How do I make footage show fear/panic?

[4kDG9NpdqTkD6tJlaXRknaPZb]

I recorded a dramatic scene with my head mounted gopro. I thought about how I would act if I was in fear as part of the story. The result is a lot of looking, running around and negative talk(to mimic what the character thinks). How could I improve this footage with filters, audio and cutting to make it more obvious that the character that I am playing was in fear?

[filmboss80]

Without seeing how the footage plays out, it is impossible to offer advice on how to cut it. However, sound cues are very important. The tone of the voice in the "negative talk" must actually sound panicked and should have a lot of panting between words. Also, you should add the sound of a rapidly accelerating heartbeat, since the audience is hearing what it in his head. Suspenseful music can also create the mood you are looking for, unless this particular production is more "realistic" or "documentary style", lacking a music score in other parts.

[smrpix]

Use your own emotions as a guide. What do you see, hear and do when you're afraid or panicking? Try to mimic that with your sounds and pictures.

[JVRaines]

Push up the contrast. Maybe even go black-and-white. Cut in the middle of movement. Increase the pace of cuts as the panic increases. Use short cuts with fade-in and fade-out, as though peeking through closed eyes. The voiceover acting will be most important. Please do not put a heartbeat on the soundtrack unless you want to look like a cheesy C-film.

[budwzr]

Do a Hitchkoch Zoom.

[Cornucopia]

Do a slight iris close (like a periscope) - "Confinement" ~= "anxiety". Purplish or greenish tinting. Canted angles (aka ground not level) or way high (no "floor"). Crowded or sparse mis-en-scenes (claustrophobia vs. agoraphobia). Lots of up-tilts ("smaller person" perspective).

...Lots and lots of things to try. Better to decide upon them BEFORE shooting, though.

Scott

[mikel]

Audio.
Think of Jaws or the shower scene in Psycho.... or Halloween .
A repetitive series of musical notes. ... it builds tension.
Simple, yet it can be very effective.

[4kDG9NpdqTkD6tJlaXRknaPZb]

Summary

1. sound cues are very important. <-> Think of Jaws or the shower scene in Psycho.... or Halloween .
2. A repetitive series of musical notes. ... it builds tension.
3. The tone of the voice in the "negative talk" must actually sound panicked and should have a lot of panting between words.
4. sound of a rapidly accelerating heartbeat, since the audience is hearing what it in his head. <-> Please do not put a heartbeat on the soundtrack unless you want to look like a cheesy C-film.
5. Suspenseful music can also create the mood you are looking for
6. Push up the contrast. Maybe even go black-and-white.
7. Cut in the middle of movement.
8. Increase the pace of cuts as the panic increases.
9. Use short cuts with fade-in and fade-out, as though peeking through closed eyes.
10. The voiceover acting will be most important.
11. Do a slight iris close (like a periscope) - "Confinement" ~= "anxiety".
12. Purplish or greenish tinting.
13. Canted angles (aka ground not level) or way high (no "floor").
14. Crowded or sparse mis-en-scenes (claustrophobia vs. agoraphobia).
15. Lots of up-tilts ("smaller person" perspective).

[Bjs]

One would think The Blair Witch Project might be a better suited reference point as to how it might be achieved

After that its plan scenes, shoot and edit.

[4kDG9NpdqTkD6tJlaXRknaPZb]

After that its plan scenes, shoot and edit.

It's not, as the point is that I can only have first person footage as the character is to have a camera on his head. Therefore, any different perspective or parallel video is not believable.

You are right insofar that BWP is better, as it's called found footage.

[Cornucopia]

It's not anathema to fudge or cheat a shot in order to evoke the desired response in the audience. Happens all the time in Hollywood, and is sometimes revered as innovation, inventiveness, foresight or gumption.

Scott

[4kDG9NpdqTkD6tJlaXRknaPZb]

It's not anathema to fudge or cheat a shot in order to evoke the desired response in the audience. Happens all the time in Hollywood, and is sometimes revered as innovation, inventiveness, foresight or gumption.

Scott

What does that have to do with anything?

[Cornucopia]

You're the one who brought up being shackled to the whole 1st person head-mounted POV perspective. I'm just saying that doesn't have to be so cut and dried.

Scott