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 #151
No matter how cool the makeup effects are, find out how long they take to apply and how long they last under hot lights. Factor that into your schedule. If your schedule can’t afford that, then either change your schedule, or change the makeup effect.
Low-budget filmmaking tip #133
You might think having a setpiece that consists of video monitors tracking action all over a location is a cool thing, and in a lot of ways it can be, but think of each one of those video feeds as a completely separate short movie you have to make before you make the movie. Unless you’re better at doing bluescreen than I am. Which probably isn’t hard.
And do I need to remind us all that security camera footage does NOT have cuts and dissolves and angles in it. If you’re going to show security camera footage, then grab a Handicam or something, jam it up in a corner, lock it down, and shoot some real-looking security camera footage.
It’s tedious, yeah, but it’s not hard.
Low-budget filmmaking tip #132
The night before a shoot, check all costumes, props, locations, actors, gear, food, and crew. make sure everything’s ready. Make sure batteries are charging, tapes are striping, etc. Prepack the car. Double-check everything. Call other people to make sure they’re prepared, too.
I used to have a checklist, but the last big project kinda scotched that idea. On the other hand, the last big project’s “checklist” was “Bring the trailer. Everything’s in the trailer.”
Low-budget filmmaking tip #57
You can noodle on a project forever. There will always be things you can fix, always things you can nudge, but that’s not progress — that’s stalling. Finish and move on to the next project. You can always apply that new tool or technique to the next project.
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 #14
Always be on time. Better yet, try to be a little early. Move heaven and earth to make sure you are not the one holding up Production. And if it’s not you, then be a little patient with whoever it is — it’s always got to be somebody, and your patience with that fact can help get things done later. This isn’t the Death Star, y’know…
(thank you, Bill, for that gentle reminder each time I watch the “making-of” video for FOMF)