AS/A Level Media Studies

This blog post, (made by Rachelle), details the location scout and risk assessment that my team and I have discussed and deliberated on in order to pick the most suitable locations to film the scenes in our music video.

Location Scout & Risk Assessment – Rachelle

Location
Address:	Bali Farm House [https://g.co/kgs/UPdYCid]
Scene:	Friends playing around and having fun
Advantages of location:	The space that we can utilize for filming is very big as Bali Farm House’s field is very wide. This means that we can use that space for various filming opportunities such as extreme long shots. Furthermore, this large space is ideal for when we have to shoot scenes that has a lot of movements (e.g. spinning around and running around with friends) The natural lighting in this place gives a soft and nostalgic feel to it, this matches with the theme of our music video.
Disadvantages of Location:	Bali Farm House is located in Singaraja, which is 2 hours away. This may be inconvenient as we’d be wasting 4 hours in total to go back and forth. Not only this but the petrol needed to go here would also be more costly. Furthermore, transporting the equipment would be a hassle to do especially if we happen to accidentally leave something behind. There are lots of animals in this place (chickens, alpacas, etc.) so it may be a rather noisy place to film in. Moreover, it may cause distractions to us when filming as some of these animals roam free in the field. This is because they may go in the frame while we shoot, therefore requiring us to reshoot the scene all over again, taking time off our day. Entrance fee is rather expensive (IDR 175.000 which is about $11, this is considered pretty costly in our country)
Alternatives:	Bedugul Asri [https://g.co/kgs/5pnnnje]
Risk Assessment
Risk:	Who is at risk:	How to avoid risk:	High, Medium, Low risk:
1. Rain	Actresses might get sick due to the rain Props may also get damaged	Check the weather forecast and pick the best date to go (a sunnier/more dry day) Bring umbrellas just in case it rains	Medium – Rainy season in Bali typically occurs from October to March. We will probably film our music video around this period, so it’s more likely to rain.
2. Diseases from animals	Some animals in Bali Farm House such as the chickens may potentially carry diseases (e.g. chickens), this can cause sicknesses to the actresses	Try to stay away from the animals, or choose places in the location that is far from them Wear masks to wear when not filming/during break to reduce the risk of contracting those diseases Consume vitamin before going there to boost immune system	High – Diseases contracted from animals can be dangerous. However, the chance of actually contracting it is low as long as we take care of our body and immune system.
3. Sun exposure	Excessive exposure to the sun can lead to sunburns, dehydration, or even heat strokes. The entire cast and crew can be affected by this.	Wear hats and apply sunscreen before arriving and make sure to reapply the sunscreen every few sessions to avoid sunburns. Bring water bottles to the location and if not allowed then buy water from the cafe inside the farm house. If one of us feels hazy, or even if we don’t, we should make sure to take breaks in between each scene.	Medium – Bali’s climate tends to be very hot most of the time so the chance of getting dehydrated, sunburnt, or getting a heat stroke is rather likely. However, if we follow the right precautions, then we can reduce this risk.

Location
Address:	Sanur Beach
Scene:	Separation scene
Advantages of location:	Easily accessible The entrance to Sanur Beach is free, therefore we can save costs for this and put the money on props or other things instead. Just like Bali Farm House, Sanur beach has natural lighting which can give a nostalgic feel to it, matching our music videos theme. Moreover, Sanur would be most suitable since it’s located more closely to most of us compared to most other beaches.
Disadvantages of Location:	Sanur is a very popular beach both among locals and tourists, so it tends to be very crowded most of the time. This means it may be difficult to shoot scenes where the two artists have to be alone. The air on the beach is very damp. From my own experience, this can really ruin the artists’ hair, which may alter the vibe or the original hairstyle that we gave them. In some parts of the beach, they will have ceremonies and/or parades at night so this may disrupt our filming since we’re planning on using diegetic sounds of the waves for some of the beach scenes, in which the sounds from the parades and ceremonies may overlay the audio.
Alternatives:	Nyang-nyang beach
Risk Assessment
Risk:	Who is at risk:	How to avoid risk:	High, Medium, Low risk:
1. Rain	The entire cast and crew members may get sick due to the rain (e.g. flue). Moreover, if the rain happens to ruin one of the props then the money used to purchase it will be wasted.	Bring umbrellas and check the weather forecast. There are lots of places and cafes to seek shade in on the beach, so when the rain starts to drizzle, we can immediately go to a nearby cafe or a stall.	Low – Just like in Bali Farm House, we will probably film our music video around the rainy season period, so it’s more likely to rain. However, since Sanur Beach is located in a lower terrain, it’s less likely to rain.
2. Windy weather and sand	During the evening to night, the weather tends to be very windy on the beach. This may cause the sand to be blown with the air. This sand can then get into our eyes when filming, which can cause infections and other eye problems when not treated properly. The whole crew and cast can be affected by this.	When not filming, it’s better to bring glasses to prevent sand from coming in the eyes Another way could be to check the weather forecast and go when the weather is less windy.	Low – although this is likely to happen, the damage it can potentially do isn’t fatal. We can easily wash out the grain from the eyes with mineral water.
3. Dark lighting	Most parts of Sanur Beach get really dark at night, especially the areas that don't have many cafes, stalls, or shops near it. This can cause both the crew members and casts to trip on things, slip, or fall as they have difficulties trying to see.	Search for an area where there are bars or cafes that open until late at night so that there are some lighting, this prevents us from shooting in complete darkness.	Low – the risks of filming in a very dark place can be dangerous, despite so, the solution is very simple and easy to do so we can very easily avoid this risk.

