Filming Update

As of today, filming has commenced. More footage will be shot on Friday 16th December. Editing will commence on the Monday of the next week.

Characters

Akira Fudo - The 17-year-old protagonist of the story. He is quite modest and generally kind, but he is also quick insult others given the right moment. Because Lucifer's existence resides within him, he is granted access to his powers and is now tasked with locating Lucifer's real body, and help bring about the apocalypse.

Rebecca Chambers - One of the lead protagonists, later main antagonist. A beautiful girl who is considered to be the college's idol. Her outer appearance and mannerisms are a facade; from a young age she had developed  psionic powers & due to constant bullying & harrasment from peers; her mind is unstable. She is the original intended 'vessel' for Lucifer; she is the leader of a nationwide cult of psionics. She develops an unhealthy obsession over Akira.

Lucifer  - The disembodied demon and the 666th prince of hell that, thanks to a disrupted transportation spell, is now missing his physical body and is now acting as Kai's "heart" since the spell also transported his real heart to an unknown location, accidentally turning Kai into a 'vessel'. He is narcissistic, sarcastic and can be at times cruel; continually berating and inflicting pain upon Akira for his pursuit of Rebecca, his 'misuse' of demonic powers for the purposes of good and also, for constantly calling him 'Lucy'. 

Flash Thompson - The young man who bullied Kai in high school, and now goes to the same college. He picks on Kai from time to time, either through verbal or physical abuse. He lacks proper social skills, usually solving problems with brute force. He is cruel to those around him, even towards his 'friends'.

Filming and post update

Due to scheduling problems, filming will commence on Wednesday 14th November instead. In the meantime the screenplay is being redone and the storyboard will also be redone (the images in the already existing post for the storyboard will be replaced by the new ones.).

Target Audience

With my sequence I am targeting the horror audience, ages of 17-25. People of this age group usually have jobs and are university students; they have disposable income. People in this audience will spend their money on luxury items; cinema tickets for example. They go to the cinema with their friends, and despite males preferring action films and females preferring drama films, everyone likes to get scared and so they go see a horror film.

Script

Lucifer - Hahahaha....Oh come on, you don't have to be so cautious now. Besides, you should be thanking me...I just happened to buy you enough time to go ask that bitch out.

Akira – What?! You can't go around teleporting people like that!  It's not Doctor Who!

Lucifer – Now now, you and I both know that it would have taken you're slow-ass forever to ride that bike of yours to get to this dump. I merely took the shortcut...Okay. 

Lucifer – Now, don't go acting like a smart ass. All I ask for in return, is you're sincere cooperation...

Akira - Woah, woah, hang on, "Lucy". There's no "us". It's just me.

Lucifer - Now, you better pray, that I don't have to remind you this again...the name...is Lucifer.

                                              Akira - Okay, okay. Alright! Alright!

Lucifer - Never call me by that name again.

Akira - Ah, that one hurt. You're tough. Anyway, since we're working together now, can I ask for a favour?

Lucifer - What the hell do you want?

Akira - Can you get me some chocolates please? Some good ones?

Lucifer -  What do you need THAT for?

Akira - Heh. You're about to find out.

Rebecca - Yes I will go out with you.

Akira - Really?!

Rebecca - You need to wake up now...

Akira - What are you talking about?!

Lucifer - You need to wake up now.

Akira - ....Lucifer!

Screenplay

Screenplay

Scene: Interior. Text appears on-screen, introducing the second chapter while thunder and lightning can be heard in the background. The screen dips to white and fades into a mid-shot; the camera pans down to show an unconscious Akira laying on the floor.

Transition:

- Extreme Close-up shot; Akira's eye opens. Fade to mid-shot; Akira gets up and composes himself as he looks at the door. Cut to mid-shot; Akira looks through the door's window. Cut to close-up shot; Akira looks around as the camera gradually zooms in. Cut to black. -

Lucifer - Hahahaha....(Cut to mid-shot; Akira slowly backs away from the door.) Oh come on, you don't have to be so cautious now. (Cut to wide-shot; Akira backs up towards the edge of the staircase and grips onto the railing, looking around, confused.) Besides, you should be thanking me...I just happened to buy you enough time to go ask that bitch out.

Akira – (Cut to low-angle mid-shot.) What?! You can't go around teleporting people like that! (Hand gestures, as if he is throwing a tantrum.) It's not Doctor Who!

Lucifer – (Akira looks around.) Now now, you and I both know that it would have taken you're slow-ass forever to ride that bike of yours to get to this dump. I merely took the shortcut...(cut to close-up shot; Akira angrily looks on.) Okay. 

Lucifer – (Cut close-up shot; Lucifer opens his eyes. The camera cuts to different angles of his eyes.) Now, don't go acting like a smart ass. All I ask for in return, is you're sincere cooperation (Lucifer's eyes widen.).

