DRAMA + HORROR A dive into these Genres!

 Who does not like a little bit of Drama? 

I think we can all agree that sometimes drama can be exciting, the kind of drama you gossip with your best friends that makes you want to go and grab a coffee. Sometimes drama is honestly what keeps our lives so interesting and as my Latin family likes to say it is the “Sazon” what makes things to be more appealing. 

That might just be why the drama genre is one of the next most preferred genres. Drama originated in ancient Greece where it was profoundly enjoyed in theater. The Greek word dran stands for taking action or “to do”. Throughout the centuries it has been able to draw people through the power of storytelling. It is what creates such powerful performances as viewers can captivate the characters' emotions and feelings. 

Drama has a serious tone where it can have more central real-life plots. For example, dealing with tragedy, alcoholism, complicated relationships, friendships and more. This genre tends to take on more tension that affects the audience. This is because in a genre like this one there is more character development and complexities in life that can result in the viewers feeling more connected. 

Drama is a genre I want to consider for my film opening specifically because it can be so relatable and that is what I want my audience to feel. One example of popular movie within this genre is one I recently watched called Anora (2024) based on a young woman who accepts her life for what it is until someone who appears genuine and makes her disconnect from the real world. She allows herself to dream but when reality hits she is confronted with the truth in a slow and painful way. 

 

BOO 👻

The Horror Genre  

Horror is another genre I am very fond of, especially because of how it never fails to keep you at the edge of your seat. Throughout this year I have learned a lot about this genre which is why I feel it could be a promising idea to choose this genre for my film opening since I am more familiar with it. 

Horror goes as far back as the oral traditions of storytelling where it began in true literature and novels in the 1700s. One of them being Horace Walpole's 1764 novel, a gothic story all the way to Mary Shelly's Frankenstein. What makes horror such a popular genre is the love for suspense and thrill that can help emerge each of our brains into another dimension. Captivating our imagination to filled with excitement and thrill. Also, what makes it so exciting is how broad it is ranging from gothic and psychological all the way to slasher and supernatural. It incorporates a variety of elements that create fears and anxieties that keep the viewers coming back for more.

I think it can be an acceptable consideration for my short film as it can create a drive of excitement, to see what happens next. An example of a movie within the horror genre I enjoyed is The Substance (2024) be warned if you watch its gross! I think what I liked was the message it displayed about the commodification of women's bodies and how it intersects with ageism both internally and externally. Especially in today's age where ruthless beauty standards have only inflicted upon young woman and girls more. 

The Beginning of my Cambridge Journey

 Welcome Cambridge!

Developing my idea 

Hi Cambridge! My name is Alessandra Perez and this is the beginning of my cambridge portfolio, where I will begin to post my journey throughout creating my film opening! As excited as I am to have my very own and first film opening, if I have to be honest part of me is scared. Starting this project feels quite intimidating since we have finally reached this point in time. Yet I know with hard work,dedication, and love I will be successful in creating my very first film opening.

Throughout the year we have gone from learning lighting, editing, camera shots and angels all the way to sounds. Now I can finally utilize all of the skills I have learned towards my film opening. Recently we began to learn about studying which approach to make and how to develop a film opening with a purpose.

As I begin to brainstorm I realized the importance of every choice I make, since it is two minutes!!Me and my partner Davis Rop decided we would take a more simplistic and traditional approach because with the experience we have when we over complicate ourselves we tend to lose track of our goal.We began to come up with ideas that would be simple yet creative with the resources, time,limitations and budget we have. 

We really want to focus on the context of our film since that is what we’ll help develop our future choices. This will give us a better idea and understanding of the character we have to develop and what choices to make when editing!

BEHIND THE SCENES Music Marketing Project

 Down below is our behind the scenes for DEATHFLY!

Music Marketing Project

 For this project we were instructed to form a group of around 4 people, we were assigned heavy rock which I have never ever listened too. After listening, I realized that is definitely not my taste in music but I can see how many would enjoy it.It conveys strong messages using loud and astonishing beats and incorporating a variety of intense lyrics.It had a very clear form of self expression with each lyrics holding a significant meaning.

Me and my group came together and did as instructed by dividing up different bands to research and music artists within the genre.I  got Green Day which is an example of a heavy metal band who is created by Billie Joe Armstrong, Mike Dirnt, and later Tré Cool.They began as a local punk band known as Sweet Children.We each gathered research on what heavy rock really was and what it represented. We looked at their music videos to see what kind of visuals, energy, and themes they use.There was epic stage performances and more intense scenes. 

Then, we worked together to create a storyboard, which was super helpful for planning out the shots and scenes. It let us map out the whole video, from the intro to the outro and figure out how to keep it all aligned with the heavy rock energy to help us stay organized and make sure everything looks good for when we film.

Unlike me most of my group members were very familiar with heavy metal so they were able to show me popular and trending songs from the genre today and teach me a little more of there representation.They were able to help guide the structure of the music video, by giving ideas on key points heavy metal bands incorporate.

Overall, with the help of reliable sources and A LOT of listing we were able to plan and research smoothly.

Here is how our storyboard came out!

What really is the Horror Genre?

THE HORROR GENRE

 Horror has grown to become one of my favorite genres, maybe not to watch alone but definitely to watch with friends or family.The adrenaline that fills my body almost feels like going up a tall roller coaster.This is because fear can trigger the release of adrenaline and cortisol, the body's stress hormones. Horror is an intense feeling of fear, shock, or disgust. Which with any type of horror this can occur whether a haunted house, scary costume and when produced successfully a horror film. 

Horror is now the fastest-rising film genre which has grown its market share from 4.87 percent in 2013 to 10.08 percent in 2023. In 2023–2024, horror was the fifth most-watched film genre in the US with its most watched viewers ranging from 15-25. With 52% of men to 46% of women watching.

