Location Scout & Risk Assessment

 This part of my blog will detail my location scout and risk assessment

Location 1: Sister’s room

Location assessment
Purpose of the shoot	To take a picture of the model (my sister) in a blank white wall background
Media language	My model will be staring straight to the camera, creating a direct mode of address with the audience which will form a connection with the audience and make them feel involved
Pros	-          Good lighting -          No need to travel
Cons	-          Lots of items -          Less control over lighting
Alternatives	Rent a studio, living room
Risk assessment
Potential hazards	Items in room
Evaluate risks	May cause injury (tripping over, bumped), may cause damage to equipment
Control measures & implementation timeframe	-          Keep room tidy, keep out unnecessary items if possible 1 day before shoot -          Keep aware of self & equipment in environment during the shoot

 

Location 2: Bamboo Forest

Location assessment
Purpose of the shoot	A picture of a bamboo forest to relate to the Monthly Monster article as the Jiangshi is a Chinese cryptid and bamboo forests are associated with China
Media language	A slightly out of focus canted angle to stimulate a sense of uneasiness in the viewer
Pros	-          Good natural lighting
Cons	-          Need to travel -          May have a lot of people -          Less control because a natural setting
Alternatives	Forests
Risk assessment
Potential hazards	Potentially harmful flora & fauna
Evaluate risks	May cause injury
Control measures & implementation timeframe	-          Familiarize myself with local flora & fauna to understand how I should act towards them a week before the shoot -          Be careful and avoid touching things I am not familiar with in the shoot

 

Location 3: Ipo’s (Grandma’s sister) house

Location assessment
Purpose of the shoot	Take some shots of the model ‘ghost hunting’ which will relate to the content of my article
Media language	A candid shot to make the subject appear more natural which I will achieve by having the model play a game where she tries to look for things I have hidden. This way her body language and expressions will appear more natural
Pros	-          Not far from where I live -          Good lighting
Cons	-          Requires permission from ipo -          May disrupt the other people living there (ipo, cousins, etc.)
Alternatives	My house, friend’s house
Risk assessment
Potential hazards	Objects around the room
Evaluate risks	-          Injury -          Equipment damage
Control measures & implementation timeframe	-          Remind myself and the model to beware of surroundings during the shoot -          Be careful when handling my equipment during the shoot

Location 4: Antique Shop

Location assessment
Purpose of the shoot	Shots of antique items that could act as connotations for both the history and haunted aspects of my main article as both things are associated with old items
Media language	A close up that highlights antiques object, forming a connection to the viewer by making them feel closer to the object
Pros	-          Close to the bamboo forest so could easily be visited to after -          Wouldn't require me to acquire my own antiques exclusively for the purpose of this shot
Cons	-          Requires permission from shop owner -          May disrupt customers
Alternatives	Own antiques
Risk assessment
Potential hazards	Antiques displayed around the shot
Evaluate risks	-          Injury -          Equipment damage
Control measures & implementation timeframe	-          Remind myself to be aware of surroundings during the shoot -          Be careful when handling my equipment during the shoot

Reflection

• This location scout & risk assessment helped me organize and prepare my shoots effectively. Even though not all locations ended up being used, I found it beneficial to consider what thoughts media producers put behind their products as it helped me think about how I could convey my message better