Planning

Planning – Location planning for Sinister Side:

In a thriller like Sinister Side, the location is everything. It’s not just a setting—it’s a character in itself. The right location builds tension, enhances fear, and immerses the audience into the world of mystery and danger we’re creating.

To find the perfect backdrop for our film opening, we went on a location recce—visiting, evaluating, and documenting potential shoot sites that match the tone and visual style of Sinister Side.

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What We Were Looking For

Our story required a location that felt:

Isolated – to create a sense of vulnerability.

Decayed or abandoned – to reflect the past tragedy.

Visually dynamic – with space for movement, hiding spots, and eerie visuals.

The location had to work for both flashbacks (friends alive) and the present-day return of the survivor, so versatility was key.

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Location 1: Abandoned Warehouse

Pros:

Gritty, industrial look.

Natural decay (broken windows, graffiti).

Plenty of space for dynamic camera shots.

Challenges:

Unsafe flooring in some areas.

Constant background noise from nearby traffic.

No electricity or natural light—would require portable lighting.

Conclusion: Visually strong, but logistically difficult and unsafe for longer scenes.

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Location 2: Forest Clearing

Pros:

Dense trees and natural light create shadow and depth.

Perfect for outdoor flashback scenes or chase sequences.

Quiet, minimal background noise.

Challenges:

Weather-dependent (rain, wind).

Limited control over lighting.

No shelter for equipment during bad weather.

Conclusion: Ideal for supplemental scenes, but not for the main setting.

Final Choice: National Rowing Centre

Pros:

Visually perfect: forest type location.

Safe access points, sturdy structure.

 outdoor area for scene variety.

Natural light adds atmosphere.

Very quiet and isolated, adding to tension.

Challenges:

Requires some clean-up and safety checks.

Limited power supply—will use battery-powered lights.

Conclusion: The farmhouse offers the best blend of eerie visuals and practical use. It feels like a place frozen in time, exactly where Zayan would return 20 years later, haunted by the past.

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Location Documentation

We took:

Photos of key rooms and areas for planning.

Notes on light direction, potential hazards, and entry/exit points for the crew.

This helped us plan our shot list, storyboard, and lighting needs with precision.

Next Steps

Conduct a risk assessment to ensure safety.

Map out shooting zones (e.g., flashback scenes in living room, present-day shots outside).

Plan equipment logistics—what to bring.

Final Thoughts

The location recce was a crucial step that helped turn our vision for Sinister Side into something tangible and real. Standing in the derelict farmhouse, we could feel the story come alive—the silence, the decay, the memory of something terrible.

This is where our characters’ lives changed forever—and where Zayan’s journey for truth begins again.

Next up: Prop collection and set design—bringing the mise-en-scène to life.

Let me know if you want help drafting that next post on props and mise-en-scène or shooting schedules—I’m ready when you are!