Akira - Woah, woah, hang on, "Lucy". There's no (Does an air quote with his fingers.) "us". It's just me.

Lucifer - (Cut to close-up shot of Lucifer's right eye.) Now, you better pray, that I don't have to remind you this again...the name...(the screen fades to black.)...is Lucifer.

Transition:

- Dip to white as a sound effect plays; Akira grabs onto his head in pain, he crouches and the camera cuts to a wide-shot. Akira manages to stumble towards a wall. -

Akira - (Leaning with his back against the wall.) Okay, okay. Alright! Alright!

Lucifer - (Cut to close-up shot of Lucifer's eye.) Never call me by that name again.

Akira - (Cut to mid-shot; Akira is rubbing the back  of his head.) Ah, that one hurt. You're tough. (Looks up.) Anyway, since we're working together now, can I ask for a favour?

Lucifer - What the hell do you want?

Akira - Can you get me some chocolates please? Some good ones?

Lucifer - (Cut to close-up shot of Lucifer's eye, he tilts his head to the left, putting both of his eyes in view.) What do you need THAT for?

Akira - (Cut to extreme close-up of Akira's mouth, he smiles.) Heh. You're about to find out.

Transition:

- The screen fades to black. Text appears on the screen; '15 Minutes Later'. A new music track starts to play in the background. The screen dips to white, dissolving into a close-up shot of Akira's hand opening a door. It cuts to a wide-shot as Akira walks out the door and down the hallway. The screen cross dissolves into a wide-shot; Flash opens the double doors and walks ahead, off-screen and the screen cross dissolves to a wide-shot of Akira walking down the hallway. -

Scene: Interior. Akira continues to walk down the hallway but is intercepted and knocked out by Flash. The screen dips to white and fades into a close-up shot; Rebecca puts the box of chocolates down on the table. Cut to close-up shot; Akira taps his foot on the ground, impatiently. Cut to close-up shot; Rebecca puts a piece of chocolate in her mouth. Cross-cut to the next shot; Akira gulps nervously. Cut to close-up extreme close-up of Rebecca's lips; she smiles. Cross-cut to next shot; Akira looks up in surprise.

Rebecca - (Cut to mid-shot.) Yes I will go out with you.

Akira - (Dissolve into wide-shot.) Really?! (Akira walks over to Rebecca, and she jumps forward and embraces him.)

Rebecca - (Dissolve to close-up shot; Akira and Rebecca continue to embrace. Cut to mid-shot; Rebecca's moves out of the embrace.) You need to wake up now...

Akira - (Cut to close-up over the shoulder shot; Akira thinks for a second. Cut to mid-shot Kai starts to back away from Rebecca.) What are you talking about?! (Akira moves to the right off-screen. Cut to mid-shot; he continuess to back away towards the door. Cut to mid-shot of
Rebecca with her head down. Cut to extreme close-up; Akira's eye widens with shock.)

Lucifer - (Cut to mid-shot; Rebecca slowly looks up.) You need to wake up now.

Akira - (Cut to close-up shot of Akira's face)....Lucifer!

Scene End

Update

Filming will commence on Friday, November 24th; the filiming will focus on the beginning of the sequence. The screenplay and script will be uploaded on the same day. The off-screen dialogue for Lucifer will be recorded in the following week.

Story Board

Update; Cast & Props

For my sequence, Karim Skalli has been cast for the role of Akira and Emily Worsnop will be playing the role of Rebecca. I myself will be playing the role of Lucifer, but mostly as an off-screen voice. Zachery Colby will be playing the minor role of Flash Thompson. The current cast proceedings are as follows;

Cast in order of appearance:
Karim Skalli - Akira Fudo
Klien Gestre - Lucifer (voice-over and onscreen)
Emily Worsnop - Rebecca Chambers
Zachery Colby - Flash Thompson
The prop(s) which I will use for this sequenceis a box of Cadbury Milk Tray chocolates.

Influences

The main influence for my film is the japanese horror manga and later film, 'Devilman'. This was the main influence I drew ideas from when it came to the creation and development of my main protagonist, Akira Fudo (named after the main protagonist of the series). My incarnation of the character will have some similar traits to the 'Devilman' counterpart; kind and modest, but one difference is that he is quick to insult others if given the chance. The situations the two are in are simultaneously similar and different from one another; both are granted demonic powers but under different circumstances. In 'Devilman', Akira was given a choice whether or not he takes the powers, and after willingly taking the powers, sets out to stop Lucifer from destroying mankind. The Akira in my imagined feature has the powers unknowingly bestowed on him, and he is tasked with helping to bring about the destruction of mankind.

