Production: Change in plans

 The Complication

One of our group members had to travel out of town this weekend, which created an unexpected issue for our production. The problem with this is that they are currently in possession of one of the props needed for our film opening, making it impossible to move forward with filming as we originally intended. Because of this, we had no choice but to adjust our plans and shift things around accordingly.

Why We're Still On Track

Luckily, this is not as big of a problem as it may seem. When I originally built out our production timeline, I made sure to give us enough breathing room so that if something came up, we would still be able to shift things around and remain perfectly fine.

The New Schedule

Now that I have decided to push filming, I know that the new plan has to work around what we have. March 6th will now serve as day 1 of filming, and March 7th will serve as day 2, both shifted from the original dates due to the complications that arose. March 8th will be kept as a backup date just in case anything else comes up, giving us some extra leeway. From March 9th through the 14th we will enter our first week of editing, where theoretically everything could be wrapped up, though it does not have to be. March 16th through the 21st will then serve as our second week of editing, mostly dedicated to finishing touches. March 22nd is our submission deadline, meaning everything must be turned in by that day, and from March 23rd onward we are finished and able to move on.

NEW PRODUCTION TIMELINE:

Reflection

As much as this was an inconvenience, I am choosing to see it as an opportunity rather than just a setback. This extra time gives me the chance to go back over everything we have already done, reassess, and put some more intentional planning into what comes next before we get back to filming. I decided to expand and fully flesh out the entire plot, making sure there are no inconsistencies with it. I also need to make sure that all of these scenes would logistically work, so I decided to look over the things in the script, making sure they fit the settings chosen.

My next steps are to storyboard the scene we will be filming. Getting this done before we step back in front of the camera will make the whole process smoother. After filming is wrapped, editing begins, and that is honestly the part I am most excited for since it is where everything finally starts to come together.

Production: Script finalization and sharing

The Script Adjustments

Going into this project, I always knew that the script was going to need some fine-tuning before we could actually get it in front of a camera. After taking a close look at what we had written, it became clear that some of the elements, while exciting on paper, were simply not going to be physically possible to execute for a school production. Things like a moving body bag, an overhead aerial shot, and an entire additional scene with a new character being arrested were all things that sounded great creatively, but would have created real logistical problems on the day of filming.

Because of this, I went through and made targeted changes that kept the story and its tone completely intact while making everything far more shootable. The moving body bag became still, the overhead shot was replaced with a simple camera tilt, the daughter's arrest scene was modified and readjusted to make it shorter, so we could make sure it fits under a minute. Every adjustment was made to keep the vision alive while making sure we could actually pull it off.

The Actor and Costume

Now that our killer has officially been cast, the next steps on that front are already in motion. The revised script was shared with the actor so that they could begin familiarizing themselves with the role, the physicality of the character, and what will be expected of them on set. Alongside that, the order for the killer's costume has been placed — the judge's robe, the mask, and the mallet are all being sourced so that we have everything ready well before our filming dates arrive. Getting the costume sorted early is important because it directly affects how the actor carries themselves and how intimidating the character reads on camera.

The Shot Breakdown

With the script locked and the cast coming together, the next major piece of work was sitting down and mapping out every possible shot, angle, sound design choice, and mise-en-scène detail for all five scenes. This breakdown covers editing techniques, specific shot types and camera movements, the technical sound elements at play in each moment, and a full mise-en-scène analysis using proper film terminology. Rather than tucking this into the blog post itself, I put it together as its own separate document so that it can serve as a proper production reference going forward — something the whole team can look at and work from as we head into filming. It covers all five scenes from the garage opening all the way through to the title card, and having this level of detail mapped out ahead of time is going to make the shoot significantly more efficient and intentional.

Planning: Cast List

    With the script done, I thought that it would be an appropriate time to cast the characters that are in the movie's opening. Filming will begin soon, and having the character actors together makes the transition into production smoothly as the actors will have been given time to familiarize themselves with the idea of their character and the role they play in the overall movie opening.

