The purpose of this report is to
get pitch ans sell
the idea to producers to get the film made, according to myreaserchmore females are into thrillers than
horror but the generalstatiocsticsstate that horror has much more
viewers that thrillers. My short film idea wasinflunecedby the moviedeilveris from evil which wasrelseadin 2014 and has a rating of 6.2 which
is over the normal average of 5.0 and has quite a lot ofvieweswhich is around 50,689 viewers on it.
The budget for my short film is £50 which covers my cost for both props and
transportation and for equipments
it will becovererdby my school because we are allowed to
borrow equipments
for my short film.
Film Synopsis
MY short film idea: A young
boy of 14 watches an horror movie as he puts off all the lights he sees someone
in the darkness he switches the light on one is there and he does the same and
gets the same result he leaves the light on but as he goes into his room the
light goes off and his door gradually opens and as he looks up he sees the
figure of a young boy in the darkness the boy walks close to his bed he gets up
to switch on the light and the boy is not there someone taps him he looks back
it’s the boy with blood in his hands and gets flash backs of himself killing
the boy.
Tagline: You haven't seen
true evil
HOOK: the twist is the strange
character seen by the man
TWIST: he sees the boy beside her
with blood on his hand.
My idea was influenced by deliver
us from evil the movie gets very intense as the charters think they are
actually been chased by a demon.
Film Rating
If theBBFCwas to regulate my short film they
would give it a rating of 12 mainly because of the jump scares and that it is
horror.
What sort of violence can I expect
in a 12A or 12?
At 12A, moderate violence is
allowed but it should not dwell on detail. There should be no emphasis on
injuries or blood, but occasional gory moments may be permitted if they can be
justified by their context (for example brief sight of bloody injury in a
medical drama).
Action sequences and weapons may be
present at 12A or 12, and there may be long fight scenes or similar. Weapons
which might be easily accessible to 12 yearolds(such as knives) should not be
glamorised in 12A and 12 works.
Sexual violence, such as scenes of
rape or assault, may only be implied or briefly and discreetly indicated at 12A
and 12. Such scenes must also have a strong contextual justification.
Can horror films be passed 12 or
12A?
Yes, some horror films are passed
at this category. Moderate physical and psychological threat is permitted at 12
or 12A as long as horror sequences are not too frequent or sustained and the
overall tone is not disturbing.
I have looked at their profiles and
the videos they watch and noticed that they are more into thrillers than horror
and because of these I am planing on making a thriller instead of horror as it
also creates suspense and gives out a lot of jump scares as well.
Also throughout the videos and
horrors onyoutubei found that thrillers have a lot more
views than horror showing that people are more interested in thrillers than
horrors so based on this findings I am going to be making my video a thriller
sequence.
Also due to my research i have also
found out details people will like to see in thrillers and intend to add them
as well in other to make my thriller sequence more interesting and intriguing
to viewers. Effects such as flashbacks and flash forwards will be used more
frequently and few of other alternative techniques such as montage especiallyintellectivemontage will be used in other to let
the viewers think and connect the dots to work out and find out what is
actually going on.
Secondary Research
With my secondary research i have
found out that the trend in horror short films is that there is always a
supernatural being been portrayed that attacks the human and due to this i have
picked it up and decided to include it in my idea. I have also picked my idea
from deliver us from evil which is a horror story that is very close to reality
as it shows people been possessed by demons and there are various events of
people been actually possessed by demons in real life.
Summary of all research (conclusions)
In summary of my research i have picked my
idea from deliver us from evil and i have also noticed that thrillers are more
made for females but as we know horror has a higher stats due to that i have
decided to make my short film a touch of thriller and a touch of horror there
will not be gore but there will be quite a few jump scares and all other
thriller techniques. I also found out that short filmsarenttargeted
at the general public but at the distributors at short film festivals who
decide to promote what ever they like in their own area of distribution.
USP
Due to my research I have found a trend in
horror movies that they tend to have a supernatural being such as ghost
attacking human begins making them the weak and they always link the human and
the ghost in the end either the human killed the ghost or the ghost killed the
human and the human gets possessed. Deliver us from evil is a very good example
as most humans get possessed by demons. And based on the selling point of
Deliver us from evil I’m confident that my idea will sell.
