Step to shooting a Movie

[STUDIO32MID]

Hello everyone, on this network some shoot movies but i guess a great majority do live events etc.

However, many more still aspire to do a movie someday. Thought it would be a great idea if the experienced could give a detailed step by step guide to getting it done ie. like permits to be got, from where etc.

Most people are usually aware of the basic info and workflow- story-script, etc but the other little but important issues that come in to play are often unknown. I remember someone did post sometime back when they almost got shot by the police for robbing a convenient store while the were shooting. Apparently a passerby had called the police when they were seen wielding a pistol to the head of the store clerk.

I think it will be greatly appreciated by many myself included.

[drapeama]

[..] I remember someone did post sometime back when they almost got shot by the police for robbing a convenient store while the were shooting. Apparently a passerby had called the police when they were seen wielding a pistol to the head of the store clerk.

I remember that too, I think it was user ScottHampton but not 100% sure.
That being said, I'd like to think that as long as you're doing it for free you're ok (at least in my hometown) but even in cities like Trois-Rivières. I doubt they'd let you do such in downtown Montréal. As long as you don't have a complete crew you should be ok with "guerrilla shooting". I often go downtown with Charlie with my HV and FigRig and I never experienced any trouble doing such. If it implies that you're doing a gunfight in the middle of downtown...then you'll need to pay for permits and advise the city/police and all...but as long as you're doing it like a "tourist" it should be ok. I'm telling that because I don't think I've never had a crew to work with me, so. So depending on what you plan to do/shoot and where, you can do it like a tourist without problem, according to what the scene involve.
Doing a gunfight in downtown, I'd suggest to frame your shots without your actors in it (background plate) and use a green screen outside with the same sun, so you should be able to "blend" both footage and it shouldn't be visible that it's greenscreen. More work in post, it's free, but the visuals will pay in the end if it's well done.

[mfrantz2361]

I guess I can chime in here a little bit with what I've recently experienced (and currently experiencing). We are shooting a feature length project in the Chesapeake, Virginia neck of the woods. We have about 12 in the crew and 11 talented roles with about 35 extras depending on where you are at in the script. There are a couple of books I want to reference here because they have been invaluable to me as a noob indie filmmaker, director, and producer. "DV Rebel's Guide by Stu Maschwitz", "$30 Film School by Michael W. Dean" and one other that I reference often "The Power Filmmaking Kit by Jason Tomaric".

Just to give you an overview. We are filming an 80 to 90 minute feature film. It’s my first feature and it’s a politically charged dark comedy. We started pre-production in November of last year (2010) and have raised about $3000.00 to date through www.kickstarter.com and my own personal investment. It is destined for online distribution, a single Cinema Cafe screening next year (mostly for family, friends, and crew.) I consider this film a training vehicle of bringing together all of the pieces, parts, skill sets, of a feature film. It has helped me hone my film-making skills, identify people in my circle of friends who are interested in real movie-making, and have a lot of fun while doing it.

We are currently in production and started shooting last month. We shoot on Sundays and Mondays with an all volunteer cast and crew. We all have other day jobs so we have given ourselves until October to finish production. So step by step...overview hope this helps...

1. I wrote a basic script. For this project I pulled 18 politically charged headlines out of the newspaper and then created a Saturday Night Live style skit around each one to get the message or my view of the political issue across. I chose politics because I knew I would be using amateur volunteer actors and politics are easy pickings. The material itself is already emotionally charged one way or the other and I knew I could get an emotional reaction from my audience without having to rely so much on the actors who are just starting out.

2. I gathered close friends and made some new friends who were interested in filming a feature length comedy and formed the core leadership; Director (me), AD1, Producers, Script Supervisor, Casting Director, Costume & Make-up, and a Set Designer, and several grips and gaffers. These people are all volunteers that I constantly express my appreciation and gratefulness too.

3. We purchased and gathered equipment while the script went through several revisions to make it more of a cohesive 3 Act story rather than a bunch of skits stapled together. We are shooting Unit 1 on a Canon XHA1, Unit 2 on an HV30, A hacked GH1, and a borrowed GH2 depending on the needs of the production. We do have several green screen scenes to do so we have the full lighting kits, screens, and sound gear.

