Filmmaking is a business that requires certain protocols etiquette for success. (Thanks again, Dov Simens)! MICRO-BUDGET SET ETIQUETTE & STAY-ON-BUDGET” (“There are protocols to maintain on a Major Movie Studio set… Now howz-about you on your No-Budget Feature Film; where there is no bloody Set. Just somebodies house, garage & backyard”) ….. (November 20, 2013) … MICRO-BUDGET PRODUCER PROTOCOL: You, if you’re the Producer, and are about to Direct your first feature and only have a super limited amount of money as your budget. STUPID QUESTION: What are the proper protocols to maintain a friendly & artistic & creative set? SMART QUESTION: What are your priorities? SIMPLE ANSWER: Your Priority is to GET-IT-DONE. DONE-DONE-DONE. Talk all you want about etiquette and art and creative protocols and implement it. However, reality rather than theory says “if you do not get your film done” all this etiquette and protocols are counter-productive and useless. PRIORITY #1: Start with a MASTER SHOT PRIORITY #2: Make sure MASTER SHOT is great PRIORITY #3: No your Schedule (1-week, 90-pages, 10-days) 9 pages/day & 1-Hour for Master. PRIORITY #4: Make sure Craft service person with Coffee ready is there and set up 1-hour before anyone else comes. PRIORITY #5: Don’t spend to much time on one shot. No shot saves your film. What saves your film is “Get it Done”. Thus, once you have a Master… move-on PRIORITY #6: Have 10 $100 Bills in your pocket (aka: tips) at all times to pay off problems. PRIORITY #7: Stay-On Schedule. Don’t get caught up with art… Stay on Schedule. PRIORITY #8: Stay-on-Budget. Thus, stick to your budget by practicing saying “NO” to anyone in cast or crew who might, and they always do, need more money. PRIORITY #9: Expect no sleep. Work 18-hour days. You never “go to sleep”. You never “Wake-up”. You actually “Pass out” and “Come To”… And that’s reality. PRIORITY #10: Think about quitting on Day-2, saving $70K of the $100K and go to Med School. America doesn’t need another Filmmaker but we sure do need more Doctors. Below is a very technical theory oriented article that, although not my style, is very well written and though out by someone who blogs under the name “EDICTIVE”…. Nine Laws to Follow on a Movie Set Making a movie, whether it’s a low-budget indie flick, or a multi-million dollar Hollywood extravaganza, is a process that must run as efficiently as a well-oiled machine. Each person from a make-up assistant to a leading director must play his or her part in order for the operation to continue uninhibited. Since the production relies so heavily on efficiency, there are strict rules that must be followed at all times. Don’t Be Late As mentioned above, it’s essential that every member of the crew plays their role. Every position, no matter how minor, is required for the movie. If one person is running behind, the whole process could be delayed. While working on a film set, it’s important to arrive fifteen to thirty minutes early. That allows for enough time to take stock of the current situation and what needs to be done for the day. Obey the Hierarchy Already, it’s evident that the movie industry is highly dependent on being assigned a job and sticking to it. Everyone has their respective tasks to look after, and it messes up the natural order of things if a high ranking director is asked about the rolls of film left, for example. The directors and producers don’t have time for people to pester them. The work will get done much faster if you work within your own department, and never cross the line with any higher-ups. Don’t Touch Anything Electricians and cameramen work very hard to rig the lighting, microphones, and cameras for each shot, and messing with their construction can ruin the whole set up. Moving wires, unplugging things, or even setting items on top of something can ruin what others have created. If no orders have been given to move anything, leave everything alone. In addition, illicitly moving things around can distract actors from their take, which can ruin the shoot. Communicate Each department, such as lighting, wardrobe, and make up, operate independently of each other, for the most part. However, each unit must coalesce to create the finish product. Communication between workers is key to making sure that all the work is being done properly and on time. It’s also important to remember to communicate up the chain of command, since the next person up is more likely to know what’s going on, as opposed to the next person down. When communicating to coworkers, keep messages brief. A lot of the talking will be done over walkie-talkies, and it’s important to keep messages as clear as possible. Stay Busy Even if filming is in progress, there’s always work to be done. Taking an unofficial break, sitting down, or standing around collecting dust can result in disciplinary action. By taking initiative, and taking care of small, organizational things, the film can actually move along faster. Become a Ninja Silence and stealth are two very essential traits to have on a film set. Making a lot of noise can interrupt a take, distract the actors, or interrupt communication between other workers. Private conversations, even work related, should be taken off-set. It’s also vital to wear dark clothing. Light colored clothes can reflect light and ruin the lighting for a certain scene. Be Prepared The proper materials should always be taken on set, depending on what jobs are needed for the day. If on location shooting is happening, be prepared for the weather conditions. It’s also important to be mentally prepared to quickly switch tasks and adapt to the current situation. No Personal Issues Bad days and mistakes are a part of life, but not a part of movie life. If a mistake is made, correct is as quickly as possible. Leave all emotional stress and family at home, as well. Focus solely on the work and be distraction free as possible, to ensure the highest possible work ethic. Be SAFE There’s a lot of heavy machinery and expensive equipment on set. Running can knock these, or at the very least, another person over. Also, if it appears as if something is rigged up incorrectly or dangerously, alert someone who can fix it right away. Hope this helps…. God Bless… Dov Simens “www .WebFilmSchool ” “www .DovSimensFilmSchool ” ***************************** INDEPENDENTS UNITE…..JOIN MOVIE CLOUD’S REVOLUTION *Produce *Finance *Write *Direct *Distribute *Profit --------- Click “LIKE” & “SHARE” ------------- facebook/pages/Movie-Cloud/388775021155092
Posted on: Sun, 24 Nov 2013 01:38:00 +0000
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