Character Profiles

Character Profile: Zombie (Applies to all)

Appearance: Blood sodden, withdrawn eyes, brow will be quite predominant. Ripped/torn clothing, scratches, exposed wounds/flesh.

Likes: Blood, flesh, anything cannibalistic.

Strengths: Strong in numbers, can infect other living creatures, nimble, ignores pain.

Weaknesses: Slow, prone to falling, good blow to the head is a killer, thin flesh (easily tear able)

Additional Notes:

Quickly over run the globe with the ability to infect others with a scratch or bite, Antagonists of the entire plot. Without these guys, there would be no film. Stronger in massive numbers, one or two zombies are no threat compared to hundreds.

Character Profile: Joey
Name: Joseph William Marshall         
Age: Mid teens
Gender: Male
Hair:  Styled Blonde
Build: tall, weedy, slim
Typical Clothing Style: Casual
Skills/Talents: Fast runner, quick thinker, jokey funny
Weaknesses: not strong, can’t lift much
Fears: The Unknown, Death
Philosophy of Life: Don’t look Back 
Attitude Toward Death:  Fears it
Religion/Beliefs: Atheist
Place/Type of Residence: Housing estate
Occupation: N/A
Place of Work: N/A
Past Occupations: N/A


Additional Notes

Main Protagonist of the story, and is the only character to survive the full film (start to finish). The film follows the new experiences for Joey throughtout this Abomination.

Character Profile: Mikey

Name: Mikey Herbert
Age: Mid Teens
Gender: Male
Hair: fair
Build: Weedy, tall
Typical Clothing Style: Casual
Skills/Talents: fast runner
Weaknesses: No navigation skills
Fears: the dark/Night
Philosophy of Life: Unknown
Attitude Toward Death:  Unknown
Religion/Beliefs: Atheist
Place/Type of Residence: Housing estate
Occupation: Student
Place of Work: N/A
Past Occupations: N/A


Additional Notes:

First Character to be seen as a Zombie, and helps create the plot for the entire film.

Character Profile: The Farmer

Name: Fletcher Fitzgerald III
Age: Mid teens, going on 20’s
Gender: Male
Hair: fair brown, longish
Build: Broad, tall
Typical Clothing Style: Workers clothing
Skills/Talents: Knows how to run a farm, handle weapons such as rifles, and pitch forks.
Weaknesses: Afraid of heights,
Fears: Horror Movies
Philosophy of Life: ‘Something good will come along, one day...’
Attitude Toward Death:  doesn’t want to die quite yet.
Religion/Beliefs: Christian
Place/Type of Residence: Farm House
Occupation: Farmer
Place of Work: Farm
Past Occupations: Paper Boy


Additional Notes:

This particular character doesn’t last very long in the story, but plays a crucial part to the first two minutes...

Dawn of the Dead opening sequence analysis

Zombie make up, contacts and costumes.

For our film we're going to need to make, at least our main Zombie "Mikey", LOOK like a Zombie, White contact lenses, lots of fake blood, ripped clothes and cuts. If you look at some of our posts from the beginning of the blog that relate to makeup and you'll see some of the other ideas we want to try and use in our films.

Possible film distributors

These are Film companies which release Horror Films and look at Indie movies, perfect for a film made by student, unknown to the world of Film. Information was taken from the Distributors pages and "Dead Harvey".

Brain Damage Films - http://www.braindamagefilms.com/
"Brain Damage Films is a full service film label and production company dedicated to selling and creating the best indie horror films in the industry. We distribute films world-wide and domestically via all formats which includes, but not limited to: DVD/Broadcast/VOD/Internet/Retail/Rental. Please inquire via the email link below if you have a film in search of distribution. Send contact information, trailer and press kit and if we are interested we will reply with an address in which to send your film. At this time we are not accepting screenplays, unfinished films or assisting with finishing funds. Thank you for your continued support of independent film."

Darclight (division of Arclight) - http://www.imdb.com/company/co0129196/
"Darclight is a division of Arclight and they're devoted to showcasing the best in the horror, thriller and action genres from around the world. Formed in 2004, the Darclight banner encompasses a wide variety of genres including horror, thriller and action feature films, with recent successes being the horror films "Wolf Creek", "Perfect Creature" and "Snoop Dogg's Hood of Horror". They tend to deal with bigger budget films that have run or will run the festival circuit, but you never know. If you go to their site there, they have all the contact information you'll need to get in touch with their head of acquisitions."