. Budget
Due to my short film been based on deliver
us from evil i have seen the stats and the amount of views and the amount it
mad at the box office I amconfidenctthat its going to sell as its going to
attract viewers of those who are or wereintrestedin deliver us from evil and any other
sort of horror movie or thrillers similar to deliver us form evil at the box
office deliver us from evil made 87.9 millionUSD. (https://www.google.co.uk/?gfe_rd=cr&ei=cieYVvTmGOLH8gfs2r3oAg#q=deliver+us+from+evil+box+office)
MY BUDGET for my short film is £50.
£25 - PROPS AND MAKE UP
£25- TRANSPORTATION AND FEEDING OF CREW
FACILITIES- MAC SUITE WILL USE THE ONE
PROVIDED BY SCHOOL
CAMERA KIT ANDLIGHNINIGKIT
WILL BE PROVIDED BY SCHOOL AS WELL.
Revisions and changes/development of idea
A young boy of 14 watches an horror movie
as he puts off all the lights he sees someone in the darkness he switches the
light on one is there and he does the same and gets the same result he leaves
the light on but as he goes into his room the light goes off and his door
gradually opens and as he looks up he sees the figure of a young boy in the
darkness the boy walks close to his bed he gets up to switch on the light and
the boy is not there someone taps him he looks back it’s the boy with blood in
his hands.
Locations
LOCATIONS: the location for my short film
is just going to be a room.
Regulation & Certification
in the United Kingdom the film regulation
body is theBBFCandOFOCOMand they mainly regulate movies and
series which are going to showncinematicallyand onDVD'sdue
to that theBBFCorOFCOMaren't going to regulate my short filmbecuseit
is not going to showncinematicallyrather its going to be shown at film
festivals andBBFCdo not regulate series. But if my
short film was going to be regulated by theBBFCthere would probably give it a rating
of about PG12. My short film is also going to air on you tube.
Distribution
Now on distributing my short film, my
short film is going to be distributed or shown at short films festivals.
short film festivals are where
distributors go to look at short films and if they are impressed by any they
can pick it up and promote it in their specific world geological area. Also
gaining the maker some sort of reputation and Appleseed for their artistic
work. Also my short film also can be shown onNetflix.
I have drawn the idea of my short film from anhorror movie relsead in 2014 titled deliver us from evil, the story of the movie is that a demon has possessed a particular individual and a preist and a detective have to work together in other to stop the demon and cast him out of this certain individual.The reason i chose this film is because I have seen that most people are into horrors and thriller and to an extent deliver us from evil can be mistaken for a thriller and also for a horror as there are lots of suspence.
Another reason that i have chosen this film is that the official rating is above 5.0 and have 50,689 users and watchers according to IMDb. Due to this I believe that my short film is going to attract a lot of viewers and should have a rating above 5.0 which is the normal average.
Box office and reviews for feature films that have influenced you In the document below we can see that Deliver us from evil made a profit of $87,9565,618 on world wide Box office and also made $4,285,954 on domestic video sales based on this figures I am confident that my pitch which is based on this movie should make a lot of money if it was meant for the purpose of been released in the box office.
New York police officer Ralph Sarchie, struggling with his own personal issues, begins investigating a series of disturbing and inexplicable crimes. He joins forces with an unconventional priest, schooled in the rituals of exorcism, to combat the frightening and demonic possessions that are terrorizing their city.
budgets,
The allocated budget for deliver us from evil was 30 million USD for production which really seems like its a lot but in the media indusrtry it really isn't a lot of money. The budget above literally covers everything from talents to camera men to buying props and cameras itself. My budget for my short film is £50, this covers props, transportation and feeding of crew and talents. I haven't included money for equipments this is because the equipment will be borrowed or signed out from my school, therefore i will not need to pay for equipment's.
In the below document i have highlighted the budget breakdown and cost for deliver us from evil.
‘Deliver Us From Evil’ Delivered $19 Million in Spending to New York State
Horror pic “Deliver Us From Evil” spent more than $19 million in New York state over the course of its 34-day shoot in New York City and on Long Island, according to economic development agency Empire State Development.
