Location Research

Location Research

The choice of location is a key aspect in a film where some or all of the film is produced. Directors choose their locations specifically for their film because they believe it creates the most realism for the audience. Verisimilitude is the biggest feature a director has to take into consideration, because their role is to make sure the film is as believable and realistic as possible, and this is what the choice of location can provide. The locations can often be iconic to the actors or directors personal life which can deliver an undermining message for the audience. The location needs to be picked carefully so that it coincides with the mise-en-scene and the plot of the film. We have taken a visit to a variety of different rural locations which we may decide to shoot at, they have given us a rough idea of what to expect if we choose to film there, and have also helped us adapt to our film brief to make sure the maximum amount of realism is portrayed. Our choice of locations consist of landscape and rural areas so far, with a lack of urbanity, this links in with our plot ideas because of the expectations and realism the audience would want to experience.

House of the Protagonist:

The first location we visited was the potential house of the protagonist. We would use this house as an establishing shot in the background, with the main focus being on the characters, meaning it wouldn’t be displayed as much as other locations. However it is still important to the film, because it is where the journey begins, and gives the audience a rough interpretation into the vulnerable protagonists’ life, portraying a wider image and view of her. We chose this location as a possibility because it is a reasonably large property, conforming to the stereotypes of missing girls. It also looks like an American-style house which adds to the depiction of the film because it looks like a hierarchy house which corresponds with the main character.

The house is very picturesque due to the bright outlay and the greenery surrounding it. The way the drive splits off is effective because it displays wealth due to the larger acres of land. We also agree that the positioning of the trees neighbouring the entrance of the driveway adds to they mysteriousness and crime of the film because it shadows over the entrance, so it is very secretive. We are also hoping that the weather will be similar to the day we took these pictures because the dull and dreary weather allows the leaves and trees to add to the effectiveness of the suspension we wish to create.

This is a close up shot of the front of the house which could possibly be featured in our film, the old-fashioned style door adds to the prosperity of the house as it is surrounded by the sophisticated environment and pillars. The way the car is parked also conforms to the stereotypical conventions of a crime film because it suggests that people are in the house, creating more realism for the audience. We plan to use this shot when the protagonist leaves the house at the beginning, the stone driveway will help us make the dietetic sound effective due to the loud noises created when running or walking on them.

These are shots from both sides of the road surrounding the establishing house, the large trees continuing down the road is conventional with our film and the choice of house. The leaves on either side of the pavement adds to the winter vibe which creates mixed emotions for the audience, helping to increase the tension due to it stereotypically being a festive, family time of the year. The big house displayed on the other side of the road is also effective because it fits in with the house we have chosen and increases the scare factor of the film as it conforms to the stereotypes - there aren't many people around to help due to the large separated houses, spread down the road.

Journey for the Protagonist:

Our plot of the main character going for a run would be situated in this second location. It is a very stereotypical running location due to the narrow footpath and the greenery surrounding it. It also limits the area the focus of the audience has to be on, making the film easier to follow and the framing not being too cramped or busy. The narrow footpath connotes an ally which conforms to the stereotypical views of where crimes occur, this fits in with our plot of the protagonist being abducted. The leaves scattered on the floor also helps to add to the wintery vibes which are presented. The path is straight, so the forced direction helps increase the tension because the audience won’t know what’s round the corner and there is little room for an escape.

 
The pathway is situated off of a main road, so it helps add to the tension as the audience may not be expecting what is about to occur. However if we choose this location for one of the scenes then we could surprise the audience by not creating any enigmas and just showing our character on a peaceful run, in this situation due to the main road being nearby, making it unrealistic if anything was too happen. However filming the runner running up this pathway from the main road helps the scenes locations differentiate from one another and aids the continuity of the sequence, making it more easily understood and outlines the fact she is in a secluded location.

 

Despite this location being incredibly scenic and picturesque, I think it is too open for our plot due to the pathway being too wide; this decreases the scare factor and tension we wish to create. The gaps in between the trees disperse the light, making it a brighter and warmer place to be. Even though there are still plenty of trees covering the edges, I don’t believe it would be suitable for our film. I think it would work well in a romantic film.

 

 Large areas for the abduction:

The large green area isn’t a vital part of the film because the audience will only see green grass; however this location we found was seen as iconic and suitable due to the drooping trees and the wooden gate. The grass still fits in with confined areas, creating larger pressure. The shot over the gate would work really well when filming because it allows the audience to view what is happening in the background over the daunting but traditional gate, which could allow the audience to watch the action from a different perspective - suggesting there may be someone else involved, helping to add to the suspense. It also helps us too vary the shot types and angles, making it more interesting to watch.

Here are our other shots of locations which we took. We believe they are suitable, however we believe the other shots shown above are better for our purpose so we are more inclined to use those location, however some of these may still feature in our opening two minutes.