Faking a location

S

sarmad88

Hi,

I am currently writing a script for an indie filmmaker, and even though the whole movie is in London, I really think it would do the story great service if I could have a small scene in Nigeria somehow, but of course the budget wouldn't allow it. Is it possible to fake Africa somewhere in the UK? The closer to London, the better. Is there someone here familiar with the UK landscape... I think maybe some barren land with patches of green would do... or some patchy plantation, an old house by a swamp somewhere maybe. Suggestions?

The scene only needs to show a man waiting outside a house, hesitating to knock, an old pickup truck drives off from the house, the man hides to avoid being seen. He finally knocks and goes in, then drama plays out inside, and he leaves, having one final dialogue exchange outside the house.
 
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sarmad88 said:
The scene only needs to show a man waiting outside a house, hesitating to knock, an old pickup truck drives off from the house, the man hides to avoid being seen. He finally knocks and goes in, then drama plays out inside, and he leaves, having one final dialogue exchange outside the house.
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Absolutely that can be "faked". A creative filmmaker can find a way.

I cannot point you to a specific location close to London but I know
filmmakers. We fake shots like that all the time and on very low
budgets. Writer your script the way it needs to be written and the
filmmaker will find a way. If he's creative...
 
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directorik said:
Absolutely that can be "faked". A creative filmmaker can find a way.

I cannot point you to a specific location close to London but I know
filmmakers. We fake shots like that all the time and on very low
budgets. Writer your script the way it needs to be written and the
filmmaker will find a way. If he's creative...
Click to expand...

Thanks a lot for the information... now I feel more confident. That's what I was thinking that you have to come up with creative ways of doing things on a short budget, and if the story is good enough, and you make it well enough, most of the people won't even notice, and even if they do, they will be willing to look past it if they enjoyed your film, that's what I do as an audience, I only nitpick when I didn't really enjoy a movie.

tokenwhiteboy said:
https://www.google.com/search?q=nig...CcGbygHJp4AQ&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAQ&biw=1527&bih=889

If you want to sell it...

make sure it's colored different, have someone speaking in the native language and use subtitles... and don't linger too long (long enough for people to not just accept it as real)
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Thanks for the suggestions. Changing the color tone is a really good idea, and I get your point about adding details as distractions. :)
 
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A creative man can make epic awesome stuff from absolutely nothing. So there is no need to worry about that. All you need is to write.

If he says to you that he doesn't like Nigeria, then just re-write that bit. But apart from that, just write as you wanna. Just as Directorik said. :)
 
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sarmad88 said:
Hi,

I am currently writing a script for an indie filmmaker, and even though the whole movie is in London, I really think it would do the story great service if I could have a small scene in Nigeria somehow, but of course the budget wouldn't allow it. Is it possible to fake Africa somewhere in the UK? The closer to London, the better. Is there someone here familiar with the UK landscape... I think maybe some barren land with patches of green would do... or some patchy plantation, an old house by a swamp somewhere maybe. Suggestions?

The scene only needs to show a man waiting outside a house, hesitating to knock, an old pickup truck drives off from the house, the man hides to avoid being seen. He finally knocks and goes in, then drama plays out inside, and he leaves, having one final dialogue exchange outside the house.
Click to expand...

I'm a Londoner.

Which part of Africa? There is a vast difference between Soweto and the Sahara and Central African republics look like Surrey. This is the Top Gear crew in a bit of Africa which looks remarkably lilke England: http://bbctransmissionau.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/1-main1.jpg?w=512&h=288

So yes, in answer to your question, Surrey or even bits of Hampstead Heath look like parts of Africa.
 
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joshythehipster said:
A creative man can make epic awesome stuff from absolutely nothing. So there is no need to worry about that. All you need is to write.

If he says to you that he doesn't like Nigeria, then just re-write that bit. But apart from that, just write as you wanna. Just as Directorik said. :)
Click to expand...

There is no issue with Nigeria, just the budget, and making it believable, and you're right I'm just going to write the script freely, and he would just have to be creative, that's what it's all about after all, being creative. Thanks!

gorillaonabike said:
I'm a Londoner.

