Locations - The Woods

Taking inspiration from the trailer of The Disappearance of Alice Creed (2009), we want to include a location in the woods for part of our trailer.

Using Woods for a location would allow for a diverse range of shots to be taken in a primarily earthy tone, contrasting from the stark and dull colours of the city shots.  Furthermore, a strong sense of isolation could be conveyed, giving a eerie and threatening feeling to the shots.  

I particularly like this shot looking up at the character as it makes the viewer feel as if they are inside a hole, being in a confined space emphasised by the closed frame. It also gives the visible character a sense of empowerment, which can reflect their role in the film. We could try to use this style of shot in our own trailer as it would emphasise the threatening characters roles.

This shot is unusual as it is a mid shot of two characters legs. As a spade can be seen, a sense of horror is conveyed as it implies that they are either hiding or digging something up. When combined with the location of the woods the effect is quite terrifying. In our own trailer it would be nice for them to be dragging the 'tool' along the floor, and including a soundbite of the disconcerting sound. 

The shot above was a tracking shot at walking pace, in which a tree a one point blocked the view.  This style of shot appears very visually beautiful on camera as you follow the characters rather than remaining still with the landscape. This makes the audience feel as if they are involved in the scene, creating a furthermore immersive feel.  Great depth is also created in this scene as perspective is captured in the layers of trees, both in front and behind the mobile characters.

We were looking for a wood location that was similar to that of Alice Creed, that would therefor allow us to film scenes such as a chase within a strong backdrop.  

Sydenham Hill woods seems like an ideal location. It very near and so transportation would be easy, and from photos I have found of the location it would be perfect for our trailer.

The aerial view of the woods shows how densely packed it is, making it an interesting and complex filming location. The next step would be for us to conduct a recce to the site and search for sites of interest within it to film. Below are some photos of the wood:

EJ