Campfire scene... Where to shoot it?

capel

capel

Active member
In my short film I'm shooting in a few weeks there's a scene with a campfire. The two main characters are sitting on either side of it talking.

I'm shooting mostly in Big Bear, and I went up last weekend and checked out their campgrounds. It all looked good except for the fact that you can't have an open fire. It has to be in this designated pit with a short metal wall around it.

The problem is that the scene is supposed to take place in the middle of the woods, like these guys are camping. Anyone know of an area where I can build an open fire without getting fined a bazillion dollars?

It doesn't even necessarily need to be in the woods, as it will be at night and you'll only really be able to see the actors and their tents behind them. Thanks for any help.
 
Good luck finding a place like that in So. California, particularly in a few weeks which should put you in the height of fire season...

I would really warn against trying to guerilla it, as a mistake could end up being VERY costly.

If you can afford to pay, you might try a movie ranch but that's going to require permits, a fire marshal and water truck. All that adds up pretty fast for a campfire.

You might also try the local film commission.
 
We schedule any outdoor shoots where things need to be set ablaze in May and June when the conditions are at their best. Once July hits it doesn't take long for the ground to really dry out and the fire risk to rapidly rise.
 
capel said:
The problem is that the scene is supposed to take place in the middle of the woods, like these guys are camping. Anyone know of an area where I can build an open fire without getting fined a bazillion dollars?
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Put in a scene where the campers fall in to one of the few remaining pools of water, soaking everything and they forgot to bring wax tipped matches... then have the 'would-be' campfire scene with them shivering around a battery based Coleman lantern...

But after the fires of last year in the Angeles Forest... I don't think open flame and 'So Cal' anywhere is a good idea... In my area, we had a couple of days of 'hot weather' last week, and sure enough on Camp Pendleton there was a brush fire... that was caused by training activities... but the point is... anywhere can go up...

The only other alternative is to 'fake' a fire with colored lights, flicker devices, and never really show The Fire.
 
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craigbowman said:
We schedule any outdoor shoots where things need to be set ablaze in May and June when the conditions are at their best. Once July hits it doesn't take long for the ground to really dry out and the fire risk to rapidly rise.
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Wait a minute... you're in Canada... there can't be a fire hazard... it's always raining...
 
Why don't you just build around the existing "controlled" steel fire ring? By that I mean get a bunch of rock and stack them around the steel ring to camouflage it to appear like a fire with a rock fire ring, which is something that a lot of campers do to contain a fire. Don't know if that would work for you though. Hope it helps.
 
Filmbuff28 said:
Why don't you just build around the existing "controlled" steel fire ring? By that I mean get a bunch of rock and stack them around the steel ring to camouflage it to appear like a fire with a rock fire ring, which is something that a lot of campers do to contain a fire. Don't know if that would work for you though. Hope it helps.
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Sparks could still carry on the wind and start a brush fire.

Wonder if gas logs connected to a small propane tank would suffice?
 
Filmbuff28 said:
Why don't you just build around the existing "controlled" steel fire ring? By that I mean get a bunch of rock and stack them around the steel ring to camouflage it to appear like a fire with a rock fire ring, which is something that a lot of campers do to contain a fire. Don't know if that would work for you though. Hope it helps.
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Yeah I've thought about that. I think this is what I'm gonna have to do. The good thing is i really only need to fake medium shot. Maybe I'll just put something in front of it or angle up so we only see the top of the flame barely coming into the shot. Thanks for the suggestions guys.
 
What are editing with? Have you given any thought about adding the flames in Motion or AE?
 
Blaine said:
What are editing with? Have you given any thought about adding the flames in Motion or AE?
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I'm editing in Premiere. But man, the idea of doing it as a visual effects terrifies me. Especially since a few of the shots won't be locked off.
 
things like this remind of why I love living where I do. If I want to make a campfire, I just go into the woods and "make a campfire". We filmed the exact same thing for my film, and we just made a campfire in a small woodish area next to my friends house. We were able to run power to the set from his house and on the film you cannot tell we are not in the middle of nowhere.
 
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