Back in The Forest

Another film from my holidays back in August/September. We're back in the New Forest for this one. Basically, it's three episodes. or vignettes, filmed on the same day, at different locations, in the forest. The only linking theme is that they all feature running water. I'd toyed with the idea of editing them into three separate films, but eventually decided to compile them into one lengthy (by my standards) film. A bit like one of those Amicus anthology horror films from the seventies, I suppose. Albeit with better production values. Anyway, here it is:



This film features music from a new source: freepd.com. The tracks on offer there vary in quality, but there's a pretty wide range to choose from and, hell, it's free! What more do you want?

The middle section - 'The Bridge' - illustrates, once more, my belief that the right music can fundamentally alter the viewer's perception of a scene. Here, the creepy music gives the whole sequence an air of menace and unease. Which is completely at odds with the reality of the situation - it was filmed on a beautiful warm and sunny afternoon, with no sense of threat whatsoever. Indeed, despite the impression of remoteness the music helps to create, the bridge itself was only a few hundred yards from the road in one direction, and a cottage in the other. Likewise, the other two locations were only a matter of yards from car parks and other visitors.

One last point, it isn't the same stream in all three episodes. The first stream (seen close to its source in the film) eventually flows into the river Avon. The second waterway eventually joins the Highland Water, which is featured in the third episode, before joining the Lymington River and flowing into the Solent.