Research into similar film: Prom Night.        

Prom Night again contains the theme of stalking, like our film. The stalking in this film varies slightly from Scream, as the plot is a little more similar to ours, the girl been stalked in this film is probably more of a similar age to our main character, also this film is a lot more recent than scream, therefore it will look a lot more modern in compartment  to it. Also, like our film the stalker is very much obsessed with the main charter Donna, who is a strong character trying to survive her prom night and get away from this terrifying man who is fascinated by her.

Prom Night

Review found on Metacritic

Link below:

http://www.metacritic.com/movie/prom-night

 

See the trailer

Metascore

17 out of 100

Overwhelming dislike based on 12 Critics What's this?

User Score

4.3 out of 10

Mixed or average reviewsbased on 194 Ratings

Your Score

0

• Starring: Brittany Snow
• Summary: Donna's senior prom is supposed to be t
• he best night of her life. After surviving a horrible tragedy, she has finally moved on and is enjoying her last year of high school. Surrounded by her best friends, she should be safe from the horrors of her past. But when the night turns deadly, there is only one person who could be responsible...a man she thought was gone forever. Now, Donna and her friends must find a way to escape the sadistic rampage of an obsessed killer, and survive a night "to die for." (Sony Pictures) Collapse                                                                                                                                                                                                          The link below is for the official trailer for Prom Night on YouTube:
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVIPIgE3Fnc
•  
• Overall, the reviews of the film wasn't very good, in fact they where quite disappointing, i spent a while looking through the reviews and the majority of them sided with the  review above slighting the film, and giving it low ratings. Obviously our plots are very different even though stalking is the theme in both, our film is going to be a thriller which keeps viewers on their toes, whereas this film was in my opinion  a little predictable and boring at times.
• 
  

certificate of film research

• strong violence: our film contains strong violence towards the end of our film. The scene in which Liam (The stalker) is trying to suffocate Beth (The protagonist) with a plastic bag, while he is doing this Beth pick up the cricket bat she has beside her bed and begins to beat him with it. this scene may effect anyone younger than 15 when watched as it is very graphic 

• frequent strong language (eg 'f**k'): Words such as f**k and S**t will be used throughout the film to show the protagonists distress and panic. Parents may have  problem with children at the age of 12 watching this.
• brief scenes of sexual violence or verbal references to sexual violence: sexual references will be made through out the film. Finding a spare key in a plant pot Liam brakes into Beth's house. he goes into her room and lays in her bed, starts smelling and applying her perfume and smelling her clothes. Buy having this scene it suggests that Liam wants to have sex with Beth.

Due to the factors shown above our film would be rated 15. this would mean the target age rang of our audience would be 15 and up.

different distributors that could distribute our thriller film

Different distributors for a thriller film 

- Universal Pictures 
- Hammer Pictures 
- Hammer Film Productions 
- Associated Artists Production
- Hammer Universal 
- Hammer Horror
- BAV Film
- United Producers 
- American International Pictures 
- Astral Films 
- United Produces Releasing Organization
- Bent Walker Film Distributing 
- Synapse Films 
- Veston Video 
- Sony Music Video Enterprise 
- Sony BMG Music Entertainment 
- National Broadcasting Company 
- Image Entertainment 
- MAC Universal Home Video 
- A&E Home Video 
- Umbrella Entertainment 
- DreamWorks Animation 
- Nintendo Of America 
- Turner Class Movies 

The most heard of:

- Hammer Universal
This is a British film distributor Enrique Carreras, shown on the right, moved to England and opened up his first cinema in Hammersmith, London in 1913. The theatre, named the Blue Halls, seated 2000 people and was divided into two theatres, each showing different movies. This theatre is considered by many to be the first multi-plex. Carreras expanded his company into a chain of theatres. In 1928, he formed Exclusive Films to serve as a distribution company. 

- Sony BMG Music Entertainment

New York, NY – January 13, 2009 – Sony Music Entertainment and Wind-up Records have expanded their exclusive distribution agreement to include full digital rights, it was announced today by Thomas Hesse, President, Global Digital Business, U.S. Sales, and Corporate Strategy, Sony Music Entertainment and Ed Vetri, President, Wind-up Records.

Under the terms of this multi-year agreement, Sony Music Entertainment will deliver digital content from Wind-up’s extensive artist roster across all commercial channels and on a variety of digital platforms, including online and mobile.

- Umbrella Entertainment

Introducing the little yellow man behind the big brand: What’s with the

 Umbrella man? His 

name is David, a creative evolution of the acronym DVD, bringing to life the eponymous

 cinéaste David and his many genre-inspired incarnations!

Why the name Umbrella? An avid fan of the Beatles, Managing Director Jeff Harrison

 ceremoniously named the company after his favourite Beatles album, BEATLES ’65 – 

featuring The Fab Four propping up umbrellas for the classic album cover shot.

From such auspicious beginnings, Umbrella Entertainment was founded in 2001

 as an independent, Australian-owned all-rights distribution company driven by

 expert, hands-on 

staff with a true passion for feature film, television and music content.

- DreamWorks Animation

DreamWorks Animation has closed a five-year distribution deal with 20th Century Fox.

