Help Making a Period Piece?

[EvilDEAD326]

OK in about a month, our first real film project (for film class, I mean) is going to be a Suspense/Thriller deal.

Now, I, being a huge fan of Jack the Ripper, want to make a realistic suspense driven period piece about the murders. Now, I just need some help finding good locations that seem somewhat realistic to the time and place, in this case, the Whitechapel District of London, England in 1888.

Just so you know, I don't believe we have to make an ENTIRE film just a scene that creates suspense. I have a pretty good idea on how to shoot it (stylized lighting etc.) and I already have a prime locations picked out (this really scary place in front of my church) but I just need to know if this is actually possible and if anyone has ever done a period piece, I'm 16 by the way, if that helps at all.

I think the hardest thing about it is going to be trying not to get cars or any modern things in any of the shots and trying to find the clothing worn in 1888, London. My friend has a long black overcoat which I'll probably use and I'll need a hat and I'm feeling a monacle on this one... so maybe I'll go to Party City and pick up a monacle...

[kwano]

try to film indoors so all the stuff from our time period has less of a chance of showing up

and i guess focus more on close ups so the chances of something foreign appearing in the frame is lessened...

[loosechange]

well you did pick a challenging time period for a shoe string budget.

look around for some clothes which you could possibly manipulate to get the look your looking for.

i would film this in B&W. but thats me.

[TacticalNinja]

I was going to say, You could keep the story but change the time the story was set..

It would be a period time piece then... Chase scenes add suspense, but that would be SO hard to do and keep it looking old.

[anomalie]

Thrift store, if you can't afford costume rentals. Vests over plain shirts with nice dark slacks for guys, layered long skirts and high-collared blouses for women. Acessories and grooming can really help top off the look, too. Threadbanger.com did a Sweeny Todd inspired episode a while back that might be of some use. You won't get it to look totally authentic on a tiny budget, but so long as the idea gets across without too much confusion it's all good. (Oh, and I wouldn't use a monocle. Unless you have a middle-aged or older man in your cast, it will look cheesy IMO.)

I think if your project is supposed to be about creating suspense, though, I would have just gone with a contemporary theme. Everyone will be distracted from the plot because they'll have to process the time period (and may even have to strain to figure it out, depending on how obvious it is) before they get into the actual movie.

It just seems like an awful lot of work for something that's for school - you'll need to pull off a lot within a deadline. For something tricky like this, I would suggest doing it on your own time when you have a bit more freedom - because the idea does sound great! Just difficult for school. But that's just my personal thoughts.

Good luck, though!

[EvilDEAD326]

Thrift store, if you can't afford costume rentals. Vests over plain shirts with nice dark slacks for guys, layered long skirts and high-collared blouses for women. Acessories and grooming can really help top off the look, too. Threadbanger.com did a Sweeny Todd inspired episode a while back that might be of some use. You won't get it to look totally authentic on a tiny budget, but so long as the idea gets across without too much confusion it's all good. (Oh, and I wouldn't use a monocle. Unless you have a middle-aged or older man in your cast, it will look cheesy IMO.)

I think if your project is supposed to be about creating suspense, though, I would have just gone with a contemporary theme. Everyone will be distracted from the plot because they'll have to process the time period (and may even have to strain to figure it out, depending on how obvious it is) before they get into the actual movie.

It just seems like an awful lot of work for something that's for school - you'll need to pull off a lot within a deadline. For something tricky like this, I would suggest doing it on your own time when you have a bit more freedom - because the idea does sound great! Just difficult for school. But that's just my personal thoughts.

Good luck, though!

Yeah, I had a totally different idea, modern times, which used the same location I'm planning for the Jack the Ripper project. I probably won't do it for school (atleast not for the suspense project) for what you said about people having to process the time period and whatnot.

I'll definitely make a Jack the Ripper movie someday, just mabe not soon or for school... If I ever become legit and respected in Hollyweird, the first blockbuster I'd want to make is a Jack the Ripper film...

So expect something "Jack" from me.