8 Pitfalls to Avoid on Your First Shoot Day
It’s day one of your shoot, and you’re humming along. Then all of a sudden, an unforeseen delay brings your production to a screeching halt. Don’t worry— it was just a bad dream. But here’s a list of first-day mistakes to sidestep so you can host a stress-free filming session.
Prep your on-camera talent.
Make sure your talent is prepped and comfortable being on camera. Let them know what they’ll be doing beforehand, and if they need to bring any specific wardrobe. If you’ll be working with kids or animals, make sure the parents/owners are prepped similarly. You may also need a set teacher/animal trainer.
Allow enough time in your shooting schedule.
Remember that time of day (for exterior shots) and lighting set-up time will affect your schedule. You’ll need to allow time between set-ups accordingly.
Have a solid shooting plan.
Shot listing beforehand with your production company will make it very clear what you need to capture on the day. The more pre-production you do, the smoother the shoot will go.
Don’t get caught in the rain.
Sometimes weather changes can throw a wrench in exterior shots. Have a backup plan or protective cover available. Pro tip: rain is difficult to see on camera unless you light it. The things that are most obvious on-screen are wet people and objects.
What’s for lunch?
Know who will be sourcing lunch on the shoot day (you or the production company), and what time you will be taking lunch. If you’re providing meals, make sure you check in with your production company ahead of time to accommodate any crew dietary restrictions.
Production days are more strenuous than office days.
If you will be on set with your crew, you may want to change some elements of your day-to-day workwear, like your shoes. Nothing is worse than stubbing an exposed toe on heavy equipment or tripping over cables.
Pick a quiet location.
Background noise like construction, leaf blowers, or people talking can make post-production more time-consuming and costly. Sound people also like the ability to be able to turn off air conditioning systems while filming.
Know the parking situation.
Time is money, and the more time the crew takes to find parking, the less filming is happening. Communicate the plan for where they can load equipment and park.