Location Notes

For my A2 film studies project portfolio, following a textual

analysis, I have produced planning materials in order to help
me proceed towards creating a short film, which will be ideal
particularly for my target audience. In advance, I produced a
3000 word essay which incorporated my inspirational ideas and
aims for my final production. The topic in which I based my
essay on is the ways in which the representation of black
males has altered over the years in contemporary film,
focusing on the 1970s to present day. Therefore I have
produced a location report in which I aim to located my
filming sessions at, as they are the most suitable for my
production.
Location One:

The first location that will be used for my short film is The
Whitings estate. This is because, in the introduction of my
short film, two of the main characters exit the estate as they
make their way towards the local shop. It follows the general
codes and conventions of a black-character based film as it
suggest the idea that the black race is bought up in poverty,
living in rough estates rather than in a nice house which is
where the white race are perceived to live. Typical props and
objects include the likes of cars which makes the setting more
realistic and believable. During the early hours of the
morning through to the afternoon, the setting has fantastic
lighting, which allows me to present my characters in the best
light. It also meant that if I needed or wanted to, I could
make it darker without affecting the realism of the scene.
Marcus Stamp

This location is significantly important to the production as

it sets the scene right at the start of the production. The
audience should be aware of the themes of the film as well as
the type of characters, just by looking at the primary
location due to generic codes and conventions that the
audience expect to see.

Location Two:

The
second location that I used for my production was the local
corner shop. The location didnt have a whole lot of relevance
in the storyline of the production; however it conforms to
stereotypical settings of black films. The shop itself doesnt
look very profession with houses stacked on-top of it,
suggesting the area isnt as wealthy in comparison to other
locations where white people may reside.

Marcus Stamp

Location Three:

The prime location that I will be using for my short film is

Oaks Park High School, located in Newbury Park. I thought this
as an ideal location as I have easy access due to the fact
that I am actually a student who attends the school. Also, the
use of tight spaces such as the corridors and the complexity
of the building helped me to sustain my verisimilitude as the
main characters attempt to escape the chase being carried out
by The Ghost. The use of the corridor complimented the prop
gun as when it was shot, it was in a small confined space with
little escape, rather than a really obvious, public location.
I also had the chance to tamper with the lighting, placing
lights on top of the nearby lockers, out of the cameras view.
This would make the scene clear if needed, but also allowed me
to tweak the brightness in the editing stage of production if
I felt that it had a better effect on the audience. The school
building was a really important part of my production as it
was used to present the scene of the chase between the
characters. Its tight corners and narrow walls allow it to be
the perfect location, almost as if it is a maze of some kind,
taking the audience on a virtual journey. The fact that the
building revolved around light colours, it contrasted and
clashed with the costumes of my characters (dark) which made
them stick out more, thus enhancing the visual experience for

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the audience. It also caused the audience to maintain focus as

something wasnt ordinary. This intensified the whole scene,
making it more believable and tense at the same time.
Overall, my chosen locations were most suitable for my short
film as it provides me with the opportunity to be extremely
creative with the four micro-elements, combining them to
create many effects which enhance the audiences experience
whilst making my production look as professional as possible.

Marcus Stamp