Paranormal Activity

We were asked to analyse Paranormal Activity for a number of aspects.

How the characters were established:
The characters were established throught the dialogue and conversation. The setting also has an effect on the establishing. We can see that they are a couple and they live together. We also find out about the Psycic through conversation and we find out more about the woman's childhood through the conversation with him.

Consider how setting is used:
It makes it clear to us they are a couple. A modern normal house so it doesn't appear as a house that would be haunted by usual standards. The use of mirrors, stares, shadows, knives and dark corners are all the key signifiers and add to the feeling of enigma.

How the story is established:

Audience Feedback.

We have been going round and showing people our work so far and then asking for their opinion on it. This is useful in work because it gives you an early indication of how people think your film is going to end up.

We asked people that were representative of our target audience, young adults and adults.

Sarah McGreal, 43: "The storyline sounds original and interesting. It sounds like the camera shots and angles are very professional. The drawings give you a good indication of how the story is going to unfold and they are detailed.

Billy Spink, 14: It sounds like something I've seen before. It sounds good though and I like the name of it.

Joey Spink, 19: It sounds like it could be a very scary film. The editing seems to be well thought out and looks like you have put a lot of time into you planning. The storyline sounds interesting and detailed and makes me want to go and see the film. It looks like it follows the general codes and conventions of a horror film.

Joshua Guest, 17: Your blogs are detailed and there are a lot of different posts about all the planning you have done. I like it so far.

Daniel Kiernan, 18: I sounds like it will be funny as well as scary. Not really sure if that's what you're going for though. It looks good though.

Peter Jackson, 42: I don't really like horror films but this looks really good. I think I would actually go and watch this..

Sarah Hall, 43: Could do with a bit more description of the action.
The lighting could do with a bit more description and more detail added to it. Sound FX need to describe a little more what the humming in the background is.
Camera Movement: Good detail on camera movement.
Camera Angle and lighting has good detail.
Good costumes notes and well detailed in saying what the boy is wearing.

Generally we had good feedback from the people we asked. People were using words like: interesting, well-planned, thought out, interesting, exciting... etc..

Script.

Scene 1: Front door goes, no one is there..
Scene 2: Sutton Park hill.
For our trailer we will need a script for the actors to follow.

Scene 1:
Ed is sitting on the sofa watching the television with his girlfriend, Lawna.
Ed: Right! What film do you want to watch?
There is a selection of DVD cases laid out on the table.
Lawna: I don't mind, honest. You choose.
Ed: But, I chose last time!
(Camera slowly makes its way around the room as an establishing shot)
Door is knocked. Ed sighs and makes his way to the front door, as he opens it he realises that there is no one stood there. He looks around to see if anyone is there, it is dark out.
(There is a close up of the boy at the front door)
(The camera then cuts and goes to the stalkers point of view watching Ed looking round the front of the house)

Scene 2:
Ed is walking down a pathway with Lawna through Sutton Park.
The stalker is watching the from the top of a hill (POV SHOT)
Ed: What time is that movie then?
Lawna: (Looks at watch) We have 25 minutes to get there.
Ed: Well, we'd better get a move on then love.
Lawna: Ok.
As they pick up the speed of thier walk, it switches back to the view of the stalker and there is heavy breathing.

Scene 3:
Ed has just got back from a night out. He is walking through the empty house with the lights off and all of a sudden the phone rings.
(Ed walks over to the phone and picks it up)
Ed: Hello?
(No one replies and there is only heavy breathing that can be heard.
Ed: Hello? Who's this?

Questionniare.

We have been asked to make a questionnaire about our chosen film/trailer as part of the market research section of our project. We did this so we could see what people thought about our ideas so far. I did mine with the other person in my group, Damian. We plan to ask a number of questions that require depth in the answers. I think that this is a good method because it will help us to see what people think of our preliminary plot and other ideas.

As you can see, our questionnaire is two pages and we will print at least 15 of these off and distribute them throughout the year group. We will then analyse the results and use this to help plan our trailer and make it the best we possibly can.
We plan to distribute the questionnaire to our target audience which is young adults/adults so we may even give a few to some teachers or possibly parents.