Smokin' Joe Locations

On Day 1, we checked out the locations and took some trial shots so we could review it on the computer and work efficiently the next day.

We changed my outfit from white with a skirt to pink with a skirt. The skirt was meant to make me look innocent and girly, so the audience would be nervous that an innocent girl was about to attacked. I wore white to add to this. However, during our trial shots we noticed a passer-by in pink and how much she stood out. So we changed my shirt to a pink one.

Marijn was set to wear something with a hood to look dodgy but not like a criminal with flair either. This was to ensure his look made sense at the dialogue scene where the victim would address the audience directly (a new addition as well) so as to engage them and make them see how stupid and idiotic this killer is, in fact. So the grey hood and silly sunshades at night, makes him look clearly creepy at first and ridiculously silly later. He had to look like a wannabe/ cannot-make-it killer. The audience should get a sense that there was no way he would have been able to kill her, he's just too clumsy.

On Day 1 we also discovered some better locations. We decided to scrap the PGP dimly lit path after we found some better places. The PGP basketball court provided some good lighting but still showed it was night. It was broad to give a good landscape view and sense of distance. This was our best shot of this night.

We also utilized the carpark, a surefire way to be creepy in a horror movie. It took a while to get the right angle so the buildings and lights in the back would be obscure -- to ensure an eerie feel.

We decided not to use the main PGP stairs. Firstly, this is the most popular hangout so we would have a very difficult time clearing the location for our shoot. Having people around was fine but only 1 or 2 strays (it is a RESIDENTIAL place after all, so even in the film it would be natural to have people strolling) but too many people would change the nighttime effect.

We found a better area that highlighted apartment buildings and allowed us to show the victim entering what is presumably her home. It was also prettier.

We went upstairs and decided the kitchen posed abit of difficulty because she would be shown walking to the windows and then snapping her fingers to freeze him. Why is she walking to a window? It made no sense so we shifted to the corridor. The door also provided an opportune action (ie. opening) for him to feel safe enough to stab her (she is concentrating on something) and great for her to show a stop motion.

Next step was to start shooting.