By Joseph Beardsall and Daniel Richardson

Character Profiles

Character 1

Name: Mickey Jones

Age: 17

Place of Birth: Barnsley

Currently Living: Barnsley

Occupation: Student

Relationship Status: Single

Mickey is a 17-year-old boy finding his feet in the world. He is a very confidant person who always try’s to do the right thing but often ends up in trouble with out meaning to be. He is studying at college but has his priorities mixed up, as he generally prefers to drink and chase after girls instead of getting his head down, in his studies. He is a keen sports man and loves football but also can be very creative when he puts his mind to it. He often doesn’t try as hard as he might but secretly has a great understanding of the world but choices to only use this knowledge when he really needs to. Hes very passionate about things and people he cares about and often likes a challenge. He is fearful of losing love ones but not as fearful of his own life. He has a sense for danger but often faces fear instead of running away which leads to his down fall in the film. In the film he gets into serious danger and can trust no one as his best friend is killed.

Character 2

Name: Lee Richardson

Age: 17

Place of Birth: Barnsley

Currently Living: Barnsley

Occupation: Student

Relationship Status: In a relationship with June Senior

Lee is a 17-year-old boy who is committed to his work and his girlfriend. He’s a loving guy who cares for his friends and will always stand up for people he cares about. He is intelligent person who has an unfortunate death in the film. He prefers to stay quiet and out of arguments and situations - keeping himself to himself. Although, he is not scared to voice his opinion when it comes to his friends, family, and especially his girlfriend June. He is always the voice of reason, especially when it comes to his best friend Mickey, who makes quite a lot of errors in his social life. He follows football and sport in general avidly, particularly boxing, with his hero been Muhammad Ali.

By Daniel Richardson and Nancy Smith

Treatment 2

Film Title: Hanger

Duration: 90 minutes

Audience: Cert -15. The film would appeal to both men and women (aged from 15 to around 30). Other films of the similar genre Thriller, Horror, Etc.
Genre: Thriller (with aspects of Horror)

Synopsis:
Opening sequence shows two boys discovering the body of a young girl in the woods. The girl is suspected to have been murdered by the ‘Hangman’ killer who hangs the bodies of his victims.
After the opening sequence, the boy who discovered the body of the missing girl is taken to the police station to be interviewed, and warned that he is likely to be the next victim on the hangman’s list. The boy and his family are placed under witness protection, with new names, location and overall identity.
3 years passes and the boy is sent away to college in a neighbouring town. Not long after his first week, the boy receives a letter, reporting news that his old friend, who was with him on the night he found the body of the girl, has been found mysteriously hung. The police advise him not to return to his old town, especially after this event. He tells his roommate that he is going to return to the town but his roommate thinks that this is a bad idea and tries to persuade him not to go. The boy does go, and when he arrives, the police inform him that a letter had been left at the murder scene. It reads ‘’You’re Next’’. The boy decides that he should return to college and take his roommates advice about forgetting about the past. When he arrives back, he walks into his dorm room to see his roommate taped to a chair. As he rushes to help, a mysterious figure appears from behind him and places a bag over the boys head. The screen goes blank. The next shot the audience see is of the boy, hanging in his dorm room with a piece of paper attached to him that reads ‘’Your Next’’.

Suggested Elements:
(Director and actor credits also appear on the screen through out the opening sequence to add a pacing effect)
The two minute film will have the same feel as that of ‘The Blair Witch Project’ although it will not be filmed in the same style. There will be a limited use of dialogue to create tension within the audience. The music chosen will also create atmosphere and will build up to a dramatic ending to fit in with the end of the sequence that is designed to thrill the audience.

By Daniel Richardson and Nancy Smith

Treatment 1

Film Title: Hanger

Duration: 2 minutes

Audience: Cert -15. The film would appeal to both men and women (aged from 15 to around 30). Other films of the similar genre Thriller, Horror, Etc.

