Prop Research

Most Importantly, a Boat

A boat will be needed for a large part of our film as we would like to film the characters travelling to the 'pagan island', the coastline and nearby islands. We will also be doing some filming of the sailor speaking on the boat about Irish mythology and the pagan holiday of Samhain as a way to explain the backstory to the audience, and foreshadow what is to come.

Our group have found two potential companies that may take us out on their boats for filming. Both boat companies are giving a similar quote of between £150-£200 for a half-day on the boat. As filming is weather dependant, we will have to wait until nearer the time to decide on a date for filming the short film.

Halloween Decorations (The Fake Props)

We have written in our movie plan that the three characters have decided to create their own short film, titled 'Monsters and Caves' that is to be a very amateur Media Studies project filmed on an island. This is why they have hired the boat in the plot of the short film.

These props will be used to show that the film being produced in our film is very amateur and is lacking quality. The characters in our film will be in the same situation as us and plan to shoot a scary movie on the island. They will have various props and costumes for their movie that are clearly not up to a high standard.

Car

We will need a car for our film. The first scene may consist of the three main characters getting out of the car and one of them taking equipment out of the boot. This is the only time the car will be used in he film and therefore the model and colour of the car isn't important, it will not be needed for another day of shooting the movie.

Camera

A camera will be needed for when we are filming on the boat. One character will be filmed taking photos of the sea and surrounding cliffs, caves and islands. This will be used to establish who the sensible character is and will show that one character actually has a genuine interest in what the group is doing.

Backpack

Each character may have their own backpack as they will be on a school excursion to record their Media Studies project and this will make it more genuine. These could contain the things needed for their movie, such as the inefficient props that one character will bring.

Sacrificial Weapon

Celtic-style sacrificial weapons will be needed when we are filming on the island. The pagans will have these weapons to show that they are going to kill the students that have came to the island. Weapons like the dagger shown above were used in sacrificial ceremonies to cut the thoughts of animals and sometimes, even humans. 

St. Brigid's Cross

We will need a St. Brigid's cross to put on the side of the boat. These were usually set over windows and doors in order to protect homes for any harm. As we will have these crosses around the boat, it would suggest that the captain is trying to protect the boat form something in particular.

Costume

The sailor will wear glasses similar to these in order to make him and his style look dated and like a typical fisherman.

The sailor may also wear a pair of fisherman's trousers to give him the look of an authentic sailor. These will be worn over regular, casual clothes such as a wooly jumper, boots and a wooly hat.

Favourite Costume

This is a 'Pagan Wildman' from eastern Europe. His costume is made from burlap, string, stones and bits of wood. This costume is definitely our favourite costime that we seen, and we hope to create something much like this.

Shells

We will need shells in order to create one of our costumes. Our costume has been inspired by this pagan dress made with rocks and bits of wood. We will drill holes through the shells and hang them from pieces of string.

Seaweed

We will use seaweed in this costume as well in order to make it more relevant to the setting. As our movie will be filmed near the seaside and contain many shots of the coast, it would make sense to give the costumes a seaside related aspect. We put forward an idea to collect seaweed and shells from a local beach to use for the costumes. The costumes will be created in our school's art department.

• Burlap Fabric

We plan to use some burlap fabric to make the base layer of the costumes for the pagans on the island.

This is a 'Pagan Wildman' from eastern Europe. His costume is made from a straw-like fabric and has several cowbells hanging form it. The cowbells could be to symbolise nature or maybe just as decoration.














Cowbells

We have taken some inspiration from this costume and have decided that we would like to use some cowbells for one of our costumes.

Foley

Foley will also be used in our movie for some of the actions. When the protagonists are killed at the very end of the movie, we will create new foley for the movement of the pagans when they kill the characters. Other foley may be needed in the movie, but this will be decided and added during the editing stage of our short film.