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Location research

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mitch1598

The document discusses various location options for filming scenes for a trailer for a psychological thriller film on a small budget. It analyzes the loft, a teenager's bedroom, a forest, an alleyway, an estate agent's office, and a school medical room. Each location is visited in person and deemed suitable for certain scenes based on lighting, accessibility, and ability to portray intended meanings and move the narrative. Filming will be done guerilla style in accessible public and private locations to best represent realistic domestic and threatening spaces within budget constraints.

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Location research MITCHELL FROST
Locations for my trailer Part of the planning for the trailer, in order for it to be a successful one, is the research and analysis of different locations. Because we are a small, British, independent production company, we do not have a big enough budget to be able to pay to film at professional locations; this meant I needed to make use of my pre existing geographical knowledge in order to come up with suitable locations to shoot my trailer. Every location where I planned to film was visited in order to ensure that they were available for when I wanted to film, access was easy and that they were suitable/safe. I understand that filming in busy public places could get me in trouble with the law, therefore chose locations which were as isolated as possible and where shots would only contain my actors.
Loft-House This location would be used for the opening of the trailer, in the scenes where ‘Jo’ goes into the loft to find an old family portrait which contains his great great grandfather and other family members. This scene and location is essential as it contextualises the film and vaguely explains the narrative. The loft is a typical location for a psychological thriller film and is one which is commonly used in real life texts, for example, Sinister and The Grudge. I feel that a loft is somewhere that the audience can relate to, In order to make my film as realistic as possible I feel that it is important to make use of common domestic spaces of which my audience can relate. The loft is a great location in order to be able to represent the victim as vulnerable and in danger, due to the confined space and lack of exits. Lots of low angle shots as well as long shots here could be used to highlight the fact that the character is cramped and squashed up in the loft, indicating that they are out of their comfort zone, creating a tension. Because the loft I plan to use is in my own house, there will be no cost to film there, moreover, there is no limitations as to how much time I spend filming and what time I film.
Teenagers bedroom-House I plan to use my sisters bedroom as another location for my trailer; this will mainly be used for the scenes to show ‘Jo’ agitated as she tries to sleep, after her mother comes in to say good night. Again, this location will allow me to mix realism with surrealism, with the situation of the mother being relatable to the majority of the audience, however, Jo’s possessive and out of body nature, not being familiar with the audience. Like the loft, this location will be readily available to use, allowing for me to experiment more and spend more time testing different camera angles and shot types. Because I am aiming to create the most realistic set up as possible, the bedroom will be ideal, with everything already naturally set up like other teenage girls rooms.
Memorial park forest I plan to use the forest of the Memorial Park in Wickford for the scene where ‘Jo’ is being chased. A forest, although being a stereotypical and almost cliché location for a thriller/horror/action adventure film, I feel it is a perfect location to suggest that to the audience that the character is isolated and a long way from help, helping to build a perfect victim character. The low key lighting in the forest from the tree canopy means that it is dimly lit throughout the day, in order for the shots to be as clear as possible but also contain low key lighting, I must film at mid day (12pm+). The audience should already have an pre-existing inferred meaning about what a lone character in the forest means, due to the number of pre- existing films which use this location in order to convey similar situations. The location and size of the forest means that there is very little chance I will come across another member of the public, giving me lots of time to set up shots and film. In order to ensure any members of the public are aware of the filming, I will ensure I place several ‘Filming in progress’ signs up around the proximity, to make sure no one feels intimidated and respects the group of actors and crew in the forest.
Alleyway- Westbeech avenue Just like the loft, an alley way is also another confined space with a lack of exits; this increases the level of danger that the character is seen to be in, with little escape. The alleyway I plan to use is a one minute walk from my house and is a fairly quiet area. High fences line the alley, representing the character as weak, vulnerable and overall more of a victim. A variety of long shots , as well as POV shots could be utilised to put the audience in the character’s shoes. Although an alleyway is an alleyway, due to stories on the news and events which happen in real life, such as people taking advantage of the confined space in order to rob somebody, the alleway denotes danger, evil and crime. I will be sure to film during the evening, as the sun is setting as after visiting the location with the camera on several occasions, I found that I could exploit the natural light the best at this time of the day.
Office- Kingswood Estate Agents I am keen to include a variety of locations in my trailer, from all aspects of life, this including school and work life. Plans to film at a local estate agents to create an office scene have been approved, with filming in the office being free of charge. I will use the office to re create a head teachers office, the main character, ‘Jo’, will be seen visiting the head teacher, who disciplines her for her recent slack in her work, thus indicating to the audience how the ‘outside force’ is having an affect on her everyday life. School and the head teachers office is also somewhere very relatable to my target audience, thus leaving the active audience asking questions and wandering if ‘that could be them’, and putting themselves in the characters position, therefore creating a more personal attachment with the character.
Medical room- Beauchamps High school I will use the medical room at school in order to re create a hospital scene. The pre existing equipment and lay out of the medical room makes it the best and most suitable place for me to create a hospital scene. Equipment such as a bed, lab coat and stethoscope has been approved by the school for me to use as props in my trailer, in order to create the most realistic hospital environment as possible. The high key lighting in the room due to lamps and a large window, make it great to shoot in, exploiting the bright, neutral colours of the room and suggesting innocence, a stereotypical view of a teenage girl. I have had to ensure I have arranged a time and date to film in the medical room, and only have the option to use the room after school hours (2:45+), when the room is not in general use. Through the use of close up shots, and a variety of hospital sounds, added during the editing stage, I hope to be able to create the most life like hospital scene as possible, with it mimicking a professional hospital scene, but being produced on a much smaller budget.