Unearthed Films - http://www.unearthedfilms.com/
"Unearthed Films is a little tougher to get distributed through, as they're also into securing rights to Asian films and old, forgotten horror movies, but they will look at your film. They've released some indie films, such as: "Bone Sickness", "Nails" and "City of Rott". It's "the brainchild of a group of hard-core cult film enthusiasts who intend to blow the lid off of the DVD industry as we know it. Setting their sights on rare underground horror films, lost animated gems and psychotic action films, Unearthed Films is making a dramatic impact in the North American DVD market." They can be contacted at heneverdies@aol.com"

Viideo Of Dexter title Sequence for Michael Herbert's Title Sequence Research

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LUzJAsa-gg - Dawn of The Dead
Dawn of the dead is a zombie film where everything is literally changed over night. The virus hits and classically no one knows why, how, etc. This is similar to our film in that out central protagonists don't know of the virus or how its infection spreads until they encounter it.
Reviews: "When the announcement was made that Universal were "re-envisioning" George A. Romero's zombie horror classic Dawn of the Dead, it seemed ill-advised (and faintly sacrilegious). After all, remakes quite frankly suck, right? Well, not always. In fact, against all the odds, this gruesome, dark, relentless flick can take its place alongside the likes of John Carpenter's The Thing and Scorsese's Cape Fear in the remakes hall of fame." - Rotten Tomatoes
Ratings 6.7/10

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=071KqJu7WVo&feature=related - Zombie Land
This film is a brilliant Zom-Com, the "Best Zom-Com since Shaun Of the Dead" as stated by reviews for the DVD release. This film is set in a post zombie apocalyptic world where Zombies still reside and hunt down the living and the four Protagonists are doing their best to survive in Zombie Land.
Rating: 7.4/10
Review: "Very funny, often thrilling and full of neat little touches that should make it entirely rewatchable, Zombieland sees Fleischer join the ranks of directors - Romero, Wright, Raimi, Snyder - whose first films aren't just zombie films, but great films." - Chris Hewitt


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUFjHjU0bK8 - Zombies Of Mass Destruction
Zom-Com based in a stereotypically racist suburb of America, The community turn against each other, the Church blames the Gays, the protestants blame the Muslims and they all think the Iranian is the cause. Good fun comedy where all the guys you want to die, cop it.
Rating: 6.1/10
Review: "Certainly not on the scale of a Romero, but at least these filmmakers paid some attention in zombie class." - Scott Weinberg

Title Sequence Research: Michael Herbert

Film ratings research 15 - R18

15 – Not suitable for anyone under the age of 15
Films classed as 15 must as a whole not endorse discrimination in any circumstances but can include it; they can show drug use but must not promote or encourage the misuse of illegal substances; however they cannot show the misuse of easily accessible or dangerous substances such as aerosols or solvents. Strong horror content is allowed as long as they are not sadistic or sexualised. Easily accessible weapons must not be glamorised but dangerous behaviour is allowed as long as it doesn’t dwell on suicide or self harming as this is classed as something that could be imitated if shown in full. Violence may be strong but should not go dwell on inflicting pain or injuries, strong sadistic or sexual behaviour is not allowed.
There may be frequent use of strong language (for example, ‘fuck’). The strongest terms (for example, ‘cunt’) may be acceptable if justified by the context. Aggressive or repeated use of the strongest language is unlikely to be acceptable. Nudity is only acceptable if there isn’t strong detail involved such as sexual encounters.
No theme is unacceptable as long as the treatment meets the criteria that it is acceptable for a 15 year old.
18 – Not suitable for anyone under the age of 18
In line with the consistent findings of the BBFC’s public consultations and The Human Rights Act 1998, at ‘18’ the BBFC’s guideline concerns will not normally override the principle that adults should be free to choose their own entertainment. Exceptions are most likely in the following areas

Where the material is in breach of the criminal law, or has been created through the commission of a criminal offence. Where material or treatment appears to the BBFC to risk harm to individuals or, through their behaviour, to society – for example, any detailed portrayal of violent or dangerous acts, or of illegal drug use, which may cause harm to public health or morals. This may include portrayals of sexual or sexualised violence which might, for example, eroticise or endorse sexual assault. Where there are more explicit images of sexual activity which cannot be justified by context. Such images may be appropriate in ‘R18’ works, and in ‘sex works’ (see below) would normally be confined to that category.
In the case of video works (including video games), which may be more accessible to younger viewers, intervention may be more frequent than for cinema films.
Sex works are works whose primary purpose is sexual arousal or stimulation. Sex works containing only materials which may be simulated are generally passed as ‘18’. Sex works containing clear images of real sex, strong fetish material, sexually explicit animated images, or other very strong sexual images will be confined to the ‘R18’ category. Material which is unacceptable in a sex work at ‘R18’ is also unacceptable in a sex work at ‘18’.
R18 – Restricted 18: can only be shown in specially licensed cinemas.

