Romen AICE Media Studies Final Project

 Not very long ago, I created my stand in non-animated title card for my film in Blog Post #18 . After some more consideration, and working out the script to understand the narrative further, I have created a final title card, I intend on using in the final cut of the film.  Final Animated Title Card (above) Original Concept Title Card Thought process on final animated title card - I chose an expanding title, to make the film seem grand, and had the title color change from red to white, to simulate bleeding. I chose the font "Evora" as it is intense, and in the color red, looks like it was written in blood; alluding to how this will be a brutal film. I wanted a techno track that I could play during gorey and intense scenes in the film, so I decided to use the instrumental track of Korn's Twisted Transistor, which I may continue to use bits of in the final project. I also chose to have the background split open, as if it is getting ripped in half, rather than have blood d...

 Now that the test for rig 2 was a big success, I will now paint it so that it will be in the final cut. I have to paint the foam head to look like actor Cole Bryant, as he is playing the character of John.  (above) is the reference photo I used for Cole. The paint colors I will need, are fairly simple; a color that matches Cole's skin tone, color matching Cole's hair color, Red for blood, and a pint to mix with the red. (above) First, I coated the foam head in the skin color, which I used peach and a light tan to create. After letting the skin layer dry, I added the hair and blood to the foam head. For the hair I just used a simple brown, and for the blood I used red and a dark brown, to create a more realistic tone then plain red. I mostly only painted the inside of the head with blood, as the fake blood that will be placed inside the head, will cover it during shooting the final cut. I also left a majority of the head uncovered with blood because I will add a very thin laye...

 For Rig 2 where John's head will be impaled by a barbell, I want it to be on camera, and have blood splatter out of his face. For the rig I got a foam head, plastic bag(s), paint, and fake blood (corn syrup, red food coloring, and dish soap(if needed)). For this test as it is not a part of the final cut, i will not waste any of the materials for blood or paint, so I will just be using the unpainted head, and water in place for blood.  I hollowed out a hole in the foam head, so that the cut/hole was controlled and looked to my liking, opposed to just making the hole by cutting it with the barbell itself. I put a plastic bag in the hole, and filled it with water(in place for fake blood), and made sure it was compact so that it would burst.  Here is a recording of the test that I uploaded to youtube.  As you can see, once I put the bag with water in the head, I simply laid the head on the ground, and stabbed the barbell into the bag. This test and Rig proved to be incr...

Bruce tries to run for his car, but Blair finds him, and grabs the shovel. (above) High focus will be used in this shot, allowing the viewer to see Bruce and Blair.  Blair prepares to throw the shovel at Bruce (above) Blair throws the shovel at Bruce while he is running (above) This will be a tracking shot with the camera attached to the shovel The shovel hits Bruce on the back, and knocks him to the ground (above) Blair walks towards Bruce, and pick up the shovel (above) Blair puts his foot over Bruce to hold him down, while he prepares to kill Bruce (above) Blair cuts open Bruce's stomach, and his blood and guts spill out. Blair drops the shovel after finishing the kill. (above)

John watches the grill while James, Bruce, and Sam play football (above) John hears something outside the gate (above) Blair bursts open the gate, empty handed, even though he said he'd be back with the dogs (above) John tries to talk to Blair, but Blair grabs him by the neck and throws him (above) John falls on the ground and hits his head, briefly knocking him out (above) Blair grabs the barbell off the weight bench, while John yells for help (above) James, Sam, and Bruce run over tot try to help John (above) James, Sam, and Bruce are too late. Bair lifts the barbell above his head and slams it down (above) The barbell slams through John's face, spraying the blood everywhere. (above)

  TITLE CARD FADE IN: EXT. SUBURBAN HOME - FRONT DOOR - NIGHT                                                                     1 JOHN, BRUCE, SAM, and JAMES arrive at BLAIR’s house and begin to knock on the door.  JOHN  (to BRUCE) Hey we’re proud of you man JAMES: Yeah man, I could never BRUCE: Ah, don’t say that man Clutter and locks moving are heard from inside before BLAIR frantically slams open the door. BLAIR: Ah crap guys, how long were you out here? I’m so sorry. JOHN: (to BLAIR) Nah, don’t sweat man, not lo- SAM: (to BLAIR) Lonng.  The group lead by SAM walk into BLAIR’s house  CUT TO: INT. SUBURBAN HOME ...