Empire State, the org of which the New York State Governor’s Office for Motion Picture and Television Development is a division, touted the contributions to the area economy as the film opens at theaters around the country today. Such numbers, illustrating the fiscal benefits that film and TV production bring to the state, can grease the wheels for enthusiastic local participation as future projects shoot in the area.
“Deliver Us From Evil,” the Jerry Bruckheimer-produced horror pic about a policeman who teams up with a priest to investigate a series of demonic possessions, paid $7 million to New York residents, hiring some 700 cast and crew as well as more than 400 extras. Project also paid $525,000 in state taxes and shelled out significant chunks of change for catering, site fees and hotel rooms.
The “Deliver Us” numbers don’t come close to hitting the blockbuster spending logged by “TheAmazing Spider-Man 2,” but the tallies can nonetheless be tubthumped to show off the rewards of bringing in lower-budget projects to the area as well as tentpoles.
The budget breakdown for deliver us from evil was :
$19million - For locations,
$7 million - crew and talent
$525,000 - Hotel, site fees and catering.
Funding
Funding; most producers get their money from either winning lotteries or taking loans from banks which they will pay back after the release of the film they have produced, some producers have other jobs so they save up until they have enough money for them to actually realise their movie or film while others or most of them go on kick-starter websites in other to get fundings.
https://www.kickstarter.com/
In the above screen grab we can see projects that have been put up by people for kick starters in other for them to get some fundings, we can see the second one is actually for a Tv show to continue which backs up my research that film producers most of them do use kick-starter websites in other to get fundings for their movie.
Below is how to get funded on kick starters:
Question: My company is contemplating a Kickstarter-style fundraising campaign. I’ve seen these kinds of things fail too often. How can I maximize my chances of reaching my goal?
Answer: You’re smart to plan ahead and do the best job possible on your crowdfunding campaign. According to data from Kickstarter.com, one of the oldest and best-known crowdfunding sites, fewer than 44 percent of posted projects are successfully funded, and most of those raise less than $10,000.
Making sure your campaign is appealing from the start—and that it gets seen—is crucial. While 10 percent of Kickstarter projects never receive even a single pledge, projects that raise at least one-fifth of their goal go on to be successfully funded 80 percent of of the time, according to the company.
Your work begins long before your campaign goes live, says Nathan Resnick, founder of Yes Man Watches, who raised more than $32,000 in January and February on Kickstarter to make wristwatches. The University of San Diego finance major started with a $15,000 fundraising goal.
“People underestimate the importance of telling everybody what you’re doing,” he says. “I called media outlets, I activated my network on social media and asked people to share it and tweet about it.” He also made sure that his Kickstarter page provided a prominent, simple way for visitors to share his goal on their own social media sites.
Because he had made early connections at watch blogs and sent them preview links to the Kickstarter site, his funding campaign was mentioned online on the first day it went live, sending him a flood of Internet traffic from around the world.
He was prepared. Three months before he launched his campaign, Resnick says, he began talking up his plans to friends online and offline, so they would come on board with funding and other support right away, giving him momentum out of the gate. He also set up a website, a Facebook (FB) page, and a Twitter (TWTR) account for his company, all featuring attractive photos of his watches. “Pictures are huge—so if it’s a physical product, make sure people can see what it actually looks like and does,” he says.
Ilene Ruvinsky, a co-founder of Don’t Call Me Ma’am, a Seattle skin care company, put time, energy, and funds into a video for her current campaign on Fundable.com. If your video is weak or doesn’t tell your company’s story effectively, “you have lost before you have begun,” Ruvinsky wrote in an e-mail. “Spend some of your own capital to get the help necessary to produce a thoughtful video pitch that showcases your products in a manner that makes them look viable and market-ready.”
It’s also important to set attainable goals. “Know exactly what amount you need for your launch and set goals accordingly,” Ruvinsky advises. “Strive to get the most you can, but keep your goals realistic.”
Resnick calculated how much money he would need to launch his watch brand and produce an initial minimum-order run. “We didn’t want to make the goal out of range by adding in additional costs that might occur later,” he says.
He also didn’t spend a lot. “It almost doesn’t cost anything to launch a crowdfunding campaign. My friend who was an amateur photographer took the pictures and someone at my university shot the video,” he says. Kickstarter’s fee was 5 percent of the total amount raised.
