Planning Film Opening - Main Influences - Insidious

Firstly, I chose Insidious due to it using many conventions of the horror genre which inspired me to make my film opening similar to it. For example, the mise-en-scene used were dim lighting, which makes an eerie atmosphere by (using Barthes enigma theory) using the hermeneutic code which does not give a clear storyline which then makes the audience wonder what will happen next, therefore they will want to watch more. In my film opening, I will include dim lighting by filming in the dark and using candles to give a little light and create a tense and frightening atmosphere. Using Barthes enigma theory, my aim was to mainly use the symbolic and proairetic code to symbolise the danger which was about to commence and therefore making the audience want to watch more.

In addition, the location is at a house, which I will also be doing in my film opening as my storyline is a stereotypical teenage horror/thriller genre movie, which includes sleepovers and death. Houses are also a stereotypical location for psychological thriller films as it seems more realistic to the target audience watching and therefore take more interest into it. Using Barthes Enigma Theory, the proairetic code is used, which builds tension and refers to an action or event that may occur, which then makes the watcher want to watch more. This code also works with the hermeneutic code to develop the story's tensions to keep the watcher interested. However in my film opening, I will be using a low angle point of view shot on the house, whereas this trailer for Insidious just uses a point of view shot and shows a wider image of the house.
Also, both Insidious and my film opening are set in modern times (21st century), which is shown in Insidious by the modern house at 1:33, whereas old fashioned houses were made of straw roofs and wooden beams. This helps the film be sold at a wider scaled audience and the film itself will seem more realistic, therefore the target audience watching will be feared more which is the main aim of producing a horror/thriller genre film.

Moreover, the editing used are fade-in's, fade-out's with credits at 1:30-3:42 which are used at a slow paste to create tension and blackouts were used to maintain the tension and make the audience watching wonder what will happen next (proairetic code) at 1:27-1:30. Also, a few fast cuts were used when showing the main title with the use of loud non-diegetic sounds of screeching violins and heavy drums at 1:20-1:27. This is another key convention of the horror/thriller genre as loud music and fast cuts are used to frighten the audience and make them jump. Insidious used this to then show their title after is and make it zoom in a little towards the audience to make sure that the audience will remember the film as it is frightening and the text and font used is dark but old fashioned, with the colour blood red to connote danger, anger and lust.

Furthermore, the cinematography used were close up shots at 2:45 of a woman sleeping. Close-ups are used to emphasise the characters emotions and makes the audience sympathise with them. However at 3:35 in the Insidious film opening, the close up is used to focus on the woman sleeping to distract the audience from other events that may spoil the storyline or may occur in the future. In addition, another close up shot is used at 3:30 to show a portrait image of a happy family, whom are stereotypically victims in horror/thriller films because they're more sedimental and therefore more likely to be vulnerable when an event occurs. However in my film opening, I will be using two teenagers as my main victims as the story plot includes them playing with tarot cards and facing their dreadful fait. 

















Also, medium shots are used to give the viewer a partial view of the scenery within the house, which is also used with a point of view shot as if the audience themselves are walking around the house (which is also shown by the use of panning used at 0:37-1:20).





Using Young and Rubicam's 4C's model, Insidious is aimed at the strugglers due to them seeing themselves as victims whom seek escape, therefore they tend to watch more sic-fi and horror movies. They are ranked E/D audience as people whom are ranked C and above are the succeeders and explorers whom are people who tend to be driven by discovery and have a strong goal orientation and are more organised. They also tend to watch things such as documentaries and films based on real life stories such as war or period films. Therefore in conclusion, my horror/thriller film The Sleepover will be aimed at the strugglers due to them being the main target audience when it comes to producing horror/thriller films. 
Using the GEARS model, my film wouldn't be ideal for young children as they will be too scared and horror genre films are too graphic, whereas elderly people will find it boring as it's not realistic and prefer to watch documentaries. Therefore my target audience will be aged 15-21.

By Rebecca Harris