Location
Address:	Regents Secondary School (classroom, hallway, etc.) https://g.co/kgs/bkWBoHE
Scene:	Lip syncing scenes
Advantages of location:	Since the theme for our music video is graduation and high school friends, shooting scenes in school would be more relatable to audiences that are watching, therefore feeling represented. The props needed to film are already present (desks, chairs, lockers, etc.) so there’s no need to bring and purchase props. This saves a lot of time as well as effort This location is an area where we are very familiar with, so we know the layout of classrooms, hallways, and any spots so we can quickly set up and move between scenes. Moreover, we’re also able to identify the best angles, lighting, as well as areas that match with our scene and theme the best, therefore saving the time and effort for scouting.
Disadvantages of Location:	There’s an ongoing construction in our school so the sound from this may disrupt us when filming. Moreover, since our school is located near a main road, the sounds of vehicles can get loud during day time. If we film during weekends, we may need to ask for permission from the principal in order to use the spaces needed. The school may not allow us to do any changes to the wall decorations and lighting setups, especially since the classrooms have fixed lighting in which most of the time is fluorescent, so this may not match what we want to convey in some of our scenes. However, this can be fixed with editing later on. Even if we’re allowed to move the desks and chairs around, it will take a lot of time to put it back to its original position.
Alternatives:	One of our houses
Risk Assessment
Risk:	Who is at risk:	How to avoid risk:	High, Medium, Low risk:
1. Equipment damage	A classroom setting can sometimes be cluttered so when filming the crew members may trip and drop the prop or equipment they’re carrying. The people affected by this risk are the crew members responsible for the equipment as well as the equipment themselves.	Make sure to hold the equipment properly and bring it back up just in case it breaks so filming doesn’t have to be delayed for a long period of time. Take breaks in between just in case crew members aren’t too tired of holding props/equipment (to avoid them accidentally dropping it).	Low – this doesn’t cause any health damage or anything too serious to anyone, but filming equipment such as cameras are costly so crew members may really have to watch out.
2. Tripping and falling hazards	There are many cords and cables lying around, as well as chairs and tables, which may serve as a hazard to both crew members and casts.	Tidy up the setting first before starting to film. (fold cords and cables neatly and put them in a place where people won’t trip on)	Medium – falling and tripping may possibly cause head injuries or other injuries. To prevent this from happening, it’s best to be very careful when stepping around, as well as take some safety precautions (bring ice packs or bandages just in case, or just a first aid kit)

(Due to the tight deadline, we weren't able to visit the place this term. Therefore, all images are taken from google for now)

Pre-production reflection : With mood board in place, we began searching for locations that best match the scenes we envision, aiming to effectively convey the atmosphere we’re going for in our music video. This also gave us a clearer sense of the aesthetic for our music video. However, with the tight deadline, we haven’t had the chance to do in-person location scouting yet. While I suggested some filming locations, I feel I could have contributed more to the search. I did offered to help, however my teammate kindly declined, as she was capable on handling it thoroughly on her own. I think she’s done an excellent job. The location scout will be incredibly useful because it not only highlights potential risks but also provides alternative options if our primary choice becomes unavailable / off-limit for filming. Having these backups means we won’t need to rush for a new location, which will definitely helps us to save a lot of time. Additionally, this process allowed us to consider necessary safety measures, ensuring a smooth filming process and a secure environment for everyone involved.

AS/A Level Media Studies - Beatrice

Labels

Music Video Development

Filming Schedule & Preparations

Location Scout & Risk Assessment