In other to get funded on kick-starters you will have to make your campaign appealing and making sure that it defiantly gets seen because thats what crucial because the more people that see this the more chances of people actually funding. Its also advised to share your campaign on social media to get more views but the mistake some people make is that they share it on their personal profile which is good to an extent but makes you look unprofessional rather create a page for your work so that it looks more professional which will in turn make more people want to actually fund you. Also don't be over ambitious that is asking or requesting for a very high amount which in some circumstances its not achievable also make a good video or profile that explains and gives people reasons why they should fund you.
Film regulation/certification,
In the United Kingdom the film regulation body is the BBFC and OFOCOM and they mainly regulate movies and series which are going to shown cinema and on DVD's due to that the BBFC or OFCOM aren't going to regulate my short film because it is not going to shown cinema rather its going to be shown at film festivals and BBFC do not regulate series and also due to the fact that its going to shown on you tube and Netflix which are internet based servers for films and not Uk only so they don't have the right to but the BBFC have an agreement or partnership with Netflix to give their movies an age rating but not regulate it..
Also because my short film is going to be shown on you tube as well the BBFC won't be able to give it a particular rating because its not going to be shown in the UK only but all over the world.
What does the 12A symbol mean?
Films classified 12A and video works classified 12 contain material that is not generally suitable for children aged under 12. No one younger than 12 may see a 12A film in a cinema unless accompanied by an adult. Adults planning to take a child under 12 to view a 12A film should consider whether the film is suitable for that child. To help them decide, we recommend that they check the BBFCinsight for that film in advance. Watch our video about 12A.
If my short film is reviewed by the BBFC it would expect a 12 as there is no gore and no violence and strong language but due to it been horror there are going to be certain scencs that are frightning to kids espically based on a characters physical appearance this is why it will be given a 12A.
What's the difference between 12A and 12?
The 12A requires an adult to accompany any child under 12 seeing a 12A film at the cinema. This is enforced by cinema staff and a cinema may lose its license if adult accompaniment is not enforced for children under 12 admitted to a 12A film. Accompanied viewing cannot be enforced in the home, so the 12 certificate remains for DVD/Blu-ray, rather than the 12A. The 12 is also a simpler system for retailers. It means they cannot sell or rent the item unless the customer is over the age of 12.
Is there a lower age limit for a 12A film?
No. However, the BBFC considers the content of 12A rated films to be suitable for children aged 12 and over, and we would not recommend taking very young children to see them. Works classified at these categories may upset children under 12 or contain material which many parents will find unsuitable for them.
Adults planning to take a child under 12 to view a 12A film should consider whether the film is suitable for that child. To help adults make this decision, we provide BBFCinsight for all films.
How important is the tone of a film at 12A or 12?
The overall tone of a film or video, and the way it makes the audience feel may affect the classification. For example, a work which has a very dark or unsettling tone which could disturb the audience would be less likely to be passed 12A even if the individual issues in the film were considered acceptable under the BBFC Guidelines. Similarly, if a work is particularly positive or reassuring this may stop it being pushed up a category from 12A to 15.
This is another reason why my short film is a 12A as it is going to make the audience feel scared and have a particular attachment to one of the charters
Will there be uses of strong language in a 12A or 12 work?
The BBFC's Guidelines state that strong language (e.g. 'f***') may be passed at 12 or 12A, depending on the manner in which it is used, who is using the language, its frequency and any special contextual justification. Aggressive uses of strong language may result in a film or DVD being placed at the 15 category. There is some allowance for puns on strong language at this category.
There may be moderate language (e.g. uses of terms such as ‘bitch’ and ‘twat’ at 12 or 12A).
What about discrimination?
Any discriminatory language or behaviour will not be endorsed by the work as a whole. Aggressive discriminatory language (for example homophobic or racist terms) is unlikely to be passed at 12A or 12 unless it is clearly condemned.
Do 12A films contain sexual behaviour?
Sex may be briefly and discreetly portrayed at 12A or 12. Verbal sex references should not go beyond what is suitable for young teenagers. Comedy may lessen the impact of some moderate sex references or innuendo but frequent crude sex references are unlikely to be accepted at this category. There may be nudity in 12A films but nudity in a sexual context should only be brief and discreet.
