DIY Dead Body: Creating the Perfect Opening Scene

Hey everyone! I’m back with another update on my film project. Today, I’m talking about the pre-production process for the dead body in my film opening. It's a little more DIY than expected, but that’s part of the fun! So, let me take you through how I made a dead body using some basic stuff like blankets, pillows, and, yep, even boots.

Step 1: The Idea

Okay, so when I first thought about the body for my opening scene, I wanted to make sure it looked convincing without spending much money. The body was going to be lying on the ground, so it didn’t have to be super detailed—just enough to make it look lifeless and real. I started brainstorming how I could make it look realistic using stuff I had lying around.

Step 2: Gathering the Supplies

Here’s where things got a little creative. I didn’t want to spend a lot of money on expensive special effects stuff, so I grabbed a few things that were sitting around the house. The main materials were:

• Blankets and Pillows: These would form the main shape of the body. Pillows would help give the body a realistic shape, while blankets would cover it up and give it a natural, draped look.
• Boots: I used a pair of old boots for the feet. They gave the body a bit more structure and made it look like it actually had weight at the bottom.
• Black Trash Bags: These came in clutch for adding some eerie details. I used them to create a kind of “wrapping” for the body, and the dark color helped make it look more mysterious and dramatic.

Step 3: Shaping the Body

The first thing I did was lay out a blanket on the ground. Then, I stuffed it with pillows to make the body have a natural shape, almost like a person was lying there. I focused on getting the torso right—making sure it wasn’t too lumpy or awkward, but also not too smooth because, you know, a dead body isn’t going to be perfectly shaped.

Next, I added the boots at the bottom, sticking them under the blanket to look like feet. The boots added that extra bit of realism since they’re weighted and give the illusion of real legs. To top it off, I draped the second blanket over the whole thing, making sure it looked kind of messy but still like a body.

Step 4: Wrapping It Up

Once the basic shape was good to go, I wrapped the blanket up to make sure it stayed in place and then, I used the black trash bags. These were key for adding the final touch. I crinkled them up and laid them over the blanket, giving the body a weird, dark texture. The bags helped make the scene look grittier, like the body had been there for a while and was decomposing.

Step 5: Final Thoughts

Making the dead body was super fun (and a little creepy) but also a lot of work! It’s crazy how something so simple can turn into such a big part of the film. I was surprised at how well the pillows and blankets worked to make it look realistic. It just goes to show that you don’t always need fancy stuff to make a scene work—you just have to be creative!

That’s it for now! Stay tuned for the post-production posts!!!

Building Suspense: Tension Through Sound

Sound can change everything. A normal scene can feel creepy just by using the right audio. In my film opening, I’m not using dramatic music, I’m letting small, realistic sounds build the tension. The goal is to make the audience feel uneasy without even realizing why.

1. The Car Scene – Quiet but Tense

Christina sits in her car, doing calculations. It’s silent, but not in a peaceful way. Every little sound feels important.

• Pencil Scribbling – Fast and messy, like her thoughts are racing.
• Breathing- Shows that she's calm but it adds an eerie feel.

2. The Hardware Store – Normal Sounds, Unsettling Feeling

She walks through the aisles, grabbing what she needs. These sounds make simple actions feel eerie:

• Walking with heels– Her slow walking and clicking of the heels create a sense of power.

• Cart Squeak – A small, weirdly creepy noise in the silence.

3. The Parking Lot – No Turning Back

She loads the trunk and slams it shut. It’s a simple action, but it feels important.

• Heavy Trunk Slam – Loud and final, like a decision has been made.

• Distant Wind – Just a quiet, empty breeze.

4. The Digging Scene – No Hesitation

This is where the tension peaks. The sounds make it feel real and unsettling.

• Shovel in Dirt – Steady, like she knows exactly what she’s doing.
• Dragging a Heavy Object – Muffled and slow, like dead weight. For this one, I made a foley sound of myself dragging a plastic bag through dirt.

Why This Matters

This movie isn’t about the murder, it’s about her mind. Instead of telling the audience what to feel with music, I want them to pick up on the tension just from the sounds. Every little noise makes it feel more real, unsettling, and personal. This is my plan, but honestly, until I finish editing I don't know if things will change.