 I will need to name all the characters in my film. I want the names to reference some of my favorite horror films and directors, with some names even hinting at plot points to take place in the film. I have also decided to cast myself as the host, who gets possessed by Lord Dajti Karabash, as the voice-lines for him will be done by myself anyways, I also wont have as much screentime as the other actors, and this role allows me to have conrol over the rigs and actually performing them on set.  Cole Bryant's character - John  -In reference to John Carpenter (The Thing, Halloween, They Live, In The Mouth of Madness). Matthew Stramiello's character - Sam -In reference to Sam Raimi (Evil Dead series, Drag Me to Hell, Darkman). Robert Sokoll's character - Bruce -In reference to Bruce Campbell (Evil Dead series, Bubba Ho-Tep, My Name is Bruce, Hysteria!). Julian Santos's character - James -In reference to James Wan (The Conjuring 1&2, Insidious, Malignant, Saw). Romen Bas...

 I will need 2 dogs to be in my film. These dogs must play well together, and not cause a major ruckus on set.  Candidate: 1 - Finn (below) Candidate: 2 - Yoda (below) Candidate: 3 - Gracie (below) Candidate: 4 - Rey (below) Candidate: 5 - Ryan (below) I have decided to cast Candidate: 1 - Finn and Candidate: 4 - Rey. Both candidates reside in the same home, and this is the home that the film will be shot at as-well. Unfortunately I could not cast Candidate: 3 - Gracie, as she has some trouble finding her way around because she is blind, and she has never been to the house that the shooting will take place. Candidate: 2 - Yoda could not be casted due to getting to excited in social settings, and Candidate: 5 - Ryan could not be casted due to scheduling difficulties. 

The script is a crucial part of the film making process. It serves as the blue print and building blocks for the entire film production. Scripts outline the story, characters, and actions that will take place. The script guides the actors, director, and crew on the film.  The script I have provided here, is one that I previously created for a previous assignment in the AICE Media Studies course. The script will be one of if not the most important parts of my film making process, as it guides me how to shoot scenes, format shots, play out dialogue, and create rigs. The script will also guide me when I edit my film together, as more often than not filming scenes in chronological order, just isn't possible, so during the editing process I can look back at the script to know where to put scenes, and wether I am missing any scenes and need to do reshoots for the project.

Candidate: 1 - Julian Santos (below) Candidate: 2 - Fernando Mesa (below) For my final actor in the film, I will cast Candidate: 1 - Julian Santos as the final party guest. He is a great candidate for the role because he is friends with the other actors and they all have chemistry on screen as a friend group who has known each other for years. Julian is also very expressive for the role(as seen in the picture) and I firmly believe he can act believably terrified as he has proven it in this audition photo. While candidate: 2 - Fernando Mesa is a great actor and friends with the cast of the film, he was laughing while trying to take a scared photo audition, which is why unfortunately I will have to let him go as a candidate.

 Candidate 1: Michael Hawley Candidate 2: Robert Sokoll Both Candidates are very promising, as I need someone who can express genuine horror, Candidate 2's expression is more subtle, but Candidate 1's expression is more prevalent. Candidate 2 also claims to have a more open casting schedule. So, after careful consideration I have chosen Candidate 2: Robert Sokoll to play the party guest who gets their stomach sliced open. I firmly believe he has the acting capacity to play the final kill of the opening scene. 

