone. 

Deconstruction Of Props

 

• Props are a common feature of every film and enable the audience to get a sense of                       character to the people using them. For example in Pirates of The Caribbean, Jack Sparrow,       is clearly a pirate because he has a compass, sword and gun alongside his pirate costume.
• They often help to convey the time and place of a narrative.
• Different props can help to distinguish between different scenes.
• Props are used to make a film look realistic.

Action

• Guns and explosives
• Knives
• Cars
• Helicopters
• Gadgets
• Expensive jewellery
• Ropes

Kingsman The Secret Service Poster

Romance

• Flowers
• Chocolate
• Coffee
• Mobile phone
• Everyday items
• Wedding items
• Taxi’s
• Bed
• Letters

Slasher Horror

• Knives
•  Axes
• Chainsaws
• Blades
• Masks
• Ropes, Gags
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