Final Locations

Final Locations
Out of the selection of different locations I have considered for each scene of the film opening, I have chosen the final locations based on the pros and cons I listed in my initial locations post.

Forest Scene
I have chosen to base the majority of my opening sequence in a forest. This is the most appropriate location for the following reasons: firstly, it connotes peace. Although the film is set in a post-apocalyptic setting, I still wanted to maintain an element of peace to the film - this is because the character has gone to a peaceful place to die to make the moment seem more beautiful and emotional as opposed to tense and unsettling, therefore using a peaceful location is appropriate. Furthermore, despite the peaceful connotations of the forest, I still wanted to resemble a dead/overgrown and untended to world so it would suit the post-apocalyptic theme. Using a forest in this time of year will certainly be very brown, bare and dead, which will resemble a wasteland on camera if paired with the right mise-en-scene conditions for definite. Another reason a forest is a good location is because it is enclosed - this creates a sense of security because it is not open and the characters are, therefore, not exposed to potential predators. This heightens the peacefulness of the location. On the contrary, the enclosed nature of the location can connote suffocation, which may represent the character's feeling of weight and burden because of his past. Lastly, the natural setting is extremely appropriate because the character is at his barest which could be reflected through the use of a natural environment. Furthermore, depicting the character in a natural environment links to the idea of human instinct, which is one of the themes in the opening to my film.


Thetford Forest, Thetford, Norfolk

Thetford Forest during this time of the year. 

Justification For Use:
The reasons for which I have chosen to film in Thetford Forest for the majority of the shots are the following: firstly, it's local to me and therefore is convenient because it's easier and faster to get to. Another reason is the fact that it's large and includes diverse terrain, meaning I have a range of different areas to work with when choosing where to frame my shots. Moreover, the fact that it is large is convenient because it means that I am less likely to encounter other people, especially if I avoid footpaths, and therefore this will prevent the disruption of filming. It's a very remote forest meaning there will be no traffic, towns or any sign of civilisation in the background which is appropriate for the post-apocalyptic theme of my film. Another reason this location is suitable is because of the actual type of forest itself and how it looks. Because it contains pine trees and vegetation that endures winter very well, the branches won't look completely bare and therefore extraordinarily ugly on footage - particularly in any sharp footage.Moreover, any vegetation that was green will now be brown as it's winter, which is exactly what I had in mind as brown, sombre tones is a conventional style in post-apocalyptic films. Furthermore, despite the forest being very deep, it can be quite sparse in areas, which will, therefore, let a lot of natural light in. This is a nice look because not only is it very aesthetically pleasing it also will prevent the footage from being too dark or too noisy. The sparse areas will be useful when manoeuvring and trying to achieve perfects shots without objects getting in the way.

How Does This Location Help Construct The Mise-en-Scene?
This location helps construct the mise-en-scene because it contains dense vegetation that is browned and overgrown. The brown tones and untended-to-look are synonymous with the post-apocalyptic iconography and therefore helps assemble a mise-en-scene that establishes the genre to the audience through only visual prompts. Furthermore, the setting helps the audience understand things about the character, for example, the fact that the character is against a natural backdrop reflects on the idea of him being in his barest, most exposed and natural state - he's at his lowest and is most vulnerable.

Back-Up Location
In the off chance that Thetford Forest becomes unavailable for whatever reason, I have selected a more convenient location to use as a back-up.

Wayland Wood, Watton, Norfolk

Wayland Wood in the sunlight

Justification for Use (as back-up):
The main reason I have selected Wayland Wood as a backup location is because out of the selection of forests I had considered to begin with Wayland Wood was the most convenient as it's the closest to me and my actors and can, if need be, be accessed by foot. Although it differs from Thetford Forest greatly, there are some areas within the forest that contain similar types of vegetation that could potentially create a similar look to Thetford forest, which is the perfect look for simulating a post-apocalyptic world when paired with the right mise-en-scene conditions. This location is appropriate because it's remote, meaning towns and industrial noises are unlikely to be in the background.


Flashback and Opening Scene
Because the location I have selected is so large and varied looking throughout the building, I have decided to use it for both of these scenes as this is most convenient and it still will look like two separate locations because of the diverse nature of the building. I have chosen to use a derelict building for these scenes because derelict buildings are a conventional setting within the post-apocalyptic genre. Moreover, I feel that the destroyed, abandoned and distressed look to the building will reflect on how broken and depressed the character is when we meet him, as this will be the first place the audience sees him. During the flashback sequences, this is an effective location to use because it has a very distressed look which links with the depressing nature of the scene. 

Old Wartime Building, Watton, Norfolk



Justification For Use: 

This location is suitable because it looks destroyed and abandoned, which will really suit the post-apocalyptic genre. It fulfils all the purposes to an abandoned building: it can be entered through multiple entrances and looks rundown without using other methods to establish the fact it is an abandoned building. Despite no artificial lighting, the building is very well lit through random windows and holes in the walls and roof. This will improve the footage because it assures it isn't too grainy or indistinguishable. Furthermore, the grey walls cancel out any liveliness that too much sunlight will produce, and therefore is very fitting because it doesn't look too happy but at the same time isn't too scary looking either. It corresponds with the broken theme. Another reason why this location is suitable is because it's very local: within walking distance. This is very convenient. It has a military vibe which suits the post-apocalyptic theme. It's also a particularly large building and therefore produces a range of precise places to film in. 

How Does This Location Help Construct the Mise-en-Scene?

This location helps construct the mise-en-scene because it helps establish the post-apocalyptic setting. This is because derelict building are key features in post-apocalyptic iconography and therefore help establish the genre to the audience. Moreover, it reflects on the state of mind of the character is in through its distressed appeal.

Back-Up Locations

If I am unable to get to the desired location, I have planned two other back-up locations I can use for each scene. The reason I have prepared two is because they're both very small locations and therefore will not appear as separate settings in the two different scenes. 

Flashback Scene:

Corrugated Steel Fences, Griston, Norfolk

Justification For Use (as backup)

The main reason I have chosen this location as a fallback is because it's very convenient as it's a minute's walk from my house. It's also easily accessible as there's nothing blocking off the entrance and it's a part of the recreational grounds so nobody is forbidden to enter the segment of land. Secondly, it's not in use and isn't a target of any interest by anyone so nobody will walk by and disrupt the filming or cause a distraction, especially as it's almost unnoticeable next to the recreational park. Another reason this location is good to use is because it's very overgrown and therefore looks like the setting to the post-apocalyptic genre, despite it not being the derelict building style I had in mind. Its corrugated steel fencing is reminiscent of the military which is a common part to the iconography that makes up the post-apocalyptic genre.

Beginning Scene

Abandoned Chapel, Griston, Norfolk

The main reason I chose this location as a backup is because it's extraordinarily convenient as it's less than a 2 minutes walk from my house, therefore no transport would need to be required and hauling the equipment wouldn't be too much of a hassle.This location is suitable because it looks abandoned: it has smashed windows, boarded up doors and ivy growing all around it so it will suit the post-apocalyptic genre. Furthermore, it's connection with God and religion would be interesting to play on in the film as it suggests a history of civilisation that has now been evidently destroyed, adding subtly to the exposition. Another advantage to this location would be the fact that it's hidden away on a residential road so nobody is likely to walk past and interrupt filming as it's a quiet village. It's also not on private land and therefore wouldn't put me at risk for being asked to leave if we choose to film here.

Final Characters and Casting

Final Cast and Character Profiles

Character A - Protagonist
This is the final character profile for the protagonist in my film opening, to read the justification for each title in this profile, click here.

Name: Unnamed

Age: Young Adult

Profession: 'Survivor'

Likes: Safety, peace, his former partner, animals, the world-how-it-used to-be

Dislikes: Being alone, other survivors/threatening survivors, the world-in-its-state, his life

History: A portion of the character's history is revealed in the opening two minutes, however slowly I think throughout the rest of the film the remainder of his history will be unravelled. For the portion the audience sees in the opening sequence, we find out that he had someone very close to him, assumedly his partner, though this isn't made explicit, is murdered brutally by another survivor. The protagonist either escaped or was left for dead, somehow surviving. Prior to this, he spent his time surviving/scavenging with his partner until he encountered the group of bloodthirsty looters which lead to his downfall.  Before the 'apocalypse' he lived a rather average lifestyle in an urban environment. Whether he met his partner after the 'apocalypse' or before is undecided.

