Low-budget filmmaking tip #182
Period pieces require costumes. Make sure you account for that. Including shoes!
I can count three times, for example, that I’ve missed wristwatches!
Low-budget filmmaking tip #149
Have your background extras dress and appear as generic as possible. This includes clothing, hair, whatever. If you notice them, they’re doing it wrong.
Low-budget filmmaking tip #126
Actors should never be allowed to take costume gear off set. You don’t have to keep their clothes hostage, but it can help.
For FOMF, I had a bin for each main actor. In that bin was all of their costumery and gear. I’d send ‘em into the bathroom or changing room with the bin, and tell them to put all their kit into the bin and come out in their set kit and gear.
That way, all their personal kit didn’t get lost, and there was a clear swapping action.
Slow, but effective…
Low-budget filmmaking tip #122
Continuity’s still important! If you’re using a revolver in your movie, make sure the bullet counts are accurate. Nothing makes you look more dorky than a character talking about how she only has one bullet left when the viewer can plainly see five.
(thanks, Brian!)
Low-budget filmmaking tip #121
Continuity’s important. For each “movie” day, make a quick sketch of what each character’s wearing and make sure you double-check that sketch against what you’re shooting. This is not something you can easily fix in post.
Then again, there’s a lot to be said for doin’ it “Gilligan’s Island” style.
That’s an old TV show, for those of you who are relatively new.
If you can’t sketch, at least do a quickie set of photos, but keep in mind that in a sketch, you can call attention to details that might be missed in a photograph.
Low-budget filmmaking tip #91
The easier it is to get in and out of your ground-breaking weird sci-fi costumes, the less the actors will curse your name whenever they have to pee. Which will be often.
Low-budget filmmaking tip #88
Unless there’s something hidden under the hats, avoid hats on characters. All you’ll get is a lot of hat-acting.
(thanks for the tip, Ryan!)
Low-budget filmmaking tip #33
Over time, you can find practically any prop you need at a thrift store, or even the bins store (where the thrift stores dump their excess inventory). The sooner you tell your Art Department what you’re looking for, the cheaper the whole thing’ll be.
Great for costumes, props, etc. I’ve even found lights and tripods at thrift stores.
Low-budget filmmaking tip #6
Pick one person to figure out what the actors are wearing during each “day” and to keep track of that for everything you shoot. Give that person the authority to keep costumes and props with them. Unless you’re shooting Gilligan’s Island, people change clothes once a day. The viewers will notice.
What has worked well for me in the past has been to have a bin for each actor, and in that bin at any one time are either the actor’s costumes or the actors clothes while they are wearing the costumes.
Keep the bins labeled and don’t mix stuff around bin-to-bin.
Of course, this can be simplified by shooting a movie that tales place in one day.