Genre: Thriller (with aspects of Horror)

Synopsis:

Our two minute film will open with a radio broadcast of a missing girl, assumed to have been killed by the ‘Hangman’. Music begins to play. The film is set in the late 80’s. The two main characters, both teenage boys, are spending the afternoon in the woods, having a few drinks. They both become a little uneasy after hearing the report of the missing girl. Boy 1 tells Boy 2 to go into the woods to collect some wood to make a fire. Boy 2 does not want to do this but goes anyway as he does not want Boy 1 to think he is a coward.

Boy 2 walks into the woods, but can still hear the music playing from where Boy 1 is. Whilst he is looking through the fallen branches he decides to urinate up a nearby tree. As Boy 2 begins to do this, he notices something in the distance. Boy 2 walks over towards the object to find that it is a girls handbag. He looks through the bag, only to find a weird array of objects. As Boy 2 begins to look through the bag, something drops from the tree he is next to onto his face. He looks at the substance to find it is blood. Boy 2 looks up to the tree to see the body of the girl described in the radio report earlier (the audience do not see the girl). The boy then scrambles away and the film title signifies the end to the opening sequence.

(Director and actor credits also appear on the screen through out the opening sequence to add a pacing effect)

Suggested Elements:

(Director and actor credits also appear on the screen through out the opening sequence to add a pacing effect)

The two minute film will have the same feel as that of ‘The Blair Witch Project’ although it will not be filmed in the same style. There will be a limited use of dialogue to create tension within the audience. The music chosen will also create atmosphere and will build up to a dramatic ending to fit in with the end of the sequence that is designed to thrill the audience.

By Joseph Beardsall and Daniel Richardson

Cert 15

Certificate 15 is only appropriate for people aged 15 and over. This certificate always allows all themes. It is acceptable to use strong language, as long as it is not a continuous theme throughout the film. Sexual abuse is not acceptable in violent forms, however it is acceptable as long as it is not too explicit.

Nudity is allowed as long as it is not in a sexual way or is only brief. They may be occasional sexual activities as long as they’re portrayed with out strong detail. The depiction of casual sex should be handled responsibly. They may be strong sexual remarks as long as its not though out.

Violence may be strong but not dwell of the inflection of pain or injuries. Scenes of sexual violence must be discreet and very brief. Dangerous combat such as head butts and blows to the neck will be most likely unacceptable. There may not be emphasis on weapons such as knives.

Horror is allowed as long as it has no detail of infliction of pain or injury. Drug taking may be shown but in detail is unacceptable. The film in general my not promote drug use.

By Jasmine Pearson and Nancy Smith

Similar Genre Research
The Shining - Hallway Scene

This is an example of a short scene from a film that portrays both the Horror and Thriller genre.

By Nancy Smith and Jasmine Pearson


Researching Genre: Thriller

In terms of film, Thriller is an extremely popular genre that is characterized by fast pacing, suspense, uncertainty and nerve wrecking tension.

To define the genre strictly, genuine Thriller films provide thrills to keep the audience on the edge of their seats as it builds towards a final climax. The tension is built when the main character(s) is placed in a dangerous situation or mystery, from which escape seems impossible. Thrillers involve characters which enter conflict with either each other or with outside forces. The menace is also often shadowy or abstract.

Key Features:
• Suspense
• Anticipation
• Ultra-heightened expectation
• Uncertainty
• Anxiety
• Nerve-wracking tension

Famous Thriller Films:
• The Godfather/The Godfather: Part 2
• Pulp Fiction
• Fight Club
• Alien
• The Shining
• Taxi Driver
(Some of these films do contain aspects of other genres such as Horror/Science Fiction)


Researching Genre: Horror

In terms of Film, Horror is one of today’s most popular film genres. Horror films often strive to elicit the emotions fear, horror and terror from their audience. The film plots often involve themes of death, the supernatural or mental illness.