Traits: Resourceful, agile, strong, emotional, strong-willed, empathetic, hopeful, bitter, cautious

Three Words To Describe Them: Exhausted, Isolated, Broken


Cast
After putting together a list of actors who were willing to portray the protagonist, I have created a list of pros and cons of using each actor, which you can read here. Out of these actors, I have chosen Elliott Gillespie to portray the protagonist.

Elliott Gillespie
Age: 16 Years Old
Profession: College Student

Headshot of Elliott Gillespie

Justification For Cast Choice: 
The reasons I have selected Elliott to play the role of the protagonist are the following: firstly, I know that he's a talented actor as I have worked with him on a previous practice project - he will adapt to the role well. Secondly, he lives nearby me, therefore, getting to the locations together will be convenient. I know him well so working together won't be awkward and I will feel comfortable directing him and he will feel comfortable being directed by me, he will also act naturally because he is comfortable around me. He knows the other cast members relatively well, too, so will be comfortable and act naturally around them. He's comfortable with close-ups of his face which will allow much more freedom when framing my shots.

Costume
The costume worn by the protagonist will be quite scruffy looking to make it look like he's been living in the outdoors for a long while. Using green and brown, earthy tones will look most appropriate as these colours are associated with nature and post-apocalyptic settings, so using these tones will help construct the mise-en-scene.

Black T-Shirt &
Black Trousers/Jeans - The reason I have selected for the protagonist to wear black clothing is to reflect on his emotional state - he's in a constant state of depression and dark colours are a good way to represent this as darker tones are associated with more negative connotations. Furthermore, although it's not set in our common society, I wanted to reflect on the idea that he is in mourning, as people in mourning wear black. Furthermore, using colourful clothing will look out of place in a post-apocalyptic setting. Moreover, I thought that wearing dark colours underneath green represents his situation: he's among nature in a peaceful setting (represented through the coat) and he himself feels down and depressed (represented through the coat). I will acquire these through the actor as he has these items of clothing which is convenient because they'll fit him and can be easily sourced. 

Khaki Parka Coat - Using a coat helps add to the survivor image as, obviously, a survivor is resourceful (as is the protagonist) and would, therefore, find ways in keeping warm in their environment. The reason the coat will be a khaki green is because the colours are associated with nature and a post-apocalyptic setting and would, therefore, fit with the theme of the film. Another reason green is a good choice in colour is because it camouflages with his natural backdrop, this reflects his cautious nature. I will acquire this through the actor as he has this item of clothing which is convenient because it'll fit him and can be easily sourced.

Brown Walking Boots - Walking boots are an appropriate choice in costume because they're most realistic. After all, a person surviving in the wild wouldn't be wearing shoes that cannot protect their feet or cause discomfort. The reason they are brown is because brown is an earthy/sombre colour which is associated with post-apocalyptic settings and therefore adds to the iconography. The walking boots are mildly scuffed, this will reflect on how long he has been surviving in the wilderness. Moreover, it represents all that he has endured, both physically and mentally and reflects on his broken image. I will acquire these through the actor as he has them which is convenient because they'll fit him and can be easily sourced.

Fingerless Gloves - The reason I have chosen fingerless gloves is because they add to the rugged image of the protagonist. Moreover, they reflect on his resourceful nature because they serve as warmth as well as practicality. I will acquire these through the actor as he has them of clothing which is convenient because they'll fit him and can be easily sourced.

Brown Scarf - This will reflect on his resourceful nature as it keeps the character warm in the environment in which he is in. The brown tones suit the post-apocalyptic setting but are also used as camouflage, further reinforcing his resourcefulness. I will acquire this through the actor as he has this which is convenient because it'll fit and can be easily sourced.

Green Gas Mask - Gas masks are a very distinguishable part of post-apocalyptic iconography so this helps establish the genre to the audience. Furthermore, it suggests some sort of history behind the 'apocalypse' in my film, therefore aiding the exposition. It, again, reflects on the characters resourcefulness and cautious nature as he tries to maintain his safety. To acquire this, I have asked my friends and family if they have one available to borrow. Conveniently, my friend did. If they did not have one then I would have acquired one from online. 

Knee Pads - the reason the character is wearing knee pads is to reflect his cautious nature and like of safety as he goes to subtle measures to maintain his safety. The actor has a pair of knee pads which we can use. 


Character B - Female Victim (deceased) 

Name: Unnamed

Age: Young Adult

Profession: 'Survivor'

Likes: the protagonist, animals

Dislikes: violence, murder

History: Before her death, she spent her time surviving with the protagonist. They pretty much share a history.

Traits: Empathetic, sympathetic, kind, passive, patient, resourceful,  happy

Three Words To Describe Them: optimistic, loyal, passive


Cast
Out of the selection of actresses that said they were willing to perform the role, I have chosen Beth Precious.

Bethany Precious
Age: 17 Years Old
Profession: College Student

Headshot of Beth Precious

Justification of Casting Choice:
The reason I have chosen Beth to portray the role of the female victim is because she's good at being directed on camera. Furthermore, she's comfortable on camera and knows the other actors and myself very well, meaning she can act naturally around us. She's comfortable with having close-ups being captured of her which gives more freedom and she lives conveniently close to me, meaning travelling won't be too much of an issue.

Costume
Only the upper half of the character will be seen on camera, however, I have created a full costume plan on the off-chance that plans change.

Green Knitted Jumper - Green is a colour associated with the post-apocalyptic genre so employing this colour will help construct the mise-en-scene and make the genre identifiable to the audience. This colour is also associated with nature, which I wanted to use to represent how she's one with nature and her love of animals. I already have a green knitted jumper Beth can borrow on the day of filming. 

Black Trousers - black is a dark colour and won't stand out too much, if a brighter colour is used it won't be suitable for a post-apocalyptic film as this is not a conventional colour. Beth has a pair of black trousers she can wear, this is convenient because they're easily acquirable and will definitely fit her. 

Black Hiking Boots -  This shows she is one with nature too as hiking boots are associated with nature. Moreover, they're realistic shoes to be wearing in a post-apocalyptic environment. Beth owns a pair of hiking boots that she can wear on the day of filming. 


Character C - Murderer

Name: Unnamed

Age: Adult

Profession: 'survivor'/'looter/bandit'

Likes: Stealing, violence, murder

Dislikes: people who fight back, those who don't obey/submit to him, threats

History: This character grew to suit the rugged lifestyle of surviving and soon became the leader of a gang of looters/bandits, the power grew to his head and his sanity is now questioned.

Traits: manipulative, violent, shameless, unsympathetic, hateful

Three Words To Describe Them: unlawful, intimidating, bloodthirsty

Cast
Out of the actors who said they were willing to be a part of the production, I have chose Rowan Knights to portray the bandit depicted in the flashback. Rowan doesn't need to bare many similarities to what I had in mind as only a fraction of his body will be in shot. This being said, on the off-chance that plans change I will dress him in an appropriate costume/makeup to make him look the part.

Rowan Knights 
Age: 17 Years Old
Profession: College Student

Justification of Casting Choice: 
I have chosen Rowan to take on the role because he is very good at acting aggressive and psychotic, which is perfect for the character (if I choose to add the character properly into the story). Furthermore, he lives nearby which is highly convenient when getting to locations. He also has some experience in acting so I know he can adapt to roles well.

Costume
This character does not feature heavily in the opening two minutes, however, I have put together a full costume list, just in case I change plans on set.

Large Black Coat - The reason for a coat is to conceal the character to make them seem less open and honest, reflecting on their nature. Furthermore, black is often associated with evil and darkness correlating with the character himself. I have an oversized black coat in which Rowan can wear on the day of filming. 

Black T-Shirt - Using dark colours again plays on the idea of evilness. Rowan has a black t-shirt he can wear for filming.

Dark Jeans - Wearing dark trousers really reflects on his dark and evil image, making the audience feel intimidated by him. Wearing dark clothing doesn't stand out either, which is appropriate in a post-apocalyptic film as bright, vivid colours is not conventional. Rowan has a pair of jeans he can wear for filming.

Black Hiking Boots - hiking boots are appropriate in a post-apocalyptic setting as they're realistic. Moreover, the colour continues to reflect on the nature of the character. Rowan has a pair of boots he can wear for filming. 