The pact will allow the Jeffrey Katzenberg-led studio to release its films via Fox from 2013 through 2017 and calls for Fox to market and distribute DreamWorks Animation's features domestically and internationally, in domestic and international markets.

DWA's deal with Paramount expires after this year.

Thriller analysis

Genre: Thriller

The aim of a thriller is to keep the audience alert and on the edge of their seat. The main character (protagonist) is set against a problem- to escape, a mission or a mystery. The sub-genre does not affect the emphasized danger that the protagonist faces.  Tension the main problem causes is built up throughout the film and leads to a stressful climax.

The primary elements of the thriller genre:

      The protagonist(s) faces death, either their own or somebody else's.

      The force(s) of antagonism must initially be cleverer and/or stronger than the protagonist's.

      The main storyline for the protagonist is either a quest or a character who cannot be put down.

      The main plotline focuses on a mystery that must be solved.

      The film's narrative construction is dominated by the protagonist's point of view.

      All action and characters must be credibly realistic/natural in their representation on screen.

      The two major themes that underpin the thriller genre are the desire for justice and the morality of individuals.

      One small, but significant, aspect of a thriller is the presence of innocence in what is seen as an essentially corrupt world.

      The protagonist(s) and antagonist(s) may battle, themselves and each other, not just on a physical level, but on a mental one as well.

      Either by accident or their own curiousness, characters are dragged into a dangerous conflict or situation that they are not prepared to resolve.

Thriller filming techniques

·         Frame for Emotion:

Emotion (in the form of fear, laughter, surprise, sadness, anger, boredom) is the ultimate goal of each scene.  The first consideration of where to place the camera should involve knowing what emotion you want the audience to experience at that particular time.  Emotion comes directly from the actor's eyes.  You can control the intensity of that emotion by placing the camera close or far away from those eyes.  A close-up will fill the screen with emotion, and pulling away to a wide angle shot will dissipate that emotion.  A sudden cut from wide to close-up will give the audience a sudden surprise.  Sometimes a strange angle above an actor will heighten the dramatic meaning.  (Truffaut)

 

·         Camera is Not a Camera

The camera should take on human qualities and roam around playfully looking for something suspicious in a room.  This allows the audience to feel like they are involved in uncovering the story.  Scenes can often begin by panning a room showing close-ups of objects that explain plot elements.

 

·         Keep the Story Simple

If your story is confusing or requires a lot of memorization, you're never going to get suspense out of it.  The key to creating that raw Hitchcock energy is by using simplistic, linear stories that the audience can easily follow.  Everything in your screenplay must be streamlined to offer maximum dramatic impact.  Remove all extraneous material and keep it crisp.  Each scene should include only those essential ingredients that make things gripping for the audience

Amy Louise Shutt

Analysis of Scream

The opening titles of scream is a black screen, with the word scream written in a white scraggly font, it turns red and a hollow scream is heard. The opening scene shows a young blonde woman answering a ringing phone. She appears to be home alone. She answers the phone to a rather friendly stranger who appears to be flirting with her, she tells him that he has got the wrong number and puts the phone down, not thinking anything else of it. As she walks away the phone rings again, she answers it 'Hi, im sorry i guess i've dialled the wrong number' says the stranger, the blonde woman anwers laughing 'so why have you dialled it again' . The stranger on the phone starts to flirt again then the blonde woman tells him that they have '900 numbers' for him to dial and find someone to talk to. The next shot shows a high angled shot of a gloomy looking tree outside, the shot pans down, the viewers then a long shot of a house. The next shot shows a close up of a gas hob of a cooker, it then shows the blonde woman putting some popcorn on the hob as she goes to answer the phone, which is ringing once again. A mid shot shows the blonde woman answering the phone and walking around the side of the kitchen back to the popcorn, she is becoming wary of the stranger who is calling again. The stranger on the phone tells her 'tell me your name and i'll tell you mine' to which she replies 'i dont think so'. The stranger asks the blonde woman 'whats that noise' to which she replies 'popcorn' the stranger then says that he only eats popcorn when watching a film, the blonde says that she is just about to watch a film and the stranger asks what kind of film, she replies 'oh just some scary movie'. The stranger asks the Thwblonde whats her favourite scary movie, the mid shot shows her pull out a knife from the knife stand as she leans over the worktop in the kitchen she answers 'halloween' and she slots the knife back into the stand. The next shot shows the popcorn getting blown up by the heat off the cooker, it gets bigger and bigger. The next shot follows the blonde s she is deep in conversation with the stranger on the telephone talking about scary movies like 'nightmare on elm street' as she locks the doors around the house. The stranger asks the blonde if she has a boyfiend, she replies 'no'. He asks her her name once more, she asks 'why do you want to know my name?' he replies 'because i want to know who im looking at.' A mid shot shows te woman looking petrified as tense non diegetic music is heard, showing the viewer her fear. The blonde then turns the outside lights on and looks through the french doors of her house. A pan shot shows her looking around the vast garden, moving from the swimming pool to the other cornor of the garden. She tells the stranger she has to go before locking the door infront of her. A close up shot shows the popcorn, looking as if it is ready tto explode. The phone rings again, she answers th stranger says 'i told you not to hang up' . The blonde starts to get destressed. The woman walks into the kitchen a mid shot shows the burning popcorn and the blonde woman in the sme shot, she looks destressed, she picks up the phone as tense non diegetic noise is heard, the stranger then says 'now listen to me bitch, if you hang up on me again, i'll gut you like a fish, understand?' the tense non diegetic sound is heard again as the woman looks apsoloutly terrified. A close up shot expresses the worry in the blonde womans face she asks 'is this some kind of joke?' to which the stranger on the phone answers 'more of a game'. The stranger on the phone then says her name, the non dieetic music is heard again as she rushes around the house making sure that all of the doors are locked. The woman is now hysterical, the strager tells her he wants to 'see what her insides look like' and then the doorbell rings, she screams and says shes going to ring the police. The blonde woman is on the phone again with the stranger, she tells him that her boyfriend will be there any minute, to which the stranger replies 'his name wouldnt be steve would it?' the non diegetic sound is heard again and the woman looks even more destressed nd hopless. The stranger tells the blonde woman to turn on the patio lights, to which she does to see her boyfriend tied up on a chair outside the house badly hurt, almost dead. She screams in horror.

