Setting of Home: Pros and Cons

Setting of Home: Pros and Cons

Pros

• It is an easy meeting place as members of the group's houses can be used and they are usually easy to get to and recognise which may not be the case for a city underpass or alleyway. 
• There would be no passerbys to interrupt filming- can be more efficient and look more professional.
• There would be not much of a time limit as it would not get dark inside and there is no danger of staying there too late meaning filming can be completed more efficiently and there is a higher liklihood that scenes can be refilmed if we are not happy with them. 
• There would be no risk of being kicked out as we would be familiar with the family of the house and they would understand the reasons for the filming and not be annoyed. This also means we can get filming done more quickly and without annoying anyone. 
• There would be no risk of breaking copy right laws from signs and advertisements on the roads or in city centres. If there is a branding label lying around we can remove it.
• There are no interruptions from weather if filming inside meaning a scene doesn't have to depend on the forecast and filming can be completed at any time. 
• The use of a home setting is effective as it is where a character is supposed to feel the most comfortable and the subversion of that gives a chilling effect to the audience as there is no where else for the character to run making them feel trapped. It is also effective starting off with an intimate homely feel which is decreased over time.
• It emphasises the idea that it could happen to anyone and makes it more frightening.
• It is easy to give the opening a home-video style, similar to paranormal activity, making it feel more realistic and therefore thrilling.

Cons

• There may be problems with mise-en-scene which could take some time to correct or be impossible to change for instance the wrong colour walls/books/photos which might not match up with the character and decrease the effect of the opening.
• There could be disruptive family members present who could be watching television or working at home, as a child minder for instance or perhaps playing music out loud or even be in the rooms that are needed for filming which would disrupt the process and make it more drawn out. There could also be the risk that we disrupt a family member from work or something which would annoy them.
• It could require a lot of redecorating or clearing out in order to achieve the desired effect which may be impossible or could irritate family members. 
• It may be harder to get effective angles such as high angle/birds eye view which could decrease the effect of the opening and make it not as interesting.
• The setting is not a very interesting location therefore a strong plot would be needed in order to make the opening more exciting. 

Areas available: 

• Homes of the group members or of their family members or friends. 
• Derelict homes, unused.