Character D - The Dog

Name: Unnamed

Age: Approximately 2 Years Old (by appearance)

Profession: Guard dog

Likes: the protagonist, friendly humans, food, playing


Dislikes: threats, violent/threatening survivors

History: The dog was born after the 'apocalypse' as he's quite young, he was socialised and raised by kind humans which is why he has a fondness of the protagonist. His previous (or current, depending on the direction of the film) owner is a kind old secluded man. He was either killed by looters or lives in his own setup, where the dog may lead the protagonist.

Traits: Carefree, gentle, happy, hyperactive, protective, agile, impatient

Three Words To Describe Them: Happy-go-lucky, innocent, loyal


Cast
Out of the selection of dogs I considered for the role, I have selected Riot to portray the role, as he won the obedience test.

Riot
Age: 1 Year Old
Breed: Australian Shepherd

Justification of Casting Choice: 
The reason I chose Riot for the role is because he shares the same personality with the character: happy, carefree, goofy etc. This is important because dogs have no concept of acting and therefore cannot pretend to be this way. Furthermore, he is the most obedient of the dogs considered so this will make the filming process a lot easier. Another factor is the fact that Riot is a very striking looking dog and will look good on camera. He is roughly the same size I had in mind when creating the character.

"Costume"
Riot, as a dog, won't be wearing a costume for the project. This being said, I have considered whether to groom him neatly. On one hand, he's in a post-apocalyptic environment so being neatly groomed won't be realistic. On the other hand, I would like to groom him as he will look bright and out of place which is the intended look because he represents hope. Furthermore, the fact he is groomed nicely begs the question... how? Does he have an owner to do so? This creates mystery and questions in the audience, making them more inclined to watch on and find out.

Final Script

Final Script

FINAL SCRIPT

Written By Wendy MacKinnon

BLACK SCREEN

NARRATOR:

There's no human left in any of us...

CUT TO:

MAN SLUMPED AGAINST DECAYING WALL

NARRATOR:

But then again...

CUT TO:

MAN PUTS ON GAS MASK AND GETS UP

NARRATOR:

What makes us human?

CUT TO:

MAN WALKS AWAY FROM ORIGINAL SPOT

NARRATOR:

Our morality... or instinct?

CUT TO:

VARIOUS SHOTS OF MAN WALKING THROUGH SCENERY

NARRATOR:

Have you ever felt completely alone?...

Have you ever felt broken?...

Exhausted?...

Isolated?

CUT TO:

BRIEF FLICKER OF WOMAN SCREAMING INCOHERENTLY (FLASHBACK)

CUT TO:

MAN GRABS ONTO TREE BRANCH, LOOKS DISTRESSED

NARRATOR:

Have you ever lost the person who meant everything to you?

CUT TO:

MAN FALLS TO KNEES, TAKES GAS MASK OFF REVEALING TEARY FACE

NARRATOR:

Did you watch them be taken... right before your eyes?

CUT TO:

FLASHBACK OF WOMAN ABOUT TO BE KILLED

CUT TO:

MAN PULLS OUT GUN AND HOLDS UP TO HEAD

NARRATOR:

What keeps you going when everything you have has been ripped from you?

CUT TO:

RUSTLE IN BUSHES, MAN TURNS HEAD

A DOG APPEARS, WALKS UP TO MAN AND SNIFFS HIM

NARRATOR:

Have you ever felt completely alone? 

TITLE APPEARS

Dragon's Den Pitch Feedback

Feedback on Dragon's Den Pitch
This is explaining the outcome of my Dragon's Den pitch.

How Did The Pitch Go?
The pitch was relatively successful, however, I did go over the intended time (3 minutes) when creating my video, though this isn't too large a problem. Furthermore, the sound quality of the video is pretty bad so people may struggle to hear what I'm saying because there is a lot of noise in the video. I tried adding noise reduction, however it distorted my voice making the problem worse, so I left the audio as it was. There are also lots of background noises like my dog moving around and investigating the camera, however, this wasn't too much of a problem as they're not overly distracting. I managed to get across pretty much everything I needed to.

What Feedback Were You Given?
After showing my pitch to a select group of people, I received a range of feedback. Everything said was similar to what I have already been told during my audience research videos, however, I appreciated the reassurance about my idea.

Everybody claimed to like the idea, saying that it sounds very moving and emotional and therefore really suits the expectations of a drama film. Furthermore, they said that it's a very original idea that they would be intrigued to continue watching to see the relationship develop between the dog and the character and see how the character manages to cope with his hardships. They liked the fact that it in itself was a mini-story and therefore made it, as an opening, engaging. They also said that they liked that although it was engaging through its plot, it still was ambiguous enough to allow them to want to watch on to find out more.

One suggestion made, however, was to really ensure that it could be identified as a post-apocalyptic film through other visual prompts, as the environment alone isn't post-apocalyptic enough to be able to distinguish this. Furthermore, they suggested really distinguishing the difference between the flashbacks and the present day scenes so they won't get confused. I had already decided I was going to make both of these clear, but the suggestions have made me understand it fully and really prioritise it in order to make the best opening for my audience. One was also a little weary about introducing so many characters, as they believe that minimal elements in a film opening is most effective to avoid confusing the audience. I won't change this as I know that the characters will only feature very briefly.

Has This Made You More/Less Determined to Continue With Your Coursework Idea?
This has made me more determined as it was nice to receive some reassurance from people that they liked and engaged with my idea and would definitely want to watch the finished product. This reassurance has been vital, particularly as I am working alone and don't have other people helping me or telling my that my ideas are bad/good.

Dragon's Den Pitch

Audience Research Feedback - Film Opening

Feedback From Audience Research (Film Opening)
After asking a small collection of people about what they expected in feature film openings as well as their opinions on my idea I created a summary of what is generally expected.

From a post-apocalyptic opening, people expect to see the setting more than anything else whereas in a drama film people expect characters and character emotion. They believe that film openings in general shouldn't be too chaotic but still remain engaging enough to make them want to watch further. Not too much should be revealed except the most basic information, for example, minimal characters should be used except the main ones and not too many settings being introduced to not overwhelm the audience with too much information. However, there should still be a level of ambiguity left so the audience still have something to watch on for.

What Have You Learnt? 
I learnt that the public have very similar views to eachother as to what they expect from a feature film opening as well as post-apocalyptic/drama film openings. I also learnt that they expect similar things I collected when researching film opening expectations and genre conventions, so it's nice to know that my audience know what to expect too.

What is the General Consensus Towards Your Idea?
The overall opinion on my idea from the sample I asked seemed to like the idea. They said that it would be very emotive and quite a powerful piece of filmmaking. They would quite like to watch the rest to see where it follows on from the opening.

What Might You Change After Conducting This Research?
Now that I know what the public expect from a film, I think that I will ensure my film opening is very simple as the general view is that simplicity is stronger as it won't confuse or overwhelm the audience with too much information and things going on. I will try and maintain some level of ambiguity and mystery but still reveal enough plot to engage the audience.

Audience Research - Film Opening

Film Opening Audience Research
I conducted an interview with a small collection of people in order to obtain the general view regarding what is usually expected within film openings in general as well as drama and post-apocalyptic film openings. This, on top of my research, will help me create a film opening that best suits my audience's interests and expectations. I also ask what the general view is towards my idea so far.

Casting

Potential Cast Members
Now that I have my character profiles created, I can begin to think about what kind of people I can cast based on both physical attributes of the actors and the ability to perform the role. I have selected several people who I would like to consider to play a role in the film.

Male Cast
These actors have told me that they are willing to perform the role of the protagonist in the film. Once I have taken all of them into consideration I can select which one will play the protagonist. To play the male oppressor in my film I will choose my second favourite out of the actors, or whoever may suit that particular role best, though it doesn't require much effort/similarity to the fictional character as only a fraction of the character's body will be in-shot.

Elliott Gillespie
Age: 16 Years Old
Profession: College Student

Why Is He Suitable For The Role?
Firstly, his age is among the category 'young adult', though a little younger than I had in mind, he is still of the appropriate age to play the role, especially if I use makeup and costume to age him a little.

Secondly, I am very close to him and therefore there will be no awkwardness when it comes to directing him, this will majorly impact the ease of filming and potentially improve the quality of the footage because I can instruct him to do whatever I want on camera without either of us feeling uncomfortable.