To begin looking for an actor to play Derek and an Actress to play Lisa, I had to look for people who would have a good dynamic together in order for their roles not to feel stale and mundane. The character of Derek needed to be played by a physically fit actor. This led me to the current actors whom I have cast. They both meet the needs required of the movie opening and are also easy to work with.

Derek's Actor- Sontee Szauer

Lisa's Actor - Angelina Lasalle

Whats Next 

With this cast of actors, I can now move forward in the acquisition of the different costumes needed for the characters. The reason I had waited until now was in order to purchase the proper costume sizes for the characters. My next step for this actor and actress is for them to go over the script and familiarize themselves with their character. I may also draw up a little sheet which will go over character motivations and the emotions that are commonly expressed by the character, so the actors will know how to carry themselves during filming.

For the costumes, I generally want the outfits of the characters to be very plain, and the fashion style should be around the 2010s. Since the character of Derek is older, he would be wearing clothes that are more mature but also laid back at the same time. The character of Lisa is younger, and since this takes place around 2018, Lisa will wear outfits that reflect the fashion trends of that time.

Planning: Setting

     Once I had finished my script, I started working on my cast list, but equally as important is the setting and the locations where I will film. To give off an eerie atmosphere, I knew I needed to find places where there could be jumpscare opportunities or that could fit the description of such locations in the script. While writing the script, I was also simultaneously thinking of the locations in which I could possibly film, maximizing my efficiency and making it so I did not have to make that many adjustments. 

Since the setting takes place entirely at the location of a house, I had some trouble figuring out where we would film scenes, because the setting greatly limits the number of options our group has. While something like a park or the outdoors has a great variety of options, house locations are just limited to the places my group mates and I know and can use. As a result, I had to shift around and combine locations to give off the effect I wanted

Reece Reports:

Location 1: House interior

Images of the house:

After asking around for the location of the third scene, we settled on this address. It has a back area that is very unsettling, and with the blinds rolled up, could lead to a really great jumpscare moment. When I was writing the script, I was thinking of this location and felt as if it was one of the most perfect options to provide what I was looking for. The only problem with this location is that the back room is kind of crowded, so some cleaning may need to take place in order for us to film it in the right way. Another issue is filming time because I want the scene to be filmed at night, but I do not know if all the cast and crew would be comfortable going on site at night. To combat this, I may have to try the technique of day to night, where you edit the coloring and the lighting to create a scene that feels like it was filmed at night, even though it was filmed in the daytime.

Location 2: House living room, garage, and exterior

Images are unavailable for now

While I do not have images of the location that we are filming, I am familiar with this location because I have been to it a couple of times. My group mate had suggested using this location, and I agreed because they have what we need to complete everything in the script. One issue we had was that the other location didn't have ample space in the garage for the filming; this location does. In this location, the living room also provides ample space and lighting, which the other location does not have. Since the script does not have a continuous clip between the garage and the kitchen, the segway between clips should be fine and not seem like the setting changes, but rather that this all takes place in one location

Reflection

Now that a majority of my planning has been wrapped up, I just need to work on the actual production of the film. My group mates will start going through the logistics of the film opening and how we want to get stuff done. Then we will begin filming, and lastly we will edit the clips to wrap it all up. We may need to research other filming techniques and how to edit in greater depth, which could lead to there being some more research posts.

Planning: Production timeline

    Being a month out from when production should be finished, I thought it would be good to break down the production timeline that I am working on and how my group and I plan to complete this project in time with the filming dates and more.

Production timeline:

This plan for production starts on February 22nd and should be concluded by the 14th of March, which gives us plenty of time since the due date for us to give this project is the 16th of March. This production timeline is also good because it gives my group and me some leeway since it might only take 2 days to film the movie or 1 week to edit; however, I gave us a week more than may be needed for each. 