Some genre conventions that horror films offer are violence and gore to create a sense of shock or surprise within the visuals they use such as blood, open wounds, and bodies.This can lead to fear and paranoia which is what many directors aim for when creating a horror film, trying to get the audience to feel vulnerable, in fear and overall alone.

There is a variety of genre conventions specifically in horror because of the intense reaction they are trying to achieve from their audience.Using Supernatural elements,Psychological Horror, and more. Also, there is a specific way the production and marketing is broken down regarding their institutional convention.Such as, driving their character's to have a stereotypical image to create a specific narrative whether that is making it seem more realistic or cause tension.They also use pop scares/unexpected twists, or unresolved plot twists.

Horror can be complex to market, as the right message may not be conveyed if not in good order.Marketing is usually targeted to teenagers and young adults using teasers, trailers, and suspenseful music to try to drag the audience in by feeling more intrigued.Like many genres word of mouth, and campaign's can also allow for horror to reach a larger population, end up in theaters or streaming channels.

 EX: Hereditary A24 (2018) 

Hereditary is a horror film that dives deep into family issues, showing how trauma and secrets can haunt people. The movie is based on the Graham family as they deal with the aftermath of their grandmother's death, and things get really creepy when they discover dark supernatural forces. With its intense visuals, suspenseful music, and a story that explores mental struggles, Hereditary combines real-life emotions with horror which makes it both disturbing and thought-provoking, which leaves its audience with a eerie feeling.

                                                         

                                                                Fractured 
                                                    (2019) Koji Productions              

 

Fractured is a psychological horror film that is based on a father’s search for his 

missing wife and daughter. It plays with typical horror tropes, like the distraught dad,

 Ray, who goes from protective to completely paranoid. The film uses tense camera angles and creepy sound

 effects to keep the audience engaged. It builds suspense by showing how Ray’s world spirals out of 

control, making the audience question what’s real and what’s not. The marketing focused on creating 

mystery , using trailers that hinted at the film’s twists without giving everything away.

 Overall, Fractured is an example of horror that combines psychological elements, 

making you think twice with a major plot twist.

                                                                                                      

                                        HORROR MOVIES THAT HAD ME ON THE EDGE OF MY SEAT                                                           

Ma (2019) Blumhouse Productions, Wyolah Films

Beau Is Afraid (2023) A24

A24 Production company known for their artistic Horror Films.

The First Omen (2024)  20th Century Studios

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The Black Phone Universal Pictures (2021)

Get Out (2017)  Universal Pictures

It (2017) Warner Bros., Warner Bros. Pictures

Sources:  https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/insights/industry/technology/horror-movie-audience-statistics.html

https://variety.com/2018/film/box-office/horror-movies-study-1202994407/

https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-horror-fiction

Blog posting - Representation

 "Call Me by Your Name," directed by Luca Guadagnino is a super emotional movie about first love. Which takes place in an Italian countryside during the summer of 1983 it tells the story of Elio, a 17-year-old boy and Oliver, a 24-year-old grad student. Their relationship creates themes like desire, identity, and the challenges of love, especially in a time when being different wasn’t as accepted.

Elio, played by Timothée Chalamet  is a thoughtful teen who’s figuring out his feelings. Meanwhile Oliver, portrayed by Armie Hammer is charming and confident he brings excitement and a bit of mystery into Elio's life. The film shows their differences really well using close-up shots of Elio that  capture his inner struggles, while fun group scenes with Oliver highlight his outgoing personality. This mix of personalities makes their connection feel relatable and intriguing.

The beautiful Italian scenery doesn't just want to make you be there, it represents both freedom and limits for the characters. The soundtrack especially Sufjan Stevens’ song "Mystery of Love," adds to the feels, capturing the sweetness and sadness of young love. The music really brings the emotional journey to life  making viewers feel every moment.

In the end, it truly portrays the complexities of love  through Elio and Oliver’s relationship. With its beautiful visuals, the film pulls you in and makes you think about your own experiences with love. It's definitely a must watch for anyone who wants to understand the ups and downs of growing up and falling in love or just likes romance movies.

Blog posting - Sound

 

For the sound project we were instructed to create a soundscape that tells a story within a 1-2 minute timeframe. We needed to brainstorm a scene, outline the sounds we would use, and then edit these sounds together to create a organized idea. The project required us to limit ourselves to only seven words spoken throughout the scene, focusing on how sound alone could convey the plot.

During brainstorming, me and my partner started by brainstorming different scenes that could fit within the 1-2 minute limit. I focused on everyday scenarios that had clear auditory elements. Once we settled we decided on fire drill, me and my partner created a detailed outline that specified each sound I planned to include and how it would contribute to the overall narrative. For editing, me and my partner used IMovie which allowed me to layer sounds and adjust volumes easily.

I successfully accomplished my project by finding high-quality sounds that really captured the urgency and atmosphere of a fire drill. From the blaring of the alarm to the sound of footsteps and the murmur between the students which I created. The combination of elements immersed one in the experience  therefore it captured the idea of what I wanted to achieve a school fire drill.  

However, I realized that the overall soundscape felt a bit chaotic. While the loud sounds added to the intensity of the scene some layers overlapped too much, making it difficult to follow the fire drill scenario. In future projects, I could improve this by focusing on balancing the sound levels more carefully and ensuring that each sound is distinct. Also, using the concept less is more, so that the overall project isn't chaotic. This would allow listeners to grasp the scene more clearly without feeling overwhelmed.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Zx12AepGDoRporLqee2FfqqhO_Bp_E1H/view?usp=sharing