4. We grabbed our talent through volunteers and started rehearsing. We reached out to family and friends through the network fund raising page like www.kickstarter.com. We raised money and rented costumes from Echoes of Time in Chesapeake, VA.

5. Overview of prices – With NO Stunts our insurance for this production would have been $1500.00 dollars for the duration of the coverage we would need. Our film has kung-fu fighting, light saber duels, Nazi government agents, and Zombie revolutionaries; so we opted out of insurance. But that IS the basic requirement to film ANYWHERE in Virginia officially with a permit and you have to have that basic insurance policy. We are unofficial. You pay this at the city hall of the city you are filming in about $40 for the permit IF you have proof of insurance. To costume 11 people at various stages (some have their own costumes) it cost $550.00 for costume rental/purchases and about $200.00 for make-up so far. With another $200.00 of make-up still yet to purchase. For our outdoor shoots we have provided water, drinks, and some food. About $150.00 so far. We have a few people in our crew that have worked in other amateur films before and have donated their expertise so that helps with costs a lot - and in some cases their gear.

6. We rehearse and scout out locations – I own a store in the Chesapeake area that has a large 20’ X 30’ table seating area. So every Sunday when we need studio shots - after my store closes we pack up the 60 chairs and 15 tables and move them out of the way set up 20’ of green screen, lights etc…and shoot what we need to shoot. However we do try to scout out actual locations where possible because we believe it or not we really need 15’ high green screens and about 30’ by 60’ to really do what we want to do with chroma technology in an action movie.
Things are progressing along of course and we have two scenes in the can already with 2 more partials. I am editing as I can and we do our “dailies” once a week on Thursday evening after work at my house to review.

Interestingly enough because there is a large battle scene at the end of this movie that takes place out doors with numerous extras we are filming the movie almost in reverse order. We have learned MANY Lessons about managing people, recruiting extras, etc…along the way.

I can say this and we laugh about it now. But as we are filming in reverse of the script, we get better technically each week we shoot. We joke that the movie will look FABULOUS at the beginning and then end terribly because we will want to reshoot the entire end of the movie once we learn and improve over the next six months of production.

I hope this helps…sorry for being so long winded.

SHAMELESS PLUG: Oh and lest I be irresponsible to my production....if you want to pledge money (and receive the rewards for such pledges) you can always go to www.kickstarter.com and search for Fist Full of Zombies and we have a pledge drive up there for funds for the official t-shirt and DVD media.

[STUDIO32MID]

Wow that was a lot of work and indeed a lot of reading too with great information. While shooting this can you do me or us a favor that is if i speak on behalf of others?

Could you do a behind the scenes video diary on the technical aspects so that when its all done, those of us interested can purchase something more than just a sneak behind the scenes look, it may as well generate some revenue also for the projects- however small.

Well all those in the VA area this goes out to you should you need somewhere to team up apart from virtual there you go... wish i were closer to be a part of it! Could you post the shooting and production schedule for the coming weeks so that who knows what may come up with some vacation.

[paperkut12]

I like this thread, but I think it needs a better title to grab more attention to it.

[homestar_kevin]

This is a fantastic thread.

Some basic things that always help productions along


Always define rolls before you start. Nothing worse than people on set backseat-directing.

A well fed crew is the best crew.

Keep everyone eating, keep everyone happy.


Tons more, but I'm sure everyone else has some too.

I'll edit this as I go.

[Janke]

Keep everyone eating

If you max out on that, you'll have to shoot with a 2 x anamorphic lens, but project with a 1.5 x - or none at all ...

[STUDIO32MID]

Haahahah surely they would have grown bigger or fatter huh? That is a funny one- you know the takes and retakes will wear the food out of them and that heat generated from the redheads etc.

So just curious is the insurance you purchase for the production/project does it cover the equipment and the safety of the actors and crew? Hmm and what happens with the huge power bills associated with the lights - do we pay that to the location should it not be a rent out place but like someone's house? In short how is the budgeting also done?

[Janke]

surely they would have grown bigger or fatter huh

No, the other way around. Shoot anamorphic (16:9 or 'scope lens), show normally (3:4 or whatever), and you get thin people - instant dieting!