Early horror movies derived from classic literature of the horror/gothic genre, such as Frankenstein, The Phantom of the Opera and one of the most famous, Dracula.

Key Features:
• Blood/Gore
• Weapons
• Poor Lighting
• Monster/’’Thing’’

Famous Horror Films
• The Texas Chainsaw Massacre
• The Evil Dead
• The Hills Have Eyes
• Hellraiser
• Psycho
• The Shining
(Some of these films do contain aspects of other genres such as Thriller)

By Daniel Richardson


Analyzing Kill Bill
There are a number of reasons to why we can discover the genre of this particular film ‘Kill Bill – Volume 2’ by only observing the DVD cover. One reason is due to the image on the front of the DVD cover. In the image, a number of factors give away the genre of the film. Firstly, we see a sword in the hand of Uma Thurman which is the centre of the image. When thinking of swords, we immediately think of violence, it is an obvious relation to make. Hence, when thinking of violence, we can make a relation to action, which is indeed the films genre. The sword implies that the film will be an action movie because of the context we usually find swords in, an action sort of situation. Therefore the sword in the image tells us the films genre. Furthermore, also in the image, we see the actress Uma Thurman in an action shot stance. Just by been an action shot, this implies the films genre, but also her body language and position show she is in the middle of some sort of action sequence, holding the sword in a malicious manner towards the viewer of the cover, showing violence once again which we can again relate to action, but also the fact she is in an action shot shows a sub genre of a thriller, as she is obviously in a thrilling situation to be shown in such a manner, hence the image of Thurman in that particular position helps suggest the genre of the film. Similarly, on the back of the cover, the images are once again action shot, again showing swords, and also fighting sequences, all giving us an idea of the films genre to be an action/thriller/adventure movie.
Another reason why we can determine the genre of ‘Kill Bill – Volume 2’ by looking at the DVD cover is the selection of colours used on the cover. The colour that dominates is mainly red. This gives a number of different suggestions. Firstly the colour red implies violence and bloodshed, also danger. This tells us by looking at the cover that the film is going to feature these, hence giving us an idea that the genre is obviously going to be action and also thriller as violence and bloodshed wouldn’t come in say a comedy film, we can associate these with action and thriller.
Moreover, another reason why we can figure out the genre of ‘Kill Bill – Volume 2’ by looking at the DVD cover is the film certificate we see at the bottom right of the front cover. This immediately tells us, because of the film being an 18 certificate, that the film is going to feature material not found in say comedy’s or romance. The material is most probably going to be violent, and there are going to be disturbing and gruesome scenes. Therefore this tells us that the films genre could easily be action, as well as drama, as for these gruesome scenes to take place there obviously has to be some action going on.
Finally, the blurb on the back can give us an idea to what the genre of the film of ‘Kill Bill – Volume 2’ is. In the blurb, we see words such as ‘action, death, execution and assassin,’ these words all give us connotations and implications of action and violence, hence giving away the genre of the film just by reading the blurb.
Therefore, overall, we can identify the genre of ‘Kill Bill – Volume 2’ by the image, colours, certificate and blurb that are all featured on the DVD cover.

By Jasmine Pearson


Analyzing Strangers
The first thing most people are likely to notice that gives them an indication of the films genre of thriller is the colours used. There are no bright colours, suggesting the film is sad or sinister, in this case sinister. Also the top, bottom and background of the cover are dark and the room is dimly lit, which reveals the movie is going to keep you in the unknown guessing and on edge, which is a reflection of its thriller genre.

The images used are also very suggestive at telling you what genre the film is. The woman in the foregrounds expression and body language suggests suspicion and fright, which are key features of a thriller genre. This also makes you wonder why she feels like this and intrigues its audience. The figure in the background is partially in darkness which reveals the character is shady and scary. He is also wearing a mask which frightens people when a person’s identity is secreted because they do not know what type of person is hiding underneath. This as well as the fact that the woman has no idea the figure is watching her from behind expose the thriller genre of the film.

