I have some questions regarding filmmaking

Kid_Filmmaker

Kid_Filmmaker

Active member
I have some filmmaking questions, can someone answer these for me?

1) How many scenes can get filmed in one day? Especially if you start filming at 7 in the morning stop at noon for lunch and then continue on until 7 pm?

2) If you film a drama film at multiple locations, do you have to have your actors get their makeup redone at each location and does the actor's trailers go along with the cast and crew to each location you film the movie at?

3) Do you give extra allotted time for the cast and crew to get from one location back to the main site where lunch is served for lunch break?

4) How many shots do you or should you shoot for each scene? I think it's about four but I'm not sure.

To give more info, a majority of the scenes is just dialogue, a little, little bit of action but it's mostly dramatic dialogue (it's somewhat of a christian film) with only two people in the scene - a father and a little girl in locations like a house, a church, a restaurant, a school, inside a car, basic locations like that.
 
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I get what bgreencam means. The answers vary depending on situation.

What's nice is it sounds like you have something to shoot :) Your questions make me feel you need to get started right right now.

I still have no idea how to account for time like that. I never know what could happen on set.

My biggest problem/flaw is that I overpromise. This is what I try to do.

I think, i can do 4 scenes in a day. That's my ambitious goal. I'll tell people I think we can do three and half that. And add extra days.

Always plan for better than you've ever done, but there's other people too who get affected. I would shoot for more than I've ever done, but plan for the least safest risk amount.

I know i can do 2. I want to do 5. I'll get things ready for 5, but if we do 2, we're safe. If that makes any sense.

T
 
Great thanks to both of you for your answers, I do have one more question though - if I'm filming a scene at a hospital or say a church, can't I have the makeup artist to set up a makeup station in one of the rooms of the church for the actors? The same going for the wardrobe people - have them set up a changing wardrobe area in a room of the church/hospital (or whatever location I am filming at)?
 
You can do whatever you want - just be sure you have permission if you do it somebody else's property. Just about anything else is fair game in the low budget world, so long as you treat your people right.

Do you makeup/hair/wardrobe wherever is convenient.

A good crew with simple scenes can shoot far more than you are talking about in a day - but as you go faster, quality can drop. Just be sure to do enough takes, then do one more for safety.

Bring lunch to your crew, don't bring your crew to the lunch.

The number of shots varies with each scene - from one all the way up to hundreds.
 
Kid_Filmmaker said:
if I'm filming a scene at a hospital or say a church, can't I have the makeup artist to set up a makeup station in one of the rooms of the church for the actors? The same going for the wardrobe people - have them set up a changing wardrobe area in a room of the church/hospital (or whatever location I am filming at)?
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Definitely something desireable, but wouldn't that be entirely up to whatever you have in your agreement with the church/hospital/whatever location?
 
KMR said:
Definitely something desireable, but wouldn't that be entirely up to whatever you have in your agreement with the church/hospital/whatever location?
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Yeah I just wasn't sure if that was something that would be frowned upon by the cast and crew or not - the fact that I'm using other hospital rooms or church rooms as the makeup room and/or the wardrobe room.
 
Kid_Filmmaker said:
Yeah I just wasn't sure if that was something that would be frowned upon by the cast and crew or not - the fact that I'm using other hospital rooms or church rooms as the makeup room and/or the wardrobe room.
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Happens all the time.

Don't worry too much about what your cast and crew think, just treat them with respect and worry about getting your shots done.
 
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1) How many scenes can get filmed in one day? Especially if you start filming at 7 in the morning stop at noon for lunch and then continue on until 7 pm?

I personally usually get 7 pages a day. That's usually an 8 hour day.

2) If you film a drama film at multiple locations, do you have to have your actors get their makeup redone at each location and does the actor's trailers go along with the cast and crew to each location you film the movie at?

It's done whenever it needs to be done. Sometimes it's between takes. As much as possible should follow you in case you need it.

3) Do you give extra allotted time for the cast and crew to get from one location back to the main site where lunch is served for lunch break?

Wouldn't it be easier to have the caterers with you where you're shooting?

4) How many shots do you or should you shoot for each scene? I think it's about four but I'm not sure.

No definite number. Just don't do four and if they all suck you have nothing. Do it till you get it right.

Everyone is correct there's no magic number or system.

You're other question about using rooms. Use as many as you are allowed.

Have FUN!
 
I agree here, Im glad you want to know these things, but there is not set rules when it comes to this stuff, But please read some books from your local library, a book i strongly suggest is moviemakers master class, the film directors really give some valuable information about on set insights. Also, Sydney Lumets book "making movies" wonderful book that will answer everything you thing.

Best
 
What kind of a budget do you have for this, where your actors are going to have trailers, and you're going to have on-set makeup, etc.?
 
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