[mfrantz2361]

Wow that was a lot of work and indeed a lot of reading too with great information. While shooting this can you do me or us a favor that is if i speak on behalf of others?

Could you do a behind the scenes video diary on the technical aspects so that when its all done, those of us interested can purchase something more than just a sneak behind the scenes look, it may as well generate some revenue also for the projects- however small.

Well all those in the VA area this goes out to you should you need somewhere to team up apart from virtual there you go... wish i were closer to be a part of it! Could you post the shooting and production schedule for the coming weeks so that who knows what may come up with some vacation.

Actually the good news is - we are doing a FULLY documented BTS video for the entire project. I have a BTS director in fact. Not to mention that hv20.com and the entire community has a screen credit and its targeted I hope a little something to go alongside the massive amount of help this site has been for me. I haven't posted much but i think I've been lurking around here now for just shy of two years.

The BTS video will have a break down of every part of the process including an overview of the post-production pieces, as well as interviews of all of the cast and crew...my honest hope is that the bts video will have more production value then the actual movie...I know that sounds odd but the whole point of the production was to teach, train, and then show our family and friends something fun and entertaining while honing our skills. The price is going to be very modest as well - probably enough to recoup printing costs and a dollar or two to put towards the next project.

As for the shooting schedule (PM me if you are going to be in the area and I'll get you contact numbers and details):
June 27th 8pm - Studio Shots - Newsroom Scene
June 28th 8pm - Studio Shots - Burning Club Arson Scene
July 4th Weekend - Off
July 10th 8pm - Studio Shots - Throne Room Military HQ Scenes X 4
July 17th 8pm - Studio Shots - Streetside Action Scene
July 18th 8pm - Studio Shots - Mission from God Scene

More TBA - We will be shooting currently through August and into September. I can tell you the dates but not the locations yet. So I'll post more details as I get them together.

Also if anyone has more specific questions I'll answer them to the best of my ability.

[mfrantz2361]

Haahahah surely they would have grown bigger or fatter huh? That is a funny one- you know the takes and retakes will wear the food out of them and that heat generated from the redheads etc.

So just curious is the insurance you purchase for the production/project does it cover the equipment and the safety of the actors and crew? Hmm and what happens with the huge power bills associated with the lights - do we pay that to the location should it not be a rent out place but like someone's house? In short how is the budgeting also done?

The insurance can be tailored to your needs very specifically. That policy I quoted you above was for $2,000,000 Liability - Personal Injury and Property Insurance (Crew & Talent included). That would cover your own gear also. But if you had rental gear also (we don't) then you would add another small rider fee of roughly $150.00 for that. For EACH STUNT you would add $150.00 to $200.00 more (I am not joking there)...and then if you needed to add vehicle insurance for city use of vehicles (Police cars, trucks etc...) or your own vehicles its $250 to $500.00 more...(not for each vehicle) depending.

[mfrantz2361]

Oh! Sorry for the multiple posts this is the insurance company I was attempting to use for the insurance: http://www.filmins.com/
They have a good reputation from what I can tell. But insurance is bloody expensive! Also...if anyone is interested you can find me on Facebook Michael Frantz and request an invite to the Fist Full of Zombies Group and we'll invite you and you can follow along with everything in there....we use that as our main dissemination source for keeping people motivated and organized.

Also...my blog: www.sharkmanproductions.com
And the official website of the production: www.fistfullofzombiesmovie.com - although this is just a temporary page as we are still putting together the site template.

[STUDIO32MID]

Thanks a great deal pal- so VA in the house here we go get some on the scene/location experience.
Dont forget the documentary though!

[STUDIO32MID]

About the post production phase of the movie production, how have in the past others done their great marketing, promotion, and advertised their movies? Now how do you get a barcode for your dvd's- what are the steps?

What how would you use for the mass duplication or would you simply by a duplicator and make them at home? And how does copyright issues come in- when and where do you register and what the fee if any?

Besides how do you effect your own CSS-anti-piracy lock? Remember the Lunchbox 'little cut' or is there another approach?

Would be interesting if we have some of these great works of people on this forum in the HV20 store for us to purchase-Moderator can that fall within the paradigm of things?