Preparation is Key

For a while now I've been writing up different morning routines for shoot days and also how long it should roughly take to do everything.

I came up with a morning routine for when I arrive at the Media Factory :

Sort out travel requirements for crew and cast.

Make sure crew from all departments have working kit.

Go through Breakdown sheets and making sure everything needed for the shoot is with us.

Tick off equipment and send it downstairs to the bus

Make sure everyone is present and on time; call those who are not.

Check over 209 for anything we have missed.

Set off.

I also tried  to determined how much set up time we would need each day by guessing how long it took to do each one. Of course I overestimated these time - better safe than sorry.

Camera Set up (including stand in time)- 30mins

Sound rig - 25mins

Get cast in costumes - 10 min for males, 20min for females

Actor hair and makeup - 10mins for males 20mins for females

Director with cast - 20 mins

Run through - 10mins

Set design/props - 20/30mins

Lighting - 25mins

Of course most of these things will be happening at the same time. I've decided to give 1 1/2 to 2 hours setup time for shoot days. Time allocated for each day will depend on number of cast and what scenes we're shooting.

I've also decided on 30min lunch breaks because I feel like anything longer than that will make people lazy. It should be enough as they'll be plenty of 10/15min breaks during setup changes.

PRODUCTION MEETING

18.02.12

Collected all medical forms and told those who did not have it to make sure they bring a copy on set tomorrow.

Spoke about the overall production schedule and how it's going to work. Made sure everyone was happy with it.

On Set Etiquette

Told the crew how they needed to behave on set a Ferrari's. I explained that they could cancel the contract anytime they wanted and we didn't want to give them an excuse to do so. I'm sure no one on the unit would do any of these but just in case:

No  running

Don't touch what isn't ours unless you have permission

No wandering around in the corridors (It's a hotel with guests)

No shouting (unless it's me)

No general misbehaviour (we represent the university and must be aware of this at all times)

Put all cigarette butts into bins or provided ashtrays

Do not  litter the grounds

How Each Day Will Run

Everyone help get kit in/unload minibus

Start set up as soon as equipment is inside location (relevant departments)

Prod design team get ready for cast to arrive (decide what cast members do first - makeup or costume - but both of you need to be working at the same time and then switching)

As soon as all actors arrive I will announce the schedule for the day.

Then they go straight into hair/makeup, costume

Once set design and props are done - stand-ins will be used to set up shot.

Lights needs to already be set up at this point and should just need adjusting depending on shot.

Once actors are done, they'll be sent to Peter

Quick run through

Start the shoot.

At the end of each shooting day we will all go back to 209 for a debrief and to discuss next shooting day.

To finish off the meeting I made sure everyone was fully pre-pared for the shoot tomorrow. Especially prod design.

I am looking forward to the first shoot day. I think I've done enough preparation and I hope the rest the crew has too. Let's see how it goes.