This was the first short film I have created with no experience, but it was an assignment for my AICE Media class. In the film, I was the main actor. The film was about a kid being bullied on his first day of school and the bully getting expelled due to his actions. We had around an hour to make our script and make the film. I do wish we had more time though because we could have made it much better.  

After making the film our teacher played our film three times, twice with sound and once without sound. It was better when we watched it without the sound because it taught me ways of improving any film in the future. In our film the sound on the video for certain parts was bad and disrupted. Some of our scenes could have used better transitioning. Overall though the film was not bad for our first go and we did good on camera work, acting, and storyline 
 

So going back to the films I created with my group members. The first one we filmed could go under the young adult genre. Our first film was called Vengeance. The setting was at school, and I was the protagonist. The film was about a teenage boy who got bullied by a popular kid and then his friend steps in to help him. For camera work we had zoom in and out, pan left/right, wide shots, establishing shot, etc. The second film was similar, the bully wanted the boy to buy him a snack from the vending machine, but some other kid comes in and steps for him. Later, the boy trains a lot and fights the bully, resulting in a win. Our camera work was much better thought because we had learned our mistakes from the previous film. 

My favorite genre was horror because I like the feeling when I get scared, it makes the movie a lot more fun. For our next group film, I would like to make a horror movie. I want to make it thrill so the audience can enjoy it. 

2. Scream’s genre is horror which is normally watched by teenagers.

3. The title sequence displays the movies title in white, before turning to red and smashing into the films opening.

4. The opening shows many upper body shots and close ups as it goes on. Panning is also used to portray the woman’s house.

5. The opening is dialogue-heavy, although sounds like the flames of a stove and a knife being played with can be heard.

6. By the end of the opening, I wanted to know what the man on the phone wanted and what he was planning.

7. The editing featured many cuts and stuck onto the girl for longer than other shots.

8. The opening adhered to conventions because it featured a girl that’s home alone and her being contacted by an unknown person.

9. The opening broke conventions because it featured bright lighting and a generally relaxed atmosphere.

10. The film represented young girls in a way that can be seen as negative because she picks up a stranger’s phone call and didn’t question it.

11. The film was distributed to entertain people.

"The Melodic Maniac" is a perfect title for the film because it aligns with its premise of a serial killer who listens to music while committing murders. The title is also reflective of other films in the horror genre such as "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" and "The Thing."

Two potential taglines for the film are "This next track is to DIE for!" and "Music to be murdered by," both of which pay homage to the cheesy 80's slasher taglines used in films like "Chopping Mall" and "The Prowler."

The target audience for the horror genre is generally teenagers and young adults of any gender who are interested in social media, thrill-seeking, and streaming entertainment. The most popular social media platforms among teens currently are TikTok, Snapchat, and Instagram. Popular games include Warzone 2, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, Fortnite, Dead by Daylight, and Apex Legends. Teens typically hang out in movie theaters, restaurants, or at home and tend to purchase clothing from stores like Urban Outfitters or H&M. For entertainment, teens enjoy playing video games, streaming content, browsing social media, and spending time with friends.

The ten places to advertise "The Melodic Maniac" if self-distributing include TikTok, Instagram, the local mall, Reddit, Tumblr, YouTube, Pinterest, local screenings, local theaters, and local festivals. Hosting a screening of the film can generate word-of-mouth buzz about it, while attending local festivals and speaking with attendees can also persuade others to watch the film on YouTube. An alternate reality game (ARG) can also be an effective way to promote the film, as it sparks audience interaction and rapidly spreads interest in the film.

An ARG would be a highly effective way to promote "The Melodic Maniac" due to its ability to generate audience interaction and quickly spread interest in the film. Various websites and puzzles can be used to engage the audience and create a sense of mystery and intrigue surrounding the film.

As previously stated, I strongly believe that utilizing an ARG would be an incredibly effective method for promoting the film. Past ARGs, particularly the one for "Cloverfield" in 2008, have generated great interest in a film, spreading like wildfire. By creating challenging puzzles on various websites, the audience can engage and share them with others, fueling even more interest in the film and ultimately captivating those who may have been initially disinterested.

To design an impactful poster for my film, I propose a minimalist approach featuring a pair of blood-stained headphones lying on a white floor against a dark or black background. This simple yet intriguing design will pique the curiosity of viewers who may not know much about the film, leaving them with a desire to learn more.