Sex and sex references are treated the same irrespective of sexuality
What sort of violence can I expect in a 12A or 12?
At 12A, moderate violence is allowed but it should not dwell on detail. There should be no emphasis on injuries or blood, but occasional gory moments may be permitted if they can be justified by their context (for example brief sight of bloody injury in a medical drama).
Action sequences and weapons may be present at 12A or 12, and there may be long fight scenes or similar. Weapons which might be easily accessible to 12 year olds (such as knives) should not be glamorised in 12A and 12 works.
Sexual violence, such as scenes of rape or assault, may only be implied or briefly and discreetly indicated at 12A and 12. Such scenes must also have a strong contextual justification.
Can horror films be passed 12 or 12A?
Yes, some horror films are passed at this category. Moderate physical and psychological threat is permitted at 12 or 12A as long as horror sequences are not too frequent or sustained and the overall tone is not disturbing.
my short film is going to be a non gore horror with moderate and psychological threats to the viewers
What about other issues like imitable behaviour or drugs at 12A or 12?
Dangerous behaviour (for example hanging and suicide) may be present in 12A or 12 works but will not dwell on detail which could be copied or present those activities in a manner that children are likely to copy.
Anti-social behaviour should not be endorsed.
There may be infrequent sight of drugs misuse in a 12A or a 12 but the portrayal should not be glamorised or provide instructional detail.
How can I find out more about a specific 12 or 12A work?
Please check the BBFCinsight for the film or video you are thinking of watching. You may find BBFCinsight on this website or on our free App as well as on film posters, DVD and Blu-ray packaging, and on some listings. You will also find it attached to some film and video content which is available to download. It provides comprehensive information on exactly why a film or video has been given a particular category. All the issues are discussed in detail and parents in particular can use this information to make informed decisions when choosing viewing material for their children.
There are some answers to frequently asked questions about the 12A rating here.
Online platforms for distribution and short film festival:
Now on distributing my short film, my short film is going to be distributed or shown at short films festival. WHAT ARE SHORT FILM FESTIVALS?
A film festival is an organized, extended presentation of films in one or more cinemas or screening venues, usually in a single city or region. Increasingly, film festivals show some films outdoors.[1]Films may be of recent date and, depending upon the festival's focus, can include international and domestic releases. Some festivals focus on a specific film-maker or genre (e.g., film noir) or subject matter (e.g., horror film festivals). A number of film festivals specialise in short films of a defined maximum length.
short film festivals are where distributors go to look at short films and if they are impressed by any they can pick it up and promote it in their specific world geological area. Also gaining the maker some sort of reputation and Appleseed for their artistic work. Also my short film also can be shown on Netflix. also they can be distributed and put up on you tube for the whole world to share in their artistic nature.
Guidance/criteria for writing for a successful short film
filmmaking guide
What Makes a Good Short?
There are no hard-and-fast rules as to what makes a good short film but here are a few tips that might help.
A good script is key to narrative-based short films and in many ways it's harder to write a short than a feature because you need to condense your story and develop your characters in a very short space of time. All too often films are let down by weak, overwritten or underdeveloped scripts. Before investing money, time and effort into shooting your film, it's a good idea to test your script out on friends and strangers (as friends might fear offending you) and get as much feedback as you can. See ourFilmmaking Guide: Writing a Script for more advice & ourRelated Links: Writing for scriptwriting organisations, resources and communities. If you write and direct your own films, it's a good idea to consider where your strengths lie. It's great if you can do both but if you think you're stronger at direction/animation then why not consider collaborating with a talented scriptwriter and see what results come of it?