The ‘R18’ category is a special and legally restricted classification primarily for explicit works of consenting sex or strong fetish material involving adults. Films may only be shown to adults in specially licensed cinemas, and video works may be supplied to adults only in licensed sex shops. ‘R18’ video works may not be supplied by mail order. The following content is not acceptable:
• any material which is in breach of the criminal law, including material judged to be obscene under the current interpretation of the Obscene Publications Act 1959
• material (including dialogue) likely to encourage an interest in sexually abusive activity (for example, paedophilia, incest or rape) which may include adults role-playing as non-adults
• The portrayal of any sexual activity which involves lack of consent (whether real or simulated). Any form of physical restraint which prevents participants from indicating a withdrawal of consent
• The infliction of pain or acts which may cause lasting physical harm, whether real or (in a sexual context) simulated. Some allowance may be made for moderate, non-abusive, consensual activity
• penetration by any object associated with violence or likely to cause physical harm
• Any sexual threats, humiliation or abuse which does not form part of a clearly consenting role-playing game. Strong physical or verbal abuse, even if consensual, is unlikely to be acceptable.
These Guidelines will be applied to the same standard regardless of sexual orientation.


All research has come of http://www.bbfc.co.uk/ and most of it has been re-worded but all of it follows the same guidelines that is on the above website.

Film Ratings Research U-12a/12

U – Universal
A film with the “U” rating has very strict limitations to what can be shown in it.
There must be a very sensitive treatment for the film and no reference to illegal drugs or any discriminative language towards any ethnic or religious background.
It should also be aimed at four year olds as they reach the general age to start imitating what they see and will interpret what they see as a general way to act or attempt to copy.
Films under this rating should have only natural nudity if not any and there should not be any nudity under any circumstances. These films cannot also have any material that may make children anxious or upset. Although we cannot interpret what will upset a child a film rated U must follow these very strict guidelines and must have no bad language or very in-frequent mild bad language.

PG – Parental Guidance
A PG film is a film that can be watched generally by kids unattended but that should be at the decision of the parents or guardian as there may be material that could be found offensive.
Any discrimination is only acceptable in an anti-discriminative message or way; this is also the case with illegal drug references as they may only be used in anti-drug messages. In the PG film any violence or horror scenes must be very short and not prolonged over a certain time limit.
Bad language may only be mild but can be used so much to an extent.
There must not be any sexual content in a film with this rating.

12a/12
12a and 12 films have exactly the same criteria the only difference is that 12a is a rating for cinema-based films and 12 is a rating for buying and rentals.
Any person under the age of 12 cannot view these films as there content is too explicit and may be harmful or offensive.
The treatment must be suitable for young teenagers but the theme must be mature.
Sex scenes and nudity must be very brief and discreet.
Any suicide or murder scenes must not be in detail as this can be considered as imitable material and is seen as inappropriate. Any drug use must be infrequent and not be seen as glamorous or have any instructional use.
Any disturbing sequence is not accepted but physical or psychological threat is ok.

Logo Idea From Cool text: generated image

Image by Cool Text: Free Graphics Generator - Edit Image

Conventions of a horror document

Risk Assessment

Treatment FULL FILM

Treatment (Updated 11/04/11)

Whole film: ZOMG

Target audience: 15 – 20 year olds, males.

The certificate of the film is a 15, so that is the age and upwards of people we are trying to appeal to. Males will watch this film more than females because males like Zombie films more.
The film appeals to Young males but over the age of 15. Other films like this one:
28 days later...
dawn of the dead ...



The film opens to a small group of characters inside a woods looking for a missing person.

The characters find the missing person has become a zombie, which then attacks them and the numbers, obviously, multiply as others are infected. The film then goes to the opening sequence.

After the sequence the plot turns to a character in York twenty four hours earlier, before z-day. The film will quickly play over the day with interruptions every so often of “breaking news” screens, interrupting the actual film until this characters plot is revealed and the story focus transfers to Joey. The opening ten to fifteen minutes will show the normal lives of the characters before they ultimately are separated. After a while trying to encourage help from the police who are all “busy” and the other emergency services (where the lines are busy). Giving up on the authorities they decide to search for their friends themselves, finding much of the city to be “quiet”  they decide to go to the river near Mikeys house where they used to play as children where the story first started and the owner of the land (the farmer) helps them search.

After the story is resumed from the opening sequence the characters are seen fighting the zombies, where it is assumed they were eaten and became zombies. The characters are seen searching the streets to find someone to tell, to spread the news to the authorities and the armed forces, finding no one on the streets they enhance further into the town and focus on searching for their relatives.

