Research for CCR question #1

As March 25th approaches, my anxiety levels skyrocket. I still need to refilm a couple clips and wrap up on editing. Anyway, here is the research for my CCR#1

Conventions

• I used suspenseful outdoor shots. The shots were shot outside on a nice day, but twists into a creepy basement shot

• POV : There are POV shots and close-ups. Which immerse the audience/make them feel as if they are in the game

• Jump-Scares : The protagonist gets caught suddenly from behind and is put into a dark/menacing room, which builds tension. Switches from a bright day to the dark room builds tension. Suspenseful music also plays over the scene. 

• Effects : The glitch effects, and suspense sounds create unease in viewers. Similar to found-footage horror films. 

Challenge Conventions

• Despite the film being inspired by a video game, we created the characters from from scratch. I acted as the neighbor and tweaked the outfits. 
• Blend gameplay and film storytelling. Starting with a few seconds of the game on screen before shifting to real life horror. 

Social Groups/Representation of Conflict :

Fear of being watched : The protagonist feels watched/haunted, reflecting scopophobia, or the excessive fear of getting stared at.

Curiosity --> Danger : The protagonist, haunted by his fear, curiously goes to face his fears. But, ends up in a huge conflict anyway. 

CITATIONS:

Rincon, Meenah. “Horror Films: Reflections of Society’s Deepest Fears and Cultural Anxieties.” Horror Films: Reflections of Society’s Deepest Fears and Cultural Anxieties | ASU News, news.asu.edu/20241028-arts-humanities-and-education-horror-films-reflections-societys-deepest-fears-and-cultural. Accessed 9 Mar. 2025.

Martin, G Neil. “(Why) Do You like Scary Movies? A Review of the Empirical Research on Psychological Responses to Horror Films.” Frontiers in Psychology, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 18 Oct. 2019, pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6813198/.

 

Editing Day 2 (and foley)

 Editing Day 2

Today is our second editing day. We are experimenting with different glitch, transitions and blurring out addresses. We also realized we need to take another day to film the neighbor, as I cannot green screen directly from the game. We are utilizing premiere pro as our main software but also iMovie/built in phone editors.

Here, we are blurring out the address/ maybe some visible number plates by using the Gaussian Blur effect. And added tracking to make things easier.

We are also experimenting with different glitch effects. Here, the protagonist, haunted by the spirits of the game, looks to the left scared. The glitches enhance the feeling of unease and make the transition from game to real life. 

As per the sound effects, we gathered them from pixbay, and recorded our own. We recorded gasping noises, footsteps such as walking on grass, concrete, and running too. 

I will add effects over the gameplay footage so that it isn't fully visible on my final opening. Glitches, and camera shaking effects.

   

 Editing Day 1 

Today, we started editing by organizing the footage and, and trimming the unnecessary parts to make the sequence smoother. Since we had to re record most of our clips, trimming them and keeping necessary footage makes adding additional footage/effects easier. 

After organizing raw footage, we removed parts of awkward silence, background direction, and retakes.

Our next step is to film some more footage, if applicable. Then, record the neighbor from the video game, green screen him, and integrate it to bring him in the scene. We will also be integrating foley/sound effects, and adding glitch effects, or color grade to create a feeling of thrill. 

Filming

 Filming Day 1

We were supposed to start filming last week , but I got sick from the flu. So we filmed today outside @Commons. Here are some of the shots we took today.

- We used this building to represent the eerie presence of the neighbor, which will be green screened from the video game. The protagonist, haunted by the neighbor, walks around this area. The protagonist's fear is anticipated here.

- My project partner plays the role of the curious protagonist. Here, we filmed the shots of the protagonist simply walking around he scans his surroundings, unsure of where the neighbor is. Then, turns towards the building so he can face his fear. 

 - This is one of the POV shots of the protagonist looking around for the neighbor. The neighbor will be green screened at this spot. 

Then, we filmed the protagonist running back to the starting point, and hiding near the bushes. But suddenly, the neighbor catches him. Finally, the player is trapped in the neighbor's creepy basement.

WATCH THE CLIPS HERE

 Filming Day 2

Today, I filmed the starting for our opening as I couldn't do it yesterday. I set up a tripod next to my desk, blacked out my curtains for a more creepier look, then started playing hello neighbor. The neighbor saw me, and recorded a closeup shot of the screen. Lastly, a mid shot of me getting haunted by the spirits of the game and falling on my desk. 

Here, we hung up a light blanket to black out the natural light outside. Yes, it made the room dark. This picture was taken with my phone on night mode. 

We are preparing for the establishing shot. 

This is the establishing shot. Its basically me playing the video game. It was one of my favorite shots personally. 

This is the closeup shot of me getting scared by the neighbor. I cringed a couple of times while doing it so we had to retake it a few times. 

This is a pov shot of me staring at the screen. And the neighbor chasing to catch me. I will add effects over the gameplay footage so that it isn't fully visible on my final opening. Glitches, and camera shaking effects.

  WATCH DAY 2 CLIPS HERE

Sound Designing - Production (Week 5 adding to 6)

 Sound Design

In film opening, sounds are as important as visuals. Our film opening is about a video game Hello Neighbor coming to life. Since Hello Neighbor relies on suspense and horror, our film opening will use ambient and distorted sound effects. Hello Neighbor builds suspense by playing loud distorted noise when the neighbor is close and a suspense heart beating/bass guitar music.

Here are some sounds that I may incorporate into my Hello Neighbor Film Opening. 

• Ambient sounds - the game has beautiful visuals
• Distorted noises/ ghost hauls (gets darker when neighbor is close)
• Wind howling
• People talking but gibbrish

• Neighbor's footsteps\
• neighbor's creepy/ angry voice
• Doors creeking

Unlocking Doors.

We could test these by layering the sounds in editing softwares or downloading them from sound libraries.

In the start, the ordinary hello neighbor neighborhood will just be casual, with relaxing sounds. 

When the neighbor approaches us, chases us, then finally catches us and traps us in his house, then the creepy sound effects will be used. Approaching the neighbor's house, we will hear footsteps. When the neighbor gets closer, breathing noises, distort noises and loud hauls will be heard.

Shot List (Week 5 adding to 6)

Shots 

Before filming, we made a list of our shots. 

INSIDE :

1) Establishing shot of protagonist playing hello neighbor

2) Protagonist getting caught by neighbor, then scared

3) Close up shot of video game transition to real life

4) Protagonist (haunted by neighbor) walks near the neighbor's house to face his fear

5) Protagonist sees neighbor but neighbor doesn't see

6) protagonist peeks at window

7) Neighbor sees and starts chasing

8) Protagonist runs away

9) Protagonist hides in bush

10) Neighbor (behind protagonist) catches protagonist and traps in basement

11) (GREEN SCREEN) protagonist trapped in basement, acts scared and confused.

Set Design creation

 Set Design Creation

This is my 3rd production post. We haven't started filming yet so we will look at how we can design the look of floors/ set design creation. Set design creation involves creating stage/floors for plays and films. It is the space where the main characters interact with each other.

For our Hello Neighbor film opening, we will look at the neighbor's house and the different hiding spots there.

House

The house is a casual 2 floor blue house with a good looking yard and a car in front. 

There are good hiding spots in the back of the yard, where the main characters can run from the neighbor.

Inside House/ Hiding Spots 

• The Bedroom - The main character can hide from the neighbor under the bed . If he sees you, he can also go under the bed and catch you.
• In the green and reddish brown cupboard. The main characters can hide there. The neighbor, if he sees, can open it up and still catch us.