Director Research

James Cameron was born on August 16, 1954 in Ontario, Canada. He landed his first professional film job as art director on Roger Norman's film "Battle Beyond the Stars" (1980). In 1984, he wrote and directed "The Terminator" (1984), a futuristic action-thriller. I t was a huge success. After this came a string of successful science-fiction action films such as "Aliens" (1986), "The Abyss" (1989) and "Terminator 2 "Judgement Day" (1991). In 1990, James formed his own production company Lightstorm Entertainment. In 1997, he wrote and directed "Titanic" (1997) which is a romance epic about two young lovers from social classes who meet on board the famous ship. The movie went on to break all box office records and earned eleven Academy Awards. It became the highest grossing movie of all time. James Cameron is now one of the most sought-after directors in Hollywood. The two common genres James Cameron uses are Sci-Fi and thriller. His films frequently feature scenes filmed in deep blues, plots or events involving nuclear explosions or wars; he likes to make nice and effective cuts as well as showing close-up shots of feet or wheels which are often trampling things. He likes using the tight close-up tracking shots on vehicles, especially during chase scenes and often brings camera in close during fight scenes, achieving a claustrophobic effect. In total, James Cameron has won 23 awards in his life. 

For more information: http://uk.imdb.com/name/nm0000116/bio

Frank Darabont was born in a refugee camp in 1959 in Montbeliard, France. His first job in movies was as a production assistant on the 1981 low-budget film "Hell Night" (1981). Darabont is one of only six filmmakers in history with the unique distinction of having his first two feature films receive nominations for the Best Picture Academy Award. Frank frequently makes adaptations of stories or novels by Stephen King. The common genres Frank Darabont uses are Sci-Fi, Romance, Horror and Drama. In total, Mr Darabont has won 13 awards in his life. 

For more information: http://uk.imdb.com/name/nm0001104/bio

Peter Jackson was born as an only child in a small coast-side town in New Zealand in 1961. When Jackson was 22, he embarked on a movie making-adventure that would change his life. This film “Bad Taste” (1987) was begun as any other Jackson film, in an amateur style at a low budget and using friends and local people to star in his film. He gave up his job at a local photographer's shop and became a well-known director of horror-movies, after the success of his first professionally made movie "Braindead" (1992). The genre Jackson uses is Horror. His movies frequently conclude with a bloodbath and he often shoots his movies in Wellington, New Zealand. In total, Mr Jackson has won 7 awards.

For more information: http://uk.imdb.com/name/nm0001392/bio 

How are Women represented in horror movies?

Typically, women are portrayed as weak characters and are always in need of male protection. They are represented in a stereotypical way which is often as vulnerable victims that are so helpless. They are seen either screaming or doing unrealistic such as running the wrong way while of course, the male characters hold it together. The women either end up outsmarting the villain or survive by luck.

In some movies women aren't always represented as helpless, destined to fail in tragic. In Friday the 13th, there is a young woman who must put all the pieces of the mystery together and save her friends in order to survive the night. Surprisingly she survives the night and not a single male does in the course of the film. At one point in Friday the 13th, the women are represented in a negative way. There are several scenes where the women are naked; these type of scenes makes some viewers not feel so sympathetic towards them as they are portrayed as sex symbols. However in the end the girl is seen in a positive light as she survives which shows that she is a powerful and bold protagonist.






In Hostel Part II, women are represented as insignificant, needy, weak characters (the stereotypical representation of women in horror movies). Throughout the course of the film, the female protagonist is constantly in need of being saved. All the women in Hostel are portrayed as paranoid and disorientated.  Just by watching the trailer of this horror movie, it is established very quickly that ultimately, the female is going to be the victim.

All in all, I believe that women are used for plots and atmosphere in horror movies. I think they are mostly represented as helpless and defenceless symbols to put it simply. I believe that here are very few horror movies where the women are able to stand on their own two feet.