 One of the main influences for my film's plot is 'Carrie' (Brian De Palma, US, 1976); with one of the main plot points in my film revolving around a female character with psychic powers. Rebecca's character also borrows some characteristics from the original Carrie character; both have been abused throughout their lives because of their powers. Both are generally kind-hearted characters. The one thing that seperates the two, is that Rebecca's kind-heartedness is merely a facade (refer to the Characters post) Even though I will not be able to show fully, Rebecca's personality traits, I felt that this film really helped in the creation and development of her character.

My sequence will take a certain aspect from the film 'The Incredible Hulk' (Louis Leterrier, US, 2008), in the beginning of my sequence; text will appear onscreen, 'days without incident', then the number count. In the Incredible Hulk, this was used to tell the audience how many days Bruce Banner has gone through without transforming into the Hulk. In my film this will be used to tell the audience how many days have passed in Kai's life where demon powers weren't used; in the case of my sequence, the days of incident will be set to zero. I intend to parody the 'Kill Bill' film series in my sequence; the plot in these two films are split into 'chapters', the number and title of each chapter appear on screen before the next sequence begins; the beginning of my sequence begins with text showing the chapter number and the title of the chapter.

As with conventional horror films it would feature Oblique/Canted camera angles

Sometimes the camera is tilted (ie is not placed horizontal to floor level), to suggest imbalance, transition and instability. This technique is used to suggest POINT-OF-View shots (ie when the camera becomes the 'eyes' of one particular character,seeing what they see — a hand held camera is often used for this, there are also high angle shots which make the subject seem less powerful; these are often used in horror films to show the protagonist/victim off as vulnerable, which in most cases, they are. I could also incorporate a shot using a shaky-camera.

Story Type

The story type for my film is 'the Quest'; where the character is set a task to find someone or something. He accepts this challenge, searches for and finds the someone or something. He is then either rewarded, or not, for his success in his quest.

Todorov Narrative Structure

Equilibrium
Protagonist  
Akira

Antagonist
Rebecca

Disruption

    Akira is forcefully tasked with the destruction of mankind by Lucifer and Rebecca becomes possessive over Akira, killing anyone who attempts to get close to him.  

Quest

Akira sets out to try and locate Lucifer's body and his real heart. And upon finding out about Rebecca's true identity and motives, sets out to stop her.

Resolution

Akira defeats Rebecca with his newly mastered powers. With her death, psionics around the world will begin hunting demon-kind. Akira and Lucifer put aside their current arrangements and set out to stop the psionics.

                                                                                                                                       Re-Equilibrium

Aims & Context

Aims –  The main purpose for this sequence is the development of Akira's character and to show how much power Lucifer has over him; through the use of quick-cutting. Through the use of colour coding within the mise-en-scene I aim to show the audience Akira's perception of the world; some shots will be done in black and white, to show how Akira sees the world as a dull and boring place. Through the use of quick-cutting, I aim to show the audience how Lucifer is in control; one such example will be a conversation between the two at the beginning of my sequence, where Lucifer forces Akira to cooperate with him.

Context – I am creating an extended sequence from an imagined feature. The sequence I have chosen is the scene in which the main protagonist Akira is introduced to Lucifer, and his mannerisms.My role in the project will be of the director, producer, editor and cinematographer. I am targeting the horror audience, ages of 17-25. People of this age group usually have jobs and are university students; they have disposable income. People in this audience will spend their money on luxury items; cinema tickets for example. They go to the cinema with their friends, and despite males preferring action films and females preferring drama films, everyone likes to get scared and so they go see a horror film.

Brief

The creative project is worth 60 marks.

Aims and Context - required for assessment
Creative product - 45 marks
Evaluation - 15 marks

The Film/Video production option of FM3 gives the opportunity to:
-Develop an extended sequence from an imagined feature.
-Develop a complete short film of between 3 and 5 minutes.

I have chosen to develop an extended sequence from an imagined feature.

Film Synopsis

Film Title - 'Devil Within' 

Akira is a 17 year-old boy who is living a relatively normal life. He had just recently developed feelings for his classmate, Rebecca. Meanwhile the prince of darkness, Lucifer, attempts to transport himself to the human world via a portal which was created at the campus. Akira just happened to be around when an unknown force disrupts the ritual and sends the dispersed energy into Akira, who is knocked unconscious from the blast. Upon awakening, he is transported to college by Lucifer himself, who explains their current predicament; his real body and Akira's heart have been transported to an unknown location and that Akira is now branded as a 'vessel'; a person who is possessed by demonic foorces. Akira begins dating  Rebecca and the two grow closer. Unbeknownst to Akira, Rebecca is a powerful psionic and Lucifer's original 'vessel'. Rebecca attacks Akira, but Akira, having been granted access to Lucifer's powers, defeats her. On her dying breath, she reveals that with her death, other psionics will now hunt down demon kind. Akira and Hollow agree to put aside their current arrangements and set out to stop the other psionics.