Which part of Africa? There is a vast difference between Soweto and the Sahara and Central African republics look like Surrey. This is the Top Gear crew in a bit of Africa which looks remarkably lilke England: http://bbctransmissionau.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/1-main1.jpg?w=512&h=288

So yes, in answer to your question, Surrey or even bits of Hampstead Heath look like parts of Africa.
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Thanks for the suggestions! It's supposed to be in the countryside of Nigeria. Both the locations you mentioned look very promising, especially Surrey. ;)
 
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sarmad88 said:
Stock footage can only be used as transition, I would think... you still need a location to actually shoot the scene in which your actors appear on screen and have dialogues... or are you suggesting green screen?
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It all depends on the scene/script. As Rik mentioned, you can just find locations that match. It may mean you have to travel (depending on the look you're going for and the locations that are available to you).

It's important to write within the budget constraints you have available.

Setting the scene for establishing/transition shots for exteriors and then moving interior can work (that was what I was talking about when I posted the first reply - don't ask me why my answer was so narrow minded), though if all your shots are exterior then greenscreen may work. Finding locations that match the look you're going for is really the best option.
 
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Sweetie said:
It all depends on the scene/script. As Rik mentioned, you can just find locations that match. It may mean you have to travel (depending on the look you're going for and the locations that are available to you).

It's important to write within the budget constraints you have available.

Setting the scene for establishing/transition shots for exteriors and then moving interior can work (that was what I was talking about when I posted the first reply - don't ask me why my answer was so narrow minded), though if all your shots are exterior then greenscreen may work. Finding locations that match the look you're going for is really the best option.
Click to expand...

Right, I'll keep that in mind. Thanks for your help! :)
 
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sarmad88 said:
Thanks for the suggestions! It's supposed to be in the countryside of Nigeria. Both the locations you mentioned look very promising, especially Surrey. ;)
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No problem. Funnily enough, my father was an actor in a Nigerian short film shot in London which looked like Nigeria. I have no idea why a bunch of people are suggesting greenscreening as there are locations which you can use and you won't need to greenscreen.

This palm tree is a 5 minute drive from where I live: http://www.alamy.com/thumbs/6/{0D9FB74B-1823-4F85-962A-A72C4E8D3F4C}/A2M1FM.jpg

This is some guy's garden in Suffolk: http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2011/09/26/article-0-0DFA16DD00000578-128_634x804.jpg

It looks even more Nigerian than this which is Nigeria! http://irinajoyinbo.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/img_1603.jpg

If you are willing to get out of London and go South West, you can get this: http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images...4/1240572800325/Palm-trees-in-Torquay-001.jpg

This is Brighton which is 70 miles away from London: http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2583/3686691302_65b5aeb9d2_o.jpg

etc...

Where you will struggle in London is getting a house which looks like a Nigerian property. However, if you can steer the plot towards land which looks Nigerian and your film makers are flexible and creative, it should be fine.
 
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gorillaonabike said:
No problem. Funnily enough, my father was an actor in a Nigerian short film shot in London which looked like Nigeria. I have no idea why a bunch of people are suggesting greenscreening as there are locations which you can use and you won't need to greenscreen.

This palm tree is a 5 minute drive from where I live: http://www.alamy.com/thumbs/6/{0D9FB74B-1823-4F85-962A-A72C4E8D3F4C}/A2M1FM.jpg

This is some guy's garden in Suffolk: http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2011/09/26/article-0-0DFA16DD00000578-128_634x804.jpg

It looks even more Nigerian than this which is Nigeria! http://irinajoyinbo.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/img_1603.jpg

If you are willing to get out of London and go South West, you can get this: http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images...4/1240572800325/Palm-trees-in-Torquay-001.jpg

This is Brighton which is 70 miles away from London: http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2583/3686691302_65b5aeb9d2_o.jpg

etc...

Where you will struggle in London is getting a house which looks like a Nigerian property. However, if you can steer the plot towards land which looks Nigerian and your film makers are flexible and creative, it should be fine.
Click to expand...

Wow, very cool... this is very helpful, and you're absolutely right about the houses being very different, would have to figure something out. But thanks so much for taking the time to help, I really appreciate it. And your father being in a Nigerian short film shot in London is some coincidence. :lol:
 
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