Storyboarding is one of the essential parts in developing and creating a film. To us, this was incredibly important as one of the conventions of horror films is to be fast paced and intense. We also want our piece to be aesthetically interesting, with one of our unique selling points being unusual shot angles. The structure of this is something we hope to follow closely but we are prepared to be lenient and make changes that may occur due to limitations, new ideas or changes that are unavoidable.
For the music of our trailer, we chose to create a soundtrack rather than try to find something copyright free. We looked at different pieces of film music from horrors:
What makes this soundtrack ideal for a horror film is that it plays on the link between music boxes and children. With the discordant music, it makes for a chilling piece. As the bass line comes in, the music picks up pace and creates the sense of a chase. The rising intonation in areas builds further tension and prepares the audience for something to happen.
As one of the most memorable pieces of film music, Jaws certainly builds tension. The use of low strings that pick up speed and the addition multiple layers creates a sense of something large and ominous approaching closer and closer to cause danger.
Another legendary piece of music, what makes the theme from Psycho so effective is the use of jarring, high-pitched strings. It is simple but creates an unnerving atmosphere and a fast, dramatic pace.
The theme from Halloween uses a simple, repetitive piano tune throughout with heavy bass and what sounds like a shaker to create a fast speed and dissonant melodies. If anything, the shaker sounds almost like a clock ticking, and some may feel therefore that it imitates a concept of time running out.
However, what was also noticeable was the lack of music in trailers.Instead, they employ the use of diegetic sound, single bass chords and sound effects to build the tension and set the pace. They are often timed to enter with cuts between scenes or moments where something dramatic occurs. Good examples of these effects can be seen in the trailers for The Forest, The Pyramid, and Paranormal Activity The Ghost Dimension:
