Practical: Location Scouting

Location Scouting

For personal reasons, on one the days we planned to film on we couldn't. We were planning to film in Coxheath/East Farleigh starting at 10.25.
To make sure that we do not fall behind with filming I came up with a contingency plan and back-up location.
As we were planning to film in a forest/woods, I needed to find a similar location. A close friend of mine has a woods at the end of their garden and agreed to allow me to film there. I went to the location twice - once to make sure that it was suitable for our film opening and a second time to film. As the location is close to my house, this was no difficulty.

I went to the location during the morning of the 30th to make sure it was suitable and took the following photos:

The woods at the end of their garden was quite dense which makes it easier to pull off as the woods we were planning to originally use. 

There was a small stream that ran down a fence into a large lake that we could use in the fast editing section of our film opening. If we cast a bright light onto the running water it could make a good affect. 

The patches of land within the woods that weren't dense wouldn't be suitable to use, so I would have to ensure that garden fences and trellises weren't in view. 

There was a small shed-like construction within the woods that looks out of place during the day/light but it may look eerie during darker hours, I would choose whether to include this when I came back to the location later on.

I went back at 5pm the same day with a powerful torch and filmed a variety of short clips to be used in the fast editing. Some examples:

(The small shed looked good if filmed in short clips with a torch)

(The weeping willow looked eerie and looked as though it was filmed under interesting lighting if filmed under the direct light of a torch)

Evaluation:

What went well:

• We were able to get some filming done during a time we couldn't meet as a group
• Some of the clips looked very effective
• Some sound from the clips that had bad lighting could be used as there is distinctive heavy breathing and footsteps

Even better if:

• Some of the clips had bad lighting due to filming with only two torches
• I wasn't able to film any clips with our characters in as the actors we have chosen are within the group and therefore couldn't be at the location.