 I will be ordering my props from Michael's, as I have found it to be the most reliable site to buy the materials I need. I am ordering 2 foam heads, a foam board, and some foam bricks. I was going to buy fake blood, but it was expensive and didn't contain the amount I was hoping for. So I have decided to create my own fake blood for the film.  This is the video that I am going use to make my fake blood: (the video) . Now I will also need to order the ingredients to make the fake blood recipe. Here is what I will need to order/ buy as well. Corn Syrup Red Food Coloring Other Mini Food Coloring Packs Dish Soap These are the results the video recipe is promising. 

Rig 3: Stomach Sliced by Shovel Chronologically this will be the last rig of the film, and the last kill of the film. The final party guest(TBD) will begin to run out of the house, but Karabash will pick up a shovel, and throw it like a javelin, knocking down the guest. Then Karabash will put his foot on the guest's face; holding them down, while he slices open their stomach. This rig will work by using a foam base for the chest of the guest, and hollowing out the foam, and placing a bag of fake blood inside of it, the bag will burst open and splatter when the shovel punctures it. The rig will also use a foam head, which to hide the likeness; Karabash will place his foot on top of the head. 

Rig 2: Head Impaled by Barbell Chronologically this will be the second rig seen in the film. This will be Karabash's first kill in hundreds of years, and will be the first kill of the film. Actor Cole Bryant is playing the character whom will be impaled. This rig works by having a hollowed out foam head, and placing a plastic bag full of fake blood in it, the blood will burst out when the Barbell is jammed into the hole in the head. 

Rig 1: Zombie/ Lord Dajti Karabash Hand Chronologically, this will be the first effect seen in the film (may not be the first rig filmed) This scene will act as Lord Dajti Karabash's possession of the Party Host. In this scene, Karabash's hand will reach out of the ground (as seen in the rig plan) and grab the party host. This will be done by putting Actor Matthew Stamiello's hand in a hole in the ground, then filling the hole, and having him push his hand out of the ground; like in classic zombie film cinematography. 

 In my film, there will be kills, most notably one of the characters will be impaled by a barbell. To do this on film, I will need practical effects and props to make the kills and gore believable to the audience. Without practical effects these scenes would be ear impossible to film, at least for me with my weak cgi capabilities.  This shot using practical effects blood is from the opening scene of  Damien Leone's "Terrifier 3"(2024) For my practical effects, I will also need to plane rigs, to have blood spill realistically. Prop List:  Fake Edible Blood Foam/ Dummy Head Plastic Bag Foam/ Collapsible material Barbell Plate Shovel Rake I already have the: barbell, plate, shovel, and rake. I will need to go to the store or order the other props needed to create rigs.   

 For my film I will need a creative title card, that is animated. A potential platform I could use is Imovie, I can animate my title on the platform and add effects to it, I can also use other editing platforms like VN Video Editor or Capcut. It is important that this title card represents my film well, as it will create impressions and expectations for the film. This is the title I have come up with so far, as you can see it is unedited/animated, but for now it is just a place holder to see what works. For the final animated title card I may use animated blood, and animated text. Thought process - For the font I have chosen a fancy 'old timey' style - as the villain of the film is a brutal medieval Lord. I added lots of blood splatter to indicate the film will be a gorey slasher, and make it look like the title is almost coming out of the blood, or formed by the blood.  I chose to have the text and blood simply placed over a black background to make it pop out, and add contra...

 Title cards are a vital part of film. They introduce the film, establish the mood, and provide clues about the story. They are the audience's first impression on the film through marketing and trailers. Title card sequences for films can get audiences excited to see the movie, and sets the mood for what the audience should expect from the rest of the film.  This title card is one of the most famous and well known; Star Wars. This title card is very good because the font is very sci fi esc, and the yellow contrasting the black  makes it very bold. The stars also get people excited to see the action in space.  This is important to the creation of my film, as soon I will need to create my own title card, that also evokes the feeling of horror.