how to shoot fast

Steve Laramie

Steve Laramie

Veteran
Tonight was the launch of a 21 film making competition I am DPing for. we have 21 days to write shoot edit. I have never worked on a tight time frame like this. The film will be no longer then 10 minutes shot in center city Philly. We are shooting on DVCproHD. Any tips to fast but effective shooting? We will probably be having a few dolly and crane shots. The crew is me and on average 1-2 gaffers the director and the AD. We are using my 3 lowell lights and cheep clamp lights with 150watt bulbs to help us move fast.
 
Was going to castigate you for thinking 21 days was short but will just leave it at this. Try a 24 hour contest. You will then know what shooting fast is.
 
Once you know the locations and whats up with the script, it'd be a good idea to map out your lighting setups so that way your crew knows exactly whats going on for every scene when it gets down to crunch time.
 
For a 10-minute film, 21 days is plenty of time. Even at a page a day, you can shoot 10 days and then there's 11 left for post.

That said, if for some reason they give you only 2 days to shoot, one tip is try to make your lighting setups flexible. If possible, light your masters in a way that you can move in for closer coverage without changing too much. Also, if possible (depending on how the director likes to work), get things planned very thoroughly - storyboards, stylistic choices, etc. Don't overshoot and really focus on what's in the storyboards.

But like a number of us have said - 21 days is a lot. Wth that amount of time, you can shoot and shoot and shoot and take your time.

Good luck.

~~Dave
 
lairhair said:
Any tips to fast but effective shooting? We will probably be having a few dolly and crane shots. The crew is me and on average 1-2 gaffers the director and the AD. We are using my 3 lowell lights and cheep clamp lights with 150watt bulbs to help us move fast.
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Cheap does not equal fast.


If you want speed, you need these factors:

1) Preproduction and Planning (directing and cinematography)
Knowing your shots ahead of time, and knowing your lighting setups will allow you to not spend time thinking of everything as you go. If you come up with a great idea on set, feel free to do it. For the most part, know ahead of time.

For shooting conditions like yours, try to really plan the film shot by shot. Some directors like shooting for coverage, but that will waste your valuable time. If you know exactly what you need, you can trim the fat off your shot list, making it shorter and production time will be cut down. Read up on the way the Cohen Brothers work. They plan everything out in tremendous detail ahead of time, and work very quickly during production.

As far as cinematography goes, the main way to shoot fast is to shoot out of sequence and within lighting and camera setups. This saves time, because you wont waste valuable time re-setting up shots or lighting setups you had done earlier.
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2) Talented Crew
Next is a talented and knowledgeable crew. These guys will work hard, and because they know the equipment inside and out, will work fast and efficient. Giving the crew your planned shot list and lighting setups ahead of time will also increase their ability to anticipate your next move, allowing them to be ahead of the game.

A talented crew can properly set-up a 'hollywood' stand with an arri 5k, sandbagged in the same amount of time or faster than a novice with a home depot clamp light.

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From what I can tell about your situation, you are going to be using fairly amateur or 'indi' like gear, and presumably crew as well.

I am going to say that pre-planning your shots, camera, and lighting setups will benefit you the most. Once you have refined your plans, share them with your crew and talk about it. If the crew has basic knowledge of the schedule, shot list, and lighting setups, this will save you from having to completely explain everything when the clock is running.

Cryogenic Filmworks said:
Was going to castigate you for thinking 21 days was short but will just leave it at this. Try a 24 hour contest. You will then know what shooting fast is.
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I would also have to agree on this. Most 15 minute narrative shorts I've shot have had around 7-10 standard shooting days (10-12 hours). You have plenty of time if you use it wisely.
 
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yup, plan it shot by shot, pretty easy to do an animatic of stills (stick figures pencil drawings are fine) with temp voices, it will save heaps of time during production
 
Reference ,Blog shot . Feeling and Human Laugh in the unit


THAT 'S MY TRICK .

HAVE FUN AND GOODLUCK
 
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Yeah at ten days of shooting you should be able to make a page a day be as awesome as your talent / vision.

I mean you are shooting at Hollywood blockbuster pace or even slower.

You could take 5 days for three or four ridiculous money shots and then shoot the rest to a high level of quality at 2 pages a day depending on company moves.

But if you are concerned about pace - keep company moves to a minimum, meaning if you can shoot the whole thing in one place per day or have locations that are across the street from each other that can save a lot of time. Other than that plan it meticulously, meaning storyboard and shot list and shoot only what you need. Meaning if in your storyboards, trusting your strength of vision, you only use the master for the beginning and end of the scene - only shoot the beginning and end of the scene in the master or do it all the way through only once if you have time. Can be risky but if you can really cut a movie in your head as you shoot it, as some directors can, this can save time as well.
 
Yea as my boy told me K.I.S.S.
Keep
It
Simple
Stupid

Not calling you out of your name, but it something I tell myself all the time when a project needs to get done. Do the best, and don't experiment, just get in do it properly and get out.
 
Everyone has talked about prep and the crew, but don't forget to have the actors well rehearsed too, so they know what they're doing and have some chance before the shoot to explore characters with the director.
 
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