Low-budget filmmaking tip #198
Know your health. If you’re sick, don’t show up on set. If you’re the boss and you’re sick, reschedule the shoot if possible until after you’re not sick. No one likes getting sick, and especially not from someone on set.
One guy shows up with strep throat thinking he’s got it all under control and the next thing you know, shoots are being canceled because everyone’s got it.
But…
If you and the bossman have an agreement, and you’ve got to shoot right then (which makes sense), then drug-up, keep your hands clean, and do the best you can. Let everyone know if you’re contagious so they can take appropriate measures, such as wearing a mask.
(none of this applies to mental health — doing the things we do requires a certain kind of mental disorder, apparently)
Low-budget filmmaking tip #196
Every shoot has problems that, if you let them, will throw you off and make a mess out of things. The shoots that succeed are the ones where everybody’s constantly in touch with each other, everyone knows what’s going on, and everyone’s moving in the same direction. That’s magic.
Low-budget filmmaking tip #159
Know what part of the set is Hot Set. Hot Set is what can be seen by the cameras. If there’s a lot of camera motion, the Hot Set is a lot bigger than you would expect. Always keep that in mind. You don’t want to be the person who moves something or leaves a coffee cup, or — holy smokes — steps into a shot.
Low-budget filmmaking tip #155
If you can feel heat through your gloves, whatever you’re holding is hot enough that you want to find a way to put it down right now. It’s just going to get hotter. You don’t want that on your hands. Literally.
I have to say I didn’t learn this the hard way (unlike a lot of these other tips). When I was a kid, I remember watching a documentary about effects people setting themselves on fire. One of them specifically said that once you feel the heat, you have to start being put out right THEN, because the cooling effect will take just as long to reach you through the insulation as the heating effect.
One day, I was handling a light and j-u-s-t started noticing my gloved hand getting warm. I immediately set the light down and then monitored my hand. Sure enough, it kept getting hot for a few seconds, then started cooling down.
Science!
Low-budget filmmaking tip #147
If you want to get a little experience under your belt, browsing online classifieds (such as Craigslist, Mandy, etc.) can help you find productions in your area that are crewing or casting. Usually, they pay little or nothing, but if you’re just starting to learn, this sort of experience can be invaluable.
One in general might find it advantageous to not take advantage of any crew, regardless of pay status — doing so makes it harder to keep good crew around. Eventually, you wind up with a crew of people who have crappy boundaries.
And who needs that?!
Low-budget filmmaking tip #145
Find those people who — when presented with a problem — ask “How can we make this work so we can keep moving forward?” Those are great people to have on set. Cultivate those connections. Of course, conversely, try to be one of those people and you’ll be invited back for work more often.
Cultivating them and cultivating trying to be one of them can lead to fun stuff!
Low-budget filmmaking tip #138
You know those little adapters that let you plug a three-prong plug into a two-hole socket? Don’t use those. You have to make sure all your electrical is grounded and those are a convenient way to bypass that. You don’t want to bypass that, however, as you’re a professional safety-conscious filmmaker.
Low-budget filmmaking tip #90
Having extra props means you have extra gifts at the end of production to give particularly hard-working people. People love souvenirs. Sure, maybe they end up selling them on e-Bay, but think of it as trickle-down economics. besides, you’re keeping SOME stashed away, right…
Low-budget filmmaking tip #86
If you’re crewing, bring a pair of gloves. Even cheapo dollar store gloves. You might have to spool up cables, or handle lights, or pick up something sharp, or just be a little chilly, and there might not be enough gloves to go around. Besides, gloves are just a good idea. They’re small and can fit in a pocket. You’ll probably never regret having them.
Low-budget filmmaking tip #81
Make sure your location has running water, sinks, toilets, garbage service, and toilet paper. If it doesn’t, you need to supply this yourself.
And, alas, I’ve dropped this ball before, much to my chagrin.