2. Visual and audio elements of area:
Audio:
• The local area is quiet and peaceful as it is deep in the woods within the countryside, however it is close to
some main roads which may be an issue regarding sound and background noise. This issue can be solved by
not shooting so close to the road area as the field and wood are both extensive. Overall background noise
shouldn’t be too much of an issue unless the weather dictates otherwise, wind and rain may play a key role
in how I film at the location and I may adjust accordingly. This wind and rain can be used to my advantage
however and may help set the mood of the horror movie/film by giving the woods a darker atmosphere.
Visual:
• Visually the area will be dark as there is little to no light from the surrounding area. Additionally, the woods
are densely packed which again means light is going to be an issue. The only available light is from a small
cluster of houses which are situated behind the woods we are going to be filming in, this light is within view
of the naked eye within the woods however not visible to the camera whilst filming and therefore shouldn’t
be an issue. Finally, the darkness may cause difficulty whilst filming however there is the possibility of
artificial lights that can help lessen this issue and allow for clear view whilst filming.
• As the area I am aiming to film in is an outdoor park there will be no power source and therefore external
equipment e.g. cameras and lighting etc. should be fully charged before leaving on film on set.
3. Location shots:
Arthur Newbury Park McIlroy Park
• Arthur Newbury Park is open and has lots of large fields,
this is good for light to come in and allows for good
camera shots. Additionally, there are small clusters of
wooded areas which are dense and dark allowing for a
scary feel to the environment which is the aim of the
movie/film.
• McIlroy park is very similar to Arthur Newbury Park
regarding the large wooded area. There is only one large
open space and the rest is expansive woodland. The
majority of the area is dark and densely packed which is
ideal for shooting my movie/film as that is what I am
looking for.
4. Health and Safety:
• The location is very good as it has limited hazards and is therefore a safe
shooting location. Some of these simple hazards include the potential risk
of tripping or scratching oneself on brambles. As these are minor issues I
do not see them as a problem as you will take the necessary precautions
whilst walking e.g. watching where you step and not rushing.
• One other potential risk is the chance of turning your ankle on the uneven
ground, the woods are muddy and slippery and therefore whilst walking
you must take care not to rush.
• In conclusion we see that the woods is a safe shooting location which
doesn't’t require many health and safety precautions. The only suggestion
to people involved in the production is to simply not run and take care
where you walk.
5. Permission:
• As the locations I looked at are both public parks I do not need
permission to film there. They essentially belong to the public and
therefore, within reason, are there for me to use to my disposal.
• However I must take into consideration other members of the public
who wish to use the park whilst I am filming. Additionally, there are
houses and residential areas near the park so I must take care not to
create too much sound so I don’t cause a disturbance.
• Finally, we see that there is a sign in Arthur Newbury Park that
dictates what you cannot do within the park perimeter and this sign
doesn't’t include no filming or photography. This reinforces my point
of not needing permission as it is a public park.
6. Justification of location:
• The two locations I looked at are very similar yet do have some subtle differences. Arthur
Newbury was the first location I looked at based on practicality as it is nearby and it is easy to get
the equipment I need into the park. However it is far too open for what I imagined my movie/film
to look like and therefore I decided to choose McIlroy Park. This park is linked to an enormous
wooded area which is ideal for filming a camping horror film/movie and allows me to use the
woods to my advantage as they are dark, thick and intimidating when the sun starts to go down.
• McIlroy Park links to the horror genre by portraying that element of fear and unknown, as the
woods are so large they are easy to get lost in and mean that they can make the audiences
imaginations run wild. This is beneficial for me as I intend to make the area the characters are
camping in as scary as possible as the environment and the creature are used as one thing to
scare them. Additionally, this means I don’t have to worry about any background issues regarding
the shots, for example if I wanted to film near a road there would be lots of background noise and
vehicles ruining some of the shots. Whereas in the woods it is just tress which means that there
shouldn’t be an issue with anything ruining the filming. Finally, we see that the woods follow the
stereotype of what most people view a wood to be which is expansive, dark, scary, creepy and at
night generally quite horrifying. This will work in my favour as the audience know what a wood is
and what it represents and therefore will be on the edge of their seats as something could
happen at any time throughout the movie/film.
