Shooting on Location

On location, you have to be self-sufficient, prepared to improvise and to cope with prevailing conditions – from weather to power failures.

Types of location unit

Anywhere outside the confines of the studio is a ‘location’. You may be shooting anything from a brief program insert (e.g. street interviews), to an entire production, it may be a multi-camera remote (OB/outside broadcast) covering events staged by someone else (e.g. a parade). Or it could be an EFP/electronic field production that you are initiating – drama perhaps.

The facilities necessary can vary considerably. Depending on the scale of the production, you may need anything from just a single camcorder unit, to a full-scale remote unit with mobile studio facilities, microwave-links or satellite dish!

Preparations

Success begins with efficient site reconnaissance – the ‘recce’. Careful planning and anticipation at this stage can avoid many headaches later. After a preliminary investigation, the director and his specialist team check out details. To give you the flavor of this project, let’s list just a few of the points to lookout for:

Interiors:

• How much space is available? (Small areas restrict the longest shots.)

• Are there viewpoint restrictions – e.g. pillars, stairs?

• Any problems with acoustics – e.g. clap your hands to detect echoes.

• Any extraneous sounds – e.g. creaking floors, traffic?

• Views outside windows obtrusive – e.g. busy street?

• Natural room lighting (daylight/artificiall satisfactory? Will it be when yoy shoot?

• Do interior furnishings need readjustments, augmenting?

• Any major changes needed – e.g. block off window?

Exteriors:

• Weather problems. (Consider what to do if it’s unsuitable.)

• Consider possible lighting problems on the day of the shoot–e.g. light reflectors, diffusers for strong sunlight; booster lamps for dull day.

• Any extraneoys noise problems – e.g. traffic, aircraft, animals, machinery?

As you can see, a lot depends on whether you are shooting for a short time, or over some hours; whether you can use existing daylight, or will need a full lighting rig; whether your shots are localized, or taking in a large area …

Organization

You need to take a very practical approach to location production.

The right facilities can help to make the going smoother – e.g. a mobile phone, radio intercom, loudhailer.

It is particularly important to anticipate any possible editing difficulties: perhaps by shooting more than one version of the action (straight retakes, or variations), taking ‘cutaways’, recording sound wild tracks, taking reference photographs for continuity or studio matching.

Checking out the location

When you are choosing a location to shoot, there are a number of factors you may need to look into. Information that may seem trivial at the time can affect your entire project.

DEFINE LOCATION

• Map/route/distances/travel time.

• Sketch site layout.

WEATHER

• Weather predictability? • Shelter available?

• Precautions needed?

• Alternative shooting possible?

LEGALITY

• Local permission needed?

• Fees, gratuities payable?

ACCESSIBILITY

• Easy access at all times?

• Traffic problems?

• Parking problems?

SAFETY

• Protective clothing?

• Dangeroys situation?

INHIBITING FACTORS

• Local restrictions?

• Others working nearby?

• Equipment operating nearby?

• Public access?

• Crowds likely?

• Local holidays?

SELECTING VIEWPOINTS

• Best camera positions?

• Good visual coverage?

• Positions easily reached?

• Safe?

• Any obstructions?

• Unwanted features visible?

LOCAL NOISE PROBLEMS

• Tide, wind, waterfalls…

• Low aircraft, traffic, machinery…

• Animals, birds, school…

AID NEEDED?

• Need local advice?

• Need local guidance?

• Need local assistance?

• Police, fire, hospital?

• Is item locally organized?

• Inform local residents?

• Local labor needed?

• Locals as performers?

• Local transport needed?

FACILITIES

• Power, water required?

• Local facilities hired?

WELFARE

• Accommodation needed?

• Feeding arrangements?

• Personal comfort?

• Security arrangements? • First aid?

TRAVEL

• Transport of performers, crew?

• Transport of equipment?

SCENERY/PROPS

• Scenery, props required?

• Transport of scenery* props?

• Labor for erecting/dismantling scenery?

• Labor for set-dressing location?

MAKEUP/COSTUMES

• Transport of makeup, costumes?

• Makeup facilities?

• Changing facilities?

• Sterage/security arrangements?

LIGHTING

• Equipment needed (lamps, cables, etc.).

• Transport of equipment?

• Supplies, cabling?

• Labor for rigging and operating? • Lighting control arrangements?

SOUND

• Equipment needed Imites, cables, etc.).

• Transport of equipment?

• Supplies, cabling, control?

• Rigging and operation?

• Sound control arrangements?

• Playback required (miming)?

INTERCOM

• Methods of intercom needed?

• Methods of cuing?

DIRECTION

• Production control arrangements?

• Picture and sound monitoring?

• Single or multi-camera shoot?

• Switcher or post-production edit?

• Review, off-line editing?

VIDEO CONTROL

• Picture control facilities?

VIDEORECORD1NG

• Location or base VTR?

• Using camcorder, VCR, VTR?