Photo via payvand.com
Most filmmakers would agree that location shooting has its benefits, but it also comes with uncertainty and a variety of challenges. In an article for Indiewire, Scott Brown discusses some of these challenges and provides some helpful tips for those planning doing a little location shooting. Below, we’ve summarized a few of these tips to help you hit the ground running. Good luck!
- Consider every possible scenario and have a backup plan in place for anything that involves a third party. Brown summarizes this tip as “hope for the best and prepare for the worst.” Life doesn’t move at the speed of production, he says, so you need to be ready for everything. Have a plan A, B, C, D, and E.
- Prioritize communication. Brown says you should make sure to have a way to communicate from set to base camp and everywhere in between. For example, don’t skimp on the walkie-talkies. You need to make sure the equipment meets your needs.
- Budget your incidentals. Brown recommends setting aside 10 percent of your total budget for production incidentals. This money will be useful on location.
- There are other ways to pay. The right location can sometimes come with a price. Rather than going over budget try a different approach, such as volunteering to clean up the property while scouting. Also, make sure you leave the location better than you found it to make life easier on you and everyone who comes after you.
- Keep everyone healthy. Brown says it’s important to consider the realities of your location and to make sure to remind everyone to keep healthy habits, whether that be staying hydrated or applying sunscreen.
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