Good Acting
Unless your friends are actors or demonstrate acting talent, it's a good idea to avoid casting them in your film. Even one bad actor in a film can really let it down and destroy the viewer's belief in the reality that your film is seeking to create. There are lots of great actors out there who are willing to work for reduced fees to learn their trade and make a name for themselves. You can find actors through advertising on the message boards of filmmaking communities (see the Filmmaking Communities Section in ourRelated Links: Filmmaking Organisations & Communities or via online casting sites such as The Spotlight. For more information on finding cast see our Filmmaking Guide: Cast & Crew or see the casting section of our Related Links: Production
High Production Values
Whilst digital filmmaking has had the positive impact of making the process more accessible and affordable, it's important to ensure that you still apply the same production values that you would if you were shooting on film with a crew. Many low-budget shorts are let down by poor sound, lighting, camera work and editing and/or by directors who are trying to do it all by themselves without anyone else's input. Filmmaking is predominantly a collaborative process and it's much better to find crew who are specialising in these areas who can offer different skills. You can use the message boards of filmmaking communities (see the filmmaking communities section in ourRelated Links: Filmmaking Organisations & Communities) to find crew to collaborate with. If you're new to filmmaking, one of the best ways to learn the skills required is to assist on other people's films. Also check the message boards for call outs for volunteers from filmmakers. However if you'd like more formal training you can find out about training or film schools in ourFilmmaking Guide: Training & Development and find links to organisations and resources in our Related Links: Training
Make It Short
As a general rule, the longer your short film is, the harder it is to keep the viewer's attention. This is especially true of online viewing – for instance on Film Network the average time that a viewer spends watching a film is 4 minutes. Note – exceptions to this rule is documentary, which viewers will often watch for longer. Many festivals don't accept short films that are over 30 minutes long; a long film will really have to impress the programmers for them to include it in their screening, as it means they will not be able to show so many films in their short film programme. One filmmaker told us about a film he made that was 26 minutes long. He applied for festivals all over the world and was rejected by them all. A year later he re-cut the film to 10 minutes and resubmitted it. His 10-minute cut was shown at numerous festivals worldwide and was broadcast on a digital channel. Very short films, especially romance and comedies, can be popular with distributors and buyers as they are easier to programme and can be sold to multi-platforms e.g. online, mobile, VOD etc.
Strong Beginning
Most programmers/distributors will be inundated with submissions and so your film has to grab their attention from the very first shot. The harsh reality is that if your film doesn't pique their interest within the first two minutes, in all likelihood they may not sit through it till the end. Don't waste time on lengthy introductions and credits – spark their interest in the story as quickly as you can. Credits at the start can distract the viewer (especially if the direction, production and editing are all by the same person!) so leave them out unless you have it written in an agreement with one of your cast. Similarly if your film starts with a long establishing shot where nothing really happens, viewers may switch off before you get to show them your great plot and idea. If the pace of your film is naturally slow and ambling, make the shots as rich and enticing as possible to draw the viewer in. Note – a good editor can really transform a film. If you're directing and editing your own film you might be too attached to certain shots to know which bits to chop out to make your film a stronger, more coherent piece. In big blockbusters, scenes that have cost thousands or even millions can be chopped if the studio/filmmaker feels that they are not integral to the final edit of the piece.
Avoid Repetition & Punchline Twists
Whilst sometimes a repetitive scene can be used for comedy/dramatic effect (Groundhog Day being a classic example of where this can work), if you are not careful it can end up being repetitive and predictable. Comedy is notoriously difficult to pull off in short films – if you're looking to make humorous shorts then it's a good idea to test your idea on an audience (why not post a short clip on a site like YouTube or MySpace and see what feedback you get?) or to cast your film carefully and get a funny actor. Be careful of one-line gag/punchline films. Some shorts can do this to great success but many often fall flat. If you've got a great punchline twist then consider making it short and snappy as viewers might be disappointed if they sit through 7 minutes for one joke at the end, especially if they've already seen it coming.
Exciting New Techniques & Style
Even an average plot can be made intriguing by an exciting new technique or style - whether it be a new kind of animation, camera work or art direction. Try experimenting and developing your own style. Note – having said that, beware of style over substance.
If a film looks like it has been shot in someones backyard it will look very unprofessional, in order for it to have more professionalism high production values will be require which includes using the right type of camera and also setting it in places that make it look more professional and appealing to viewers.
In all my findings to make a good short film one will have to be able to cut out back stories and make the story short and simple with a hook usually at the beginning and then finally a twist at the end and the most important one of all the person will have to be very artistic and will need to try out new and exciting techniques and style because that what distributors look at for at the short film festivals and it also makes ones work very unique and outstanding.