Possible Fonts For Film Title On Poster

After researching on existing film titles, I tried making a film title which could potentially be used in our poster.

 

From my previous research in As Media Studies, I know that film titles in slashers are short and sharp e.g. two words. This technique effectively allows the audience to immediately identify and remember the film name. For this reason, after coming up with my own film names, I decided to use 'Knock Knock'. The name relates to our plot of a unknown killer knocking on the door of the house the teenagers are in. People are familiar with the phrase 'knock knock' and so this film title would be incredibly effective in establishing our film's name.



I used 'Dafont', a website specially designed for font types.

After clicking on the 'horror' category, I found this font type called 'Scream Again'. I thought the font stands out, capitalisation is used in the font type. The overall look of the font matches the idea of a knock on the door, as the font can visually signify wood.

I then typed in 'knock kock' in the 'custom preview' tool bar. I selected large for 'size'.



Final product of film title.

In terms of colour, the black could work, or brown could be useful in connoting a wooden door. Applying red blood dripping to certain areas in the film title would work well with brown, as the colours contrast quite well. Black however would also be appropriate. Deciding on colours however will all depend on our mise en scene in the poster, in terms of our background colours. This font can also be used in our teaser trailer. The colours again will heavily depend on the mise en scene in the point at which the film title is displayed (towards the end). 





Deconstruction On Film Titles

Part of our coursework entails making a poster for our film. I have carried out some research on the various font types used in slasher films. Below, I have deconstructed several film titles from the sub-genre. 

Friday The 13th (2009)

 

• The letters have been capitalised. 
• This makes the film title stand out, drawing the audience in. 
• The colour of the font is red. 
• Red visually signifies blood and death which relates to the slasher genre. 

You're Next

• Capitalisation has been used.
• The font is red, having connotations of blood, horror etc.
• To convey the theme of blood and death, the film title has blood dripping down.
• The audience relate to blood from the use of red.

The Strangers

• The letters are not capitalised.
• The colour of the title almost mirrors light.
• The colour subverts conventional colours of a slasher film.

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre

• Similarly to 'The Strangers' film title, the title is lit.
• The effect of this can perhaps be to build a contrast between the title's light colour and the black background, which draws the attention of the audience.

• The font's colour is white which complements the white 'scream' mask.
• The white also contrasts with the pitch black background, making the film title stand out more.
• Red has been used in the title, which can be a visual signification of blood.
• Capitalisation has been used, making the title look prominent.

Generally, I have found that capitalisation tends to be used with the film title. This can allow the film title to stand out and therefore draw an audence in. The backbround's colour/theme will contrast heavily with the colour of the film title, also making the title look prominent. Using red in part of the film title is a conventional tool for signfying blood.

 

What we can do?

• Capitalise our letters.
• Use a colour for our film title which contrasts well with the background.
• Apply some red, perhaps in the form of blood dripping.

Scream 4 Teaser Trailer Deconstruction

Below, I have deconstructed the teaser trailer for Scream 4. I will be particularly focusing my analysis on elements within the mise en scene which are conventional for a slasher film. 

Mise En Scene

• The trailer firstly denotes the production company, 'Dimension Films'.

Cinematography

• The medium close up shot effectively focuses the audiences' attention towards the production company, allowing 'Dimension Films' to establish their position.

Sound

• The off-screen diegetic sound of the telephone ring sounds during the establishment of the production company. The sound raises an enigma, as the audience cannot see the telephone, which creates an eerie atmosphere at the beginning of the trailer. 

Mise En Scene

• The audience can identify the main girl, through her innocent look. The trailer has included her in the opening scene of the trailer, suggesting she may be the central focus in the film.

Cinematography

• The medium close up denotes the main girl's facial expressions. The audience can note she is in shock.
• Fade in transition shots used are pitch black which are suspenseful, complementary of the sub-genre (slasher). 

Sound

• The audience hear diegetic dialogue of "Welcome home Cindy" from an unknown caller.
• Again an enigma is raised, as the audiences do not know who the caller is.
• The audience however can identify that the caller is a man, through his voice.
• Off-screen diegetic sounds of screams orally signify the film's title - Scream.
• The sound also connotes that the unknown killer may not be pleasant. 

