During the development and research and planning of the movie Vanish, I and the group had to make sure that the final product will have some forms and conventions of real media products.
Ø Setting/Location
Looking at the location, we had to make sure that we establish our location in the first scenes of the movie, and by doing this the audience will have an idea of where we are and they will fell connected to the movie. One of the most important things we did was to make sure that out location was a bit isolated, it was not in the middle of the city. We did this simply because in most horror movies location are unpredictable, but the most common used ones are isolated locations, and also a few exceptions of the city centre. Having an isolated location allowed us to bring tension to the audience, because they will feel trapped.
Ø Film Titles
Film titles were no exceptions, they had to be added. In ever movie titles are found, and mainly in the opening scenes where the filming crew will be introduced, and a bit about the movie if necessary. Soon after the first establishing shot, the first titles appeared and through out the whole opening sequence there are more, and at the end of the opening sequence the name of the movie appeared with a bang, in red big text. All the titles in this opening sequence are the names of the most important people, for example the director, editor e.t.c. In most horror movies that’s the case, where by the main important people will be introduced in the first few minutes for example in Dawn Of The Dead.
Ø Costumes & Props
As for the girls, her costume was not all that flashy, it was a simply attire that she was putting on, and her handbag. But when it comes to the anonymous killer, it was different, because he was wearing all black to prevent identification. The killer had long gloves and this prevents any type evidence incase the police might be looking for the fingerprints.
Ø Camerawork & Editing
When it comes to camerawork we used the typical shots that are used in many horror movies, and these include:
Ø Titles Font & Style
As for title font l firstly used Blood Feast and size 36 Bold.
After the first draft l had to change it to Al Bayan and the size was 36 plain and in some 25 Bold
The last text, which is the name of the movie, is the one that appears really big.
Ø Story & How the opening sequence sets it up
Our story line was not a complicated one. We tried to simplify it as much as we could and right from the beginning we firstly introduced both the main character at the same time we used the establishing shot, introducing the location where the girl is. When the girl is walking, it suggests that she is coming from college at night and she is alone. The audiences then see her walking in the road as she looks back thinking she heard something. At this time the audiences, tension will be attracted, because of how fast she turns back and also the sound effects. After that the whole scenes are switched and a new setting is introduced with an establishing shot, as the girl is walking to her house. As she arrives and is opening the door, that’s when she is dragged by an anonymous killer and after that she realized it’s a dream when she woke up.
Ø Genre & How the opening sequence suggests it
The genre for this opening sequence it horror, and the opening sequence suggests it in terms of the location, lighting, the time of the night and the fact that she is all alone walking at night.
Ø How characters are introduced
In the opening sequence Vanish, the first character is introduced as the first scene appears.
The camera is always focusing on this individual until the anonymous killer is suddenly introduced from nowhere, and this was almost at the end of the opening sequence.
Ø Graphics/Special effects/Colour correction
In the opening sequence there are no special effects, but there is so much use of the three way colour correction, some of the scenes in the sequences where shot during the day but the three way colour correction allowed us to make it look like it’s at night.