Do you bring your own shade?

kenackr

kenackr

Well-known member
I've been doing too much shooting in the bright mid-day California sun and getting fried. I have a shade canopy, but when I'm single handing and the scene isn't going to take that long, it's more bother to put the canopy up (really takes 2), so I tough it out and go without.

I've been thinking about something like a "market" umbrella but stumble at lugging a 50 # base to keep it up right.

Have any of you conquered the temporay shade question with a quick and reasonable solution for a single hander?

Diffusion filter & "C" stand? Please help this sunbaked brain!

Ken :)
 
I say bring it. I'm in L.A. and I shoot fashion stills full time. When I'm on location and not based out of a building (just a setup in the middle of nowhere, or the beach, etc.) I will absolutely bring my Easy-Up (I think it's called) and some chairs and a couple collapsable tables. Same for my film. I have a desert scene coming up that we will be shooting between Palm Springs and Mexico and I will definitely have that canopy to give some shade to the cast and crew.

I've also seen grip crews rig some stands and flags or diffusers for cast and crew, but as I dont have a full grip crew/truck on my film, my canopy will do nicely.

-GageFX
 
I'd like to hear what you use for for tables. Are they like camping type gear?

I've forgotten the name of my canopy and it's easy for 2 to put up and a hassle for one.

If I'm going to be onsite for more than an hour or 2, I bring it.

Ken
 
A decent-sized black flag (4x4 floppy ideally, or even a sheet of foam core if necessary) and a c-stand and a sandbag. Not too much hassle, easy for one guy to move, and shade is just mandatory for a happy working environment. You can usually shade the camera operator with a rig like that.

Of course, if the wind's blowing, this setup becomes a whole lot trickier!
 
I bring 4-7 folding camping chairs in their bags (the basic $5 at Walmart type, not with cupholders or anything fancy). I bring enough for either 1 per person or body count minus one. I am rather hyper and rarely sit, so I seldom need a chair. Makeup, hair and stylist get chairs and model(s) get a chair.

The tables are very similar to the chairs and are kinda hard to explain. Let me try to find one.....

ah ha...

Aluminum_Table.jpg

http://danlong.en.alibaba.com/product/50024070/50025816/Folding_Chair/Aluminum_Table.html

I think that site is a wholesaler, but I picked mine up from either Walmart or Target or similar for no more than $10-15.

Amazon has the same thing for $60!!! Not good. Look elsewhere.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000EPLK82/ref=nosim/104-6318154-6176711?n=3375251

Note that this isnt the small little cloth table that is about 18x18 with a cupholder and only sits about a foot off the ground. The one I have has an aluminum table top that is quite sturdy and can easily hold a large makeup kit/case. It also comes in a bag that is the same size or smaller than the chair bags.

It is really easy for a single person to get this stuff to location in a couple trips and add a huge amount to cast/crew comfort. And if you dont have at least one other person on set willing to lend a hand to pop up your canopy then it's time to recast/recrew.

Also... look at one of these...

newpopside.jpg


It's a popup changing room that can also serve as a collapsable reflector.

http://www.mypopuproom.com/productsphoto.htm

You can also get them as nonreflectors. http://www.mypopuproom.com/products.htm

I have a blue one as I have enough reflectors and it's easier to just leave the darn thing up through the shoot.

Just some ideas. Oh, and for the love of God, if you get that popuproom/reflector, please dont dress your talent in an awful outfit as shown. The flower in the hair is okay. That's hot.

-GageFX
 
Gage,

I agree maybe it's time to recast/recrew, BTW does the model come with the popup? Maybe for a better outfit she wouldn't mind helping with the canopy!

Barry,

Thanks for the info, that the sort of thing I was thinking about. I've been feeling like a piece of bacon in the pan. :)

Ken
 
Ikes. I was going to suggest you recast her also. To each their own.

I had a makeup artist show up one day who had a good hour to do nothing but stand and talk while the models were being fitted and asked her to go to the corner (.5 mile) and get some coffee for everyone (on me). I dont drink coffee, but everyone else working wanted some. She said "I'd rather not." And didnt. Haven't hired her again since.

It's kinda helpful when people show up with a helpful attitude.

Anyway, good luck on your stuff.

-GageFX
 
Yeah, it really makes a production/set run smoothly when people can put aside their job description to help someone out. I totally understand that if you're doing something, about to do something, or standing by to do something, that takes precidence, but if I'm a grip, or a PA, or whatever and we're between shots, or waiting for something, I'll help out wherever....

Now, about the shade.

I agree with Barry that having a couple 4x4 floppies is one of the easiest setups. It can shield monitors for easier viewing etc etc...But having an easy up canopy is a good option for keeping gear, people, and tables out of the sun or rain. I have seen them for as little as 75 bucks, and they set up in a snap- deffinetly a necessity for outdoor shoots
 
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