Preliminary Task 1 - Call Sheet, Location, Lighting research

 

Location

The Alley

What We Wanted

What We Got

Here we have photos of the top of the alleyway (right), and the top entrance to the alleyway (left).

For our project, we originally aimed for a narrow, enclosed alleyway with an overgrown and abandoned aesthetic to enhance the eerie, isolated atmosphere of our scene. The chosen location would have provided a sense of confinement and unease, reinforcing the tension we wanted to create.

However, since we need to film on school grounds, we had to adjust to a wider alleyway that, while still somewhat secluded, does not feel as claustrophobic. While this changes the framing and overall mood slightly, we can compensate by using tighter camera angles, strategic mise-en-scène, and lighting techniques to maintain the desired effect.

The Entrance To The Construction Site

What we wanted

What We Got 

Here Is the Entrance to the construction site/ underground parking lot.

For our project, we were hoping for a secluded side door with a reflective surface nearby to reveal the stalker's reflection. We wanted a mixture between a large glass door for a clear and dramatic reflection, or a door that was more tucked away for a sense of isolation and tension. These choices would have allowed us to create a visually striking and suspenseful moment.

However, the location we secured features a single glass door with some windows leading into the construction site/car park. While this still provides reflective surfaces, the layout is more open than intended. To maintain our desired effect, we may need to adjust our framing and camera positioning to maximize the reflection and ensure the stalker’s presence is revealed in a subtle yet eerie way.

The Site
What we wanted

What We Got

Here is our construction site

From the beginning of the project, we planned to film the running scene in the construction site at our school. Our ideal reference for this setting was an empty underground parking lot, which gives off a liminal, never-ending atmosphere. The low ceilings, repetitive structures, and lack of natural light contribute to an unsettling and isolating environment, enhancing the suspense of the chase.

The location we have available—the school's construction site—shares some similarities with our reference, particularly in its open and empty layout. While it does have a full wall of windows on one side, this won’t be an issue as we are filming at night, ensuring no unwanted light disturbances. With careful framing and lighting, we can still achieve the eerie, endless-space effect we originally envisioned

Lighting Research

I was thinking it's be good to generally use low key lighting with a cool tone. However, there may be instances where we'll use the contrast of warm and cold lighting to our advantage.

The Video I researched:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MKSLkvg9hdY

Breakdown of lighting setups that I can Use:

1: Dark, Contrasty Interior With Practical Lights

Lighting Setup:

-Practical lamp in the background with a warm orange shade for separation.

-The China Ball is used as the key light, while a 150W light is used with gel for a cool rim light.

-There is haze in the room for diffused moonlight effect

2: Creepy Foyer Scene (Nighttime)

Lighting Setup:

-In this scene a china ball is put near the camera for ambient fill

-Dimmable chandelier as a practical light

-1200W outside the windows with a gel to simulate blue moonlight

-Reverse angle

  - The China ball is moved just outside the doorframe as a key light

  - Practical lamp in background for additional warmth

-Haze is used here to soften and amplify the backlight

3:Minimalist One-Light Setup

Lighting Setup:

-Single 150W light from behind

-Camera white balance adjusted to make light appear blue without using gels

-Haze used to catch the light and enhance separation

4:Stariwell scene with flashlight

Lighting setup:

-1200W outside window for moonlight

-Warm practical lamp for colour contrast

-Flashlight used as an interactive lighting element, with haze amplifying the beams

Practical Lighting Practice

We played around with some lights during class time, and practiced three point lighting, silhouettes, and playing with shadows.

Setting up the lights

Playing with shadows

Three point lighting

Silhouettes