On-Location Tips

If you are shooting with only a few people, you don’t need a permit to shoot outside. Basically you are considered a tourist despite the fact you may be filming an integral scene for your lo-budget movie. For inside private property, that’s another thing entirely. Sometimes you can just ask the manager for permission. Other times, you may have to pay or advertise the place in exchange for rights to shoot on the premises. And then, if you are using state property, you definitely need a permit.

When shooting on-location, it is always good to have extra batteries at the ready. Using certain lens focusing extras, such as the zoom function, can use up your battery life. I know from experience that you can easily eat up the life of canon camcorder batteries in a few hours. If you’ve had to pull all sorts of strings to even film at a certain place, you must be prepared for whatever obstacles may arise. And the same rule goes for DV tapes or whatever format you’re using, be ready for extra takes.

Also be sure to have food/water for your talent, especially if they are working for free. Don’t want to get them complaining about little stuff and then lose focus. All these tips may sound like a lot for one person to do alone, that’s why you should enlist free help from friends or family. Then, you can be creative while someone else worries about the little production details like food and batteries.

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