The font used for the main title is slightly distorted/blurred which implies there is something out of the ordinary going to happen in the film. This also makes the film genre of thriller known easily because as with a distorted/blurred image, it is not easily recognisable what it is, and the not knowing scares people.

The slogan at the top of the cover mentions the word fear which instantly gives the thriller genre away. The riddle format of the slogan is often found in other thriller films, because the riddles make peoples minds think and scare themselves by thinking of the worst possible meanings. The text inspired by true events at the bottom of the cover also gives away the film genre because it suggests it is some unusual/scary event or else it would not be worth mentioning it was inspired by true life.

The film rating on the back of the dvd also tells the audience that the film genre is either a thriller of horror genre. There are words in the films synopsis on the back of the dvd that are easily picked out that relate to the thriller genre. ‘Horrifying’ and ‘haunting’ are the best examples, as well as ending on script and a question which keeps the audience guessing whats going to happen and giving in sight into the film.

By Joseph Beardsall


Analyzing 300
The first aspect of this film cover that you are likely to notice is the bright red title which signifies blood. This gives the impression that the genre of the film is war. The other aspect you notice is the man in the middle of the picture holding a sword. This again represents the genre of war, but also it was inspired by a historic event, this is shown by the weapons and uniform. In modern warfare, guns are used not spears and swards which show that it is not a film based around the present time. The way the title is laid out represents the blood spilling out of a body and the rain storm falling from the sky represents violence. His armor and uniform shows importance of the character and his facial expressions shows his aggressive nature and hunger for war.
This film is rated 15 because of the apparent bloody content and violence. Based around a true story and Frank Millers graphic novel, this film is not for the light hearted. The back of the DVD cover follows the same theme but instead there is an armored man with a mask on which gives the impression the man on the front is the enemy of the man on the back cover, as they have different uniforms and different weapons. On each side there is a small quote this is for promotional reason to encourage people to buy the film when looking at the cover. These are quotes by famous people and companies.
As it says on the back cover this film was produced by Warner Brothers so it was most likely a large budget film. The text on the back states it is from the makers of sin city which is a similar type of layout as that also uses a bright red title and rain. The special features which are shown at the bottom half of the pages also include information about the life of a Spartan which is going deeper into the theme of war.

By Nancy Smith


Analyzing Juno
The images on the cover of the DVD Juno immediately suggest that it is a funny, lighthearted movie. The genre of the film is romantic comedy, although some parts of the film are quite emotional. On the cover of the DVD there is a picture of the main character Juno. The clothes that she is wearing and the expressions on her face tell the audience what the film may be about. I think that this particular cover does this very well as I can instantly tell the genre and storyline of the film just from looking at these images.
The colours used on the DVD cover support the idea of the film being a comedy as they are bright and attractive. This also helps the film to appeal to its target audience of children and teenagers. The font used for the DVD title Juno fits in well with the film and its genre. It is very unique and appealing to eye. It looks quite hand written which is also seen through out text in other parts of the film. This also contrasts with the neat text font that the rest of the writing uses. I think that the mixture of typed and illustrated fonts on the DVD cover works well at putting the films genre across to its audience.
The images of Ellen Paige (Juno) and Michel Cera (Pauly) are used on the front of the DVD cover, I believe, are not only to show the audience who stars in the film, but allow the audience to recognize that these actors may have been in other films of the same comical genre.
All text used on the DVD cover is very positive and aligns well with the title. On the back of the cover the quote ‘’A Fresh, Unusually Intelligent Comedy’’ are highlighted in big, bold writing. This stands out to the audience greatly. Also, as it is coming from a photo of the main character Juno, this looks quite quirky and appeals to its target audience.
The thing that appeals to me most on this particular DVD cover is the silhouette of the runners on the spine of the DVD case. I like this part because it is quirky and is relevant to the plot of the film.