The Right Place at the Right Time (page 2)
Consider the Time and Day of the Week
Most places, especially public places, look and sound different at different times of day or night. A side room may be completely quiet at 5pm on Saturday but noisy as a roadhouse Wednesday after work. Sunlight that was soft and indirect at 9am may be extremely harsh and blazing into the room by 3pm.
Some things to consider are:
- How might ambient light changes affect your plans or need for filters?
- How might changing traffic patterns, such as rush hour or sporting events, affect your audio?
- Will any other people occupy the same location while you're shooting? How disruptive will their presence be?
- Where's the best place to unload equipment and store unused gear?
- If you'll need to rearrange the room, what extra equipment or manpower will be required to do so safely?
- Be polite!
- Be upfront and honest about crew size and time requirements.
- Explain that they will get exposure for the location and it will be noted in the credits.
Consider what aspects of the location will change with the day of the week. If you're shooting on a Tuesday morning, you'll want to know ahead of time that Tuesday mornings are when the delivery guy comes. Nobody wants to pause their production every few minutes so delivery dollies can be rolled through the set.
Visit your locations at the same time and same weekday that you'll be doing your shoot. If that's not possible, ask someone familiar with the area what to expect at the time you plan to be there. Most people don't think in terms of poor audio or other hurdles that can hold up a production. A cleaning crew vacuuming before the place opens might not seem like a big deal to the owner, but it's enough to bring your production to a halt. Tailor your questions accordingly.
Getting the Logistics
Location scouting for video shoots and event videos is a great time to assess shot angles, camera setups and any logistical considerations. Bring a camcorder along to preview your shot list or record details of the space.
Some other useful observations you might want to make are:
Get Permission
Once you've found the ideal location for your shoot, you'll need permission to shoot there. Many folks are okay with letting you use their property for your productions, as long as they know exactly what you're doing and how long it will take.
When you are asking permission, it's always a good idea to:
Make sure that the person who is granting you permission to do the shoot signs a release form, even if you have had a verbal OK. That release form will come in handy if anyone questions your right to be there on the day of the shoot or anytime after that.
If you're shooting in a public space, check well in advance whether a permit is required. Permit requests can often take more time to process than you anticipate, and, without the right paperwork, you may find your production shut down before you even get started.
Conclusion
James Williams is an independent filmmaker and video journalist.
Sidebar: What to Bring on your Scouting Trip
Before you walk out the door to scout locations, you'll want to bring a few key items with you. Make sure you have a notebook and pen to write down contact information, draw diagrams and record measurements. You'll also want a measuring tape to determine window sizes, room widths and the distance from outlets to where you think you'll be setting up. Bring a still camera to snap photos of the room, so you can check the details later on. Better yet, take a camcorder, so you can frame out potential shots as well. Plug in a mic and headphones, and listen to what the room sounds like on tape.
