Planning: Cast & Costume

The cast was an important choice as it changes the plot and the target audience. I used a young male and female to play the characters. This makes it more appealing to teens as it is relatable for them. Using a girl as the victim on the film adds more vulnerability as stereotypically girls are seen to be more at risk so my film is in keeping with traditional horror films. Then the male is the villain, which again coordinates with traditional film characters. I think using a man as the villain also reinstates the power that he holds due to stereotypical views from audiences.

The costumes I choose needs to be suggestive of what the characters are like so it is very important. As there will be no dialogue the characters will show who they are through their costume. The young girl will be wearing a very typical outfit for a teenager of jeans and a jumper. this is something most girls will wear making them empathise with the victim. The male will wear all black with a hooded jacket. A full black outfit instantly indicates a sense of danger and mystery which is what the character portrays. The hood adds to this as it is harder to identify the character fully.

Example of girl with costume:

Example of male with costume:

Planning: Setting & Props

The setting and props in a film work together to create the overall effect and impact of the film. They will establish the genre, plot, how the characters will act and create the building blocks for the entire film. In horror films setting and props can vary greatly. With more gory films often we often see weapons, blood, dead bodies, torture instruments and they can often be set in a remote location. But in paranormal films it is often set in a 'normal' house with a 'normal' family, a sinister twist is often added to this with older props that have a greater meaning in the plot.

My film involves a normal young girl being stalked so I feel that a 'normal' setting and props would be more appropriate. The setting of the film is a house and different scenes are filmed in different rooms of the house. The office room has props that would be typically seen in an office and the main character is completing homework giving an idea of her age and making younger audiences relatable. The kitchen is shown to have normal props e.g. kettle, mugs, sink and cook. Everything appears completely normal building the suspense of the film. The lounge shows a tidy room with sofas and a TV giving the effect of a normal home. Then the girl makes her way to her room which gives a further idea of her age. The room has all of the normal props that would be seen in a teenage girls room. After the climax of the films plot every room is shown with the props in the same places. This shows the quick transition back to normal after the man has entered the house and left.

Examples of the setting and props: