Wednesday, 7 May 2014

Location Scouting For 'Hope Dies Last'

Recce Checklists.

On Monday the 5th of May, 2014, me and my mother drove to a number of locations to see how suitable they were for filming. I found pictures of the North Weald Redoubt online, and it looked absolutely perfect to film on. However, when I arrived there, I found the site fenced off and I was unable to access, but I managed to put my phone through the bars of the fence to take some photographs, although I doubt I would be able to film on site. As I was doing this, my mother spotted a 'Secret nuclear bunker' on the map, and we decided to pay it a visit as it was on the way to my second location that I had planned to visit - Runwell Mental Hospital. The site turned out to be extremely promising, and at the end of the tour, there was a wall dedicated to people who had run photoshoots or filming sessions in the bunker, and there was also a number of deactivated guns which they hire out for film companies. I made a note of a number to call about enquires, so I plan to phone them on another date to discuss the possibility of filming. They required a pass to take photographs on site, however, which was £5.00, but we only just had enough to pay the £7.00 adult entrance fee each, so I could not take photographs inside the actual bunker. Runwell Hospital, however, was also fenced off and under demolition, so I also doubt I would be able to film here.

Name of location - North Weald Redoubt. 

Things to take:
Complete
Notes
Camera
Yes.

Mobile phone
Yes.

Notebook, pen, PDA
Yes.

Programme risk assessment form
Yes.

Maps/directions
Yes.

Student ID card
Yes.

Brief
Yes.

Checklist
Yes.




Talking to people:
Complete
Notes
Confirm ownership
No.
Signs state 'Private Property - Trespassers will be prosecuted.' However, unsure who actually owns the land.
Exchange details
No.
There was no one on site to speak to about the land.
Explain intentions
No.
Once again, no one to speak to on location.
Discuss fees/contract
No.

Editorial policy
No.

Are passes required?
No.

Availability and timings
Yes.
Would have to have permission for filming, but if gained, should be available at any time.
Local events
Yes.
Should not be any local events taking place.
Dress code
Yes.
Should not be any dress code required.
Copyright issues
Yes.
Nothing on site which could be copyrighted.
Children’s details
Yes.
No children on site.



Transport/access:
Complete
Notes
Landmarks for directions
Yes.
Difficult to find, but following signs towards 'Village hall' managed to lead us to it.
Neighbour disturbance
Yes.
There's local neighbours, but seeing as the location is fenced off, the only issue would be passerbys if we managed to film there.
Risk of trespass
Yes.
We would need permission before filming.
Internal access
No.
Because the area was fenced off, we couldn't properly see the area and how easy it would be to get people/equipment around the area.
Vehicle access
Yes.
There is a road up to the fencing, but there is no chance of getting a car actually into the location.
Toilets
Yes.
No toilets on the site at all.
Traffic control needed?
No.
No roads to particularly worry about.
Shelter
Yes.
Thick tree canopy, and also some cover from buildings.
Safety for hazardous environments
No.
Once again, unsure because we couldn't properly access the area.
Tidal waters
Yes.
No tides nearby.
Boats/safety
Yes.
No boats would be used.



Camera/lighting:
Complete
Notes
Position of the sun
Yes.
Most of the place was under thick tree canopy so sunlight should not affect shots.
Window direction
Yes.
No windows.
Power supply
Yes.
No power supply.
Size of location
Yes.
Location looks large, but unsure about further in.
Strobing
Yes.
No strobing used.
TV/computer screens
Yes.
No screens used.
Is floor level?
Yes.
Floor is not level in the slightest.
Secure place for kit
Yes.
There isn't any place to store secure kit.
Cables
Yes.
Shouldn't be any stray cables.
Smoke alarms/sprinklers
Yes.
No smoke alarms/sprinklers.



Sound:
Complete
Notes
Listen
Yes.
Mostly quiet, but ambient noises such as wildlife are loud. There is also a steam train nearby which can occasionally be heard.
Traffic/roadworks
Yes.
Distant, but still slightly audible.
Aircraft
Yes.
Many old fighter planes flying over head, but maybe due to a bank holiday air show event?
Electrical hazards
Yes.
None audible.
Schools
Yes.
None audible.
Weather
Yes.
Wind blowing through the trees/bushes.
Background music/PA system
Yes.
None audible.
Air conditional/fridges
Yes.
None audible.
Wooden floors
Yes.
None audible.



Things for director:
Complete
Notes
Take photos


GVs/top shots


Cutaways


Backgrounds


Events


Additional contributors





Food/accommodation:
Complete
Notes
Eating
Yes.
None nearby.
Hotels
Yes.
Should not be needed.















Name of location - Kelvedon Hatch, 'Secret Nuclear Bunker.'



Things to take:
Complete
Notes
Camera
Yes.

Mobile phone
Yes.

Notebook, pen, PDA
Yes.

Programme risk assessment form
Yes.

Maps/directions
Yes.

Student ID card
Yes.

Brief
Yes.

Checklist
Yes.




Talking to people:
Complete
Notes
Confirm ownership
No.
Unsure who owns the site, but noted down a number to call about out-of-hours enquires.
Exchange details
No.
Will phone up at a later date.
Explain intentions
No.
Will explain when calling.
Discuss fees/contract
No.
Once again, will discuss when calling them up.
Editorial policy
No.

Are passes required?
Yes.
'Audio wands' are required for visitors, but possibly passes would be required when filming.
Availability and timings
Yes.
The bunker is open to the public between 10am and 4pm, but sleepover parties are often held at the bunker, so can also be accessed out of hours.
Local events
Yes.
Local airsofting/adventure playground, but should not interfere.
Dress code
Yes.
Should not be a dress code.
Copyright issues
Yes.
Should not be any issues with copyright.
Children’s details
Yes.
Should not be any children.



