planning for my trailer

1. B Y G E O R G I A G I B B S
PLANNING LOCATION,
LIGHTING AND MISE-EN-SCENE

2. LOCATION PLANNING
• The location of a film is important in setting the scene and creating an atmosphere and in a thriller genre
the location is often conventional. This therefore means I need to have opposing locations such as a
happy place followed by a sad place.
• For the locations used in my trailer, I decided that I only need a handful of places to film and i decided
these places will be in my little sisters bedroom, as it is based on a possessed young girl and this mise-
en-scene will show her youth. I also decided to film in High Wycombe town centre- The Eden, this is so
that i can follow the protagonist around following someone and is also in a busy area which is what i am
aiming for as this leaves enigma in the trailer as to whom the victim is going to be. Further, I have
looked into some more isolated locations and have decided to film in Holmer Green fields as well as an
old factory near Aylesbury. And lastly I will use some shots from a holiday in Greece in order to contrast
the weather and atmosphere of a thriller genre. These 5 places will make up my trailer as there will be a
lot of quick cut editing in order to make the trailer meet the thriller conventions as well as leading it away
from becoming a short story.
• The use of different locations such as sunny Greece vs an old factory in gloomy England links in with
Todorov’s equilibrium theory and also links into Strauss’ theory of good vs evil.

3. LOCATION PLANNING
• Below is a mind map of ideas for locations I have considered using for my trailer,
some of which I will use and others I will not. However from my research these are
locations which will all suit my genre of a thriller trailer.

4. LIGHTING PLANNING
• Lighting in thriller films is conventionally low key lighting, this helps identify the
genre of the film and sets a dark atmosphere which fits in with the genre.
• I will use different types of lighting to create the atmosphere associated with a
thriller film:
• Key lighting: the brightest lighting, it emphasises the subject and situation they
may be in.
• Back light: this is when a light from the back counteracts the key lighting to
make the subject more highlighted and rounded.
• High key lighting: this is a more natural lighting formed by a number of lights
surrounding the subjects.
• Under lighting: the main source of light is below the subject and can form
shadows.
• Filler light: the use of reflectors is in place which can soften the image.
• Back lighting: light that comes from behind the subject forming a darker scene
with silhouettes and shadows.
• Low key lighting: formed from key and back lights to form contrast and create
sinister tones and an eerie atmosphere.

5. LIGHTING PLANNING
• Low key lighting will be the main focus of lighting in my trailer however I will
also include other lighting to make the trailer feel realistic and eerie for the
thriller convention.

6. MISE-EN-SCENE PLANNING
• Costumes and hair in thriller films are not often the same, this is as every story is
different. However propps and make up are similar as these are used for effects such
as blood and crime to meet the conventions of the genre.
• In my case I am using normal everyday clothing: jeans, jumper, trainers and coat for
all the actresses as this makes the film seem more normal and life like, and follows
Maslow's theory in making people feel connected.
• The make up on the other hand will be different for all participants. Fake blood will be
used for the victim to make it look like she has been cut and bled to death and the
villain will have blood on her hands to show the connection of propp’s theory of the
villain and victim and also Strauss’ theory or good vs evil.
• The protagonists make up will be subtle apart from the blood to meet the equilibrium
of something dramatic changing,
• The propps used will be simple so the trailer continues to be realistic so items such
as a backpack, necklace. I will also use a knife which is more extreme however this
does reflect the change in equilibrium and the thriller genre.