Source:

Pixabay. (n.d.). Royalty-free music. Pixabay. https://pixabay.com/music/

That’s a Wrap: Filming Our Psychological Horror

 Day 2 of Filming: The Struggle for the Perfect Shot

If there’s one thing we’ve learned from this film opening process, it’s that finding the right location is half the battle. Day 2 of filming took us to Regional, a public park that—on paper—seemed like the perfect setting. In reality? It took a lot of scouting, debating, and second-guessing before we settled on the right spot.

We needed something eerie but natural, isolated yet accessible. So, after what felt like an eternity of wandering around, we ended up near the Everglades, just behind the park. And honestly? Best decision ever. The landscape was surreal—tall grass swaying, the sky looking just off enough to set the mood, and an atmosphere that screamed psychological horror. The shots we got? Insane.

This is the best shot where you can see where we were filming, it was so beautiful.

But, of course, the real adventure started when we showed up to the park… with a dead body in hand. (Obviously fake, but still.) The reactions were priceless. Parents pulling their kids a little closer, joggers slowing down to double-take, and then there was the guy on a bike who just waved and smiled like it was the most normal thing in the world. Honestly, legend.

Filming in a public space definitely added to the chaos, but weirdly, it made the whole process even more fun. We had to work around people, stay in character while getting stared at, and make sure we didn’t cause a full-on panic (because let’s be real, a group of teens dragging a “corpse” through the park is not something you see every day).

At the end of the day, the struggle for the perfect location paid off. We got some of the best shots of the film so far, and the whole experience just made the project even more unforgettable.

After wrapping up in the Everglades, it really hit us—this was our last day of filming. Every struggle, every perfect shot, every weird public reaction led to this moment. Looking back, the chaos made it even better. This project started as just an idea, and now we have something real—something we’re so excited to put together in editing.

Now, all that’s left is post-production. Can’t wait to see how it all comes together.

Filming Day 1: Lost in Home Depot

We officially started filming for our film opening!

The first scene takes place in Home Depot, so we went on Sunday to get all the shots we needed. I expected a lot of issues, but everything went surprisingly smoothly. I was nervous about filming in public because I get embarrassed easily, but Home Depot was pretty empty, which made things easier. We got all the shots we needed in under an hour, which was way faster than I expected. 

This is a blooper; the saw got stuck, and you can see me laughing. I love bloopers!!

One of the funniest parts was my mom having to wear heels for the scene. Our only ones were too big, so she kept switching between slides and heels between takes.

If you look closely, you can see my mom's slides, so we have to cut that out.

Also, I managed to get lost in Home Depot, it’s huge, and I couldn’t find some of the items we needed! But despite that, we ended up with over 40 seconds of footage from this location alone, which is great.

Overall, I’m really proud of how everything went. Now, onto the next scenes!

Getting Permission: The Home Depot Saga

Before we could start filming, I had to get permission to shoot inside Home Depot. At first, I thought this would be simple, I’d just call and ask. So, I did. And they said no. 

I wasn’t ready to give up yet, so I tried Lowe’s instead. When I called, they told me I had to contact corporate. So I did. Corporate then told me to call the store manager. At that point, I felt like I was being sent in circles. 

This was me in class going in circles calling again and again.

Something about the email Home Depot sent me felt off, though. The way it was written just didn’t seem like a solid “no.” Not to mention how they messed up some sentences which I know happens and nobody's perfect but for such a big brand something fell off.

This is the reply I got which felt weird.

I had a feeling that if I went in person and actually talked to someone, I could get them to say yes. So, I did just that. I walked in, asked to speak to the manager, and explained my situation. And guess what? They said yes! 

Moral of the story: Sometimes, emails and phone calls won’t get you what you need. But showing up in person and asking confidently can make all the difference.

Buried Secrets: The Making of The Script

I wanted to build tension for my film opening without giving away too many details. Instead of showing a murder or explaining what happened, I’m letting the audience figure it out through Christina’s actions. Everything she does seems normal at first, but things start to feel off as the scene plays out.

Here I made a script that will really help me and my actress while filming. It will act as a guide.

Script:

EXT. CAR – DAY

Christina sits in her car, lit by the bright afternoon sun. She scribbles in a notebook, biting her lip. Her eyes dart between numbers, her mind racing. Something’s off.

She exhales, snaps the notebook shut, and steps out.

INT. HARDWARE STORE – DAY

Christina moves down the aisles.

She grabs duct tape. A knife. A shovel. Black trash bags.

Each item lands in the cart. No hesitation.

EXT. PARKING LOT – LATE AFTERNOON

Christina throws the bags in her trunk. The lid slams shut. She gets in and drives away.

