Typical Shooting Day
By Tony Vallone story, screenplay, associate producer
So I thought that on production’s “day off” I’d write a little something about why we need a “day off” and why I am putting “day off” in quotes.
Crew Schedule
Call for crew is typically 6pm everyday which means they need to be up by 4:00pm in order to get ready to leave the house by 5:30pm. Once they get to location at 6pm (they’re usually late) the crew start to unpack the truck. They need to power up the generator, set up the power distribution, set up preliminary lighting, etc. This usually lasts until 9pm when it’s dark and the gaffer (Eon Mora) and the DP (Rachel Morrison) can start really lighting. Once lighting is tweaked and actors rehearse blocking we start filming in the first set up at about midnight. Basically 6 hours of prep for the first shot. Every time we reverse the angle lighting needs to change so we don’t catch all our old lights in shot. Once the sun comes up at around 5:30 the crew spends the next two hours breaking everything down and packing it into the truck. They are all usually in bed by 8:30 am. Little over 14 hour day.
Cast
The talent shows up at about 10pm every night once the lights are set up. They go work through blocking and rehearse the whole scene. They are finished by about 11pm and at that point they go to wardrobe and make up. While in make up the lights get tweaked and we run through some rehearsals with the camera in position so the DP can practice her motion and the AC (Rachel Lassee) can mark focus points. If we are lucky the first shot starts at 12am. Each shot takes about 15 minutes depending on the number of takes and the length of the shot. After 15 minutes the actors leave set and crew spends the next 30 min setting up the next shot. When the sun comes up at around 5am the cast gets wrapped and they get to go hone and sleep. A 7 hour day.
Special People
Some special people, like production design, DP, director, and often I have to be at set earlier to go over logistics. The director (Brad) and I usually try and figure out blocking and if there is any way to minimize our shots for the night. The DP figures out an efficient lighting set up that would require the least amount of resetting between shots, and production design works on dressing location to make it look like what we want. We then stay through the night until the set is broken down. 16 hour day.
Producer Dan
Dan schedule is tricky. He is on set every night to deal with logistics like facility managers, neighbors, catering, etc. He also needs to be up in the mornings because he has meetings with locations that are coming up later in the week. Basically by about 4am he usually falls asleep on set or we send him home because he needs to be up by 10am most days. 18 hour day.
Now I say this is my “Day off” because it isn’t really. Crew has the day off but higher ups have plenty to do. I am updating the website, sending out picture approvals, backing up tap, working on securing big equipment and props, and trying to fit in the latest episode of Top Gear and Entourage somewhere in there. Dan is running around securing more locations probably. And chances are Brad will call me tonight to go over shots at location for tomorrow night. I don’t blame him we have a lot to do.
So that being said, anyone in the Bay Area want to join our crew?
So I thought that on production’s “day off” I’d write a little something about why we need a “day off” and why I am putting “day off” in quotes.
Crew Schedule
Call for crew is typically 6pm everyday which means they need to be up by 4:00pm in order to get ready to leave the house by 5:30pm. Once they get to location at 6pm (they’re usually late) the crew start to unpack the truck. They need to power up the generator, set up the power distribution, set up preliminary lighting, etc. This usually lasts until 9pm when it’s dark and the gaffer (Eon Mora) and the DP (Rachel Morrison) can start really lighting. Once lighting is tweaked and actors rehearse blocking we start filming in the first set up at about midnight. Basically 6 hours of prep for the first shot. Every time we reverse the angle lighting needs to change so we don’t catch all our old lights in shot. Once the sun comes up at around 5:30 the crew spends the next two hours breaking everything down and packing it into the truck. They are all usually in bed by 8:30 am. Little over 14 hour day.
Cast
The talent shows up at about 10pm every night once the lights are set up. They go work through blocking and rehearse the whole scene. They are finished by about 11pm and at that point they go to wardrobe and make up. While in make up the lights get tweaked and we run through some rehearsals with the camera in position so the DP can practice her motion and the AC (Rachel Lassee) can mark focus points. If we are lucky the first shot starts at 12am. Each shot takes about 15 minutes depending on the number of takes and the length of the shot. After 15 minutes the actors leave set and crew spends the next 30 min setting up the next shot. When the sun comes up at around 5am the cast gets wrapped and they get to go hone and sleep. A 7 hour day.
Special People
Some special people, like production design, DP, director, and often I have to be at set earlier to go over logistics. The director (Brad) and I usually try and figure out blocking and if there is any way to minimize our shots for the night. The DP figures out an efficient lighting set up that would require the least amount of resetting between shots, and production design works on dressing location to make it look like what we want. We then stay through the night until the set is broken down. 16 hour day.
Producer Dan
Dan schedule is tricky. He is on set every night to deal with logistics like facility managers, neighbors, catering, etc. He also needs to be up in the mornings because he has meetings with locations that are coming up later in the week. Basically by about 4am he usually falls asleep on set or we send him home because he needs to be up by 10am most days. 18 hour day.
Now I say this is my “Day off” because it isn’t really. Crew has the day off but higher ups have plenty to do. I am updating the website, sending out picture approvals, backing up tap, working on securing big equipment and props, and trying to fit in the latest episode of Top Gear and Entourage somewhere in there. Dan is running around securing more locations probably. And chances are Brad will call me tonight to go over shots at location for tomorrow night. I don’t blame him we have a lot to do.
So that being said, anyone in the Bay Area want to join our crew?
Labels: Week_2
posted by Tony Vallone at
3:16 PM
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