Having worked with him on a previous practice project, I know that he will be able to adapt to the role naturally, therefore will be able to put on a good performance and improve the quality of the footage - he's talented and natural on camera. Furthermore, he's comfortable with close-ups on his face which will give me more freedom when filming so I don't make him feel uncomfortable with being filmed.

Another reason he is suited to the role is because he lives near me, which will make filming together more convenient and help me decide which to use for my final locations. Furthermore, we share a similar schedule meaning we'll be available to film at the same time which will be extraordinarily convenient.

Furthermore, he's very comfortable and confident and would, therefore, be able to act with people he may not have met previously.

Why Might He Not Be Suitable For The Role? 
Although I believe he will perform the role amazingly, he does have limited acting experience which may hinder his ability to perform. As the character is very different to what Elliott is like in reality, his lack of experience may make him struggle when taking on such a challenging role.

He's quite lazy, which may make him put less effort into performing if he grows tired or bored. Furthermore, he's very stubborn, which may make working with him a little difficult. Another issue is the fact that he's not very punctual, if he's late on the day of filming then this will reduce our filming time which may be a problem.



James Vardigans
Age: 17
Profession: Sixth Form Student

Why Is He Suitable For The Role?
James is suitable for the role because he is a drama student and has lots of experience in acting. He's a talented actor and I believe he would adapt to the role well. He's confident and would be able to work with strangers well. He's very comfortable on camera and would act very naturally.

He's comfortable with close-ups on his face which will give me more freedom when framing shots. He's also very reliable and would, therefore, turn up on time etc.

Why Might He Not Be Suitable For The Role? 
The issue with casting James as the protagonist is the fact that he lives quite far away and therefore would have to take into account the travelling times and costs. Furthermore, I may have to supply transport for him when going to the location that cannot be accessed via public transport, which will be inconvenient as he lives the opposite direction quite far away.



Rowan Knights
Age: 17 Years Old
Profession: College Student

Why Is He Suitable For The Role?

Although he has no experience in professional acting, he has starred in multiple media productions prior to this and therefore has an extended knowledge in what is asked of him and can adapt to roles really well. He's very natural on camera.

We've known each other for a long while and therefore will be comfortable with working together which means filming will be easier and we can film to full potential.

Another factor is the fact that he'd be comfortable with close-ups on her face which gives me more freedom when filming. He also lives nearby, which is extremely convenient.

He's very comfortable with strangers and therefore would be able to perform well with actors that he may have never met before.

Why Might He Not Be Suitable For The Role?
He might not be suitable for the role because he's hard to get hold of and is often quite late when turning up for things. This will impact organizing filming schedules and may risk reducing filming time if he's late.


Female Cast
This character will be featured very briefly as she's part of the flashback sequence. She needs to be relatively the same age as the protagonist.

Erin Stasiorowski
Age: 17 Years Old
Profession: Sixth Form Student

Why Is She Suitable For The Role?
I've used her in a previous practice project, moreover, she takes part in a drama committee so therefore has some experience in acting. She's very expressive. I've also known her for a long time and therefore we would be comfortable working together and she'd therefore act most naturally.

She lives nearby me which is convenient when getting to locations. Furthermore, she'd be comfortable with close-ups on her face which gives me more freedom when filming.

She's very confident around strangers and therefore would be able to perform well with the other actors. She's also very reliable when turning up on time etc.

Why Might She Not Be Suitable For The Role?
Firstly, she may not be comfortable with certain roles, which may limit to what she can perform. Secondly, she does a lot of out-of-curriculum activities which takes up her schedule, meaning planning around her may be very limiting.



Megan Lee
Age: 16 Years Old
Profession: Sixth Form Student

Why Is She Suitable For The Role?
She's suitable for the role because we're good friends and therefore would be comfortable with working with eachother and she can act most naturally. Furthermore, she lives nearby which is very convenient.

She has a very soft expression which means she would be able to play the role of a scared victim naturally and would therefore be good for the role's requirements.

Why Might She Not Be Suitable For The Role? 
She's quite shy which means she would unlikely be comfortable with acting with strangers. Furthermore, she not very confident and may not be able to take on more challenging roles.

She also will unlikely be comfortable with close-up shots which gives me less freedom when capturing particular shots and angles.

Furthermore, she often has a busy schedule so working around that will limit when we can film, especially when we need to work around other actor's schedules and the weather.



Bethany Precious
Age: 17 Years Old
Profession: College Student

Why Might She Be Suitable For The Role?
Firstly, although she hasn't had much experience in acting, I have used her for multiple modelling projects prior to this so I know that she is very good at being directed. She's very natural on camera and is comfortable with close-up shots which is useful.

We know eachother very well and therefore would feel comfortable working with eachother and she would feel able to act naturally.

Why Might She Not Be Suitable For The Role? 
She might not be suitable for the role because she's quite shy and therefore may not feel comfortable around people she's never met before or doesn't know very well. She also has no acting experience so therefore her performance may be hindered by her lack of practice and knowledge.

Part of the time, she lives quite far away so travelling will be very inconvenient. The other part of the time she does live nearby, so we would have to schedule around these times which gives us limited time to schedule filming. Moreover, her schedule is often very busy, especially when she's nearby, so working around her schedule will be difficult.


Animal Cast
As my project involves a dog, I had to consider what kind of dog I will cast in the role. This decision will be based around both the physical attributes of the dog as well as how obedient they are.

Billy 
Age: 3 Years Old
Breed: Pug

Why Is He Suitable For The Role?
Firstly, Billy is a pug, which is a popular and well-loved breed so I know for a fact the audience will respond well to him because he is cute.

He's also very care-free, hyperactive and goofy, which is how I imagined the dog in the story to be like. Casting a dog that is similar to the character is important as dogs have no concept of acting and therefore cannot pretend to be this way.

Why Might He Not Be Suitable For The Role? 
Billy may not be suited to this role because firstly, he lives very far away now which would be very inconvenient when travelling. Secondly, the owner (my sister) would have to give permission and make Billy available for use on the day of filming, which requires relying on their schedule. 

Secondly, Billy isn't the most obedient of dogs and is very easily distracted, so filming with him will be very difficult. Moreover, he's quite timid so working with strangers will be difficult as he will misbehave - I also wouldn't want to make him uncomfortable or unhappy. 

Another issue with Billy is his look himself: he's small whereas the dog I imagined for the production would be a medium to large breed. It's also a recognized breed that is often associated with spoilt or pampered dogs, which wouldn't be fitting in a post-apocalyptic film, especially when the dog is supposed to act as a guard dog. Furthermore, he has a completely black fur coat, which may be difficult to show full details on camera, especially in low light conditions. Not being able to see all of the dog on camera will remove the impact created when the protagonist encounters the dog. 



Cassy
Age: 13 Years Old
Breed: American Staffordshire Terrior

Why Is She Suitable For The Role? 
Cassy is suitable for the role because she's isn't very easily distracted which may make her easier to work with. Secondly, she can follow basic commands eg. sit and is somewhat obedient. She's also very well behaved on walks and therefore, constantly supervising her wouldn't be too much of an issue when working on scenes not involving her. 

Why Might She Not Be Suitable For The Role?
The main issue with casting Cassy is her age, although she's a very active dog she may struggle with a very long and tiring day of walking and filming. Furthermore, she looks her age as she's greying - this is a problem because the dog in the story is very young and a very old dog surviving in the post-apocalyptic setting is unrealistic. 

Moreover, amstaffs are often associated with aggression and although this stigma is wrong, the audience may interpret her presence in the wrong way. If she's not seen as potentially aggressive, she has a very sad-looking expression which may also create the wrong image, as the dog is supposed to be carefree and represent hope.



Benjy
Age: 9 Years Old
Breed: Whippet

Why Is He Suitable For The Role?
Benjy is suitable for the role because he can follow basic commands such as sit etc. He's a medium sized dog breed which is an appropriate size for the image I had in my head. Moreover, he is very good with strangers which means if he works with someone he has never met before he will be comfortable, which is a main priority. 

Why Might He Not Be Suitable For The Role?
Benjy might not be suitable for the role because he's quite misbehaved on walks and is likely to run off - this will require constant supervision which will be difficult when there's so little of us (two) on set and we will be distracted with filming scenes not involving Benjy. Moreover, he's quite dog aggressive which would cause a huge issue if we were to encounter another dog in the forest which is highly likely as forests are popular among dog walkers.

