The world needs more ‘Lerts.
Be secure. Lock your personal stuff in your car or keep it on your person.
(more…)Category: Production
Child of tip – Production
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Low-Budget Filmmaking Tip #44
“Fourple”
On a low budget movie set, a lot of people have double, triple, or fourple duties. On a low budget set, “fourple” is a word. No matter what you’re supposed to be doing, chances are, you’ll wind up doing some other things, too.
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Low-Budget Filmmaking Tip #42
Wish there was a spray for ‘em.
Watch out for drama queens. Drama belongs in front of the camera, not behind it. If they are indispensable, contain them severely. If they are not indispensable, dispense with them.
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Low-Budget Filmmaking Tip #39
Like peas in a pod.
The Director, the AD, and the Cinematographer should always get on well with each other. Find time to make that happen.
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Low-Budget Filmmaking Tip #38
Yes, even a nuke.
If you must have a live weapon on set, such as a pistol, or a shotgun, or a nuclear weapon, have one expert dedicated to babysitting that object. They must never let it out of their sight. Pay attention to what they have to say. If they say the actor is being unsafe, fix the actor — don’t shush the expert.
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Low-Budget Filmmaking Tip #37
You Can Always Shake it in Post!
Get a tripod! Battlestar: Galactica was a fluke — if you don’t lock that camera down, you’re going to make your viewers queasy. You can pan and tilt and even dolly if you have one, but unless you have a real good compelling reason, please, please, please get that camera on the sticks!
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Low-Budget Filmmaking Tip #36
Even at the dollar store!
If you can’t pipe your sound into your camera, borrow a camera with a microphone jack and use that to record audio. There is no real difference between a ’spensive 16-bit digital recorder and a 10-year old Handicam that records sound in 16 bits. Except, well, cost.
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Low-Budget Filmmaking Tip #35
The Shadow tells…
When shooting with a greenscreen, make sure the model is away from the screen. You don’t want any light reflected back from the greenscreen onto your model. Your effects person will bless your heart, assuming they’re on set.
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Low-Budget Filmmaking Tip #34
Although it’s good to know who’s hungry.
Internal microphones suck. Never use the microphone that’s attached to the camera body.
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Low-Budget Filmmaking Tip #32
The operative word is “steady”!
A cheap-ass steadicam you built using $15 worth of parts is better than no stabilizing tool at all, especially if you practice diligently with it, but it’s not a $1000 Steadicam, and it’s not realistic to compare the two. Make do with what you’ve got.
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