Conventions of the horror genre

Horror films are movies which strive to instigate emotions of fear, disgust and horror from the audience, usually stemming from the audience's worst fears. The plot of horror films usually involve the intrusion of an evil force, event or personage in the everyday world, usually of supernatural origin. The characters fall prey to the evil force, which tries to victimise them in some way; for purposes of revenge as seen in the 'Nightmare on Elm Street'(1984, Wes Craven);

The antagonist Freddie Krueger takes revenge on the people who killed him by haunting their children in their dreams. The evil force may want to corrupt the victim(s); in 'The Shining'(1980, Stanley Kubrick);

The character of Jack becomes influenced by a supernatural presence and attempts to kill his wife and son. Vampires, werewolves and zombies turn the victim into one of their own kind. The fight between good and evil is often at the heart of the plot, so there is usually a counterpart to the evil force; Dracula has Van Helsing for example. And because the theme of good and evil is present, many horror films contain religious themes; the evil force in 'The Exorcist'(1973, William Friedkin) is a demonic entity who possesses a young girl whose good counterpart is that of a priest who attempts to exorcise the demon;

The plot in films of the apocalypse sub-genre often involve mankind being threatened with extinction by inhuman creatures. Sometimes the threat may come from creatures who are traditionally seen as harmless; these creatures then decide to gather against humanity and take over the world. These films have a set structure, which begins with the creatures gathering and reducing humanity's population bit by bit. A band of survivors will attempt to find a safe haven from the creatures; an island unaffected by the chaos. The climax involves the survivors fighting off a large group of the creatures before being able to escape. Although these films usually end with the creatures taking over. There is often no explanation as to why the creatures suddenly rise up against humanity, but there is subtext to do with a sense of revolution with a new order replacing the old or fears of ecological unbalance. The slasher film sub-genre involves a psychotic character(usually a male) who plots to murder a group of young people. There is often a strong focus on the murders of young women. The male protagonists will often attempt an act of heroism, only to prove unsuccessful. There is usually a 'final girl' who wins out at the end. Also the authorities are stereo-typically incompetent at their job, leaving more room for the killer to get to his victims.

The Comedy Horror genre, combines elements from both comedy and horror fiction; one prominent example of this genre is 'The Legend of Sleepy Hollow', a short story written by Washington Irving, later adapted into a feature film directed by Tim Burton. Readers of the original written story were said to be "laughing one moment and screaming the next", the premise of the story itself revolves around mischief typically found during Halloween. As with typical comedies, comedy horrors strive to evoke laughter or humour from the audience, while, keeping in line with typical horror films, strive to instigate fear and disgust. Although it possesses elements from typical horrors, most modern comedy horrors use slapstick humour; it is in one sense primitive and universal as it relies on our almost instinctive reaction to characters who are assailed by danger, pain etc.

Horror films are often set in isolated places or small communities; run down ghost towns for example Sometimes films will be set in places with "dark" histories; an abandoned house or asylum. Scenes usually take place in urban environments, dark streets and narrow alleyways; places which connote isolation, mystery and uncertainty. The camera work is used to evoke fear and throw off the viewer; dutch angles are used to make it look as if the character's equilibrium has been thrown off. Handheld shots are used to make it difficult for the audience to make out what exactly is going on, it also gives off a sense of chaos. High angle shots are used to make the protagonists appear less powerful, while low angle shots are used to make the antagonist seem more powerful. Low key lighting is present as it creates shadows and unfamiliar shapes in the darkness, this help to make the antagonist seem more frightening, as he/she will often appear as a mere silhouette, which plays on the audience's fear of uncertainty or the unknown, this is also to make sure that the antagonist is not over-exposed at least until midway through or at the climax. 

In terms of framework, the depth of field is used; in certain shots, there is a lot of room in front of the subject's face, whatever is behind the subject is cut off. The audience tends to look ahead, when the subject does turn around, the audience is still focused on what's in front, so whatever creeps up from behind can startle the audience. Editing wise, thematic editing is often used; a group of clips, montage or disconnected images are used to convey feeling rather than tell a story which moves from point A to point B. An example of this is the use of quick cutting to the beat of a soundtrack, as seen in the shower scene of 'Psycho'(Alfred Hitchcock, 1960). The audience may not be able to see everything that happens in the scene, but what they do see will leave them with a feeling that even though the main character was just killed off, the plot will continue.

In terms of narrative structure, it is basic with a beginning, middle and end, but it can be left at a closure or with a cliffhanger ending which, as with many horror films today, leaves room for a sequel which then enables a franchise to be made. The narrative can also be formulaic, which is prominent in the slasher sub-genre; after an event or set of events that lead to the antagonist becoming insane, the antagonist will return to their hometown and systematically kill the teenagers within the town. These teenagers represent "immorality" and are generally quite air-headed, their antics are what usually starts off the antagonist's murder spree. As mentioned above, the only survivor is typically a female.