Organisation Is Key For Successful Film-Makers

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Film making is a highly collaborative medium, and that means you need to be able to not only balance large amount of organisational information, but you also need to be able to relate to and manage large groups of people. Anyone who is setting out to make films for themselves is well advised to make sure they have plenty of practice when it comes to writing lists - and following through when it comes to being able to score items off said lists.

From insurance for your actors and crew to props and costume design, there are many factors that must be considered when it comes to creating a short or feature film and it's a very good idea to put together a timeline and planner far in advance of your actual proposed filming dates. You're sure to find that many people and businesses require you to book in advance, and finding out that you're missing one piece of the puzzle at the last minute can cost you a large whack of cash as well as valuable time.

Equipment is one of the biggest expenses faced by film makers, so making sure you are able to optimise your time to help you make sure you never, for example, have a camera sitting unused for an afternoon while you re-write a scene or re-costume an actor. Guaranteed there will be last minute hiccups and distractions to your plans, but if you have already thought out as many scenarios as possible in advance, you are far more likely to be able to minimise the disruption to your schedule and your shoot.

One of the hardest things for budding film-makers to manage is filming on location, especially when it's an outdoor or tricky place. The best way to ensure you are organised and ready to deal with a difficult shoot is to make sure you set aside plenty of time to scout out all of your locations. Plan your trip with any other key members of crew you have, your camera or sound man is sure to be able to spot potential problems that you may not. You should also ensure you take a notepad with you and write down everything from the kind of toilet facilities there are in the area to anything you think could be considered a health and safety risk.

If you're planning to film scenes on location, you will need to make sure your team will not be put at risk while you are there. This could mean you need to take account of things such as food provisions, or even consider things such as heater rental if you are planning on filming in a cold location for an extended duration. Without a happy and healthy crew and actors who are well taken care of, you'll soon find your film floundering before you've even managed to catch the footage.