Mise En Scene

• Two young girls scream. The audience can see that they frightened, suggesting the killer's presence being active.

Cinematography

• Naturalistic lighting helps the audience to examine the characters' facial expressions. 
• The two shot connotes the theme of the youth being close to each other throughout the events in a slasher. 

Sound

• An off-screen diegetic sound of a man's scream is heard, which has a echoing effect. 
• The sound can be an oral signifier of the killer's presence and eeriness. 
• The girls' screams are on-screen diegetic which raise climax. 

                            

                            

Mise En Scene

• The above shots denote the killer's presence behind the victims.

Cinematography

• Editing has been applied in the first shot, with the killer being blurred. This technique effectively makes the shot more suspenseful. 

Mise En Scene

• One of the girls appears to be running.

Cinematography

• Panning is used to denote the girl's pace. 

Sound

• Non-diegetic music is used which is upbeat. Drums sound throughout this point repetitively.
• The sound effectively complements the action in the mise en scene.

Mise En Scene

• The killer appears to be attacking a female character, during the events of the climax.
• The killer misses his target and struggles to pull his knife out of the dresser table.

Cinematography

• A tilt is used as the girl defends herself. The camera tilt creates effectively makes this part of the trailer more intense.
• The tilt may also make the audience feel that they are experiencing the events (audience positioning).



Mise En Scene

• The killer appears to be running towards his victims.
• The killer is holding his knife, ready to attack his victims.

Cinematography

• A long shot denotes the killer.
• The killer, as he runs, comes closer to the camera, denoting him in a medium close up shot.
• The effect of the killer coming closer to the camera, is of the audience almost feeling that they are being enclosed in by the killer.

Sound

• The sound is still upbeat, orally signifying fast pace and climax which is suitable for the movement in the scene.

Mise En Scene

• The film's name appears at the end of the trailer, as a way of concluding the events.
• 'The Scream' mask is in the background which portrays the film's theme/name.

Sound

• An off-screen diegetic sound of a scream is used at the end, again to hold the themes of screaming, horror and fright.

Outside Location Ideas

My group and I will be using two houses for our mise en scene, one for our inside location and one for our outside location. From my deconstructions into slasher teaser trailers, I have found the houses will be detached, fairly big and sometimes eerie looking. However, as an eerie looking house will not being suitable for our narrative, we will be using a regular house for our outside location. Below are examples of possible houses we could use from the outside.

This house is located in Kidbrooke. It's medium sized, detached. The long driveway can be ideal for the escape path for our main girl.

This is also located in Kidbrooke, detached, more modernised. The extended driveway can also be another footpath for the main girl's escape.

This house is larger, located in Blackheath, Griffin Road.

The first house in Kidbrooke will be our selected choice for our outside location. The outside look is very conventional of a house in a slasher film. We will use an establishing shot to denote the house at the beginning of our teaser trailer. 

Ideas For Weapons

As part of our mise en scene, we will want our killer to have a weapon. From deconstructing slasher teaser trailers, I have found that close up shots are often used to denote the killer's weapon. Below, I have documented possible choices of weapons to be used. 

• These are sharp knifes made out of plastic.
• They are suitable for safety reasons.
• The blood conforms to knifes used in films such as 'Scream'.

Alternative Ideas

• The props from Poundland are plastic and therefore may look unrealistic when filming.
• We could use a real knife, but would have to be extremely careful with it.
• For the blood on the knife, we can purchase fake blood and add some onto the knife.

Actor Scouting

Final Girl

Name: Lorna

Age: 17

Why: Stereotypical of final girl e.g. brown hair, braces, innocent looking, quite small in stature so perfect for role. She is attractive and smiley so will fit the part well, much like Sidney in Scream. Acting experience, confident actor.

Boy no.1 (boyfriend of one of the girls)
Name: Fraser
Age: 17
Why: Average height, brown hair, stereotypical teenage boy, young looking

Blonde Girl
Name: Ella
Age: 17
Why: Blonde hair, big blue eyes, nose ring, could look more provocative than Lorna. Has own costume. Slim build. Has previous acting skills. Ella is also very confident, so suits the role well.

