Low-budget filmmaking tip #184
There’s only two reasons to do another take: because you want a safety, or because you want something done differently. If you want a safety-take, say so. If you want something changed, say so and explain it. Doing multiple takes without knowing why can be very frustrating to the cast and crew. It’s okay to say “I only want a couple of safeties,” by the way. Just don’t be “mysterious.”
Be very careful of line readings. Sure, sometimes there’s a certain emphasis the actor isn’t “getting,” and that is something upon which something else depends, but a director who line-reads too often is probably someone who ought not to be directing, but probably acting.
I think it’s one of those things that has to be approached judiciously.
I’ve done it a few times, reluctantly, but with talking with the actor about it. Each time I can recall, it was because there was an element that they weren’t understanding about the line. Once they got the joke, they usually did it better than I could have.
Which is why they’re actors and I’m not.
Low-budget filmmaking tip #156
You can rehearse until you’ve lost the feeling in your genitalia, but unless the actors understand the characters, the performance will never be better than memorized lines. The Director must work with them to help them understand the characters.
Ordinarily, I would assume between the Director and the Writer, they’ve figured out the characters, but I’ve been on projects where neither seemed to understand who the characters are.
Low-budget filmmaking tip #96
Stick with the ending you planned. You can shoot the alternate ending after you shoot the ending you planned.
Low-budget filmmaking tip #87
If it’s an intense scene, try to not crack jokes getting ready for it. Even if your actors say they don’t mind, when everybody’s taking a serious thing seriously, it’ll help the mood stay on track.
Low-budget filmmaking tip #54
If you don’t know who your boss is on set, then your boss is the Director. This doesn’t mean who gets to boss you around, it means who helps keep you steady-on with your piece of the big puzzle. If you’re the Director, I’m afraid you’re boned — your boss is the entire movie.
Low-budget filmmaking tip #52
Always check your monitor to make sure you’re happy with your framing, then watch your actors. Let the DP keep ‘em in frame. You can always look at the shot after the take.
Low-budget filmmaking tip #25
Don’t be afraid to get close with the camera. A movie made all out of long shots (because the Director was afraid to get close) is a movie without any emotional context whatsoever. Get in there and get some of that!
Low-budget filmmaking tip #22
If your actors absolutely cannot act whatsoever, or freak out once the camera’s on, make a big noise about your DP turning the camera off while you run through some off-camera rehearsals. Have the DP filming this secretly (“Just pulling focus, guys — don’t mind me!”). No matter how crappy an actor might be, they can usually be themselves with some reasonably convincing skill.
I know, it’s a bit of a trick, but I’ve seen people freeze up often enough once that red LED goes on that I’ve had to do this a few times.
It’s common enough an occurrence that I can actually get my DP to do it without saying a word, just with hand signs.
That’s been cool.
If your camera can shut the LED off, even better!
Low-budget filmmaking tip #11
If anything goes wrong, the Director takes the bullet. If anything goes right, the Director thanks whoever did it. It’s unfair, but that’s the way it is, so if you’re the Director, suck it up and move on. Anyone who does it opposite comes across as an asshole and no one likes to work for assholes. Unless they pay a lot of money, but then it wouldn’t be a low budget movie.
This is not to say that fucking up on set gives you a free pass, of course. If somebody fucks up, the Director takes the bullet as a matter of honor, but I assure you everybody knows if there was a genuine fuckup, and it’s highly unlikely that person will be invited back to future sets.
I distinguish between fucking up and making an honest mistake. Everybody makes mistakes. Not correcting it is a fuckup.
Low-budget filmmaking tip #5
The Director determines the mood of the set. If the Director is cheerful and having a good time, chances are everyone else will be, too. If the Director is being bitchy and fussy and demanding, everyone else gets that way, too. It’s a law of nature.
The converse appears to the true as well — if the set is a happy place, it’s probable that the Director’s in a good mood and if the set’s in a shitty mood, chances are the Director is, too.
If you are the Director, then make sure you’re in the right headspace before you walk on set, attend meeting, or anything that involves other people. Seethe and rant in your private journal or whatever, but once other people get involved, you’ve got to be chill and focus on getting the shots.
And thank you, Crystal, for this advice!