Transport/access:
Complete
Notes
Landmarks for directions
Yes.
Signs stating 'Secret Nuclear Bunker' directs people to the location.
Neighbour disturbance
Yes.
There's an adventure playground/airsofting site nearby, but shouldn't affect filming.
Risk of trespass
Yes.
Would be trespassing if not discussing intentions before.
Internal access
Yes.
Very easy to access by foot.
Vehicle access
Yes.
Can drive up to the entrance, but no vehicles inside.
Toilets
Yes.
There are many on-site.
Traffic control needed?
Yes.
Shouldn't be needed.
Shelter
Yes.
There's plenty of shelter available.
Safety for hazardous environments
Yes.
It's a nuclear bunker, it's possibly as safe as you could get.
Tidal waters
Yes.
None on site.
Boats/safety
Yes.
None on site.



Camera/lighting:
Complete
Notes
Position of the sun
Yes.
It's completely underground so no sunlight seen.
Window direction
Yes.
Not many windows.
Power supply
Yes.
There should be some places for a power supply.
Size of location
Yes.
Extremely large location, but varies from room to room.
Strobing
Yes.
No strobing used.
TV/computer screens
Yes.
A number of old screens are around, but varies from room to room.
Is floor level?
Yes.
Floor is mainly level with the exception of stairs and some gradual sloping.
Secure place for kit
Yes.
There should be some kind of place to store kit.
Cables
Yes.
The occasional cable, but should not interfere.
Smoke alarms/sprinklers
Yes.
Should be some on site, but would not affect us.



Sound:
Complete
Notes
Listen
Yes.
The occasional noise played through speakers for the tours, and some tourists passing through. Apart from that, it's pretty quiet.
Traffic/roadworks
Yes.
None audible.
Aircraft
Yes.
None audible.
Electrical hazards
Yes.
Some faintly heard.
Schools
Yes.
None audible.
Weather
Yes.
None audible.
Background music/PA system
Yes.
Some sounds for the tour, but could possibly be turned off.
Air conditional/fridges
Yes.
Air condition units heard faintly.
Wooden floors
Yes.
Floors are concrete.



Things for director:
Complete
Notes
Take photos


GVs/top shots


Cutaways


Backgrounds


Events


Additional contributors





Food/accommodation:
Complete
Notes
Eating
Yes.
Small cafe on site.
Hotels
Yes.
Should not be needed.








Name of location - Abandoned Runwell Mental Hospital.

Things to take:
Complete
Notes
Camera
Yes.

Mobile phone
Yes.

Notebook, pen, PDA
Yes.

Programme risk assessment form
Yes.

Maps/directions
Yes.

Student ID card
Yes.

Brief
Yes.

Checklist
Yes.




Talking to people:
Complete
Notes
Confirm ownership
No.
Was no one on site to speak to, however the site appears to be under demolition so it is probably owned by a building company.
Exchange details
No.
I doubt we would be able to film on this site, and so I did not ask about details.
Explain intentions
No.

Discuss fees/contract
No.

Editorial policy
No.

Are passes required?
Yes.
A building site would generally require passes to access.
Availability and timings
No.
I doubt it would be available to film at any time.
Local events
No.

Dress code
Yes.
Building site normally requires hats/protective clothing.
Copyright issues
No.

Children’s details
Yes.
Should not be any children on site.



Transport/access:
Complete
Notes
Landmarks for directions
Yes.
Signs for 'Runwell Hospital'.
Neighbour disturbance
Yes.
A number of other, in-use hospitals surround it.
Risk of trespass
Yes.
Would need to ask permission before entering the site.
Internal access
Yes.
It accessible on foot.
Vehicle access
Yes.
If the gates were opened, it should be accessible by car.
Toilets
Yes.
Should be some toilets nearby in another building.
Traffic control needed?
Yes.
None needed - road closed off to public.
Shelter
Yes.
Many buildings nearby to offer shelter.
Safety for hazardous environments
Yes.
Nearby buildings.
Tidal waters
Yes.
None nearby.
Boats/safety
Yes.
None nearby.



Camera/lighting:
Complete
Notes
Position of the sun
No.

Window direction
No.

Power supply
Yes.
No power supply nearby.
Size of location
Yes.
Reasonably large location by the looks of things.
Strobing
Yes.
No strobing used.
TV/computer screens
Yes.
No screens on site.
Is floor level?
No.
Could not gain access to find this out.
Secure place for kit
Yes.
I doubt there would be a place to store kit.
Cables
Yes.
There could possibly be some loose cables lying around on site.
Smoke alarms/sprinklers
Yes.
I doubt there are any working smoke alarms/sprinklers on site.



Sound:
Complete
Notes
Listen
Yes.

Traffic/roadworks
Yes.
Nearby road can be heard.
Aircraft
Yes.
The occasional aircraft can be heard overhead.
Electrical hazards
Yes.
None audible.
Schools
Yes.
None audible.
Weather
Yes.
Trees moving in the wind, but little else.
Background music/PA system
Yes.
None audible.
Air conditional/fridges
Yes.
None audible.
Wooden floors
Yes.
None audible.



Things for director:
Complete
Notes
Take photos


GVs/top shots


Cutaways


Backgrounds


Events


Additional contributors





Food/accommodation:
Complete
Notes
Eating
Yes.
A local pub nearby.
Hotels
Yes.
Should not be needed.




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