Another issue is the fact that Benjy is not very food or toy oriented, especially when outside on walks, which means getting his attention and making him obey commands on camera will be difficult.

Furthermore, the dog's character is supposed to be quite protective as he must act like a guard dog, despite his carefree nature. Benjy is a whippet, which is a breed not associated with toughness so using him as a dog that's supposed to be a guard dog is not appropriate.



Riot 
Age: 1 Year Old
Breed: Australian Shepherd

Why Is He Suitable For The Role? 
Riot is suitable for the role because he has a very carefree, happy, goofy and hyperactive disposition, making him appropriate for the role as this is what the character is like. Moreover, Riot is very obedient and will likely obey commands on camera. He's also very accustomed to the equipment as he has been the subject of many of my photography projects.

Another advantage to using Riot as the character is the fact that he's well behaved on walks and therefore won't require constant supervision which will make filming the scenes without him in so much easier.

Riot is also the appropriate age for the role, as the dog is supposed to be approximately 2 and Riot is coming up to two, so he looks the age of the character. He's also very striking looking which will look good on camera and be interesting when paired with a post-apocalyptic setting because his colourful coat and eyes will contrast with the brown and sombre tones. He's also the size I had in mind when creating the character. Aussies aren't very common breeds so it will unlikely be recognised, this is appropriate for a post-apocalyptic film because there would unlikely still be pedigrees.

Why Might He Not Be Suitable For The Role? 
Riot is very hyperactive, although this is what the character is like it may make him misbehave on camera making filming difficult. Moreover, when there are other dogs walking past - which is likely in a forest - he wants to greet them so this would majorly disrupt filming.

Characters

Character Planning 
In my opening, I am including 4 characters. Though 2 are featured briefly, they are used as a method of exposition to help the audience truly understand what the protagonist has endured. The third character is featured briefly, yet is the only character that acts as a direct driving force in the narrative, this prevents the opening sequence from being too complex and therefore confusing the audience. I will create character profiles while using notes underneath each subject to justify why I've given them this specific attribute.


Character A - Protagonist
Character A is the protagonist and will appear throughout the majority of the sequence.

Name: Unnamed

The reason I didn't give my protagonist a name is because in this fictional world, as it isn't life as we know it, I was unsure whether I wanted the characters to use names as it is a very 'civilised' concept and the characters are said to live according to 'human instinct'. His name prior to the 'apocalypse' may be revealed depending on the direction of the film. 

Age: Young Adult

I didn't want the character to be tied to a specific age because this would give me more leniency with casting. Furthermore, their attributes did not associate with a specific age and, therefore, it would not matter too much, especially seeing as said attributes are a concept created by living in a society, this piece is not set in a society. The reason I wanted them to be a young adult, however, was because that would typically make a person more 'able' as they're in the prime of their life. If they were older they would struggle more and the concept of them surviving in a post-apocalyptic setting would be unrealistic, especially when a convention of dramas is realism. A character any younger would typically not be very experienced/emotional or able to survive as their bodies are too young and frail to cope in such an environment. 

Profession: "Survivor"

Because my character lives in a world in which employment is non-existent, they do not have a paidprofession. This being said, they take it upon themselves to fulfil the job of surviving: this would involve gathering, hunting and salvaging etc. 

Likes: His former significant other, animals

Living in a post-apocalyptic world, there wouldn't be many luxuries for the protagonist to like. Morevoer, the reason I have attributed so little interests to him is because I don't want to overcomplicate the opening by involving too many characteristics, so the only likes I've chosen to include are those that are established in the opening based on his reactions. The reason he likes animals is because his sudden restore in hope when encountering the dog suggests this. Furthermore, his dislike for humans because of past events has led him to like animals because they don't commit 'evil' deeds, human 'instinct' being a common theme in my opening. 

Dislikes: Other survivors, being alone, the world, life as he knows it

His dissatisfaction with being alone is understandable as it's a common dislike of most humans, especially when you have been literally alone for as long as he has. He hates the world because he's alone and he hates having to survive and live the way he does. His hate for life as he knows it is made evident by his attempt to end his own life. However, the main reason for his depression is being alone, which is why encountering the dog will change his mind. This leads on to the fact that he hates other survivors, despite being alone. This is because the survivors he had encountered before were the reason for the death of his partner, which has now led him no longer trusting other humans. 

History: A portion of the character's history is revealed in the opening two minutes, however slowly I think throughout the rest of the film the remainder of his history will be unravelled. For the portion the audience sees in the opening sequence, we find out that he had someone very close to him, assumedly his partner, though this isn't made explicit, is murdered brutally by another survivor. The protagonist either escaped or was left for dead, somehow surviving. Prior to this, he spent his time surviving/scavenging with his partner until he encountered the group of bloodthirsty looters which lead to his downfall.  Before the 'apocalypse' he lived a rather average lifestyle in an urban environment. Whether he met his partner after the 'apocalypse' or before is undecided.

Traits: Resourceful, agile and strong, emotional, strong-willed, empathetic, hopeful, bitter.

The reason he is resourceful, agile and strong is because he's survived this long, which only suggests that he must have these traits. He's evidently emotional when we meet him, and he's empathetic judging by how he reacts with the dog. Furthermore, incorporating the empathetic trait will make him more likeable as a character to the audience, he's strong willed because he's come this far and has only just broken down, and he's hopeful, though this isn't evident at the beginning, meeting the dog easily restores his hope so just a minor thing can make a big difference. Although depressed, I thought it would be appropriate that he's bitter about life and his past. This is suggested by the tone in the narration. 

Three Words to Describe Him: Broken, exhausted, isolated


Character B - Dog
This is the last character introduced but is the character that drives the narrative forward just a fraction to begin the film and create hope and suspense.

Name: Unnamed

As mentioned previously, there isn't a naming system in the world anymore, however, throughout the rest of the film he would likely be referred to by affectionate nicknames, eg. 'Buddy' etc. 

Age: Approximately 2 Years Old

Two years old is the prime of a dog's life and therefore the dog would be most able, this adds realism to it as an old dog would struggle in a situation and a puppy would be too dependent to survive on its own. 

Profession: Guarding

During the rest of the film the protagonist will use the dog to help keep an eye out on potential predators (other survivors).

Likes: the protagonist, friendly humans, food, playing

He likes generic dog things. 

Dislikes: threats, violent/threatening survivors

Especially seeing as he's used as a guard dog, it would be fitting that he dislikes threats. 

History: The dog was born after the 'apocalypse' as he's quite young, he was socialised and raised by kind humans which is why he has a fondness of the protagonist. His previous (or current, depending on the direction of the film) owner is a kind old secluded man. He was either killed by looters or lives in his own setup, where the dog may lead the protagonist.

Traits: Carefree, gentle, happy, hyperactive, protective, agile, impatient

He displays the generic traits of a dog: happy and carefree and hyperactive - the reason why I chose a dog because they contrast with the misery in which the protagonist is suffering. The reason I chose protective is because he works as a guard dog. 

Three Words to Describe Him: Happy-go-lucky, innocent, loyal


Character C - The Former Partner
This character is a huge part of the protagonist's past and is only featured to aid the exposition.

Name: Unnamed

Reinforcing the lack of naming system, however, throughout the rest of the film she will likely be referred to as 'somebody I used to know'. Her name prior to the 'apocalypse' may be revealed depending on the direction of the film. 

Age: Young Adult

Despite being deceased in the present time, she still evidently survived the 'apocalypse' and therefore would be most realistic if she was fairly young, active and able. Furthermore, having her a similar age makes them seem more like lovers as this isn't an established fact during the opening of the film.

Likes: the protagonist, animals

Obviously, she would have liked the protagonist. I decided that she liked animals as it's another reason as to why the protagonist is fond of the dog: he's a sweet reminder of her. 

Dislikes: Murder, violence

I imagine her to be quite an empathetic, passive character as she represents the old 'light of his life' and therefore must reflect positive things. Furthermore, it makes the fact that she died at the hands of violence just that more emotive. 

History: Before her death, she spent her time surviving with the protagonist. They pretty much share a history.

Traits: Empathetic, sympathetic, passive, patient, happy natured, kind

As she's supposed to reflect happiness as she was from a time of his life in which he was happy, I thought this traits were most fitting.

