How do you fill spare time during a shoot?

iamWZA

iamWZA

Active member
For example, if your next shot needs to be in afternoon sunlight and you have to wait a few hours until it's right, or if you have to postpone something due to changes in weather or something like that.
Is this common? What's the most worthwhile thing to during these periods. Rehearsals?
 
Spare time!!? Oh Man, I wish! When I'm directing or DPing I never even get to sit down.

However, as an actor I have had LOTS of downtime on set. I enjoy watching the set, watching grips and gaffers work, checking out lighting setups, camera setups, etc. Sometimes I take BTS pictures of setups. I get to act on bigger sets than my own, budget-wise, so that's a big plus for me. I learn a ton. When I'm acting I don't bother the crew by talking to them or asking them questions. It's inappropriate. Sometimes if at lunch I'll talk to the sound guy or someone else.

Often, the AD and his accolytes of PAs want you to stay put, in wardrobe or makeup, especially if your shots are coming up. In that case, for actors at least, flirting is the preferred past time.
 
Last edited:
With proper scheduling there should never be such "spare time". Shoot something else from later in the schedule when waiting for sunlight (although nobody will be able to tell whether the sunlight you shot in is afternoon or morning so just shoot it when you are ready to shoot it), plan cover sets for weather delays, and in general do whatever you can to avoid wasting time like that.
 
Last edited:
In my case there are 13 different scenes and only 3 of them need daylight, the rest need either a dark exterior or an interior that suggests it's dark outside. No matter how I plan it, there always seems to be parts in the day where I'll need to wait until the location(s) is right for shooting.
 
Grug said:
"Spare time"? During a shoot? What's that?
Click to expand...
Was going to post this, you beat me to it.

If you have extra time (that concept blows my mind) I would run test shots and take extra time making sure your lighting is perfect. Get the actors to rehearse, practice your camera moves, etc.
 
iamWZA said:
In my case there are 13 different scenes and only 3 of them need daylight, the rest need either a dark exterior or an interior that suggests it's dark outside. No matter how I plan it, there always seems to be parts in the day where I'll need to wait until the location(s) is right for shooting.
Click to expand...

I shot a whole night interior short film during the day. I used Duvetyne (black cloth) on the windows and then used the window treatments or some sheers. Unless you're shooting out the window and expect to see something, you can shoot night interiors all day.
 
You can do lots of stuff:

- lots of directors drink,smoke or use drugs
- Clint Eastwood sleeps in the free time
- Mel Gibson plays pranks on his co-workers.
- Kubrick would play ping-pong with Malcom McDowell on the set of A Clockwork Orange between takes.
- Kurosawa would stare into space imagining new shots and angles for his movies.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top