Sorority House Massacre Deconstruction

Deconstruction of "Sorority House Massacre"

Sorority House Massacre

Long opening credits with tense music building up - 1.17 minutes long
-Picturesque house
-Extremely slow zoom in as credits play
-Credits are sans-serif font
-Creepy, eerie and suspenceful music
-Wind blowing un the trees signifies presence
-White house with all the lights on

When the title of the film appears
-Traditional greek lettering for a sorority
-Then "massacre" is shown with blood-red colour, serif font, blood splatter - Sets the theme of the film
-Futuristic sound effect when "massacre" is revealed, building up tension

Shots/Plot
-Cuts to medium close up of main character in hospital, in the bright daylight
-Shot changes to midshot/2 shot of main character and the new entered character
-Flashback cue
-Creepy, scene setting music begins to play again
-Camera tracks footsteps- Low angle shot
-Door of the big white house is ominous and forboding
-Zooms in on another character sleeping- this hightens tension as footsteps are also heard
-There is a shadow next to the bed; someone is leaning of the character
-Scene cuts to a tracking shot of the empty sorority house - signifies lonliness
-Zooms in on character again; death is imminent
-Camera tracks through dark, creepy hallways
-Cut back to main character, close up to show fear
-Figure in bed
-Scene cuts to main character and new one- mood is lightened temporarily
-Camera looks downstairs, long shot of a girl in the doorway
-Music/atmosphere rises
-Man in the bed wakes up- Extreme close up of his face
-Blood- curdling scream from room- camera zooms out quickly
-Cut to 2 characters in daylight - midshot
-Final shot of little girl again


Effects
-A blue tint may have been used to create a dark effect

Sound
-Tense music throughout to create the illusion that something bad is going to happen
-it becomes fast and upbeat during parts to get the audiences hearts racing

Deconstructing 12A's Microdramas: "Footsteps" - Emily Moore and Charlotte Barraclough

After the credits, the drama is quick to include and establishing shot. which in this case is a tracking, over-the-shoulder shot featuring the possible hero (Charlotte) and the donor (Emily). It also includes two of Propp's archetypes, which the donor gives the hero (or main character) a magical object, which in this case is a necklace. This scene also includes the first stage of equilibrium too, as the outset of the film is established. 


The following scene depicts the main character walking off after being given the necklace, and then three people chasing after her sneakily. This shot features a low/floor mid shot of the villain's feet. This is used to portray a narrative enigma as to who is following the hero, although we do actually find out later on the the film. Throughout the scenes, the creators and editors have used digetic sound, ie only natural sound is used, and it is implemented to create tension and to make the viewer more aware of what is happening between the characters. This part also establishes the second stage of equilibrium, in which a disruption is caused by action. 


The next scenes follow the villains pursuing the main character, and being visible, removing the previously laid narrative enigma. Zooming of the camera lens is also used to add to the tension. A transition is then used to signify a new part in the film, with the possible hero and the helper (Mel) being continuously stalked by Sophie and Faye who are portraying villains, with the probable intent of stealing the necklace from the main character (Charlotte), even though there were 3 sets of feet at the beginning. The mid-shot confirms that the hero knows of her pursuers, upon which they flee, using a medium to long shot, and the equilibrium is resolved. 


The target audience could be anyone who is able to understand the plotline, as there is no graphical content or swearing eg, so I would have thought that a suitable audience could be 11+ would be a suitable audience. Possible inclusions of social implications could involve the way there is a problem with crime in the country at the moment, what with the way Sophie and Faye portray two thieves. Possibly. 

Lessons learned from our Micro Drama

1. Getting organised: It is vital that all the documents etc used in the creating of the Microdrama are readily available, so you now when to shoot, what to shoot and at what time, so everything is made easier

2. Make sure everyone knows what they're doing as to avoid confusion and to ensure you can film without any problems as to who does what

3. How to use a camera, eg videoing, panning, tracking, high shots and low shots etc

4. Make sure your choices for location cause no problems, eg wind blocking out dialogue

5. How to use iMovie to edit, add titles, transitions, sound effects and music

6. Learning to incorporate Propp's archetypes

7. Learning to incorporate Todorov's states of equilibrium

8. Make sure the best actors get the most crucial parts

9. Making sure to include binary oppositions

10. Don't forget to add extras to the video for higher entertainment value