Location Recce

Filming location - King Alfred’s SchoolKing Alfred’s School in Highbridge is our filming location for November 26th. It is one of our crews’ secondary school so the knowledge of the location itself is quite good.

We have connections to the school and their staff, and therefore, we were able to book the filming day here for our short film.

Although it is a school, some of the rooms scattered around campus have the correct atmosphere and style of that of a office. With permission from the headteacher, they have given us access to 3 of the rooms in the school - and we decided to carry out risk assessments and recce for each to decide which would be most appropriate for our filming.

Option 1: Conference Room - Reception Block Possible Problems

The room may be used on the day of filming as it is hired out to nearby companies if need be. Therefore we will need a backup room if this occurs.

There are many chairs stationed around the main desk. Because we have a limited amount of cast (even with the crew) it would make the room seem unrealistic. If at all possible, we will have to move a few of the chairs out of the room and write in the script an explanation why the characters are on their own.

Letting just the right amount of light in could be a potential issue. We want the scene to be bright and colourful, however if we open all the blinds fully, the audience will be able to see the school scenery in the background and therefore lose the authenticity.

Risk AssessmentRisk Who would be at

risk?Type of Hazard Rating of severity Action to take

Cables/Leads from equipment

Cast & Crew Trip Hazard ** Contact onsite nurse if need be

Injuries during moving chairs

Crew Trip Hazard * Contact onsite nurse if need be

Props hitting actors (chair being thrown back - scene 1)

Cast/Crew/Equipment

Contact Hazard *** Contact onsite nurse if need be

Fire started in another part of the site

Cast & Crew Burn Hazard **** Fire Alarms triggered, everyone leave through the fire door and gather at the fire drill spot. Emergency services automatically contacted through the school’s system

Option 2: Back office (A-Block)Possible Problems

Lighting - The windows in the room do not have blinds on them as the room is barely used. This could mean a lot of our shorts are over exposed.

The paintings on the board have student names and school project information on them. With permission with the school we might be able to take them down for the day, to keep the authenticity of the ‘office’.

The room is quite small in comparison to the others that had been offered, meaning it might be cramped for cast and crew. However, we have been granted access to the small room next door for our food break.

Risk AssessmentRisk Who would be at

risk?Type of Hazard Rating of severity Action to take

Cables/Leads from equipment

Cast & Crew Trip Hazard ** Contact onsite nurse if need be

Radiator (control is in another building)

Crew Burn Hazard ** Contact onsite nurse if need be

Moving desks, chairs and props

Crew Contact Hazard *** Contact onsite nurse if need be

Option 3: Register Office (A-Block)Possible Problems

Lighting - The room itself has no windows, and relies on the door glass and a hatch door, at the back, for any natural lighting. This means lighting would all have to be artificial, and would have to constantly move the lighting equipment around the room to maintain consistent and realistic lighting.

Personal belongings - the staff who use the room are happy for us to use some of their belongings that they leave over the weekend in our filming, to create a realistic feel. However, we do have to be specifically careful with these props as it would not only be careless but disrespectful to break anything whilst setting up/moving about.

Space - The room itself is a realistic size for a functioning office, however, with all the equipment it may be tricky for us to navigate around the room.

Risk AssessmentRisk Who would be

at risk?Type of Hazard Rating of

severity Action to take

Breakages - photo frame glass

Cast & crew Cut Hazard ** Access first aid kit for plasters/bandages

Hot lamps from lighting equipment

Crew Burn Hazard ** Contact onsite nurse if serious

Cables/Leads from equipment

Cast & Crew Trip Hazard ** Contact onsite nurse if need be

Props hitting actors (chair being thrown back - scene 1)

Cast/Crew/Equipment/Personal belongings

Contact Hazard *** Contact onsite nurse if need be