RESEARCH & PLANNING

INVESTIGATIONResearch – The systematic investigation into and study of materials and sources in order to establish facts and

reach new conclusions.

Planning – The process of making plans for something.

WHAT RESEARCH AND PLANNING STAGES ARE NEEDED TO MAKE A HORROR FILM?

1. Get a scary idea for the movie. But make it good so they wont suspect it coming, and when it comes, make it as scary as it can be. It could be more frightening if you HEAR noises, rather than SEE the ghost or monster etc.

2. Turn your idea into a plot, or story. A great way to get an idea is to brainstorm ideas, then choose one and write the story. Always have a story before filming, or else it might turn out cheesy.

3. Find a place to film the movie. Good ideas are in the woods (especially at night), cabins, wooden buildings, abandoned houses, etc. Make sure that you have permission to film at the location before you start.

4. Find a cast who’s willing to star in your thriller. They don’t necessarily need acting experience, but that depends on the complexity of your movie. Make sure they are willing and able to take orders from the director.

5. Add scary and scratchy, eerily atmospheric music for suspense. Add scary, screechy music for when something surprising happens.

6. Have a scary killer/monster. For some reason killers that don’t talk are scarier than ones who do. Make sure their motive is simple (revenge/insanity is good).

7. Make something completely ordinary the centre of the drama (paper bag, telephone, toilet, doorbell, TV, videotape). If you do it well, it will be scary!

8. Have a plot twist (at the end or middle end).

9. Add good effects (if the blood looks like ketchup you’re not going to scare anyone so use hot sauce or tomato soup instead, or even paint. It looks more realistic. If you choose to go with effects …that is. Its proven that a sudden moment of suspense without graphic bloody violence is more scary because the watcher’s imagination finds the scariest possible outcome that they personally can imagine… much scarier than even a realistic gore fest… think De Nero's Hide and Seek… scary because of the suspense, not because of the blood, or the realism of said blood.

10. Make sure you use good effects. If you want to make magic balls, fire, explosion etc. use effects lab pro! An alternative, which is more expensive, but can give much more professional results is called Adobe After Effects (it has motion tracking, colour correction etc.

11. After all of the filming is complete, start moving it to the computer. Editing it is often fun, but frustrating, seeing as it could be erased with one click.

12. About half way into editing, set a release date. Put up posters around school or the neighbourhood. Try not to invite general public though, just people you know.