For our prop planning and development, my group and I will need to finish ordering and getting all of the supplies by the 22nd of february which gives us about a week. Once we have all of the materials, we can start the filming process. With filming, it will be in the dark, which we will have to take into account and accommodate because of that. The 3 days of filming are going to be the 27th, which is a Friday, the 28th, a Saturday, and the 1st of March, which is also a Saturday. Picking these dates ensures that all of the cast and crew have the best availability and will be able to show up. However, dates are subject to change if something unusual happens, such as someone can't make it.

 
After the filming for the scenes is done, we will jump straight into editing with Premiere Pro. The first week of March is dedicated solely to editing the clips together and ensuring all of the clips sound good and go together well. The next week, however, will be for special effects and touches like the color correction to display the elements of a slasher horror. We will also dedicate the second week to the title creations and credits. 

Creating this production timeline has organized my thoughts together for the film opening and given a more concrete schedule for my group and I to follow.

Planning: Script

    Now that I have finished the project proposal for the movie opening, a rough storyboard, and the titles, I decided that the next step should be to write the script. This rough draft of the script takes into account most of the parts of the storyboard. I may need to revise as the ideas mature and I collaborate and revise with my group mates; however, for now, I am fairly content with how the process went for creating this script.

Rough first draft of the script:

 

When writing this script, I had to take into account how long each of the scenes was going to take to keep it under two minutes. In the original storyboard for this movie opening, I was planning on having all of the things in the clip occur while also adding another scene, which had a male character walking to his car and turning on the radio, which was playing the case out loud. I believed that would have taken too much time and would not have made the cut for under two minutes.

To compensate for this, I shifted around the script to include Derek having a daughter and having her wrongfully be set up for a crime that she didn't commit. By setting up Lisa as the main protagonist of the movie, this ensures that the story doesn't feel like a short film and more feels like a movie opening, which it is supposed to be.

I feel that while this is a rough draft and may have some changes occur to it, the rough draft does accomplish what I want, and it checks off the boxes of what my group and I envisioned when thinking of this story.

The next step in the planning process would be for my group and me to first revise and edit the prop list to better fit the changes made in the movie opening. Once that his been completed, my group and I will start to acquire the set pieces, as well as pick out the locations for filming each of these scenes. While I have a rough Idea in my head, it would be better to set in stone these locations for future reference.

Planning: Titles

    With the storyboard done, I felt that the best course of action next was to plan out our titles with the fonts and colors being included in this planning. My group and I will also be planning out when these titles will be implemented inside the movie's opening.

My group began by brainstorming the themes and the meaning behind our movie so that we could tie the title back to this central theme or main Idea. This began by looking at the court system and how that plays a role in the killer and the main protagonist's motivations. We thought since this was a movie about a killer who kills people who are convicted of murder, that we should reflect that in the title. This is how we came up with the title, a brutal sentencing. Since the killer ascribes the guilty label to his victims, he kills sort of like a sentence to a convict, we thought the title well reflects the movie's opening.

Mock Movie Poster with title and title colors:

In order to show this title in action, I decided to create a mock movie poster that will implement all the fonts that we will use. We decided that the title of the movie will be shown in red with obvious comparisons to blood, which is a big thing associated with the slasher genre. The font used is called "DM Serif Display" which has a sharp look to it, and overall, I believe that it fits the title well.

For the implementation of said titles, my group decided that the full title of the movie would pop up in the scene between the killing of the serial killer character and the next scene with his daughter getting arrested. The cast listing and all other titles will be right at the start of the movie when the Killer is drawing up the blueprints. Potentially, he is listening to a song, and we can transition from a montage of him planning with the cast names popping up into the song in the background, and the rest of the scene

The next step in my planning process should be to write out the full rough draft of a script for our movie opening, which will also be helpful in guiding all future ideas. The title planning has aided in this because it gives me a rough outline of where I may implement this in the scene.

Planning: Props and settings

Introduction

The opening. I broke the opening into four main scenes that flow together. Each scene has specific props that tell the story without needing dialogue. The goal is to make the audience understand who people are and what's happening just by what they see.

