NYWIFT Blog

First Shoot Day

5 TIPS TO SAVE SANITY AND TIME ON THE FIRST DAY OF PRODUCTION

– by Claudine Marrotte

Your actors, crew, schedule and
locations are locked and now it’s time to actually shoot. From my
experience the most exciting part of filmmaking is being on set
making the script come to life. The first day of your shoot sets the
tone with cast and crew and here are some tips on how to build the
confidence of your staff and “make your day” (which in the AD
world means you shot what is on the schedule successfully.)

image

Tip #1: Schedule a “make-able day” 

This is the
most important thing to do on the first day. The cast and crew is
invested in the project creatively and if they do not believe the
people steering the ship are in control they will be tentative in
sharing their talents freely. With that in mind if you have a smooth
day that wraps on time the crew will feel confident and energized
that they are in good hands and will give everything they have and
more to make it the best project possible. Respecting people’s time
and talents are the key to building that trust.

Tip #2: Avoid company moves 

Moving from one location to another, whether it be stunts, driving shots or large crowd scenes, all of these things take time and tremendous
logistics to run smoothly. If at all possible wait a few days for
the actors and director to get there groove before you add logistics to performance.

Tip # 3: Call Sheets

Set an intention that you share with
the crew top of day so they understand what they are required to do
to make the day a success. Most people will use a Call Sheet to give the crew
exact scene numbers that will be shot for the day so they can prepare properly. Here is an
example:  http://howtofilmschool.com/free-call-sheet/

Tip # 4: Organize Rehearsals

Blocking rehearsal with department
heads also aids in making sure that the crew is clear on the
director’s vision for each scene and gives them a chance to clarify
any open questions and to fix any problems on the the fly so there is
no delay once the actors come to set.

Tip # 5: Wrap Early

I know this sounds
counter-intuitive. However, it really is a confidence builder and
allows the crew to rest up. Most of the crew are running on
adrenaline from prep and need a good night’s rest. Give them the
space to do that and they will be ready to run the marathon that is
filmmaking with you.

And that’s a wrap on Day One!

 

Follow Claudine Marrotte on Twitter and Facebook.

 

Take advantage of our Fall Membership Drive with 50% off the initiation fee, now through December 1st! Apply to join NYWIFT here: https://www.nywift.org/join

PUBLISHED BY

nywift

nywift New York Women in Film & Television supports women calling the shots in film, television and digital media.

View all posts by nywift

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*

*

*

Related Posts

Meet the New NYWIFT Member: Stephanie Lynn Jones

Welcome to NYWIFT, Stephanie Lynn Jones! Stephanie is a filmmaker, TV writer, and multi-disciplinary creative with two decades in screen and stage storytelling. She directed the short doc memoir The Jones Twins: Bebop Souls in a Muzak™ World (BRIC TV) and launched her film career on Spike Lee’s production teams. An Emmy nominee for Nickelodeon’s Gullah Gullah Island, she has developed her own TV projects with Universal Kids, PBS Kids, and TIME Studios.  With her twin, Suzanne, The Jones Twins’ performance work has appeared at major venues in NYC and beyond; they also lent their vocals to the Slamdance Festival award-winning film System Noise. Stephanie holds a B.A. from Howard University and an MFA from NYU Tisch. Read on to get to know Stephanie, learn about her roots in the industry, and get a preview of her short documentary film, The Jones Twins!

READ MORE

Meet the New NYWIFT Member: Elizabeth K. Budion

Welcome to NYWIFT, Elizabeth K. Budion! A member of SAG-AFTRA since 2014, Elizabeth got her taste of the film industry by doing background and stand-in work for notable shows such as Orange is the New Black, Broad City, How to Be Single, and The Path. After several years in that space, she dabbled in casting for shows such as Law & Order: SVU, before switching gears to join the Peace Corps in 2018.  While living in The Gambia, she focused on elevating the societal status of women, expanding their horizons and potential through education. Elizabeth also built a library and wrote various water grants, while learning the local language of Wolof. Returning to the states in 2020, Elizabeth then received her Master's from New York University, in Global Affairs with a focus on international development and women’s rights.  Returning to film, Elizabeth recently wrote, produced, and edited a short animated film titled You. Matter.. starring Tony Award winner Laura Benanti. In addition, Elizabeth is currently collaborating with her filmmaker husband to pen a feature titled RetroViewer. When not working on films, Elizabeth enjoys having new adventures with her adorable 16-month-old son Louis Joseph, or “LouJay!” Read on to learn more about Elizabeth, how she got started in the film industry, and her experience in the Peace Corps!

READ MORE

Meet the New NYWIFT Member: Catherine Craig

Welcome to NYWIFT, Catherine Craig! Catherine Craig was George Lucas's Industrial Light and Magic's first animation FX camerawoman, later becoming a digital artist at ILM. A highly regarded film archivist, Craig designed the Coppola film archive and implemented Zoetrope's domestic and international film distribution. As an early female entrepreneur, Craig founded her own award-winning, union and guild-affiliated film company, specializing in high-end industrial and commercial productions. Her vast experience spans all aspects of filmmaking: she's worked as a director, producer, camera operator, concept artist, storyboard artist, special FX artist, sound recordist, and more. Her screenplay OddFX was accepted into the NYWIFT-affiliated The Writers Lab. The film follows a mother living in a women's shelter, battling a physically abusive husband and a broken support system, who enlists the help of a special FX film crew. Catherine discusses her groundbreaking work with ILM, her drive to tell her own stories, and her film currently in development, OddFX!

READ MORE

Meet the New NYWIFT Member: Patricia Hess

Welcome to NYWIFT, Patricia Hess! Patricia Hess is an accomplished DGA UPM and line producer with extensive experience in feature films, TV, and streaming content. She is New York-based professional with both domestic and international credits, including Angels in America, Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan, Philomena, and Raising Arizona, among many others. A graduate of the University of Arizona, Patty divides her time between her family farm in Virginia and New York. During our interview, Patricia shared the remarkable story of her journey in the industry. We often admire the success of individuals who achieve their vision, yet rarely do we see the humble beginnings, the sacrifices made, the moments of doubt and fear, or the times they considered giving up. Patricia’s story is a powerful reminder of the resilience, perseverance, and mindset of gratitude and acceptance that often underpin true success.

READ MORE
JOIN OUR NEWSLETTER
css.php