Pre-Production Experimenting: Camera Angles, Framing and Movement

Initial presentation of Victim

While producing out final media piece, we carried out several pre-production experiments testing out camera angles, framing and movement. The photo on the right was taken during Day 2 of Filming, where we had Charlotte pose for a few candid photos to test out various camera angle, framing and movement techniques. When introducing the character of the victim, we wanted to use little camera movement and simple framing and angles, so that the audience are not distracted by extreme camera techniques, and are instead focused on her character. For this shot in particular, we decided to use no camera movement- instead using a tripod to keep the camera steady. After our camera angles, framing and movement testing with the later scenes, we decided that camera movement could be effectively used to establish the antagonist's perspective, and to reinforce the idea that the victim is being watched/stalked- as this was voted as a prominent fear by members of our target audience as a part of our research survey. Because of this, we knew it wouldn't make sense to use significant camera movement during the initial introduction of our victim- as the villain has not yet begun to influence the environment. The lack of camera movement here also helps to build the initial false sense of security we wanted our audience to feel while watching our opening. 

In terms of camera angles and framing, we decided to try and use certain camera techniques to make the audience feel equal to the victim, and thus begin to support the idea that she is representative of the entire audience: her downfall could have been inflicted on anyone. We decided to film the victim using predominately eye-level angles, further establishing the idea that the audience are equal to her, and that they are not above her fate. We also often used close-up shots, show the detail of her facial expression, therefore allowing the audience to understand her emotions more clearly and personally. The use of close up and medium shots also allowed the audience to see close details to her costuming. For example, in the above photo- taken from a screen test- the audience is able to take notice of the simple white pearl earrings the victim wears- symbolising her innocence and purity, thus emphasising the audience's pity for her as she meets her demise. 

Polaroid Photos

          

The photos here show some of the Polaroid 'stalker' photos we used in our opening- both to establish the villains power, and also to present our surveyed target audience's worst fear: being watched and/or stalked. For many of these photos, we chose to focus on framing as a way of establishing the sinister nature of the photos, and to make it clear they were taken by the antagonist. For example, the photo to the right of Charlotte getting into a car is framed by a tree in the foreground, which effectively conveys that it has been taken by a stalker- the Supernatural villain who does not wish to be seen. The fact that the victim in this photo is entirely oblivious- her head turned away- conveys the idea that the antagonist is omnipresent- always watching her without her even knowing. This further supports our Supernatural genre, as it establishes that the antagonist has significant powers over the human world. 

The photo on the left shows the victim dressing in their bedroom, taken through a window. Again working on our focus on framing, we decided to take this photo through the window to again establish that this was taken by the antagonist, adding to the sinister nature of the photo. By framing this shot with the window, we were also able to capture the reflections from the outside surroundings against the interior bedroom- symbolising the villain's liminality, and ability to manipulate any environment. The slight high angle here also serves to establish that the antagonist is physically bigger than the victim. Not only does this add to the idea that they are helpless to prevent their death, but it also presents a preference outlined by our target audience during the survey process- wherein they stated that a Supernatural villain should be physically bigger than the victim.

The photo here on the right, displaying the victim''s dead body also effectively establishes the villain's power and superiority over the victim. This shot is taken with a bird's eye angle, which conveys the idea that the antagonist is now looming over the corpse- having triumphed over the victim completely. The framing here is also key, as it effectively conveys the supernatural abilities of the villain. The fact that this photo is framed by the scattered leaves establishes that the victim has died in the same woods the opening is set. As this photo is shown prior to the victim's death, it is integral that the audience understand where the victim is being shown to die, as only then are the audience able to fully appreciate the imminence of of her death. By framing the shot with the scattered leaves, the audience is giving a clearer understanding of the foreshadowing here.

Villain's Entrance

To enhance the shocking and horrific nature of the antagonist's entrance, we decided to try and contrast the victim's entrance as much as possible. This included the different camera techniques we used to present each character. In contrast to the victim's entrance, there is consistent camera movement throughout the montage created to introduce the antagonist. During pre-production experiments carried out on Day 3 of filming, we tested various different camera movements- wanting to use unnatural and disorientating movements to establish the villain's sub-human nature. We also decided to use strictly handheld camera while filming the villain's entrance, as this effectively portrays the victim's complete terror as the antagonist is revealed, mirroring the audience's reaction.

The most significant shot within the antagonist's entrance montage is the close up shot to the left- which we took during a pre-production experiment and later edited using Photoshop. The use of an eye level close up shot here effectively conveys the fact that the victim's fate is sealed, and that there is no hope of escape. Also, by using a close up of the antagonist, the audience are able to view the gory makeup and black eyes in closer detail, further establishing the subhuman nature of the villain.