Three Words to Describe Them: Optimistic, loyal, passive


Character D - Murderer
Not much is learnt about this character during the opening, except that he's likely the initiater of the protagonist's downfall.

Name: Unnamed

Age: Adult

Precise age is, firstly, no longer a concept in this world, however, the audience will be able to see that the character is a little older than the protagonist and his partner. This is to make him seem intimidating to them as age often comes with authority. 

Profession: "Looter/bandit", this involves physically taking character's survival kits by either force or intimidation.

This involves physically taking character's survival kits by either force or intimidation and would be a fitting 'job' for a violent character. 

Likes: stealing, violence, murder

Dislikes: people who fight back, those who don't obey/submit to him, threats

History: This character grew to suit the rugged lifestyle of surviving and soon became the leader of a gang of looters/bandits, the power grew to his head and his sanity is now questioned.

Traits: manipulative, violent, shameless, unsympathetic, hateful

Three Words To Describe Them: unlawful, dishonourable, bloodthirsty

Location Planning

Potential Locations To Use
Now that I have a developed idea as to what I'm doing and what I'm trying to create, I can start to take into consideration the exact locations available to me to potentially use in my final piece. I can choose to select a location based around the research I have conducted and the conventions of my genres: drama and post-apocalyptic. However, I may choose to challenge these conventions based on the effect I want to create during this specific sequence.

As Post-Apocalyptic is a very setting/environment specific genre, I have chosen to loosely follow the setting conventions surrounding it to allow the target audience to identify its genre so it will appeal to them. This will have many difficulties as the typical setting of this genre is an unfamiliar/wasteland style setting. Finding this environment will be hard as we live in a very civilised/built-up world, however, using places such as derelict buildings or areas that look decayed and dead will help create this image. Emphasising the destroyed/post-apocalyptic style can be done by incorporating elements of mise-en-scene to suggest death and destruction aftermath, for example, skulls, dead plants, rubble etc. The unfamiliarity has to be emphasised to depict the world-as-we-know-it destroyed, therefore using ordinary locations eg. office or middle class, suburban style houses etc would not be appropriate. Moreover, using recognisable or famous landmarks will not be appropriate either - particularly areas that will be flooded with tourists and people in general. Bustling areas will definitely not be appropriate either.

I have decided not to follow the setting conventions of a drama film as dramas focus on realism. The settings are often familiar and are associated with ordinary lifestyles, this will contradict the unfamiliarity of the conventional post-apocalyptic setting.

Location Ideas
There will be three locations involved in my final piece, the primary location (where the protagonist encounters the dog) and the secondary locations (where the flashback is situated and where the protagonist is seen slumped against a wall before setting off on his journey). The secondary locations will be featured briefly, however, incorporating them will help the audience develop a sense of setting as a whole, as it shows a more representative picture of what the fictional world is like.

Scene Involving Dog - Why Using This Location Is Suitable for What I'm Trying to Achieve
This is the primary location for the film opening and is, therefore, what the audience will see most of as it features heavily. Therefore, choosing an effective location is important to help set the tone for the majority of the opening sequence. The setting I had in mind was a very scenic and natural environment, and, therefore, have chosen to base it in a forest. This is the most appropriate location for the following reasons: firstly, it connotes peace. Although the film is set in a post-apocalyptic setting, I still wanted to maintain an element of peace to the film - this is because the character has gone to a peaceful place to die to make the moment seem more beautiful and emotional as opposed to tense and unsettling, therefore using a peaceful location is appropriate. Furthermore, despite the peaceful connotations of the forest, I still wanted to resemble a dead/overgrown and untended to world so it would suit the post-apocalyptic theme. Using a forest in this time of year will certainly be very brown, bare and dead, which will resemble a wasteland on camera if paired with the right mise-en-scene conditions for definite. Another reason a forest is a good location is because it is enclosed - this creates a sense of security because it is not open and the characters are, therefore, not exposed to potential predators. This heightens the peacefulness of the location. On the contrary, the enclosed nature of the location can connote suffocation, which may represent the character's feeling of weight and burden because of his past. Lastly, the natural setting is extremely appropriate because the character is at his barest which could be reflected through the use of a natural environment. Furthermore, depicting the character in a natural environment links to the idea of human instinct, which is one of the themes in the opening to my film.

Potential Locations

• Thetford Forest, Thetford, Norfolk. 

What Thetford Forest would look like during this time of year (winter)

Thetford Forest is a forest and nature reserve local to me. It is the largest 'lowland pine forest' in the UK and spans across South Norfolk and North Suffolk. It contains a variation of vegetation and trees, specifically an abundance of tall pine trees. It is a man-made forest, so the trees are all aligned in rows which gives it an interesting look. Furthermore, across it are scattered old buildings, nearby a priory. It contains both compact areas as well as open plains so the diverse terrain can be used for multiple purposes.

Why is This Location Suitable?
This location is good for the following reasons: firstly, it's convenient because it's local: it's only a ten minute drive from where I live and is therefore easily accessible. Moreover, not only is it easily accessible to me, but to my desired actor also (only one actor is featured in the scenes involving the forest) as we live in neighbouring villages,

Secondly, it's large, which means I have a range of different areas to work with so if one section of the forest does not suit the look I am attempting to achieve then I can relocate to another area that will. It gives me more freedom and choice with exactly how I want the location in the footage to look. Because it's large, it also makes the chance of encountering people less likely than a smaller woodland, as there's a smaller chance people will be in the same area I will be. This is important because a theme in my film is isolation, the world must look desolate and empty to conform to the typical post-apocalyptic setting and make the audience see why the protagonist feels alone and feels that life is not worth living. Furthermore, because people are less likely to walk by and disrupt the filming, the dog in my video will not be distracted by passersby and thus make working with them a lot easier. It's also a particularly deep and remote forest, which means there won't be much civilisation and busy towns nearby. This is good because the footage won't contain any industrial activity in the background and appear very natural and quiet, which is the look I'm trying to achieve. Furthermore, if I do ultimately decide I want to use the audio from my footage, then there won't be any everyday background noise that would be produced in busy areas for example, people chattering, traffic etc.

Another reason this location is suitable is because of the actual type of forest itself and how it looks. Because it contains pine trees and vegetation that endures winter very well, the branches won't look completely bare and therefore extraordinarily ugly on footage - particularly in sharp footage. Moreover, any vegetation that was green will now be brown as it's winter, which is exactly what I had in mind as brown, sombre tones is a conventional style in post-apocalyptic films. Furthermore, despite the forest being very deep, it can be quite sparse in areas, which will therefore let a lot of natural light in. This is a nice look because not only is it very aesthetically pleasing it also will prevent the footage from being too dark or too noisy.

Although it contains some compact areas, there are sparse areas to. This means it will be easy to manoeuvre around in order to get the best shots from various different angles and distances.

Why Might This Location Not Be Suitable?
This location carries a few drawbacks. Firstly, the fact it is very large may be very advantageous to me, but depending on how deep we want to travel to find that desired look, it may be difficult to travel such large distances with all the heavy equipment, props and a dog. Furthermore, the valuable time spent travelling through the forest would be used up wastefully when I need to allocate the majority of the time to actually filming, especially during this time of year when the daylight is only about for so long and I'll need to make the most of it. If we choose to film in the shallower areas of the forest, we would likely be near a main road which will be very problematic. Firstly, the sound of traffic may be heard in the audio (if I choose to keep the audio, although this is not the plan, never say never) and having a dog would put them at risk of danger wandering into the main road. To get round this, I will make sure I start very early to leave a good amount of time for filming whilst still having the time to find the perfect spot for filming.

Thetford Forest in the Winter Sun

Secondly, despite there being sparse areas in the forest, there are some very confined areas. This will restrict movement and may even get in the way of obtaining a good shot because of the inability to manoeuvre into a suitable angle or distance.

Furthermore, as a high profile forest it is target to a lot of hikers, dog walkers and just pedestrians in general. Although the sheer size will prevent chances of us encountering these hikers, particularly if we avoid pathways and public routes, if we do encounter people they could disrupt the filming and distract my actor and the dog. Furthermore, if they walk into frame, then we well have to redo that entire shot once they have gone which will be very inconvenient and use up valuable time.

