Recently, I have had the opportunity to work with some amazingly talented and ambitious people who have inspiring creative visions and are willing to grant me input and control. This delicate balance can be difficult to master, and is something that I plan to talk about in the future, but for now, we'll stick to the experience of being a director on location, and how to rise to the occasion when faced with limited time and limited resources.
Low budget (and I mean looowwww budget) projects can be a delightful nightmare. Since money is scarce, daunting time constraints are the first to loom over your shoot. Those people (usually family friends) who have graciously offered their storefront or living room to your shoot have lives that they need to get back to, and often times, while there can be some wiggle room, the team may need to shoot an entire 3 minute sequence in 3-4 hours. Before you rebut, just know that 3 minute sequence in a feature film can take up to 3 days to complete. Actors and crew members can avoid stress by making sure that every single detail is planned before they arrive to their location. Know your desired angles and how you plan to light the area. Most importantly, make sure that the actors know their lines and blocking. It may be a wise idea to hold a rehearsal before hand at someone's house so that everyone can arrive at the location and get right to work!
Unlike sound stages, locations can be laced with imperfections and often times quick thinking and problem solving skills are required. Lighting, sound, power, space, and other resources are always limited, and it is the crew's job to turn every flaw into an advantage. For my shoots, I bring a suitcase that contains everything that I may need for a shoot. I pack 3 spare microphones, a spare flipcam, PLENTY of extra batteries, an extension cord, a power strip, and a small lamp that helps fill dark areas with ambient light. The number one rule is to be prepared! Know your camera, location, actors, and possible issues. ANYTHING can happen on a shoot, so make sure you know how to handle everything.
Lastly, on low budget shoots, it is important to know that you, as a director, take on many more jobs titles than just "director". On these shoots, a director can also be the DP (Director of Photography), the Gaffer (head electrician), the sound guy, and even the editor (which is a whole other animal altogether). It is important to know how to perform each job flawlessly and with a smile on your face! Have fun, and go make an awesome movie!!!
PS:
To see what a project like this can look like, check out my latest endeavor. The wonderful Justine Re and I are working together to bring the public a webshow complete with fashion, music, and girl-talk (I'm learning every day in the fashion and girl-talk areas).
My Youtube Channel
My Facebook Page
Low budget (and I mean looowwww budget) projects can be a delightful nightmare. Since money is scarce, daunting time constraints are the first to loom over your shoot. Those people (usually family friends) who have graciously offered their storefront or living room to your shoot have lives that they need to get back to, and often times, while there can be some wiggle room, the team may need to shoot an entire 3 minute sequence in 3-4 hours. Before you rebut, just know that 3 minute sequence in a feature film can take up to 3 days to complete. Actors and crew members can avoid stress by making sure that every single detail is planned before they arrive to their location. Know your desired angles and how you plan to light the area. Most importantly, make sure that the actors know their lines and blocking. It may be a wise idea to hold a rehearsal before hand at someone's house so that everyone can arrive at the location and get right to work!
Unlike sound stages, locations can be laced with imperfections and often times quick thinking and problem solving skills are required. Lighting, sound, power, space, and other resources are always limited, and it is the crew's job to turn every flaw into an advantage. For my shoots, I bring a suitcase that contains everything that I may need for a shoot. I pack 3 spare microphones, a spare flipcam, PLENTY of extra batteries, an extension cord, a power strip, and a small lamp that helps fill dark areas with ambient light. The number one rule is to be prepared! Know your camera, location, actors, and possible issues. ANYTHING can happen on a shoot, so make sure you know how to handle everything.
Lastly, on low budget shoots, it is important to know that you, as a director, take on many more jobs titles than just "director". On these shoots, a director can also be the DP (Director of Photography), the Gaffer (head electrician), the sound guy, and even the editor (which is a whole other animal altogether). It is important to know how to perform each job flawlessly and with a smile on your face! Have fun, and go make an awesome movie!!!
PS:
To see what a project like this can look like, check out my latest endeavor. The wonderful Justine Re and I are working together to bring the public a webshow complete with fashion, music, and girl-talk (I'm learning every day in the fashion and girl-talk areas).
My Youtube Channel
My Facebook Page
