Low-budget filmmaking tip #202
Once your production gets to a certain size, seriously consider insurance. A carrier can offer you a policy even for a single project, and it’s a lot cheaper than you might think.
Low-budget filmmaking tip #193
Seriously, respect fire. Fire is a special effect that can burn you and things that you love. Fire effects are often powered by propane, which can burn you and a lot of things that you love in a wide radius. Always know where the fire extinguishers are.
Low-budget filmmaking tip #185
The lights are hot enough to melt parts of the camera body, as well as melt or ignite other materials nearby. Watch those close shots and if you smell something burning, pay attention to it right then.
For example: don't do this!
Low-budget filmmaking tip #160
There’s a reason ordinary people don’t do explosive squibs all the time — because it’s so easy to screw up. And there’s a reason there isn’t a lot of practical effects that ivolve plugging into the AC mains — because that’s a lot of power going into one human being. And there’s a really, really, really good reason these two things aren’t ever combined, and that reason is Leave the special effects to Hollywood.
Thank you, Brian Oberquell for the hilarious link!
Picture is not related, but funny nonetheless.
And NEVER put your hand over a squib effect!
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 #153
Always make sure your permits are in order before lighting anything on fire. If you’re not sure if you need a permit, find out first. A pleasant phone call and a $35 permit fee are much preferable to a steep fine or worse.
(thank you, Brian Oberquell)
I’ve never once regretted talking with the police before filming an outdoor scene. Each time there was trouble (and I know of several incidents involved with our last production!), the police already knew about everything and we were perfectly legal and nice. Zero hassles (although for one incident, we had to stop filming for an hour or so until the cops found all the lost terrified teenagers, but we needed a break anyway)
Low-budget filmmaking tip #152
Get someone to help with the heavy lifting. It’s okay — no one expects anyone on set to be Hercules, except for someone playing Hercules and even he gets rocks made of foam.
Low-budget filmmaking tip #143
If you have a pyrotechnical device, never leave the arming key in the firing system if you have to walk away from it… NO EXCEPTIONS. And yes, you have an arming key, the removal of which will make the effect impossible to trigger. Of course you do.
(thanks to Brian Oberquell!)
And of course, the only person with the arming key is the pyro effects person. Don’t just hand it to someone.
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 #129
Always lock your car doors when you go on set, and keep valuable hidden. Better yet, keep valuables either at home or on your person. Sure, it’s a closed set, and sure, everybody’s buddies, and sure, there’s Security keeping an eye on everything, but still. Lock your car.
(thanks, Brian Oberquell!)
If you don’t lock your car, who will?