EXT. SECLUDED AREA – SUNSET

The car stops.

Christina steps out, walks to the trunk, and stops. Just for a second.

Then—she opens it.

Inside, something heavy was wrapped in black plastic.

She grabs the duct tape, securing it tighter before dragging it out.

EXT. GRASSY AREA – SUNSET

A shovel sinks into the dirt.

Christina digs. No breaks, no second-guessing. Just digging.

Finally, she stops, staring into the hole.

She pushes the wrapped object over the edge. A thud.

She takes a shaky breath, reaches into her pocket, and pulls out her wedding ring.

She stares at it for a second—then drops it in.

Dirt piles up. Then, she turns and walks away.

My teacher made us a Nearpod which really helped me when making this script.

The Sound of Fear: How Audio Shapes Psychological Horror

When it comes to psychological horror movies, sound is everything. It's what makes our skin crawl, our hearts race, and our minds trick us into seeing things that aren't really there. While visuals are important, the right use of sound can completely change how a scene feels.

Why Is Sound Important in Psychological Horror?

Builds Suspense – Creepy background noise, eerie music, and sudden silence can make a scene feel ten times scarier. When a horror movie goes quiet, we instinctively know something bad is about to happen. As noted by Anna Taborska(2024), "Sound is just as important as visuals in horror films, in creating atmosphere, but especially in crafting jump scares." 

Triggers Emotional Reactions – High-pitched violins, distorted whispers, and deep, unsettling bass sounds create anxiety and tension. These sounds mess with our brains and make us feel like we're in danger—even when we're just watching a movie. Mathias Clasen explains that horror movies use sounds we naturally associate with danger to frighten audiences. 

Plays with the Unknown – Psychological horror thrives on the fear of the unseen. Strange noises in the distance, whispers, or an off-key melody make us feel like something is lurking just out of sight. Our imagination fills in the blanks, often making it scarier than if we actually saw the threat. As Clint Westwood(2025) points out, "The capacity of ambient noise to toy with the imagination of the audience gives it great power."

Creates a Sense of Isolation – The absence of sound can be just as terrifying as loud, sudden noises. Dead silence in a scene makes us feel alone and vulnerable, which is a key part of psychological horror. Meredith Geaghan-Breiner, and Ben Nigh(2021) state, "Sound has been an important element in film for a long time. But in horror movies, it plays an even bigger role."

How I'll Use Sound in My Film Opening 

Since my film opening is a psychological horror, I want the audience to feel uneasy from the very first second. Here's how I'll use audio to create that effect: 

Distant, Unclear Noises – I'll use sounds that feel far away but unidentifiable, like muffled whispers or a soft, distorted hum. This will make the audience question what they're hearing and build tension.

Silence Before the Scare – Right before something unsettling happens, I'll drop all sound. No background music, no footsteps—just emptiness. This will make the next noise (whether it's a sudden sound or a creepy whisper) feel even more intense.

Layering Sound Effects – Instead of just adding a single sound, I'll layer multiple unsettling noises together. For example, if there's a shot of an empty car, I could mix in a faint breathing sound, an old radio static, to make it feel eerie. 

Natural Sounds- I want to utilize natural noises that with the help of lighting and what's happening in the scene can make it much scarier like the wind blowing, faint footsteps, digging, etc.

By carefully crafting the audio in my film opening, I'll be able to control the audience's emotions and make them feel the fear I want them to experience. Sound isn't just background noise—it's one of the most powerful tools in psychological horror.

Sources:

           Geaghan-Breiner, Meredith, and Ben Nigh. “How Sound Is Used to Build Suspense in Scary Movies.” Business Insider, 30 June 2021, www.businessinsider.com/how-sound-is-used-to-build-suspense-in-scary-movies-2021-6? 

            

             Tab.orska, Anna. “Crafting Fear: Filming Techniques to Evoke Emotion in Horror Movies.” Raindance, 17 Sept. 2024, raindance.org/crafting-fear-filming-techniques-to-evoke-emotion-in-horror-movies/.

            Westwood, Clint. “The Role of Sound Design in Creating Fear in Horror Movies - Severed Cinema.” Severed Cinema, 9 Jan. 2025, severed-cinema.com/the-role-of-sound-design-in-creating-fear-in-horror-movies/.

            “Why Sound Is so Important in Horror Movies.” Psychology Today, 2022, www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/why-we-love-horror/202209/why-sound-is-so-important-in-horror-movies?