How to manage a narrative shoot

M

MichelleB

New member
Hey everybody,
longtime reader first time poster here...
Where I live I don´t get much insight in the movie industry, but I know quite a bit about TV production.
Thing is, if you asked me to do a corporate video, I´d probably do it without sweating - but when I´m thinking of finally doing the narrative short I´ve been thinking about for a while I feel completely lost.
I could probably manage to do directing and camera (although I´d like to separate the two positions...), but all the organizing and the other people needed - I simply don´t know about...
So are there any books or online resources that teach you the production part of movie making you can recommend?
My biggest concern is time management, how much time do I have to estimate to get eg a scene done? How much time for lighting, rehearsal, shooting, clearing the location aso?
How many people should a crew have?
When to do breaks, what time to start shooting, what time to arrive on location, when to start doing the make up?
...
You probably see I´m lost here, I really need practical, hands down information on how to organize a shoot, not so much about how to get sponsors or financing...
Any help is greatly appreciated!:dankk2:
 
It's really trial by fire. You learn the most by doing. However long you think something will take, double it, and that's probably closer to the truth.

There are tons of film/video production books. Most are pretty solid. I can't remember the names of the ones we had to read at school though. I think there was one that was called the Video Production Handbook that was pretty cut and dry, but would probably help you.

Your best resource will probably be the posts here though. USE THE SEARCH FUNCTION. All your questions have probably been answered many times.

Questions like, How many people should a crew have? are just way too broad out of context. As many people as you need to get the job done. Get what I'm saying? Some of the users here won't be patient enough to answer questions like that. Let's hear the specifics. Don't ask, how do I make a movie? and expect a big response.

Best of luck.

Ben
 
For film budgeting and scheduling, you need to have a specific reference material. I used this book series, along with Movie Magic, to line produce an independent feature.

You need to have an understanding of breakdowns, day-of-days scheduling with strips and everything that goes with it. This book used (back when I used it) The Conversation as its study script, so you can easily follow with a screenplay that you should already be familiar with.

e
 
Number one rule and also a common sense rule: treat others the way you would like to be treated. When your film starts running behind schedule (and it will at some point), never start yelling or abusing your actors/crews. You might be the director, but there's no film without everyone else.
 
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