9 Keys to Planning Travel on an International Production

A uthor John Steinbeck once said, “People don’t take trips, trips take people.” Managing travel for an international film production adds challenges to an already challenging process. There's a minutiae of critical detail that needs to be considered in order for everything to run smoothly. Whether you’re just starting out or a seasoned veteran, here are 9 international production travel hacks for taking your crew abroad. Continue reading 9 Keys to Planning Travel on an International Production

How Video Producers Use Film Production Calendar Templates and Software

Whether it’s a corporate video, a photoshoot, or a big budget adventure film, all productions are always fighting for resources. Not just money, but time. This is where film production calendar templates and software can save the day.Continue reading How Video Producers Use Film Production Calendar Templates and Software

Stop Making These 6 Common Shooting Schedule Mistakes

If Sun Tzu wrote “The Art of Production” he’d probably say that every production battle is won before it’s fought. An effective battle plan is the shooting schedule, and it’s the difference between making our days and staying under budget.Even with the abundance of film scheduling software available, there’s no replacing working with department heads to ensure that their needs are met and situated within a reasonable time frame.Working from the script breakdown below, I highlighted some of the most common shooting schedule mistakes.Let’s get started.Download our free shooting schedule template right here.1. Day and Night FlipsA common beginner’s mistake…

Shooting Schedule Pro Tips for a 10-Page Shoot Day

Today, I’m going to show you how to schedule a ten-page shoot if you’re looking to maximize your budget constraints. Shooting ten pages in a day is a worst-case scenario, but sometimes those worst-case scenarios can happen on your production. When they do, your shooting schedule needs to be very precise and prepared.So let's jump in.What are the reasons for shooting a ten-page day?The most common reason I’ve come across for scheduling and shooting ten or more pages in a single day comes down to budget.It could be that your location or talent is only afforded for limited period of…

How to Properly Identify Cast When Breaking Down a Script

In every script, there are elements that can go unseen. Sometimes even hiding in plain sight. If overlooked for too long, this misstep could affect your scheduling and budget. Hidden elements can make a huge impact on your bottom line and schedule. It is the producer’s job to find these elements before they become a surprise in production. We’ll discuss how to find the most common hidden element in any script: characters. And we will use script breakdown software to do it. Continue reading How to Properly Identify Cast When Breaking Down a Script

Helpful Tips on How To Schedule a Day For Night Scene

There are dozens of filmmaking techniques that require special consideration.  From tracking shots to dutch angles, each of these cinematic gems helps to tell a story in a creative way.  Each technique also comes with its own set of rules and logistics. One such technique that has evolved over time is Day for Night.There are many ways to achieve this cinematic effect of Day for Night.  But, that doesn’t mean that getting it right is necessarily a cake walk.  This is especially true when it comes to scheduling. Come along as we take a look at everything you need to…