Scene 1: In the garage

The first scene will begin with a shot of the throwaway kill character inside the house. He is seen writing something down on his blueprint with a board of his victims. Some of their pictures have been crossed out, indicating that they had been killed. There should also be a knife present and potentially blood. In the back, I think that I will use a body bag with someone potentially moving inside to further show that he is a serial killer. Eventually, he will get up and go to grab some water. In between the two scenes, I could show the actual killer of the movie. Potentially using him in the background of clips to scare the audience.

Scene 2: Around the house

The second scene of the movie opening will need to include a setting with windows showing the dark backyard. When the character goes to grab water I might use a noise to signal that there could be something in the backyard. When he looks back at the window we could potentially see his reflection but as he looks away, the killer could come into screen. After he grabs the water he will head back into the garage.

Scene 3: Outside the house

The third scene is where the kill will actually occur. I think my group will utilize the use of a long shot with light shining down from one area and shadows on both sides of the house. With this, the garage door will open slowly as the serial killer character is going to hunt his victim, but as he's walking towards the car, the main killer will emerge from the shadows. The killer will have a black suit and a hood over his face. The mask may come from the shadows of the hood, and the kill should be done using a gavel because of the connection to the court system. Once he kills the serial killer, he will open his case file and write guilty down on the paper, which is the signature of this masked killer.

Scene 4: Cut to main character

After the events of the killing take place, the main character will make an appearance. The character will either be in his car or sitting at home. One shot should include the ankle monitor of this character, showing that he has been to court before because of some event. I need a radio that will broadcast the news of the masked serial killer, which is where our main character will hear about it. Potentially in his car or on the desk will be the court documents showing even further that he is charged with the murder of someone, and may be a target of the killer. All of these props and settings will work together to convey the conventions of the slasher and drive the plot of the movie.

Planning: Storyboarding

The Concept

When I started working on this slasher concept, I thought about how I could implement it for this movie's opening. The idea came from thinking about how the justice system works and what happens when someone decides to take justice into their own hands. My killer doesn't care if you actually committed murder or not. If you went to trial for it, you're on the list. That includes people who were acquitted, people who were wrongly convicted, and guilty people. The killer disregards any discussion on whether the court case is right, which is where the audience can recognize that he is wrong in the way he acts.

Designing the Killer

For the killer's design, I went with something that ties into the legal theme. The killer wears a black suit like a lawyer would wear to court and a mask that gives off a creepy vibe. I could add the hair, symbolized with judges called a "peruke". The weapons are things you'd find in a courtroom, such as a gavel, a rope from the jury box, and the scales of justice. The killer will also carry a briefcase, which they will write guilty in when they have killed their victim. This will be their signature identifying theme throughout the movie.

Visual Storytelling in the Opening

The garage scene needs to tell the audience a lot without using dialogue. We show the serial killer with his tools, the body bag, maybe news clippings or photos of victims. The audience should understand what he is within those first 30 seconds. When our vigilante killer appears from the shadows, the long shot makes the garage feel bigger and more isolated. The serial killer doesn't stand a chance.

For the main character's scene, we use the radio as an information tool. He's driving or sitting somewhere, and the news report fills in details about what's been happening. We might see his reaction when he hears about the garage killing. Maybe he looks worried or just tired. The ankle monitor or court documents could be visible to show his situation. This sets up that he could be a target even though he's out on bail.

Production Planning for the Opening

The garage scene is one of the most important parts of the opening. The garage needs to feel isolated and dark, with enough shadows for the killer to appear from. The lighting should make it hard to see into the corners until the killer steps out. The practical effects of the kill need to be simple. We will need to utilize props and also implement fake blood to immerse the audience. One movie that makes use of effective fake blood is the Terrifier movies, although they are a little too gory for this movie, so we will tone it down while still modeling techniques and aspects of the movie. Outside of the garage, it should be dark with the only real light coming from inside the garage and the porch light. When we cut to the main character, the lighting changes to show it's a different time or place. For sound, the garage should be quiet except for whatever the serial killer is doing. When our vigilante appears, maybe there's no sound at all until the moment of the kill. We could implement some intense music as the kill is happening to emphasize the effect of the kill. The title card should hit hard right after. 