Roaming the streets they begin to hear sirens coming from the centre of town, as they near the fire engine they see it is wrecked and the sound has gathered surrounding zombies, who upon hearing Joey and Harry behind them begin to turn and chase them, some running at great speed to assault them. After escaping the characters realise loud noises attract the creatures and decide to travel the back alleys to reach their separate destinations, as they travel together through the alleys they hear a woman crying for help, they find her and try to quiet her before the zombies arrive, upon finding her they realise its too late as she’s surrounded and they stand helpless as they watch her pulled apart by the zombies, a child found crying hiding behind a bin near the woman is found by the characters, Joey lifts the girl and carries her on his back.

As the three characters find their houses they realise their families are dead, the houses are burning and zombies are screaming and groaning from inside. They proceed to the police station which is barricaded and riot shields are nailed with wood to the windows. The police are taking in survivors and using the helicopter to transport them to the hospital and “secure facilities” as they are told by the superintendant who lets them in, however after entering the four policeman (inc. The superintendant) are the only survivors, they have been driven mad by the zombies, ensuring their own survival by slaughtering the other policemen and eating their flesh (the irony being they are avoiding becoming zombies, by acting as them).

Joey and the child escape on the helicopter used by the “police” to “bring in” their next meal but Harry is shot and killed by the policemen and Joey is shot and severely wounded, hiding his wound from the child as they take the helicopter away to a hospital further south where the infection has yet to spread. He manages to fly her there and ensure her safety before succumbing to blood loss and collapsing as the hospital staff try to save him. The camera cranes up from the shot of his body to reveal the carnage spreading slowly from the north to the south of England. The credits roll. 

Shot list

SHOT LIST
The film opens to a long low angled shot of Joey, Harry and the Farmer walking
medium shot of Harry in the foreground with Joey visible over his left shoulder as they talk to the farmer
shot over Harry’s left shoulder from behind him
close up of the farmers face
medium long shot of Harry,Farmer and Joey
low angled shot of the characters faces as they stare into the blood
zooms in on them then changes to the image of the blood on the floor and zooms into it, following the trail to mikey and pausing for a second.
The shot reverses over Mikeys shoulder, showing the blood from his mouth and the blood stain on his shirt
low angled shot of mikeys face over harrys right shoulder.
long shot from behind the zombies showing the characters are surrounded by them.
close up of the farmer
medium shot from waist of farmer
shot from the end of the barrel of his gun as he aims at the zombies.
shot changes to show the zombies running to assault him
It then changes to a shot from their sides as they are running
the camera follows Joeys movement
long shot over his shoulder of the zombies approaching..


Scene Change:
Upwards diagonal panning medium close up tracing the characters movement as he goes to the table
medium close up of character at table
Extreme Close up of character sat at the table with drink

Ideas for our soundtrack

This is the song Square Enix denied our use of. And the songs below we wont be using either, these are just songs were using as inspiration for our film soundtrack which we will be recording soon.

Music problems

After getting into contact with Square Enix. They've told us we aren't allowed to use the song "Black Water" In our film, they were very insistent...
So we're going to record our own music for the film in Toms home studio and then add it in later after recording.

Relocation, Relocation, Zombies

The location may be moved to Hesley wood Scout Activity centre with their permission as it is larger and much better for our purpose as you cant hear any motorway noise or excess from anywhere else.

Z-Day opening Sequence

This opening uses music which is not our own, we're going to replace this with our own recorded music when possible.
This sequence was made on Live type and Final cut pro using inbuilt animations and combining them, tweaking them a bit to fit the style I was influenced by S7even, very noticeable in the font and affects.

Photograph of Location: Thorpe hesley

(Research into Genre) Common Conventions of a horror, found at http://www.slideshare.net

Codes And Conventions Of A Horror - Presentation Transcript

1. Codes and Conventions of a Horror
2. Example of Horror Films
   • “ Psycho”- Psychological
   • “ The shining”- Psychological
   • “ The exorcist”- Religious
   • “ Wolf Creek”- True story
   • “ The Decent”- Monster/Gore
   • “ Saw”- Psychological- gore
   • “ Texas Chainsaw Massacre”- Gore
3. Horror film
   • Horror Films are unsettling films designed to;
   • Frighten and panic
   • Cause dread and alarm
   • Invoke our hidden worst fears
   • Captivate and entertain us in a cathartic experience.
   • Often conclude in a terrifying shocking Finale.
4. Fears created by horrors
   • For different types of audiences it can deal with our fears;
   • Nightmares
   • Our vulnerability
   • Alienation
   • Revulsions
   • Terror of the unknown
   • Fear of death
   • Loss of identity
   • Fear of sexuality
5. Characters
   • There's always a lead character, that often results as the survivor in the film.
   • The Killer/ monster often has a trademark characteristic in the way he kills, for example the people he kills or the weapon he uses to kill them.
   • Its usually good against evil, the two characters conflict.
   • The outcome is the good person always survives, or defeats the “bad guy.