Reflective analysis - The Meeting

My goal was to create a photo-storyboard depicting the ending sequence of a psychological horror called 'The Meeting'. My target audience was between the ages of 16 and 25 as they are the main movie goers of the horror genre. Through my use of micro features I believe I represented this genre to a good standard by adhering to the conventions. If my storyboard was used to create the scene physically I personally think that it would hold the tense atmosphere I strove to project. The sequence plays on the idea of meeting your own inner demon as if it were a physical being and closely links to a stalker type theme as the main character is trying to escape from their past.

In order to convey the apparent tranquility, the first two shots have no non-diegetic sound; birds tweeting can be heard in the background to symbolize nature and calm. I selected the wooded area shown as it fits the forest setting that is well-known within the horror genre and can create a suspense within an audience if shot well. The fact that the shots are so quiet create a sense of realism and make the sequence come across more genuine. The character looking highly uncomfortable makes one interested in the story line I believe; this is because due to the mysterious nature of the surrounding area and unknown background of the character.

Non-diegetic music comes into play by the 3rd shot; a low beating sound that appears to be building shows the once tranquil scene to start to become more sinister. The low beat aims to symbolize a steady heartbeat and if done again I would add a heartbeat sound instead of the music to make it more obvious. The noise disrupts the setting and adds an unsettling air to the sequence. It is not until later on that the high pitched string music makes an appearance as it fits the conventions of the horror genre and builds tension. As the character runs through the woods, leaves can be heard crunching underfoot; this represents the calm nature being destroyed by panic. I think if I had to re-do the photography for this shot I would possibly add some ominous looking mist in the distance as if something was behind the character. Tracking the character during this shot adds a feeling that they're being chased or followed by something, or someone.

The shift from natural lighting to low-key lighting during shots 5 and 6 implies that the mood has now become more sinister and the character could face a danger of some sort. Low-key lighting triggers fear as not all areas are fully visible. Shot 6 is of the building itself; although it is only a dilapidated old shed it looks a lot bigger and scarier due to it being shot from a low-angle. The shed, I feel, because of its dark colour palette adds depth to the mise-en-scene as darkness represents evil. Upon entering the building it should become apparent to the audience of the evil presence as not only is the lighting low-key but also has a glowing red tinge quality to it. Another thing that perfectly fits the horror genre is the animals used within the sequence; snakes and spiders are two of the most iconic horror creatures so their inclusion was a must. These animals should enact some sort of fear within the audience as arachnophobia is one of the most common phobias.

The types of shots I used effectively exhibited the most important features of the shots I believe. The over the shoulder shot makes the audience feel as if they were perhaps cowering behind the character thus feeling more involved whilst extreme close-ups, for example on the eyes in shots 13 and 14, allow the audience to see minute details and further connect with the characters.

Due to the fact the whole point of the sequence is that you're meeting your inner demon it would make sense that your inner demon looked like an evil version of yourself. Therefore I edited two of myself in different outfits into the shot so that the differences between them are clear. The main character is wearing a white t-shirt to symbolize purity and good whilst their demon is in all black with a large snake around their neck to represent evil. With better editing equipment and possibly a green screen I believe this shot could have looked even more realistic. The demon sees in a form of broken thermal vision, this was inspired by the movie Predator; thermal vision gives off a animalistic and hunting vibe.