What Would Come Next (If We Filmed the Full Movie)

If we made the whole film, the story would follow the main character who was wrongfully convicted of murder, and his defense attorney. His defense attorney's father was wrongly convicted of murder and died in prison before anyone proved he was innocent. That's why she became a lawyer. The rest of the movie would show more kills that explore different parts of the justice system. One victim might be in prison, another might be a wealthy person who got away with murder, and another might be someone who was proven innocent. Each kill would make the audience question whether they agree with the killer or not.

What I Learned

This planning process taught me that storyboarding is about making choices. Every scene has to serve a purpose. The opening sequence with the garage kill sets the tone for everything that would follow. Starting with a throwaway character who turns out to be the victim is a classic slasher move, but it works because it surprises the audience. If we can make that scene work and then connect it to the main character, it proves the concept is strong enough to build a full movie around. The goal is to create something that works as a slasher film with scares and tension but also makes the audience think about justice, guilt, and whether any system can ever be truly fair.

Planning: Project proposal

INTRODUCTION

Hello, I am a media studies student working on a short slasher project for my class. This is my first time planning out a full opening sequence from concept to execution. I am working with two other media studies students who are equally enthusiastic about the topic. The three of us will utilize each other's skills and help build off of each other's weaknesses to get the best score possible.

WHY SLASHER WAS CHOSEN

For us, the slasher genre was an easy option. We knew we wanted to do something related to horror since it was interesting and unique enough to create this movie opening. We started to discuss what was popular recently and historically to formulate which subgenre to choose. We ended up on Slasher because it has hits like the Scream movies and the Halloween franchise. I think that the slasher genre is especially unique in the way that they film their movie openings as well. They are usually intense and action-packed, as seen in Scream 

TARGET AUDIENCE

Our movie opening will likely appeal to the age group of about 16-30 because they are more likely to interact with horror content and are more likely to watch. The film appeals to both men and women since it is not a plot focused on the gender of the characters, and that does not play a large role in the film. People who would enjoy this film are likely horror film enthusiasts as well as people who like true crime content. The demographic of people previously stated may also better align with the themes that the movie is trying to convey about the justice system.

REPRESENTATION

In this film, the justice system is examined, and it points out flaws in this system. The main character does not commit the crime and is instead convicted of simply being at the wrong place at the wrong time. I am thinking of also making the main character a minority racial group so I can highlight another flaw, which is racial profiling. The killer is also interesting because the premise behind his kills seems morally just at first, because he is killing people who themselves have been convicted of killing someone; however, the audience will later learn that while the killer may be seeking justice, he doesn't take into consideration that people who are convicted of murder may not always be inherently bad.

SOFTWARE USED 

For filming, I'll need a camera that can handle low light since most scenes happen at night or in dark settings. Adobe Premiere Pro will be the main editing software to cut the footage together and work on the color grading, making it dark and eerie. After Effects could be used for any title cards that will be used and possibly some blood effects if the practical effects need enhancement. For the sound, I will use Adobe After Effects to enhance the audio recorded with the mics. I want to learn more about practical lighting techniques since the garage and exterior scenes rely heavily on shadows and single light sources. I also need to practice color grading in Premiere Pro to make sure the different scenes have the right mood. 

BASIC PLAN

Our opening sequences are split into a couple of scenes, which will be filmed in chronological order and edited in Adobe Premiere Pro. The first scene will occur in a garage, which means I will have to find a suitable filming location for the task as well as get my props together for the scene. In this movie, I need about 3 main actors to play the killer, the main character whose name is yet decided, and the throwaway kill at the very start of the movie, which is also yet to be named. After we film the first part, I think a suitable location for filming the second scene would be my house, due to the kitchen area having access to windows in the back of the house, where we could film the throwaway kill getting water. After that, the movie will film the garage door opening, which could be done using the same garage location as earlier. Then, finally, for the next location, it should be utilizing a car where our main character will get in and turn on the radio. 