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Location research

  • 2. Locations for my trailer Part of the planning for the trailer, in order for it to be a successful one, is the research and analysis of different locations. Because we are a small, British, independent production company, we do not have a big enough budget to be able to pay to film at professional locations; this meant I needed to make use of my pre existing geographical knowledge in order to come up with suitable locations to shoot my trailer. Every location where I planned to film was visited in order to ensure that they were available for when I wanted to film, access was easy and that they were suitable/safe. I understand that filming in busy public places could get me in trouble with the law, therefore chose locations which were as isolated as possible and where shots would only contain my actors.
  • 3. Loft-House This location would be used for the opening of the trailer, in the scenes where ‘Jo’ goes into the loft to find an old family portrait which contains his great great grandfather and other family members. This scene and location is essential as it contextualises the film and vaguely explains the narrative. The loft is a typical location for a psychological thriller film and is one which is commonly used in real life texts, for example, Sinister and The Grudge. I feel that a loft is somewhere that the audience can relate to, In order to make my film as realistic as possible I feel that it is important to make use of common domestic spaces of which my audience can relate. The loft is a great location in order to be able to represent the victim as vulnerable and in danger, due to the confined space and lack of exits. Lots of low angle shots as well as long shots here could be used to highlight the fact that the character is cramped and squashed up in the loft, indicating that they are out of their comfort zone, creating a tension. Because the loft I plan to use is in my own house, there will be no cost to film there, moreover, there is no limitations as to how much time I spend filming and what time I film.
  • 4. Teenagers bedroom-House I plan to use my sisters bedroom as another location for my trailer; this will mainly be used for the scenes to show ‘Jo’ agitated as she tries to sleep, after her mother comes in to say good night. Again, this location will allow me to mix realism with surrealism, with the situation of the mother being relatable to the majority of the audience, however, Jo’s possessive and out of body nature, not being familiar with the audience. Like the loft, this location will be readily available to use, allowing for me to experiment more and spend more time testing different camera angles and shot types. Because I am aiming to create the most realistic set up as possible, the bedroom will be ideal, with everything already naturally set up like other teenage girls rooms.
  • 5. Memorial park forest I plan to use the forest of the Memorial Park in Wickford for the scene where ‘Jo’ is being chased. A forest, although being a stereotypical and almost cliché location for a thriller/horror/action adventure film, I feel it is a perfect location to suggest that to the audience that the character is isolated and a long way from help, helping to build a perfect victim character. The low key lighting in the forest from the tree canopy means that it is dimly lit throughout the day, in order for the shots to be as clear as possible but also contain low key lighting, I must film at mid day (12pm+). The audience should already have an pre-existing inferred meaning about what a lone character in the forest means, due to the number of pre- existing films which use this location in order to convey similar situations. The location and size of the forest means that there is very little chance I will come across another member of the public, giving me lots of time to set up shots and film. In order to ensure any members of the public are aware of the filming, I will ensure I place several ‘Filming in progress’ signs up around the proximity, to make sure no one feels intimidated and respects the group of actors and crew in the forest.
  • 6. Alleyway- Westbeech avenue Just like the loft, an alley way is also another confined space with a lack of exits; this increases the level of danger that the character is seen to be in, with little escape. The alleyway I plan to use is a one minute walk from my house and is a fairly quiet area. High fences line the alley, representing the character as weak, vulnerable and overall more of a victim. A variety of long shots , as well as POV shots could be utilised to put the audience in the character’s shoes. Although an alleyway is an alleyway, due to stories on the news and events which happen in real life, such as people taking advantage of the confined space in order to rob somebody, the alleway denotes danger, evil and crime. I will be sure to film during the evening, as the sun is setting as after visiting the location with the camera on several occasions, I found that I could exploit the natural light the best at this time of the day.
  • 7. Office- Kingswood Estate Agents I am keen to include a variety of locations in my trailer, from all aspects of life, this including school and work life. Plans to film at a local estate agents to create an office scene have been approved, with filming in the office being free of charge. I will use the office to re create a head teachers office, the main character, ‘Jo’, will be seen visiting the head teacher, who disciplines her for her recent slack in her work, thus indicating to the audience how the ‘outside force’ is having an affect on her everyday life. School and the head teachers office is also somewhere very relatable to my target audience, thus leaving the active audience asking questions and wandering if ‘that could be them’, and putting themselves in the characters position, therefore creating a more personal attachment with the character.
  • 8. Medical room- Beauchamps High school I will use the medical room at school in order to re create a hospital scene. The pre existing equipment and lay out of the medical room makes it the best and most suitable place for me to create a hospital scene. Equipment such as a bed, lab coat and stethoscope has been approved by the school for me to use as props in my trailer, in order to create the most realistic hospital environment as possible. The high key lighting in the room due to lamps and a large window, make it great to shoot in, exploiting the bright, neutral colours of the room and suggesting innocence, a stereotypical view of a teenage girl. I have had to ensure I have arranged a time and date to film in the medical room, and only have the option to use the room after school hours (2:45+), when the room is not in general use. Through the use of close up shots, and a variety of hospital sounds, added during the editing stage, I hope to be able to create the most life like hospital scene as possible, with it mimicking a professional hospital scene, but being produced on a much smaller budget.