Location choices and pictures
When filming a trailer it is key that the location fits with what is going on within the shots. As our genre was zombie we chose locations which were quiet and secluded giving an apocalyptic feel to it. We also had to find an appropriate location to film what appears to be the safe heaven, we had in mind to film some kind of large shutter as the entrance and to film a building that looks like a run down factory of some sorts. Although the locations we used met the conventions of a zombie horror we did add the 'combat' effect to make it look even more gloomy and dark, the effect allowed the shots to take an almost yellow tint to it to represent the style of a zombie apocalypse as effective as we could.
FILMING THE ZOMBIE SHOTS
With the makeup and preparation for making an effective looking zombie requiring a lot of time and concentration we decided to film the zombie shots close to a cast members house. This allowed us to create the zombies inside in the dry before going out and shooting the shots we needed. For the zombie shots we wanted to have some kind of empty background to show nothing remains in the apocalypse, we also wanted to have minimum sound in the background so the zombies moans and groans could be heard. As such we decided to film the zombie shots in an open field with a running brook and wooded area next to it, this gave the location a quiet and creepy feeling to it allowing the zombies to fit in to their surroundings. We also filmed some shots on a bridge heading towards an estate, this showed the zombies to have a completely free roam as their was no one around to stop them.
With the makeup and preparation for making an effective looking zombie requiring a lot of time and concentration we decided to film the zombie shots close to a cast members house. This allowed us to create the zombies inside in the dry before going out and shooting the shots we needed. For the zombie shots we wanted to have some kind of empty background to show nothing remains in the apocalypse, we also wanted to have minimum sound in the background so the zombies moans and groans could be heard. As such we decided to film the zombie shots in an open field with a running brook and wooded area next to it, this gave the location a quiet and creepy feeling to it allowing the zombies to fit in to their surroundings. We also filmed some shots on a bridge heading towards an estate, this showed the zombies to have a completely free roam as their was no one around to stop them.
THE CANNIBAL SHOTS
As we wanted the cannibals to look reasonably comfortable in their surroundings we made sure we filmed in a place that wasn't to run down or destroyed. For the initial building that was to be filmed at night as the outside view of the safe heaven we decided to film a slightly decayed factory in an industrial area of Gloucester town. This gave the building the factory style look we was hoping for, it also had large shutters in which we could use for the arrival of the three survivors. We filmed the rest of the shots with the cannibals in the school boiler room, the boiler room again gave the view that the building was previously used for industrial purposes, the room also had a dark and eerie feeling to it instantly suggesting something wasn't right. We filmed the all important meeting of the cannibals within the boiler room and the escape of the main characters, this showed the location to almost look like the main room for the building where the residents greet the new comers and where all the action happened. Finally we filmed the cannibal chase scene around and at the back of our school. This allowed us to show off tall fences, storage creates, steps and large double doors all making it look confusing for the characters to escape. The run down location created the view that the safe heaven also had a compound in which the characters had to find their way around and escape from.
As we wanted the cannibals to look reasonably comfortable in their surroundings we made sure we filmed in a place that wasn't to run down or destroyed. For the initial building that was to be filmed at night as the outside view of the safe heaven we decided to film a slightly decayed factory in an industrial area of Gloucester town. This gave the building the factory style look we was hoping for, it also had large shutters in which we could use for the arrival of the three survivors. We filmed the rest of the shots with the cannibals in the school boiler room, the boiler room again gave the view that the building was previously used for industrial purposes, the room also had a dark and eerie feeling to it instantly suggesting something wasn't right. We filmed the all important meeting of the cannibals within the boiler room and the escape of the main characters, this showed the location to almost look like the main room for the building where the residents greet the new comers and where all the action happened. Finally we filmed the cannibal chase scene around and at the back of our school. This allowed us to show off tall fences, storage creates, steps and large double doors all making it look confusing for the characters to escape. The run down location created the view that the safe heaven also had a compound in which the characters had to find their way around and escape from.
ACTION SHOTS AND CHARACTERS
The shots which included most of the action such with the cannibals chasing the characters and the grabbing of certain people we all again filmed around school. Again using the boiler room we conveyed a dark and gloomy room in which is seen when the character played by Nathan Evans is being strangled by a gloomy figure in the darkness. This not only adds fear to the shots but it creates and eerie feeling that their could be more dangers in that room and it leaves the viewers on the edge of their seats. We also filmed around the back of the school where there are tall gates and wide walk ways giving the characters a lot of visible room to attempt to escape, we also used the stairs for the main cannibal leader to stand on, this made him look powerful as we used the low angle shots with has connotations of power and strength. we filmed the final action shots under the stairs where the character played by Tom Booth is seen running to a door until he is caught and brutally dragged away. The short little alley leading to the door reveals how confusing the compound is for the characters and conveys how difficult it is for them to escape, this again helps us to build the tension we wanted as the audience are anticipating whether or not the characters will actually escape. The door also has a dark and gloomy feeling to it making it look suspicious, this again meets the usual conventions of a zombie horror where the brightness is kept down and you can often see shadows. (TB)