News Backdrop Design

Our News Report follows the closing of the Klinger Factory in the 1970's. We create a News Report that not only looks genuine, but looks like it was broadcast in the 1970's.

Following Chloe's research into BBC News Reports from 40 years ago, I created a backdrop similar to one from the 1970's. 

Using IStudio Publisher, I created a simple backdrop which will be transferred onto a green screen in which our news reporter will speak in front of. I used a simple gradient orange background with a lighter shade at the bottom to represent any studio lighting that may have been used.

I then added an establishing image of the Klinger Factory in the left corner as would have been in the old News Reports and the old style 'BBC News' logo below.

The Final result can now be transferred onto the green screen with the news reporter and desk on it.

Establishing shot research 2

I chose to film an establishing shot of the factory that would make it appear 'cold', 'lifeless' and 'empty'. By speeding up the footage and showing the sky moving across quickly, shows how the factory looks over a long period of time but in a short space of time. This reminds us of how long it has been abandoned for, untouched. 

After choosing an appropriate weather condition to film the front of the factory, I set up the tripod at the front of the factory, where the entire building would be in shot:

I then filmed the front for 24 minutes. I then sped the footage up by 4000%. I also changed the saturation, exposure, contrast and brightness to make the building appear 'cold' and 'dull'. I also added a vignette to darken the clip. To complete the establishing shot, I added text with information on the site.

This is the final result without text:

This is the final result with text:

Establishing Shot Research 1

After watching the Grave encounters trailer, I analysed how they captured the establishing shot of the Psychiatric hospital. I found the way the sky rapidly moved across the screen very intriguing and effective. I decided to produce a similar shot on the Klinger Factory.

I will film using a tripod the front of the factory for approx. 20 mins. Once I have captured the footage, I shall speed the footage up to make the weather appear as if it is moving across the screen at a very high speed. This surreal shot will show the movement of the sky in great detail and makes the establishing shot more effective and interesting

I took images of the front of the factory in different weather conditions and lighting to see which would pose as the best for capturing :

- Bright

- Sunny day 

- Clear weather 

- High saturation

- High Contrast

- Overall warm hue

- Dull

- Darker light

- Cloudy weather

- Low saturation

- Faded

- Low Contrast

- Overall cool hue

To make the factory appear more scary, I film the factory, on a more cloudy day nearing sunset. This way I can capture the sky's brightness falling and the clouds becoming more defined. I shall also edit the footage to appear darker and more cooler. This will make the factory appear that it is 'cold', 'lifeless' and 'empty'

Further Location Research, Klinger Basement

After looking around for the first time to get an idea of the layout of the factory and what lied inside, looked around the again to find some more interesting areas in which we could film. We wanted a room that was dark so we could use the torches to capture some frightening and eerie scenes, so I went in search of the basement.

After looking around the basement, I took another look around the rest of the factory in more detail.

 I found a large sign on one of the old office walls with the word 'Klinger' engraved on. It looked to be some sort of mural or an art piece with the companies logo printed on. 

 I also found the entrance to the roof. Some vital establishing shots could be captured from up here.

 I finally come across a hedge trimmer lying in the middle of one of the rooms. We could use some props like in our trailer, e.g. weapons the mutated workers use...

 I took another photo of the outside of the building but in different weather. The first visit was clear skies but I took this photo on a cloudy day. From this, we can get an idea of what the factory will look like in different lighting and weather. We can decide then in what weather we want to shoot the outside of the factory.

Initial Idea Research- Chemical Warfare

Once we found a possible location (the Klinger Factory) we started working on our storyline. Since we were considering using a factory we decided to look into Chemical warfare to see if it was still relevant today and look into the idea that dangerous chemical were made in the factory.

Chemical Warfare

Chemical warfare (CW) involves using the toxic properties of chemical substances as weapons

Used in terrorism- Recent cases-

• Early 2007 multiple terrorist bombings were reported in Iraq using chlorine gas. The attacks wounded or sickened more than 350 people. Bombers linked to Al-Qaeda in Iraq and have used bombs of various sizes up to chlorine tanker trucks. United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon condemned the attacks as, "clearly intended to cause panic and instability in the country."
• On October 26, 2002, Russian special forces used a chemical agent (presumably KOLOKOL-1, an aerosolized fentanyl derivative), as a precursor to an assault on Chechen terrorists, ending the Moscow Theater Hostage Crisis. All 42 of the terrorists and 120 of the hostages were killed during the raid; all but one hostage, who was killed, died from the effects of the agent.

Used in war.

• The Hague Declaration of 1899 and the Hague Convention of 1907 forbade the use of "poison or poisonous weapons" in warfare, but more than 124,000 tons of gas was produced by the end of World War I. The French were the first to use chemical weapons during the First World War, using tear gas. Chlorine gas was common. Official figures state about 1,176,500 non-fatal casualties and 85,000 fatalities directly caused by chemical warfare agents during the course of the war.
• After the war, most of the unused German chemical warfare agents were dumped into the Baltic Sea, a common disposal method among all the participants in several bodies of water. Over time, salt water causes the shell casings to corrode, and mustard gas occasionally leaks from these containers and washes onto shore as a wax-like solid resembling whale sick. Even in this solidified form, the agent is active enough to cause severe burns to anybody coming into contact with it

Syria threatens Chemical Warfare-2012

Mustard Gas used in WW1

Effects of Chemical Warfare

Chemical warfare agents can be classified by their effects on the body. These agents are

blood, choking, blister, and nerve.

• Blood agents interfere with the transfer of oxygen, suffocating the victim. Hydrogencyanide is a blood agent which kills quickly and dissipates quickly.
• Choking agents damage the lungs.
• Blister agents cause painful blisters on the skin and are especially damaging when inhaled.
• Nerve agents attack the nervous system, causing difficulty in breathing, nausea, dim vision, convulsions, and death.

Chemical Effects



Location Scouting - 'The Klinger Factory', Sidcup

After searching for possible locations to shoot our trailer, we found an old abandoned factory, the 'Klinger Factory'. After looking around the outside, we went inside and took some photos.