Storyboard 1:

Research: Color theory for slashers

 

Red - Blood, Danger, and Violence

From what I found, red is probably the most obvious color used in slasher films since it's the color of blood and danger. In horror, red symbolizes blood, danger, imminent death, an insatiable hunger, and strong negative emotions such as aggression, wrath, and lust. Red is often associated with anger or passion, which can be seen in films like The Shining (1980), where there's a lot of red carpeting and red blood on walls and floors. According to color theory, green and red are complementary colors, meaning red stands out the most against a green backdrop. As a result, one of red's most natural associations is "don't mess with me." In Karyn Kusama's The Invitation, the coloring and the reliance on red—from the blood that pours from the ill-fated dinner guests to the ominous lanterns that blink in the night as they're raised—is a perfect, tangible and exposition-free depiction of the horror. Red filters and casts can be really effective in horror movies as the color red has connotations of danger and violence, which can cause the viewers to feel unnerved.

Pearl (2022)

X (2022)

Malignant (2021)

Black - Darkness and Death

Black is pretty much the most "horror" color there is since it's literally the color of darkness. In horror, black symbolizes death, mourning, misfortune, evil, suffering, bad luck, ill omens, depression, grief, horrors lurking in the shadows, anxiety, wickedness, forbidden pleasures, and witchcraft. Black symbolizes death and darkness, which makes sense since most horror movies happen at night or involve ghosts or monsters that can't be seen during the day. Although movies often use blue to represent night, black is the color of darkness, both physical and intangible. It is the color of nightmares, the color of a dead night with no stars. It is the color of a killer hiding in the shadows. A predominantly dark color palette creates a sense of danger and mystery and can be particularly effective in setting the tone right from the start. It immediately immerses us in the world of the film, and often uses large amounts of negative space—hinting at the unknown horrors that lurk in the blackness.

Skinamarink (2022)

Terrifier (2022-2024)

Candyman (2021)

Blue - Coldness and Unease

Blue is also used in horror films because it makes people feel uneasy. This feeling may have to do with the fact that blue is associated with coldness and even death. In many cultures, blue has long been seen as the colour of mourning or sadness. A common cast that is used in horror films is blue, which is used to create a 'chilling' effect. To create an effective blue cast the white tones are usually balanced to cold blues or a blue mixed with purple tones. In the image from Saw (2004) the cast is more a dark blue with tones of purple, which creates a somber and tense mood. There are also hard shadows with saturated blacks alongside the dark blue cast, which not only emphasizes to the audience that it is night time but creates a darker tone to the shot, thus making the scene more frightening. The blue filter in these examples could be used to enhance the idea that the characters are in trouble. Icy blues and eerie greens create a sense of alienation and distance that is ideal for films featuring supernatural phenomena or the sinister side of our subconscious.

Nope (2022)

When Evil Lurks (2023)

Color Grading and Filters

Color grading is the process of digitally altering or enhancing the colors of a motion picture, video image or a still image to give it the desired emotional impact. The use of color grading has been particularly prevalent in horror movies as a staple of the genre. Directors like George Romero (Night of the Living Dead) and John Carpenter (Halloween) helped popularize this technique by using it in their films to create an eerie atmosphere that would enhance the viewing experience for audiences. Color grading is one of the most critical aspects of creating a horror film. It's a way to make the audience feel something, whether fear, sadness or anything else. It involves adjusting the color properties of an image to create mood, enhance the narrative, and even change the film's tone. Colored lens filters are used to either correct color deficiencies or to add colors for a certain effect. However, unlike color grading, color lens filters don't add noise to an image or video. When creating a horror film, you may use saturation to add or remove color from images. For example, some horror films use desaturated images so that all colors are less vibrant and appear washed out (think The Blair Witch Project). This technique makes it seem like the world has been drained of life and color, which can be very disturbing for viewers.

