Religious figures in supernatural horrors.

In many supernatural horrors religious figures are shown. They all wear the same type of costume. A dog collar with a black shirt and suit. This is very effective because the white dog collar stands out from the rest of the colours and makes the person instantly recognizable. We could possibly go down this route for our film opening but we could also have our priest in lighter clothing that goes against the common convention which would make us different from all the other films that are already out there. You would still recognize the person instantly. this religious figure is from the film the devil inside but there are many more films which incorporate the same costume.

Props are also a important, you would need to have a bible an maybe some ceremonial robes to make it more authentic. Rosary beads would also be useful as they have connotations to religion but would make a nice sound when they were moved. This could possibly add depth to our film sequence. 

Deconstruction of The Devil Inside

 Title Scene

The title scene of The Devil Inside is an alternative to  relatively longer title scenes in other films.

00.06

00.12

The scene starts with the production company logo, Insurge Pictures, who have produced other films such as Paranormal Activity and Friday the 13th.

Throughout the title scene, there is a consistent colour scene of black and white, as well as a plain black background. This could be to present the film with realism as if there had been much post production at this stage, the audience may not believe the film to be based on genuine footage.

Sound

During the opening scene, the audience is first introduced by the non diegetic voice over of the operator talking to the lady. The audience is able to instantly recognize what is going on as they are able to relate to this situation when calling emergency services. The lady's voice is slow and distorted which almost makes her sound as though she is, or is being possessed by a demon, thus conforming to the genre and what the target audience is expecting. On the other hand, this also provides the audience with the back story to the film. 

Throughout this scene, there is a continuous low hum-like sound which is being played behind the call scene which could also be identified as a drum. This helps to add a sinister element to the opening. Furthermore, the more the woman is questioned, the more she reveals as the call goes on, therefore this may cause the audience to be more frightened as we are wondering what else she has to unveil. 

Other Mysterious Elements

• Low Key Lighting
• Several white furniture-subverts the common dark and gloomy mise en scene of many supernatural films. On the other hand, this could have also be done to emphasize this ghostly  setting which is trying to be created.
  

Elements of realism

• Expert talking though the crime scene also adds realism which may cause the audience to be more frightened as they believe what her is saying
• Giving an exact date for the scene which also helps the film to be more believable
• Fuzzed/poor camera quality-used to make the footage seem as though it was make a long time ago whilst adding realism.

Location Scouting: Churches

As we wanted to finalize our Church location, we decided that it would be useful to do another location scouting but this time, for it to be centered around finding a suitable Church location. 

As we were able to find an actual priest (based in Eltham) who would be willing to take part in our opening, we has the opportunity to film in his own Church however, I felt that the outside of the Church building looked too modern, and didn't give the mysterious and spooky element which we were looking for, therefore I decided to go to look for other nearby Churches which would give us the look we were going for.

St John Baptist-Eltham

Useful features: Not only did it seem to have back stains around the back sides of the Church which added the spooky elements, as well as a graveyard towards the back and front of the Church. As well as this, around the back was also quite bushy areas, therefore it would go well with our scenes of trying to make our victim look as though she is being followed as the bushy areas could be where the antagonist is watching her from.

Features which weren't as useful:  The Church is situated on a busy road which could create unwanted background noise. Also, there isn't much space to film around the Church as it has so many graves circling it (though this could be a benefit at the same time).

St John's-Sidcup

Useful features: Similarly this Church also has a graveyard which adds the scary atmosphere which we are trying to bring across. Also some areas of the Church has clear moss showing which further emphasizes this. In addition to this, the very tall building also helps to create this idea of a greater power when focusing on elements of possession. As well as this, there is quite a large size of an isolated and bushy area which again, is useful for our opening scene.

Features which were not as useful: There is little to dislike about this location as most of its elements give off a scary atmosphere. However, one area which doesn't help when creating this spooky atmosphere is the bright orange-like colour of the building. I would prefer if it had been a dark or gloomy colour such as grey (like previous Churches which I had seen). Also, the different shades make the building seem colourful which isn't what we want when looking for a spooky-like Church as it doesn't make it seem dark and gloomy.  

Christ Church-Sidcup

Useful Feature: Similarly, this Church also has dark and black stains over the building which helps to add spooky elements which would be suitable for our audience and genre. Also, the long windows and cross icon at the top of the building will help the audience to identify this building as a Church.

Features which were not as useful: Again, there is little empty space around the building. Also, unlike traditional Churches, the building does not have a distinct peak which may allow the audience to immediately identify it as a Church.

Bexley United Reform Church- Bexley

Useful Features:

• Common stone brick building
• Easily identifiable as a Church
• Traditional mosaic window designs
• Close to Eltham and Townley
• Reasonable amount of space to film

Not as useful features:

• On a busy road
• Small building
• Hardly any bushes/trees

The Parish Church of St. John Evangelist-Bexley

Of all the Churches which I visited, this would be the one which I liked the most for our opening scene as it seemed to have what the other buildings were lacking. For example, it had spooky atmosphere from its entrance to the colour of the building. 

Though it doesn't have as much as the previous Church, it still has some clear signs of moss which helps to add this mysterious elements, alongside its vast height and size. As well as this, I like how the front brick-gate was shaped pointing up, which could be seen to mimic barbed wire which would add a sinister element and make the Church seem more mysterious.

 As well as this, there is a wooden bench which is directly facing the Church, as a result, we could have our victim walking past the Church whilst the antagonist is watching her from the bench, therefore, it goes along with our  intended story. Furthermore, the area has a number of bushy area which also would be beneficial for our opening scene.

