Filming

In this post I would like to talk about my experience filming. Filming is probably the most fun part of creating a movie.
The key to successful filming is planning. In my previous post, I mentioned planning your shots out while writing your script. The beautiful thing about having a plan is that it can be edited. You'll need to find locations and get permission to film there. For me, I tried to use all public locations so I wouldn't have to try to create a certain schedule based on someone else's time. When scouting locations it is good to visit the area or place when you plan to film so that you can estimate the amount of background noise (crowds, traffic, etc.) and where your light source would be. If outside this is very important because, unlike inside filming, you can not fake time of day by adding extra light sources (if the sun is coming in from the left, but you need it from the right you can not adjust this with a lamp). Something that many people forget about and something I forgot to do--Check the Weather! The light in a couple of my shots varies because it was partly cloudy--clouds would move in and out blocking my light source.
After you have found adequate locations, you'll need actors. Since I wrote my script, I already had a good idea of what I wanted my actors to look and act like. Since my movie was a short, student film, I used my friends which made things a lot easier since I had based my two characters on them. I tried to give the actors a good two week notice, but a series of unfortunate events and a huge theatre production forced me to seriously reconsider how, when, and who to film. It just so worked out that I "planned" filming on a day to day basis (or played it by ear as some would say). Most actors will want to know how long the project will last so you will have to give them an estimate. Always estimate double how much time you think it will take! Since I wanted a film approximately 15 minutes in length, I made sure I had plenty of time (I scheduled an entire morning to film the bulk of it and two afternoon sessions). My mentor told me a good rule of thumb--if you want 10 minutes of film, plan for 100 minutes of filming.
When it came down to the actual filming of the movie, I just tried to have fun. You have to be flexible with your direction. Several times I would have a shot planned out in my head and would try to get my actors into that mold when for them it seemed unrealistic and uncomfortable. Where I listened the shots look nice, but where I didn't...well...the angles are interesting.
But planning was really the key to my success.