Filmmaking- Location Scout (Carlton Bank)

I've begun looking for locations to shoot our Go Outdoors commercial, and have started visiting certain ones to see how much potential they have for the shoot. An important part of the production is where the two kids climb a hill of some kind together. Due to some of the difficulties of filming this with equipment and such, I've been looking for the best way to do this shot. Recently I went out and visited Carlton Bank,  a hill in the Cleveland Hills on Carlton Moor. This hill has a great view looking out over Cleveland and looks all the way out to the sea, you can also view Roseberry Topping and other hills and greenery and if you catch the weather on a good day, you can get an amazing view. It is also an easy place to access as you can drive to the very top, making carrying out equipment a lot easier. This location would either result in changing the script to make it look like they bike up to Carlton Bank or we just film them walking around the greenery up there making the audience assume they walked up.

I managed to take many pictures up there so I would have a better understand of what shots I could get and what views I could take advantage off. Also the pictures give my crew a better understanding of the visuals of the shoot and where we will be filming. Glenn, who is the cameraman will be able to understand better how to film and capture certain shots from looking at these images. As you can see the view stretches quite far and you can fit an awful lot of scenery into frame and if we manage to get a day where the sky is clear, you'll have a contrast in colours to show off on the 16mm.


Other than the main view looking out, there also other attractions and views around Carlton Bank as well. As you can see to the right, there is a collection of boulders/rocks which might be interesting to work into the commercial, maybe having the kids hide behind them and chase each other around.







There are also other hills around and behind Carlton Bank that could work there way into the background of certain shots to maybe add that extra layer to the shot, to have something to build up a nice composition in the frame. Underneath is a picture of the area you walk through to get to the view, its a nice little area to maybe show people walking through the gate with some hills in the background, and has also been used for helicopters to land on which maybe interesting if we catch on film.


 

I really like this location and think it will be perfect for the shots we need if we can just manage to organise it on a day where the weather is nice. With the place been easy to access by car we can drive to to it without carrying the heavy equipment, it has an eating area if the shot has a scheduled lunch and also has on site toilets for all crew and actors for when they need them.