Location Research- Woodlands

Location research- Outdoor

Ashtead Common

This location could create a creepy and unnatural atmosphere due to the numerous overhanging trees surrounding large areas of the woods. The wood is also very close by meaning we wouldn’t need excessive transport. The wood is very open meaning we would be able to have as much light as possible, making the trailer more realistic as use using natural light. As there are lots of open areas, it means we can make the location seem as though it is a campsite, where a group of friends could hang out. As there are lots of these, it means we have options on where we should film so we can have the ideal place for our trailer. A negative is that if we have shots of people running away, we need vast amounts of trees, so it would build up tension. This location doesn’t provide this, however we can film in numerous location, which we could use this one.

Fetcham Mill Pond

This location could be used within our trailer as the location can create an eerie effect due to the use of the dimly lit lamppost. This lighting creates a scary and unnerving atmosphere which we want to achieve through our trailer; therefore attract our target audience, horror audience. This lighting would ensure the shot is gloomy therefore adding tension to our trailer. However, this would only be created during night time as in the daytime the location would seem too friendly. A negative to this location would be that there’s only this lamppost which lights up the area, which means we wouldn’t be able to do long shots due to the limited light. This means we would need to bring extra lighting equipment when we film here.  The darkness of this area will allows us to achieve pathetic fallacy, where we use the environment to reflect the characters feelings. A positive is that it’s in such a everyday place, a walkway; meaning we would create a scare factor for our audience. This is because the audience would feel like this could happen to them as this is always a fear of meeting an antagonist down a long alleyway. Also, using such an everyday place would make the trailer more realistic as the audience would think this could happen to them. This location could be used for the fast editing section of our trailer, as during fast editing section of horror trailers, stereotypically, they are usually outside in the dark, as due to minimal light the protagonist wouldn’t be able to see much, especially the antagonist.

Boxhill woods

This is Boxhill, which is where there is lots of woodlands which could be ideal for our final location. This is because as there are lots of trees it could act as a campsite, which could be part of the plot to our trailer. Also the location is very secluded meaning we would not have many interruptions from the public. This therefore means we can film as long as we want and use as much mise en scene as we can, (tents, clothing etc). The overhanging branches would create distorted shadows, which would be effective as they can be mistaken for something or someone else. The location is also very easy to get to, meaning we wouldn’t need to travel a long distance to film shots of our trailer. This location could be linked to the ‘Epsom West Park Hospital’, as the protagonists could stumble across this scary building, where all the horror takes place. A negative to this location is the lighting, which seems to be a reoccurring problem with our locations. Due to the overhanging branches, it means our filming times will be cut short as it the light will be limited, unless we bring our lighting equipment. Another negative is that as it is open to the general public, it means we will have disruptions, which could affect the type of shots we use. However, this location looks like a realistic campsite, which would be effective as this could be a location in which the whole trailer takes place. As the location is large it provides us with lots of choice on where we film, meaning we can find the perfect place to shot our trailer.

Leatherhead cemetery

This location is obviously a stereotypical location which is used in countless trailers, not only horror genre. Using a cemetery can symbolise many connotations which could be effective as the audience can interpret our trailer in their own ways. For example, cemetery connote to sadness and despair as a loved one, our protagonist, could have died or it could be the place where our antagonist could be buried. However, as there could be many meanings behind using this location, it could confuse the target audience as they may think we have given away too much about the film. On the other hand, if we film during the evening it means that we can have the antagonist walking around the area as if

looking for our protagonist, who is hiding behind a grave stone, scary! As it is such an open space it means we have all the natural light we can use, which would be more realistic as it would provide us with what you would expect the atmosphere to be like in a horrifying situation. The biggest negative to this location is that it’s a cemetery where actually loved ones have been buried, meaning we wouldn’t want to be disrespectful. This therefore means we would have to ask the owner if we could film little section for our trailer. Apart from this, the atmosphere of horror and scariness has been created by the cemetery as the grave stones and the casting shadows when it is dark would portray all this. Therefore we wouldn’t have to alter or change the mise en scene in the location.

Bookham woods

This location was used for our AS production, ‘The Woods’. This location was perfect for our opening two minutes as we achieved numerous high quality shots, which build up tension from the word ‘GO’. This location has lots of branches overhanging creepily and numerous trees which means we can achieve the running shot effectively. This location could be the place where the fast edited shots could be filmed as there are countless hiding places we can place our protagonist/s. As we have used this place before it means we know the area really well, therefore knowing where we can film to gain effective shots. This has quite a numerous amount of trees which would make the protagonist feel as if they are close in on her, which would increase the tension. As there are many pathways and walkways it means we can choose where we are film. These walkways are long and narrow, which means we could have the shot of the antagonist at one end while the protagonist is at the other end, where all she can do is run.