Group: Production Log - Wilderness Woods

What did we learn from our filming experience and how has it influenced ideas for our own production?

• Camera Techniques –  We were able to experiment with many different techniques and we were also able to learn how we can effectively utilise a location, such as the woods, for filming our horror film. 
• Location – Even though it is likely that we will not use the woods as the location for our production, having an hour to fully explore the area and decide on what places we felt would be best for certain scenes was beneficial to our understanding of location reccie’s.
• Story board –  We learnt that when it comes to filming our actual production we will have to work more prior to shooting on fully planning the plot with which shots we intend to use where and how. This way it will be less likely for us to continuously have to change our minds at the time when something did not work exactly how we had wanted it to. The best way for us to do this would be by creating a frame by frame storyboard for the film.   

Outline which techniques worked

• Whip pan – This was effective especially for use in horror as it helped to increase the films tension and suspense. We can find a way to replicate this when it comes to our actual production as this shot is good for creating a sense of audience involvement.
• High angle – This used with a pov shot created an effective perspective and allowed us to create the presence of Bigfoot without the audience ever actually seeing him. This could be a good shot to attempt to include in our production as it creates fear for the audience, seeing the action happen through the eyes of the antagonist.
• Over the shoulder – This was a good shot to use for a conversation scene as it allowed you to see the relationship between characters while they were talking. This made a good contrast from constant two shots so helped us to gain more of a variety.

Explain which ones didn't

• Tracking shot – this shot resulted in the camera telling us where the actors had to go rather that the other way around which meant the character blocking wasn't how we would have preferred. If we were to use this again then we would have to make sure that we fully plan out the staging for it all first so that it doesn't dictate the scenes composition.
•  Handicam – Some of these shots were effective though others were too shaky which caused the scene to not be in the best quality in comparison to some of the others which the tripod was used for.