Camera Angles

Images that capture different camera angles-

Establishing shot- Sets the scene. Provides the audience with information as to where the scene will take place.

High angle shot- Makes the subject look smaller (taken from above.) Generally to depict weakness or vulnerability.

Mid-shot- Shows more detail of the subject, from roughly the waist upwards.

Point of view- The view from the subject of another subject, an object or their surroundings.

Close up- Shows much more detail of the subject or an object. For example the subjects face, or a mug on a dining room table.

Long shot- A wide frame, capturing all the subjects and most of the surroundings.

Extreme close up- A close up of a specific part of the subject or an object. For example, their mouth, nose or the leaf of a plant.

Over the shoulder shot- Taken from behind the shoulder of one subject, usually capturing the reaction and emotions of the opposite person.

Low angle shot- Makes the subject look bigger (taken from below.) Genuinely depicts power or dominance.

The Exorcism of Emily Rose Opening Credits

0.16- Production company

Screen Gems is an American production company, that is part of Sony Entertainment, founded as a film studio in 1999.

0.27- Production company

Lakeshore Entertainment is an indépendant American production company, founded in 1994.

0.34- Production company

Repetition of the 'Screen Gems' production company.

0.41- Production company

Repetition of the 'Lakeshore Entertainment' production company.

0.48- Production company

Firm Films is another American film production company.

0.56- 'Based on a true story'

Common convention of supernatural horror movies. This is because the 'based on a true story' statement makes the audience believe that these are real life events, which makes them far more frightening.

1.17- Film name

The film title 'The Exorcism of Emily Rose' is written in red, gothic style font. The red symbolises evil and blood, whilst the traditional gothic font features neat letters that have jagged and sharp points.

1.40- Main actor

Laura Linney is the main actor (Erin Bruner,) playing the lawyer that defends the Priest who had tried of exercise Emily Rose, during a court hearing.

1.45- Supporting actor

Plays Father Richard Moore, the priest that had gotten permission from the church to perform the exorcism on Emily Rose. Father Moore is charged with negligent homicide (second degree murder,) and is forced to stand trial, which is what the whole film is based around, but includes flashbacks of events.

1.52- Actor

Plays Ethan Thomas plays the prosecuting attorney in the case.

1.59- Actor

Jennifer Carpenter plays Emily Rose, the girl that is at the heart of the possession. Some believes she is suffering from medical conditions such as epilepsy and psychosis, but it is argued that she is in fact, possessed by a total of six demons.

2.06- Actor

Plays Karl Gunderson who runs a law firm in which Erin Bruner (Laura Linney) is a junior partner. 

2.13- Actor

Plays Jason who is a general character in the film, present at the court case. The typography used for the credits matches the traditional gothic look of the title. The credits are red, which is the only colour within the frame (in contrast to the dull, grey house.)

2.34- Actors

Playing Dr Mueller, Dr Cartwright (medical doctor present during the exorcism, killed by car at the end) and Ray. General actors within film, all part of the court case.

2.39- Actor

Plays Judge Brewster in the film, as the film is based around a court setting. 

End

The opening sequence ends with Father Moore looking up at the house in which the possessed girl Emily Rose is being contained. He is there to perform an exorcism, and so the movie begins.

Costume Practical

Costume Practical

Our main character of the film opening is a young girl on the run.  My first idea was to create a costume that any young girl in reality would wear and then make it look rough as though she has been through some kind of physical struggle.  

I used distressed denim  shorts as they are frayed and casual.  These are quite common with young girls so our victim would not look out of place anywhere, as she is trying to blend in so she is not found.  As we would be filming in winter, our audience would not be convinced on the realism of the opening if she is not appropriately dressed.  I layered black tights underneath the shorts then cut in some holes and ladders.  This gives the effect that she has not been able to change her clothes recently and has been going through some physical hardship.  This is appropriate for our film and the supernatural horror genre in general because victims are often on the run and are not very clean cut.

  For the top half I used a plain navy vest top and an oversized burgundy hoodie.  These pieces of clothing are very casual and appropriate for our character because it enables her to blend into the background.  The vest top is a dark colour which makes her seem more introverted as it does not make her stand out.  The hoodie is layered on top to fit in with the time of year and to give her some protection as the hood can be put up to hid her face so she is not seen.

I also wanted to try a white vest top to fit with the convention of the victim being a young, innocent pure girl.  White symbolises purity and innocence so the audience are more likely to sympathise with her.  To give the top a dirty and distressed look I stamped it into some muddy ground which made it look as though she has not changed in a while and so has been travelling or running away from something.  I also layered  a darker hoodie over the top to again give the chance to blend in and hid from society.

My second idea was for a slightly younger victim.  It is a convenyion of supernatural horror to have the main girl as innocent, young and pure.  To capture this is ideal I used a white dress with pieces of lace which is similar to old style night gowns, which have been used heavily in past horror films.  The angle of the first picture is too see what it would look like from her point of view in one the scenes where she is tied down onto the bed.

I then layered a grey cardigan over the top of the dress.  The cardigan is cute and youthful, it is very appropriate for a young girl and fits in the overall look we are trying to give to her.  I also put some white converse with the outfit as they are quite a common shoe type for a young girl and fit in with the white innocent persona.  The whole outfit at the moment is very clean cut so when it comes to filming we will make it more rough and maybe add some dirt to create the impression she has not been able to change in a while.

In conclusion I think that the ripped tights and denim shorts would be good to use because they make the victim look dirty and hints at physical traumas.  But I feel that the white dress and cardigan will be a better costume as it is more stereotypical and conventional for supernatural horror.