Day 1 on my feature film (consumer camera)

thanks a lot man! That was really helpful. I'll think of that next time. You guys are really giving me good hints. I will def. use these hints. Thanks! Peace!
 
Hey guys! I shot today. But I have bad news. The actress that was supposed to be there got there an hour and a half late. So, we shot only some shots and we wasted time. We were using someone's office space too. But, at least we got able to see the office and get used to it.

All of these days have been so rushed. Like, all of my shots are so wack. I never have anytime to plan it. I never have any good ideas for angles because I always have this pressue on me to finish the shoot and direct, and worry about the cables, and the dolly, and this, and someone who is feeling sick, and this and that. all of this makes me not do my job as the DP. You know? So, my shots don't look that great. they look boring and have a cheap look to them. You know what I mean? But I really do have the talent for good angles. Like, if I just have the time to figure them out you know...the actors that made it today had a quick meeting with me saying that we need to have these shooting days more organized. That we need to pick several days out of the week and shoot all day instead of everyday shooting like one or two small scenes. You know? How do you guys do all of this? This is my first time and it's just making me frustrated and making the shooting days tiring and not fun. I don't want it to be this way! Ahh! lol! So we decided to make a meeting one day and do the schedule together to figure out when we can all be there. Like take off work and everyone be there or something, I don't know. So, that's what we're going to do. That's the solution we got to. But, man, i do everything on the set. Except, act. But what I really want to do is direct. And do some camera work. that's it. But, i don't have anyone that can take care of anything else. I know several of you may say to do a call for a DP or whatever, but I don't have time for that. I mean, i can put it on and then just see if someone wants to while we're shooting, but I need a solution for now.

Can you guys help me out? any suggestions? Thanks guys!
 
LuckyProducer said:
I was doing everything handheld on top of my dolly. So it was hard for me frame my shot and get ready to ride.
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There's part of your problem. You should have the camera on a tripod on the dolly to steady out those shots.
 
well yeh, that was before I got the metal pipes dude. Wow, you're really late on this convo. that was way back. that has nothing to do with my latest post.
 
LuckyProducer said:
All of these days have been so rushed... I never have anytime to plan it. I never have any good ideas for angles because I always have this pressure on me to finish the shoot and direct... if I just have the time to figure them out you know...the actors ... had a quick meeting with me saying that we need to have these shooting days more organized... How do you guys do all of this? ...it's just making me frustrated and making the shooting days tiring and not fun... but I don't have time for that... I need a solution for now.

Can you guys help me out?
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Ok ok, relax Lucky. You need to take a few breaths and not take this so seriously. But here is some advice ('cause I too am currently working on my first feature.)

My first question: When did you start pre-production? We started four months ago and that is very fast. We are starting photography on the 26th, and that's only because that's when one of our actors is available. However, his role is very short, one location and only one other actor in the scene. We felt it was a good place to start. The rest of the shooting is not until weeks from now. I knew this production was going to be difficult so we wrote a script that specifically would be easier to shoot: Limited roles, locations, and action/effects. My point is, your project needs to reflect your "talent" and, basically, you need to play to your strengths.

As far as making your shots "good," you need to plan them out before you get there. When you reach the level and make as many films as Rick Schmidt, then you can "make it up as you go." Until then, story board (everyone can draw stick figures), organize your scenes and make a shooting schedule (write it down, not just in your head), and rehearse, rehearse, rehearse. Shane Caruth (Primer) said they rehearsed and practiced for months before they shot anything. How do you think an engineer with no film making experience made a film that looked as god as it did? Your actors see it, you need to be organized.

Why do did you say you can't take the time to do that? If you can't take the time to adequately prepare, then the project WILL suffer and it's not worth wasting anyone's time, right?

As far as doing everything yourself. When I told my friends I wanted to make a movie, I had almost 20 people show up for the first pre-production meeting strictly on faith, and an excitement to make a film. Each person thought, "I'm going to be the only one who shows up." But when they each saw how many did, (and how organized our presentation was) they all couldn't wait to get going. Where are all your friends? Actually, to be honest, most of these guys that are helping me are also from the film program at the University. (So I guess it does pay to go to film school... I digress)

Look, the point to all this... it should be fun, you should love the process or else why do it? But in order to enjoy it you need to be prepared. I wanted to start shooting Aug 1st, but we weren't ready so we pushed the date back. Unless you have Sony Picture Studio execs and producers breathing down your neck all the time, what's the rush?

Take the time you need to make it good. You said it yourself, you know you can do this... now do what you got to do, even if that means you put the production on hold, your team will understand and probably respect you more for it. It's not the director or the actor or the "DP" that's important, it's the project. Good luck

Joe
 
Thanks Joe. that helped me a lot. I said I never had time to do it on set because we only have so many hours to shoot. And using one camera it takes even longer because then you have to move it and then change lighting or worry about other stuff. The actors aren't getting paid, and the crew members as well. they don't mind doing this movie, they really want to, but I can't take forever to do a scene. You know? So I can stay there doing my shots and planning it out while the actors rehearse or just sit there. it's a waste. So, I'm going to start drawing storyboards for every scene we do. Like before.

alot of people showed up to the meeting in pre-production, and a lot of crew members showed up the first day of shooting, but now it's like only two of the crew show up. One actor's late and all that. And then I get there and try to plan my shots while they are breathing down my neck. and then by the time we start, I am like rushing everything. Moving the camera, record, bam, move the camera, record, bam. There is like no fun in that. I like doing things with time. Taking my time. How much do you guys get done in how many hours. Like how many hours do you guys usually work a day? I need to know because this production is going way too slow. It took me like 2 and a half months of pre-production.