Research for audience:

Thriller

Classification: 15

The classification would have to be 15, because of the content of the film is too adult for anyone younger than 15 years of age. It will contain topics such as stalking and attempted murder which may upset children of a younger generation, also, there will be mild language and scences which some younger viewers may find scary like the dead cat. We feel that teens 15 and over would be able to cope with this, and because of the 15 classification the older generation of people will also watch the film because they know by the citification and classification that it isn't  childrens film and therefore it will bemore suited to them and the type of film they wish to watch and find entertaining.

Neche Audience: Both genders, female and male. Neche audience late teens 17- 25 years old. Thriller film that i think theese people would enjoy. The storyline would appeal to both genders, it will appeal to females because the main charcter is female, the male viewers will watch because it is a thriller and contains exciting topics such as stalking and thrilling scenes which will have them on an edge without been too gruesome and gory. We are hoping that the film will go against the stereotypical thriller aimed at middle aged men because of the storyline, and hopefully the younger generation of viewers will view the film and enjoy it.

Final Idea for film

Genre: Thriller

Beth Williams is a 17 year old popular college student. She lives at home with her parents. Beth's parents have gone  to London for the week, for her mothers birthday, but Beth been a typical teenager decided that she didn't want to go, and instead she would stay at home, looking after the house and her cat Aurthur. It comes to the viewers attention, that this popular college student has been stalked by a strange boy that she has been through school with her  called Liam Ronson. His obssession has been  growing and growing and due to his illness of schizophernia, Liam's  mental state is worrying and Beth could be in deep danger, by his facination of her. When her parents go to London, various things happen throughout the week. Beth has felt a presence where ever she has been, whether this be shadows behind her when she's walking to and from college. Strange noises outside her house and weird prank calls. However things become alot worst during the final days of her parents stay at London. Two days before her parents are due home, Beth starts to panic, when she goes downstairs after a bath, to see the french doors she thought she had locked are wide open, and the net curtains blowing out into the pitch black outdoors. She hears a noise and shuts the doors quickly locking them behind her. She then phones her parents, expressing her worries but after resurance from her father, she believes that she is been 'paranoid' and 'overacting'. Convinced that there is nothing to worry about she goes upstairs to bed. The following night Beth goes to bed early, excited and relifed that her parents would be home the following day. When she hears screaming outside her heart sinks. Terrified, she dosen't move, thinking that its in her mind over thinking things again when its not needed. Then, this theory is dismissed when she sees a bright flash torch light shining through her bedroom window. Bravely, she runs downstairs holding a cricket bat that she found in her fathers wordrobe, she goes to the french doors and see's that there isn' anyone there. Feeling relief, she goes back upstairs to her bedroom. Overwhelmed and exhausted she falls asleep. Beth is awoken, by Liam hovering over her trying to sufforcate her with a plastic bag. She tries to fight him of. Beth remembers the bat beside her and picks it up, hitting Liam around the head with it. He falls to the ground and she runs downs stairs screaming. As she runs downstairs, she hears a car reversing up the drive. Its her parents. She runs to the doors crying hysterically, and as she runs outside she see's her cat Aurthur dead on the patio. She screams and her parents run up the drive. The police is phoned and Liam is taken to a mental institution where he would be treated for his schizophernia. The family are terrified by what happened but happy that Beth is alive and well.
* 12 months pass*
 and the family are happy and back  to normal. They are sat at the breakfast table when they all go silent. Liam  is on the news, he has escaped from the institution after injuring two nurses. Beths mum and dad resure her that she will be fine and after talking to the police, the family are told that they  are not at risk, as Liams health has deteriated so bad that he cannot even remember Beth. Or so they thought. Later that night when Beth is layed in bed, and her parents sat downstairs, she hears a cackle outside her bedroom followed by the fimiliar light of the flash torch shining through her bedroom window. She screams...