Analysis of Shot

1. Describe your shot and identify in what way it could be seen as representing 'horror'.

The shot is a MLS and of a teenage, blond-haired, white female. She is wearing normal and casual clothing which shows her as an average, everyday person. She is in a cupboard that is filled with clothes, alone and half of her face is covered by these pieces of clothing as if she is hiding from someone. With this, you can only see one of her eyes (which looks deep blue and striking) looking up at the camera. We can see vulnerability of this character because of this and because of the terrified and lonely expression on her face. Also, with the flood of light, we get the impression that the killer has just opened the door and has found her. The character is also holding a weapon in her right hand ready to try and defend herself from this person which shows her as brave but we begin to doubt that she can fight back. This shot represents horror as it shows the theme of isolation and as we predict that the young and innocent victim is about to be killed, the darkness and deathly concept of the genre 'horror' is shown. Also, there is an air of mystery as we cannot see the person opening the door of the cupboard and from just looking at the victim's face, we can see fear and misery as her fate is decided.

2. What did you actually do to achieve the effect?

To achieve the effects of this shot, we positioned the camera on the tripod and adjusted it facing right the way down to make it seem as if it was from the killers point of view and to add to the vulnerability of the victim looking up at the camera. To achieve the effects with the lighting, we used a paglight and had it partially open to make it seem as if the door has just been opened and the light from the room has flooded in and is putting an almost spotlight on the victim in making them the main focus. The reason for having the lighting partially open was also so it was not too bright and to achieve the dark shadows on the left hand side of the cupboard.

3. What is successful about your shot?

What I think is most successful about this shot is the way that the camera is positioned looking down on the character showing the difference of power and strength between the killer (whose point of view we can experience) and the victim looking up in pure terror. Also, the covering of the face and only exposing one half and one eye of the character shows her innocence and just from looking at this shot, we seem to feel sorry for this character as we can guess that what will happen next will be gruesome and violent. I also like the distance between the camera and the actor as we get to see from the killers eyes and it looks like a realistic balance of height. In addition, with the woman holding a weapon in her hand, she seems even more vulnerable as she seems physically unable to fight back with her being at a lower angle than the man/woman standing over her.

4. What would you do in hindsight?

In hindsight, there are a few things that I would change about this shot. Firstly, there is too much clutter in the cupboard with an extreme amount of clothing and i think that it takes too much away from the actor who is meant to be the main focus point. Also, if I was to shoot this again, I would think more in terms of costuming as i think the character would look even more innocent in possibly a nightie as it would also show how she is in her own home and her privacy has been invaded and how she has been taken unaware by what has happened. Finally, i think we could have had even more of a shadow in the shot to add to the dark and twisted storyline and to show even more, the genre of 'horror' which we have tried to represent.