DACORUM COUNCIL LIVE BRIEF. 10th November 2021
- Lucy Brown
- Nov 10, 2021
- 5 min read
The brief that we have been given:
ESA Productions has been commissioned by Dacorum Council to produce 4-5 short scenes that showcase the various locations used for filming in Dacorum.
The films will aim to not only showcase the locations but they will also give the viewer a visual idea of what kind of productions might be suitable for a particular location.
My reaction:
I feel excited to be partaking in this brief and to have the role of the art director. it is up to me, for scenes 1-3, to create the overall artistic vision and to help the prop and model makers. the process will be an interesting experience and it will help immensely moving forwards into the industry as an eye opening experience.
Hierarchy in production:
In The production brief and other materials,
I have dissected the production hierarchy.
The top of the list is the production assistant- who helps to produce the films using the other departments. They work closely with the producer, line producer and production manager.
Then, we have the art directors (myself and Hana). We will be managing and organising the activities of the prop and model makers. There are also grip teams, lighting teams, and hair and makeup teams.
My role in the production and initial research of role:
My role in this live brief , as mentioned earlier, is the role of the art director. I will be collaborating alongside the prop and model makers to help fullfill the artistic vision overall on the shoot. Some of the main skills of an art director are creativity, organisation and time management: for example, critiquing people's work, working to deadlines and budgets, and (on occasion) disciplining any designers who have become lazy. However, according to Fenton, an art director's primary concern is to inspire and guide their team.
what you will be required to do in each step of the production process?
Pre-production: in pre-production, myself and Aidan will be in charge of creating mood boards and initial designs/research that will help to fit in with the standards of the brief. We also need to take in to account any practicalities and see if our ideas fit (dimensions wise ). We will also be conferring with the prop/model makers with our ideas. we will be attending meetings and then relaying the information to our team members- mine being Aidan, Amy-sue and Lucy S.
production: in the actual production process, we manage the budget, manage/work closely with our team/crew, oversee the construction of sets and crew- as well as the dressing of the sets.
Research into the Dacorum council and their filming offices (what they do in the council?)
Dacorum council is the local authority based in the borough of Dacorum that represents 25 electoral wards- including Gadebridge, Kings Langley and Tring. The council itself is based in Hemel Hempstead
Productions filmed in Dacorum and their location:
There have been a plethora of productions filmed in Dacorum, including:
Afterlife- The Ricky Gervais smash-hit was filmed in Hemel Hempstead
Bohemian Rhapsody- the Queen Biopic film had a scene that was filmed in Bovingdon Airfield (for the live aid scene)
Killing Eve- a gripping scene including Villanelle and a man was filmed at an empty ward at Hemel Hempstead hospital
The Favourite- the movie starring Emma Stone, Rachel Weisz and Olivia Colman had multiple locations filming in Hatfield House, Hertfordshire.
The filming office
the filming officer in the Dacorum council is Pippa Cawdron, who works in the filming office in Hemel Hempstead. the filming officer supports the Filming Manager in running a busy filming office, receiving and processing applications for filming and photography and ensuring that filming and photography shoots are co-ordinated and managed to a high and consistent standard.
PRE-EXISTING SHOWCASE VIDEOS OF LOCATION
video 1-
"welcome to Dacorum borough council"- DacorumBC
An advantage of filming at this council is a video watcher can see a detailed insight into the inside of the council . there are multiple locations inside the council so as to showcase the multiple departments. There are lots of spaces for lighting and sound equipment to be stored- which is a massive advantage
The video also showcases the green spaces outside- but most importantly- the team coming together to clean up the area; highlighting their determination to making the space known for its clean, green spaces rather than the abundance of trash and garbage piled around it.
Another useful location in this video is Gadebridge park as the scene has lots of children running around and enjoying their time; leading to the idea of the area being family-friendly and an area to enjoy. A way the scene conveys this is through sunny weather and happy emotions from the actors (children). Once again, the area is extremely clean and looks like a place you would want to be with young children or just yourself.
The old town of Hemel Hempstead is also featured to give a sense of history to the Dacorum Council. the deserted space makes the video a lot more appealing as there are no distractions and the video watchers can see places in a lot more detail. the colour palette is warm and inviting- another useful tactic to get people to explore the city.
Video 2
"Dacorum: Look No Further - On Our Doorstep"- DacorumLookNoFurther
This video is another excellent example of location showcasing throughout the districts of the Borough Council. The video utilises many locations including Warner Brothers Studio Tour, Whipsnade Zoo and Butterfly World, with the former being shot in Watford. The Whipsnade Zoo shoot was in Dunstable, whereas Butterfly World is situated in Chiswell Green.
A way how the video utilises the locations well is through its use of vibrant colours- to draw in and attract viewers. For example, the thumbnail of the flamingoes uses a bland water base and vibrant coral orange for the flamingoes- creating a really nice and bold contrast.
Another advantage of this video for the Dacorum Council is the different camera angles to capture nature. For example, in the butterfly scene, there are multiple close up and wide shots to help immerse the video watchers into the different locations.
There is a scene roughly halfway through of a man riding a bike and cycling through the woods on what seems like go-pro footage. This type of footage is another prime example for attracting attention as the whole video caters towards a different member of the public. This scene , for example, is shot in Aston Hill mountain bike park and displays the wood and nature aspects for avid cyclists.
The end of the video simulates the warner bro's studio tour for Harry Potter in Leavesden. The spokesperson for the video uses specific keywords and language that can be heard in the world of Harry Potter- for example, Ollivanders and Butterbeer can be heard towards the end of the segment.
Both videos are extremely well done examples of showcasing the locations present in the Dacorum Council and therefore, attracting its audience through a strong use of visuals and on-location shots.
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