Tell me what you guys think...
 
LuckyProducer said:
I like doing things with time. Taking my time. How much do you guys get done in how many hours. Like how many hours do you guys usually work a day? I need to know because this production is going way too slow. It took me like 2 and a half months of pre-production.

Tell me what you guys think...
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Time is money, so you have to learn to take your time BEFORE your cast and crew show up, b/c once that clock starts ticking time = money. I know you aren't paying anyone, but that makes it even MORE difficult for you to expect them to chill while you plan shots. Plan all of your shots ahead of time. Like Joe said... plan ahead. Go in there with at least some idea of what you hope to have in a final edit. My last project was a 45 day shoot (dramatic narrative / one camera) where we did 5 to 7 pages in 8 - 10 hours each day not couting load-in/out. Theres no time to stand around and plan shots on that kind of schedule. Also, your actors are onto something. I hate shooting tiny bits here and there. Plan some full shooting days and get this thing in the can. It sounds like once you get a chance to really get going your one scene for the day is done. Try planning a full day and see if you can't get a nice rhythm going.
 
I think I have said this before in a different thread.. but it rings even true even more here.

This is why you need to plan your shots before hand, in a little something called "Pre-Production".

As I said in the first reply in this thread, I wouldn't have even bothered posting these little updates. Why? well for one, you could have potentially used that time to makeup for the lack of planning that is apparently coming back to bite you in the ass.

There is a reason your production is falling apart. Standing around on set and getting nothing done is no good on set.. I am guilty of this myself. You don't "choose" your angles perse on the day you shoot. What you do is adjust your angles to match your vision and to compensate for your location. Thus this takes far less time and you can knock shots off quick. And shooting digitally, setup should be even less of an issue.

I was able to shoot 30-35 shots a day over the course of 3 Days during my short film shoot, and those were only 7 hour days. With the right planning you can have a happey motivated crew and cast.

And as an aside... shooting with 1 camera is not a limitation in anyway. Try shooting with 2 cameras and having to control the light properly and the frame so niether disrupts the scene in anyway.. that is more time consuming.

cheers.
 
I understand what you mean. So do you mean, I should go over the scene before I go on set and draw out what I want? And then go on set and do that?
 
I did that the one day. I got there an hour early and planned the shots and put tape on all of the camera angles and where the lights should stay. And then when we switched angles, we just followed the tape. So that worked out really nice. Is this what you guys mean?
 
monte said:
I give this thread (not footage, it looks decent) a 3 pumpkin salute

pumpkin-vomit.jpg


pumpkin-vomit.jpg


pumpkin-vomit.jpg
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LMAO!!!!!!!!!!
 
no.. what I mean is.. you should have taken photos of your locations months ago... and planned out all your shots months ago so you wouldn't have to show up to set an hour early to rush through and plan the days shots.

You should have made a shot list before you even started shooting a single frame. Some directors don't plan their shots to a "T" but they at least have an outline of the type of shots they will get on the day.

Overhead diagrams of all your setups help too, some people do that to work out camera placement... storyboards are another tool..

all those or things you should have done months ago when you were in pre-production, but from the sounds of it, you didn't have any pre-production time.

For whatever you do next it would be advantageous to plan these things out before hand. Well planned shoots are still hard to do, but they are much less frustrating for your cast and crew.
 
Pookie, 100% agreement.. and if it is possible, although I highly doubt the mathematical community would allow it, I also agree with you 180% percent.

That extra 80% derived from a nominal matrix system designed to rotate personalities along the z axis by a factor of 4 hence masking their original their original position along a 2D cartesian plane.
 
Loki said:
That extra 80% derived from a nominal matrix system designed to rotate personalities along the z axis by a factor of 4 hence masking their original their original position along a 2D cartesian plane.
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Exactly......yea......umm........my thoughts exactly........:thumbsup:
 
first camera

first camera

Help-i'm Sure I Will Open A Can Of Worms With This Question-but I'm Going To Ask It Anyway. I Have Recently Decided To Look For A Camera And Begin Filming The Stuff I've Been Writing. I Have Absolutely Zero Experience Or Knowledge About Filmmaking And Was Lucky Enough To Happen Upon This Website. My Question Is-for An Absolute Beginner With Intentions Of Experimenting And Feeling My Way Around-what Would Be A Good Beginner Camera For A Reasonable Costs That I Won't Outgrow For A Little While And Would Allow Me To Do My Own Editing? Any And All Help Greatly Appreciated-thanks In Advance!!!!!!!!!!
 
What "little friend" are you guys talking about?

Anyway...i'm going to try to schedule longer days so we can get more done, and plan out the shots before I get to the set. I don't have time to do any shot lists and stuff. The production must go on. Do you think this is my best bet?
 
danko said:
Help-i'm Sure I Will Open A Can Of Worms With This Question-but I'm Going To Ask It Anyway. I Have Recently Decided To Look For A Camera And Begin Filming The Stuff I've Been Writing. I Have Absolutely Zero Experience Or Knowledge About Filmmaking And Was Lucky Enough To Happen Upon This Website. My Question Is-for An Absolute Beginner With Intentions Of Experimenting And Feeling My Way Around-what Would Be A Good Beginner Camera For A Reasonable Costs That I Won't Outgrow For A Little While And Would Allow Me To Do My Own Editing? Any And All Help Greatly Appreciated-thanks In Advance!!!!!!!!!!
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LMAO


btw, here's your extra punctuation: , , , , , . . ,

we'll go into the correct use of CAPITALS next time.


Class dismissed
 
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