Shooting for the Final Edit (page 2)

Sooner or Later

When using a shot list you have a bit more flexibility in staging your scene. Shooting in sequential order is no longer necessary. Instead, organize your individual shots based on location and setup.

Let's use the following scene as an example. A beat up sports car carrying two hoodlums pulls into a convenience store parking lot. Music is blaring from the stereo, and through the passenger-side window we see that the driver seems nervous. The passenger gets out and walks to the payphone. He fishes for some change in his pocket, deposits the coins into the slot and dials a number. Meanwhile, the driver keeps checking the rearview mirror. The man at the phone finishes his brief conversation, walks back to the car, gets in, and they drive off.

You could organize the taping of this scene in the following way. First, shoot the wide shot of the car pulling into the parking lot. Then, tape the final shot in the scene; the car pulling out of the parking lot. Next, take the shot of the passenger getting out of the car, followed by the shot of him getting back in. While you're still set up in that location, you can shoot the driver checking the rearview mirror. Finally, shoot the phone booth sequence. This will save you set-up and tear-down time, especially if you are using lights, wired mikes, tripods, …