5 TIPS TO SAVE SANITY AND TIME ON THE FIRST DAY OF PRODUCTION
– by Claudine Marrotte
Your actors, crew, schedule and
locations are locked and now it’s time to actually shoot. From my
experience the most exciting part of filmmaking is being on set
making the script come to life. The first day of your shoot sets the
tone with cast and crew and here are some tips on how to build the
confidence of your staff and “make your day” (which in the AD
world means you shot what is on the schedule successfully.)
Tip #1: Schedule a “make-able day”
This is the
most important thing to do on the first day. The cast and crew is
invested in the project creatively and if they do not believe the
people steering the ship are in control they will be tentative in
sharing their talents freely. With that in mind if you have a smooth
day that wraps on time the crew will feel confident and energized
that they are in good hands and will give everything they have and
more to make it the best project possible. Respecting people’s time
and talents are the key to building that trust.
Tip #2: Avoid company moves
Moving from one location to another, whether it be stunts, driving shots or large crowd scenes, all of these things take time and tremendous
logistics to run smoothly. If at all possible wait a few days for
the actors and director to get there groove before you add logistics to performance.
Tip # 3: Call Sheets
Set an intention that you share with
the crew top of day so they understand what they are required to do
to make the day a success. Most people will use a Call Sheet to give the crew
exact scene numbers that will be shot for the day so they can prepare properly. Here is an
example: http://howtofilmschool.com/free-call-sheet/
Tip # 4: Organize Rehearsals
Blocking rehearsal with department
heads also aids in making sure that the crew is clear on the
director’s vision for each scene and gives them a chance to clarify
any open questions and to fix any problems on the the fly so there is
no delay once the actors come to set.
Tip # 5: Wrap Early
I know this sounds
counter-intuitive. However, it really is a confidence builder and
allows the crew to rest up. Most of the crew are running on
adrenaline from prep and need a good night’s rest. Give them the
space to do that and they will be ready to run the marathon that is
filmmaking with you.
And that’s a wrap on Day One!
Follow Claudine Marrotte on Twitter and Facebook.
Take advantage of our Fall Membership Drive with 50% off the initiation fee, now through December 1st! Apply to join NYWIFT here: https://www.nywift.org/join
nywift
Related Posts
Meet the New NYWIFT Member: Meryl Jacobs
Welcome to NYWIFT, Meryl Jacobs! Driven by a lifelong passion for the arts, Meryl Jacobs creative professional has built an inspiring career spanning advertising, Broadway stage management, and post-production as an award-winning video editor and business owner. Embracing challenges with optimism, she believes in the power of self-belief and continuous growth. After returning to New York post-pandemic, she launched her own company, Gotham Edit Inc., confident in the value she provides to clients. Among her proudest achievements are collaborations with Universal Pictures, a corporate branding reel for Tumi, and a recognized PSA for the City of Los Angeles on senior scams. Grateful for every opportunity, she remains dedicated to creating impactful work that helps others. Read on to learn more about her fascinating career!
READ MOREMeet the New NYWIFT Member: Pia Mechler
Welcome to NYWIFT, Pia Mechler! Pia Mechler, born and raised in Germany with German, Chilean, and Polish heritage, is a versatile actress, writer, and director. Studying film in Denmark and beginning her acting career in Berlin, she took her skills to the UK and then New York City in 2010, where she also took up directing. Pia wrote, directed, and starred in the web series Almost Settled and made her feature directorial debut with Everything is Wonderful, which premiered at the Thessaloniki Film Festival and was a finalist at the Chelsea Film Festival. Her latest project, Black Hole, which she wrote to address the challenges of female aging and ageism from a humorous perspective, is currently on its festival tour. Read on to discover her inspiring international background, her dedication to her projects, and her process when it comes to making films.
READ MOREHow to Decide Which Screenwriting Contests to Submit To
There are hundreds, if not thousands, of screenwriting competitions out there — so how do you decide which ones are worth your time and money? As the co-founder of Moonshot Initiative, a nonprofit that works toward gender equity in film and television, NYWIFT Member Katrina Medoff has been on the other side of the application process. Her team reads hundreds of submissions a year for the Moonshot Pilot Accelerator and their newest program, the Moonshot Feature Accelerator. They know that their applicants poured their time, talents, and energy into their scripts, and that every fellowship submission means putting more time and money into your career. So it’s important to carefully consider which labs and contests to prioritize. If you’re ready to submit your feature film screenplay or TV pilot script to screenwriting competitions, here’s how to determine which labs, fellowships, and contests would be a good fit.
READ MOREMeet the New NYWIFT Member: Val Dowd
We’re thrilled to welcome our new NYWIFT member, Val Dowd! Val is a film sales manager with a passion for highlighting underrepresented voices. Some of her career highlights thus far include doing outreach for Matthew Heineman’s documentary The First Wave and working with her team on Hulu’s The Jewel Thief. She’s very motivated by community and finding films that can open doors for people and offer fresh perspectives. Read our interview with Val to learn more about the role of a film sales manager, how she approaches selling and distributing projects, and her love for film.
READ MORE