What Each Color Means:

Based on my research from Slow Burn Horror, each color carries specific meanings in the horror genre. Red symbolizes blood, danger, imminent death, an insatiable hunger, and strong negative emotions such as aggression, wrath, and lust. Orange symbolizes fire, hopelessness, madness, ritual, and witchcraft. Yellow symbolizes hope (though rarely), decay, physical rot, moral rot, suffering, illness (both physical and mental), anxiety, and caution. Green symbolizes suffocation, witchcraft, the natural turned unnatural, disease, immortality, projection, grime, danger (especially when using mint green), and vulnerability (especially when it comes to night vision camera green). Blue symbolizes tension, nighttime, anxiety, cold fear, unearthed monsters and demons, melancholy, danger, and tragedy. Purple symbolizes royalty, exclusivity, otherworldliness, dreams, aliens, femininity, youth, and innocence. Pink symbolizes femininity, youth, innocence, sweetness, immaturity, inexperience (especially sexual), empowerment, and female sexuality. Black symbolizes death, mourning, misfortune, evil, suffering, bad luck, ill omens, depression, grief, horrors lurking in the shadows, anxiety, wickedness, forbidden pleasures, and witchcraft. White can symbolize deadlines, a cult-like mentality, hidden danger, vulnerability, medical experimentation, alien abduction, artificiality, isolation, death, and profound fright. Grey symbolizes death, destruction, decay, amorality, the other, and neutrality. When black and white are combined, they symbolize lurking evil, tension, psychological storytelling, eerieness, amorality, moral and ethical extremes, and order and discordance.

Applying Color Theory to My Film Opening

Understanding color theory in slasher films gives me a clear idea of how to use color to set the mood and atmosphere in my 2-minute opening. Since red is the most obvious color associated with slashers because of blood and violence, I'll probably use red in the atmosphere when the killer is on screen to set him up as a threat. I don't want to overuse it, though, because then it would lose its impact. Black will be important for creating shadows and darkness, especially if I'm filming at night or in a dark location like an empty house. Black will be used to keep the audience in suspense because it is hard to see with black on the screen; using it can hide the killer from the audience. Blue could work well for establishing shots or tense moments before the violence happens, since it makes people feel uneasy and cold. I might use a blue filter or color grade using blue to help create this feeling.

For my project, I'm thinking I'll use color grading in post-production to enhance the mood. I could desaturate the colors a bit to make everything look drained and unsettling, similar to what The Blair Witch Project did. Or I might keep some colors vibrant, like red, while making everything else muted so that the red really pops and grabs attention. The key seems to be using color purposefully to guide the audience's emotions rather than just filming in normal lighting. Since I'll be editing in Premiere Pro, I can experiment with different color grading options to see what creates the best atmosphere. Red and blue can be used in combination with each other to show contrast. For example, I could use red in moments of tense action, but to set that up, I could use blue, which would create the unease that I am looking for without there having to be action on the screen. Overall, color theory gives me another tool to make my opening feel more professional and scary.

Sources:

• https://bloody-disgusting.com/editorials/3567051/suspiria-midsommar-psychology-color-horror/
• https://fotodioxpro.com/blogs/news/the-horror-color-wheel-the-color-lighting-used-in-horror
• https://slowburnhorror.com/2021/09/24/the-meaning-of-red-in-horror/
• https://slowburnhorror.com/2021/09/10/the-meaning-of-color-in-horror/
• https://vusf.wordpress.com/2023/12/05/on-horrors-favorite-colors-technicolor-filmmaking-the-colorized-pre-code-era/
• https://www.fangoria.com/the-color-of-horror-5-horror-films-with-excellent-use-of-color/
• https://strelka.co.uk/the-colour-of-fear-exploring-horror-colour-palettes-in-film-posters/
• https://slides.com/oliviareilly/colour-in-horror-films/embed
• https://slowburnhorror.com/2022/03/17/the-meaning-of-black-in-horror/
• https://lwks.com/blog/blood-red-to-morgue-blue-the-role-of-color-in-horror