Filming intentions

Planning & Filming Schedule

To stay on track, I’ve outlined an example of a basic plan where I can then fill in dates instead of approximations :

  • Script Finalization: [e.g., June 5, 2025]

  • Location Scouting: [e.g., June 6–8, 2025]

  • Filming Days:

    • Scene 1 & 2: [June 13, 2025]

    • Scene 3–5: [June 15, 2025]

    • Pick-ups/B-Roll: [June 18, 2025]

  • Post-Production Starts: [June 20, 2025]

  • Final Edit Deadline: [July 10, 2025]


I will have completed filming by the end of the summer term, therefore I've arranged to meet with the two actors on Friday 6th June to finalise dates for filming. I plan to have an outline of the script by then and to have overall decided on the plot. 

Location and Setting:




I have considered many options over the process of planning this film opening, and a lot of the concepts and ideas revolved around the genre of which I chose and the viewings of film openings I studied.

Considering my overall plot was key to this process, and the element of mysteriousness was most vital in actual fact. 

When I had wanted the film opening to be shock horror, I had pencilled in the plan of a misty lake at a dusky time to elevate the feeling of fear. However once I settled on a Phycological Horror, I began to view different blueprints, and found the idea of the woods to suit my vision better. 

I live by a large woodland area, which makes the location for filming accessible, and makes any pickups for the film much easier to create. 


Sure! Here's the updated version of your blog entry with location aesthetics focused on forests, woodland areas, and rural isolation, which are especially effective in crime thrillers and psychological dramas. The rest of the structure (distribution, production companies, and audience reception) remains the same.

Production Blog Update: Location Aesthetics & Distribution Planning

Visual Planning: Locations & Aesthetics

To create the atmosphere needed for a psychological crime thriller, I’ve chosen natural, rural, and forested locations that reflect themes of isolation, secrecy, and suspense.

1. Dense Woodland / Forest Path

  • Mood: Eerie, isolating, suspenseful

  • Why It Works: Forests can evoke mystery and danger. They’re quiet, visually complex spaces that can disorient characters and viewers alike.

  • Inspiration: Broadchurch, Top of the Lake, The Fall

  • Shot Plan: Wide shots to show scale and isolation, tracking shots through trees, low-angle shots for unease

  • Visual Reference: 


2. Abandoned Cabin / Shelter in the Woods

  • Mood: Secretive, unsettling

  • Why It Works: An isolated structure in the woods immediately suggests hidden activity or past trauma, perfect for building tension

  • Shot Plan: Static exterior shots for suspense, close-ups of small objects to suggest a narrative, slow pans inside

  • Visual Reference: 

3. Remote Country Road or Clearing

  • Mood: Vulnerability, suspense

  • Why It Works: A character alone in a remote outdoor space creates tension and unpredictability. It adds a psychological edge to otherwise calm settings.

  • Shot Plan: Long establishing shots, drone/aerial shots to show isolation, point-of-view shots to build paranoia

  • Visual Reference: 


These locations help reinforce key thriller genre conventions: hidden truths, natural danger, and psychological tension. The forest is also a symbolic setting - it can represent the unknown, fear, and a loss of control, all of which are relevant to the narrative of a crime drama.

Distribution Plan: Platforms & Strategy

Assuming my film were a full-length feature or pilot for a TV series, here’s how I’d approach distribution and promotion:

Potential Distribution Platforms

  • BBC iPlayer: Ideal for British crime dramas (Bodyguard, Luther, Sherwood)

  • Apple TV+ or Amazon Prime Video: Suited for smart, suspense-driven content with international reach (Slow Horses, The Night Manager)

  • Netflix (UK & Global): For broader audience access and binge-ready content (e.g., Safe, Collateral)

Production Companies to Target

  1. World Productions

    • Known for Bodyguard, Line of Duty

    • Specializes in gripping police/political thrillers

    • Strong BBC partnership

  2. Sister Pictures

    • Produced This Is Going to Hurt and Chernobyl (in partnership with Sky)

    • Known for high-quality, emotionally rich storytelling

  3. See-Saw Films

    • Made Slow Horses (Apple TV+)

    • Experienced with spy/political thrillers that combine action with psychological depth

Target Audience & Anticipated Reception

  • Primary Audience: Adults aged 25–45

    • Likely to be fans of shows like Bodyguard, Broadchurch, Sherwood, and Top of the Lake

    • Interested in morally complex, slow-burn narratives set in real-world locations

  • Secondary Audience: Crime drama and psychological thriller fans aged 18+

    • Engaged by atmospheric storytelling and emotional character arcs

Anticipated Reception

  • Positive: Viewers who enjoy moody, atmospheric settings and character-driven mystery will respond well

  • Challenges: Viewers expecting fast-paced action may need the suspense carefully built to keep engagement high

Next Steps

  • Schedule test footage or lighting experiments in the forest

  • Finalize actor availability and filming dates

  • Begin working on mock posters and trailers for marketing strategy






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