Another problem that would arise if we situated our filming here is acquiring transport to get there. Although it is a local woodland, to walk it would be unrealistic as it is only accessible via a dangerous main road. This would be worsened by the fact we would be carrying heavy equipment, props and supervising a dog, so walking there is a definite no. This would mean I would have to secure transport for myself and the actor and cannot rely on ourselves as neither of us can drive. This would require relying on somebody else's schedule - likely a parent of sibling of mine who can drive, as there is no public transport leading to it.

• Wayland Wood, Watton, Norfolk

The second location I have considered is Wayland Wood, an ancient woodland local to me. Wayland Wood has a very old history and is the home to the famous folklore tale, subject of a short film produced by the Walt Disney Company, 'The Babes In The Wood', where the ghosts of the children featured in the fairy tale are said to allegedly 'haunt the woods'. The nature reserve contains an abundance of varied vegetation, terrain and trees. It mostly contains confined areas, however, does include multiple fields and meadows nearby. Moreover, there is plenty of wildlife and many flowers growing in the woodland, most notably bluebells, so it is a very pretty woodland. 

Wayland Wood with the many bluebells bloomed in the Summertime

Why is This Location Suitable?

The first thing that makes it suitable is the fact that it's a nature reserve and, therefore, won't contain any industrial or tourist-oriented features, eg. gift shops or large signs. This is appropriate because the film is supposed to convey a very natural environment, showing no signs of any current civilisation. Furthermore, it will reduce the chance of running into pedestrians as it is not the subject to tourism, which would be good because my actor/dog won't be distracted and the theme of isolation can be conveyed and there won't be busy people and buildings in the background.

It's remote and away from the surrounding town and village, therefore won't have any everyday background noises or any industrial developments in view.

Secondly, it's very convenient. Driving to it would take approximately five minutes and it is within walking distance - although 3 miles away so may prove difficult when hauling the heavy equipment.

It's quite a small woodland and therefore wouldn't require too much travelling to find a good spot for filming. It's a very beautiful woodland, particularly in the summer time. 

Why Might This Location Not Be Suitable? 
This location carries many drawbacks, for example, it's quite a small woodland in contrast to others and therefore will increase the chance of encountering pedestrians. Furthermore, it would mean that finding the 'perfect' spot will be more difficult when there's less woodland to choose from. Not only will the size be quite problematic, but the density of it will too. It's quite a compact woodland and, therefore, manoeuvring around trying to achieve the perfect angle will be quite hard in between the compact trees. The fact the trees are so close may prevent enough light from entering, which will detriment the final footage as it may be too dark to see or too noisy. Furthermore, the dark, low-key lighting will be too sinister or tense for the beautiful and emotional moment I'm trying to create.

Photograph taken in Wayland Wood

Secondly, the forest's look itself isn't fitting. Although beautiful, it's far too lush and colourful to create a post-apocalyptic aura. During winter, it will be more bare, but the grass will still be too green when the image I had in mind was overgrown, brown-tinged grass as opposed to cut, maintained and bright green, healthy looking grass. It just looks too lively to fit the conventions of a post-apocalyptic drama.

Another problem surrounding Wayland Wood is the fact that it is quite popular among dog watchers and those 'close to nature'. This would mean that it's very likely pedestrians will disrupt filming by walking on set or distracting my actor/dog from afar. Given the size of the wood, any visitors in the wood will most probably stumble upon us filming and waste time by ruining our shots that we'd have to re-film. If I decide to leave them in shot this will completely destroy the theme of isolation and desolation I'm trying to create.

• Kett's Park Community and Recreation Centre, Wymondham, Norfolk

Kett's Park is a large recreational ground in the town of Wymondham, Norfolk. It features a play area and a sports hall. Although it contains these built up features, there is a sparse woodland enveloping the spacious field. 

Extreme long shot depicting the entirety of Kett's Park. Note the shallow woodland surrounding the park would be the only section I would film in. 

Why Is This Location Suitable?

This location is somewhat suitable for the following reasons: firstly, the woodland section of the park can only be accessed after crossing a large field. This means it is far away from the road and would secure the dog's safety as well as ensure there is no traffic seen and heard in the background of the footage. 

Secondly, the woodland is sparse and therefore is easy to manoeuvre around and capture the perfect angles etc. Because the woodland is such an insignificant part to the recreational field, people tend to not venture through it as there are far more interesting attractions surrounding it. This means people are unlikely to walk past us and disrupt the filming. 

Why Might This Location Not Be Suitable? 

This location has many drawbacks. For example, the fact that the woodland is so shallow means that the recreational grounds and buildings are visible from inside the woodland. Although this can be avoided by carefully positioning the camera, it is still an unnecessary drawback. 

Kett's Park Playing Field

Secondly, the location is in a recreational park in a town - it's most definitely going to be occupied by people who are most likely to disrupt filming by accidentally walking in shot from far away. This isn't helped by the shallow woodland, because people who are walking on the field will even be visible. This will destroy the theme of isolation I want to create and therefore won't be fitting. 

Another problem with this location is the fact that it's too bland looking. The trees will be bare (making the background even more visible) and it will just be overall ugly. I want to choose a beautiful location because the scene is very emotional and beautiful. They need to correspond.

Another issue with this location is how far away it is. Wymondham is 15 miles away from me and my desired actor so we would therefore have to secure transport. Although there is public transport available, travelling with a dog and the equipment on transport may be quite problematic.

• RAF Watton Airfield, Watton, Norfolk

The Watton airfield is a former Royal Airforce station that was used actively by the American Forces and the RAF as a bomber airfield during the Second World War. Now reduced to farmland, it is scattered with collections of pine trees, mounds, a runway and turntable and ruminants of old wartime buildings. 

An Aerial View of how the Airfield looked
not long ago. It has been adapted for farming
but looks very similar to this

Why Is This A Suitable Location? 

It has a collection of forestry which that includes tall pine trees which is the image I had in mind. It is quite overgrown with dried out grass and vegetation and therefore will look very appropriate for a post-apocalyptic film. 

Photo taken on the airfield, although you can't see much of it
as it focuses on the subject, you get a taste as to what the footage
may look like - my subject included - if I situated filming here

It's nearby my other planned locations and, therefore, will be convenient if I decide to schedule filming to the same day. Moreover, nearby and within the forestry are derelict architectural structures that will especially suit the post-apocalyptic environment.

I am very familiar with the location and therefore won't have to spend too much time trying to find a place to film, I know where everything is and therefore can get straight into filming, saving time. 

Despite only being small collections of trees, they're very dense and therefore the background won't be picked up on camera. 

Why Might This Not Be A Suitable Location? 

There are only small collections of trees, therefore, it doesn't give much freedom of choice when selecting the 'perfect' spot to film in. 

Because it has been transformed into farmland, it is now private land. The owners don't have an issue with people using the airfield as a method to get from place to place, however, they may be a little suspicious by extended activity on there, as there have been a history of crimes performed on the farmland eg. fires. This would put availability at risk. 

Secondary Scenes - Why Your Chosen Setting is Suitable For the Look You're Trying to Achieve

In this secondary scene, the protagonist is seen slumped against a wall before putting his gas mask on and setting off on his journey. The reason I wanted to incorporate this scene into the film is because I want the character to be introduced in a more intimate way, not watching him walk through woods. This will allow the audience to see him as a broken man from the very beginning so they'll be intrigued as to why he's in this state.

Given the fact that this scene is the first thing the audience will see, I need to select a location that will really correspond with the broken, depressed image and really set the emotive tone for the film. This is why I have chosen to film it in a derelict building. Not only does the broken and worn-down nature of the type of building correspond with the depressing theme, the fact that the building is 'abandoned' will really establish the post-apocalyptic setting as derelict buildings are a common convention in post-apocalyptic films. 

I will also use a derelict building for the flashback - preferably a different one to really develop the sense of setting and show what the fictional world is like (abandoned). It will also mark the difference in time periods if I use a different building. 

• Old Wartime Building, RAF Watton Airfield, Norfolk

This wartime building is locally dubbed 'the abandoned prison' due to the many cells, barred windows and tiny rooms in the derelict building. Although it was unlikely used as a jail, its strong resemblance holds an eeriness to it. It's a large building with overgrown vegetation around it and graffiti walls. I cannot find much information online about this building in particularly, so do not know the real original purpose of it. 

A small fragment of the building

Why Is This Location Suitable? 