Girl (Friend)
Name: Tor
Age: 17
Why: typical teenage girl, mid-length blonde hair, average height, blue eyes, can provide costume. Has previous acting experience. Lives in the house where we are filming.

Boy (Friend)
Name: Gaurav

Age: 17
Why: Average teenage boy, dark hair, slim build, part of the media group already, confident.

Killer

Name: Edgar

Age: 17

Why: Tall - good for killer as this will look more intimidating, doesn't have to speak, has a taller build so more intimidating and appropriate for the killer.

Girl (Friend)
Name: Rebecca
Age: 17
Why: Average teenage girl, average height, brown hair, blue eyes, part of the media group. Has previous acting experience. Very confident. Slim build.

Girl (Friend)

Name: Holly

Age: 18

Why: Stereotypical teenage girl, average height, purple-blonde hair, has acting experience, part of the media group. Confident in front of camera. Slim build.

Costume Ideas

Final Girl costume

• Sidney (Scream)
• She wears simple t-shirts and jeans, still looks very pretty, just not as 'done up' as her female counterpart. 
• She wears basic/minimal makeup 
• Our character could wear her hair down and curly, so it looks natural. 
• Our actor could wear jeans and a t-shirt, maybe a baggy jumper, nothing provocative but also nothing that makes her look like she's from the 1800's.
• She can wear basic makeup, no lipstick or harsh eye makeup, to look as natural as possible.
• E.g.: 

Blonde Girl costume

• Usually more provocative, perhaps shorts and a top, or something more low-cut
• Blonde hair usually seen
• E.g. blonde actress from Cabin In The Woods
• Perhaps more makeup, not over the top though, only a pink shade (not red!)
• Our actress can wear leggings and a crop top, to show of some midriff and skin
• Nose piercing (our actress has one)
• E.g.: 

The Boys

• In TCITW all male actors wear a top, with an open checked or plain shirt over the top
• This is quite American though, and we feel that it would be more appropriate to just wear a t-shirt instead, and it is more appropriate for our age group
• Our actors can wear jeans and a plainish t-shirt
• Perhaps more sports wear, e.g. trainers to make it more casual.
• E.g.:

The Girls

• 'Normal' clothing, e.g. jumpers, t-shirts, jeans, earrings, straight or curly hair, don't make them stand out but don't make them look too plain either.
• e.g. these girls from 'Jennifer's Body'
• Our actors could wear their own clothes that they'd wear on a casual day out e.g. skinny blue or black jeans, a t-shirt and jacket, boots or trainers.
• e.g. 

The Killer

• All black, usually, gloves often worn
• Heavy boots, jacket and trousers
• Sometimes suits are worn e.g. The Strangers
• Mask - sack mask as seen in other blog posts
• e.g. Michael Myers / Jason / The Strangers
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

Light/colours Deconstruction + Attempt

Horror film lighting effects

• Green light is commonly used in horror films e.g. Saw
• The use of green light creates a dirty, grimy effect, which reflects the mise en scene used in the film e.g. dirty settings, rusty weapons/traps and rotten flesh
• Blue light is quite sterile looking and cold. It reminds me a lot of a surgical kind of film, perhaps like 'Pulse'. It adds a clean and precise feel to the look, could perhaps be used for a 'thriller' kind of film and would not be appropriate for a slasher film
• Yellow is used in the film 'The Collector', it reminds me a lot of 'The Texas Chainsaw Massacre'. It could be used to reflect the kind of hot, desert environment e.g. Texas, and amplify the hostile conditions they live in.
• I noticed also in films like 'A Nightmare on Elm Street', the use of a reddish light, reflecting the narrative (Freddy Krueger is burnt alive by the parents of the children, so red is for the flames). 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  My version, using a simple video clip:
  
  

Evaluation

• I really like all the colours, however for our slasher blue will not be appropriate, as it is usually used in more sterile, hospital like films, perhaps The Human Centipede or something of that nature.
• I like yellow also, but am unconvinced that it will suit our film as much as the red might.
• I'm not sure if any of the colours should be used on our film, but it wouldn't hurt to play around with the tints when we come to edit.
• Also, as my clip is just taken in a media lesson, it hardly helps establish the slasher or horror film. I might do this task again when we have some footage to play around with from our actual piece.