This location is suitable because it looks destroyed and abandoned, which will really suit the post-apocalyptic genre. It fulfils all the purposes to an abandoned building: it can be entered through multiple entrances and looks rundown without using other methods to establish the fact it is an abandoned building.

Despite no artificial lighting, the building is very well lit through random windows and holes in the walls and roof. This will improve the footage because it assures it isn't too grainy or indistinguishable. Furthermore, the grey walls cancel out any liveliness that too much sunlight will produce, and therefore is very fitting because it doesn't look too happy but at the same time isn't too scary looking either. It corresponds with the broken theme. 

Another reason why this location is suitable is because it's very local: within walking distance. This is very convenient. It has a military vibe which suits the post-apocalyptic theme.

It's also a particularly large building and therefore produces a range of precise places to film in. 

Why Might This Location Not Be Suitable? 

This location might not be suitable because of the people who visit it. As it's close to the town it attracts a lot of pedestrians who go there to hang about. This may get in the way of filming as because the walls are echoey there is a lot of reverb, making the voices of these people louder which will appear on the audio. Moreover, if they walk into a room in which we're filming then they'll most likely disrupt filming, 

Secondly, it's such a large building with so many different features that will look good on camera. Deciding which precise area I want to film in will prove difficult. 

Another drawback to the location is the fact it is situated on private land. Although this doesn't stop people from entering it, it still may put us at risk for being told off which will really disrupt filming and require us to find another location. 

• Bomb Shelters, RAF Watton Airfield, Norfolk

There are a selection of four bomb shelters used during the Second World War, concealed in an array of overgrown bushes and trees on the Watton Airfield. They contain tiny, smashed windows and professional writing (place names) on plates on the wall.

One of four of the bomb shelters in the area

Why Is This a Suitable Location? 

Firstly, this is a suitable location because it is so hidden there would be no pedestrians there to disrupt the filming, which would make the process so much easier. There would be no background chatting in the audio (if I choose to keep it) and there would be nobody in the background of the shot to break the theme of isolation.

Photograph taken inside one of the bomb
shelters

Another reason this location is suitable is the fact that it looks very derelict - it doesn't look pristine so it suits the conventions of the post-apocalyptic genre. Moreover, you can enter them so I wouldn't have to film just outside of the structure, which is handy because there's more to film in. Furthermore, there are four of the bomb shelters that each have subtly different aspects, this gives me more choice in choosing the perfect spot.

Another advantage to using this location is it's not covered in graffiti which means it won't be risky capturing inappropriate writing on the wall. It has a military vibe which suits the post-apocalyptic theme. To my recollection, there's a random mattress in this location which might look interesting/artistic on camera if utilised well.

Why Might This Location Not Be Suitable? 

Another one of the bomb shelters

This location has several drawbacks. Firstly, having focused portrait photography projects here I've realised that because it's so concealed and has tiny windows there is minimal lighting, so the footage is likely to turn out noisy or hard to distinguish. This will affect the overall consistency and quality of the footage. Furthermore, the low-key lighting may create a heavier, scarier mood then intended and ruin the emotional theme of the story.

Another issue is it's accessibility; in order to reach the building you have to cross a pile of logs and other obstacles, this may be difficult when hauling heavy equipment.

• Abandoned Chapel, Griston, Norfolk

On a small road in the village where I live, there is a small, derelict building assumed to be a chapel by locals
because of the religious nature of the plaques above and beside the door. Moreover, the houses surrounding it are titled 'Chapel Cottages', so it stands to reason that the assumption is correct. There is no information online regarding the building, having spent a long while futilely attempting to research it. There is no obvious entrance to it and it is enveloped in ivy and vegetation.

Front view of the building

Why Is This Location Suitable?

This location is suitable because it looks abandoned: it has smashed windows, boarded up doors and ivy growing all around it so it will suit the post-apocalyptic genre. Furthermore, it's connection with God and religion would be interesting to play on in the film as it suggests a history of civilisation that has now been evidently destroyed, adding subtly to the exposition.

Another benefit to using this building would be the fact that it's extraordinarily convenient as it's less than a 2 minutes walk from my house, therefore no transport would need to be required and hauling the equipment wouldn't be too much of a hassle.

Another advantage to this location would be the fact that it's hidden away on a residential road so nobody is likely to walk past and interrupt filming as it's a quiet village. It's also not on private land and therefore wouldn't put me at risk for being asked to leave if we choose to film here.

Why Might This Location Not Be Suitable?

Barely Visible: Image from Google Maps

This location might not be suitable because it's such a tiny building, meaning there won't be much cannot be entered, so would, therefore, have to film outside of the building which wasn't exactly what I had in mind. Furthermore, it gives me even less of a choice when deciding where abouts the building to film.

Another difficulty this building might carry is the fact that it's hidden away by bushes which may block out alot of the natural lighting and potentially make the footage dark or noisy.

Furthermore, it's situated directly next to the airfield/farmland vehical entrance, and if we film on a day in which the farmers are working then there may be farm traffic coming in and out of the airfield which may interrupt filming. 

• Corrugated Steel Fences, Griston, Norfolk

Outside of the recreational grounds, in the village I live in, is an overgrown patch of land featuring a dome/steep mound made out of vines and a long line of corrugated steel fencing, which were once used to block off entrance onto the airfield nearby many years ago.

Why Is This Location Suitable?

An advantage to using this location is the fact that it's very convenient as it's a minute's walk from my house. It's also easily accessible as there's nothing blocking off the entrance and it's a part of the recreational grounds so nobody is forbidden to enter the segment of land. 

Secondly, it's not in use and isn't a target of any interest by anyone so nobody will walk by and disrupt the filming or cause a distraction, especially as it's almost unnoticeable next to the recreational park. 

Another reason this location is good to use is because it's very overgrown and therefore looks like the setting to the post-apocalyptic genre. Its corrugated steel fencing is reminiscent of the military which is a common part to the iconography that makes up the post-apocalyptic genre.

It's an open area and therefore lets in loads of light, making the quality of the footage stronger. 

Why Might This Location Not Be Suitable?

This location carries several drawbacks, firstly, it's not actually a derelict building so doesn't precisely fit the image I had in mind. 

It's overgrown with brambles and stinging nettles which might make the filming process uncomfortable or painful. It also has residential houses encompassing two sides to it so we would have to carefully frame the images so they don't come into view and ruin the isolated/post-apocalyptic aura. 

What Have You Considered When Choosing Locations

In addition to the pros and cons I have listed above, I have also thought about whether weather conditions matter when filming my opening and have come to the conclusion that yes, they do. Firstly, the image I have in my head is very sunny, golden footage, as this will not only look the most beautiful but it will also fit the emotional, dramatic and beautiful mood of the film, especially seeing as hope is a key theme in my opening sequence. Although sunshine isn't very fitting to the post-apocalyptic genre I thought it would suit my film opening more than using dull, grey weather would, to suit the inspiring mood.

This is why using the locations I have - in natural settings with no artificial lighting - will require sunny weather when filming, as I have no other light sources to simulate the golden, sunny effect while still being natural/appropriate for the post-apocalyptic genre. Weather is also important as most are exterior scenes or only rely on natural lighting as no locations host artificial lighting. This is why it's important for the weather to be good in order to produce visible and high-resolution footage. 

Not only have I considered weather, I have also considered availability. Alot of the locations I have picked are on private land, which is why I have selected loads of different examples of locations to potentially use so I know that I definitely have multiple back-ups planned when I finally get round to choosing my final locations. 

I have also focused on whether my cast can get there, most of the potential actors I have chosen will be able to, however, one or two may not, depending on if transport can be acquired, though it likely can it's still important to take this into consideration. This will help me decide if using these actors is the best choice, though it will not play the major choosing role. 

Are You Using Exterior/Interior Locations?

I have decided to use both exterior and interior locations. The reason I have chosen exterior is because I want my character to be against a natural backdrop to reflect on how he is in his barest state. There's constant reference to nature through the film, eg. in the script or the arrival of the dog. Therefore being in a natural environment is important. Furthermore, finding an interior location that will also suit the post-apocalyptic theme will be difficult as I need to establish to the audience that there is no longer a civilisation. 

The reason I have chosen an interior location to begin with is because I want to make the most of derelict/rubble buildings that reflect on how broken the character is.