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Originally posted by Aspiring mogul

I'm reading up on the history of film, slowly getting my knowledge of the business, but I can't seem to find any works on what makes a film studio, as in the indoor location of a set. I'd like to know more about designing a studio.

Can anyone recommend any works?

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I'm not entirely sure what you're asking, but I'll take a crack at it. 🙂

In short, a modern film "studio" is really just a bunch of offices with various Executives for Acquisition, Accounting, Distribution, and Marketing purposes. The days of "contract players" (Cast and Crew) are long gone.

So, most major studios now are merely there with salaried Executives. Also, many studio lots have offices which are leased out to Production Companies or individual Producers who have multi-picture deals with that studio.

The rest of the studio lot mostly has large empty stage space. There's nothing extremely remarkable about a soundstage beyond it's size (they come in different sizes), they usually have big "elephant" doors so large things can be brought in and out, the walls are typically insulated/padded for soundproofing (but noise still gets through), and most have a wooden catwalk high up (called "the perms").

Many also have power run to them which is run by "Local 40" Studio Electricians. The Set Electricians (and/or the Best Boy Electric) will distribute power from the "Local 40" power OR a portable generator (which is standard on just about every major production). There is also usually some kind of wiring to allow the Sound Department to hook up the "Bell" (a buzzer and several flashing lights) so that when the First AD asks to "Put us on a bell!" the Sound Mixer can hit a button to let everyone in the vicinity know to stop working and keep it very quiet.

That's really it. The set is built by Construction. If necessary, the Grips will rig a "grid" over the set for lighting purposes. The Set Decorators and Painters will finish the set off before the Production Crew arrives. On that day, the crew (Camera, Grip, Electric, Leadman, Script Supervisor, etc) will load in their carts and other stuff they need to shoot on that temporary set. When the set is "shot out," everybody packs up their things back into their trucks, a Rigging crew will come back in to pull all the Electrics back out before Construction takes the set apart and cleans the stage out so it's empty all over again.

I hope that helps to answer "how to design a studio." Let me know if you need any other details. I don't know of any specific books that tell you much about the above.

Brian Dzyak
Cameraman/Author
IATSE Local 600, SOC
http://www.whatireallywanttodo.com
http://www.realfilmcareer.com

That's what I mean, Bryan. I was referring to how I convert an empty warehouse (or basement) into a studio, complete with lighting. I have no idea of the construction requirements. Do I have to soundproof, do I have to have special lighting, do I have to have special air conditioning, and so on.

Someone has suggested I look at 2,000 square feet of warehouse space, which could be ideal, but would need retouching. I'm not going to rent it yet, but I want to get some idea of what I need.

As an aside, before I rent, I should do some interning with a fan film or professional film company first. But I'm looking around.

I think soundstage is what you mean, but I could be wrong.

RJSchwarz

quote:

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Originally posted by Aspiring mogul

That's what I mean, Bryan. I was referring to how I convert an empty warehouse (or basement) into a studio, complete with lighting. I have no idea of the construction requirements. Do I have to soundproof, do I have to have special lighting, do I have to have special air conditioning, and so on.

Someone has suggested I look at 2,000 square feet of warehouse space, which could be ideal, but would need retouching. I'm not going to rent it yet, but I want to get some idea of what I need.

As an aside, before I rent, I should do some interning with a fan film or professional film company first. But I'm looking around.

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Well, first check on zoning in that area to make sure that any alterations you make structurally or just in terms of the business-type, are allowed.

Soundproofing: I've worked on plenty sets that have been built in old warehouses. You don't HAVE TO spend money to soundproof, but if you plan on renting the space out as part of your business model, if there are a lot of airplanes, helicopters, and/or street noise, potential clients will more apt to return to your stage if they weren't too irritated by having to stop every time something goes past.

Electrics: If serious productions come in to use your stage, they'll need to know that they are able to plug in really BIG units and a lot of different things. Consult a professional Electrician (a "movie guy" and a civilian if possible.) A professional Best Boy Electric will know how much power you SHOULD available and tips on how to provide it to working crews. Your local power company will become involved at some point as your property will be using significantly more draw than usual. You may have to pay A LOT to have your property upgraded to meet power needs.

What actual lighting you should have on stage varies as every production is different. Some stages in LA do have some units on standby if the production wants to use things ala carte, but if you're opening a new stage, you're better off investing in the structural elements and just let the other shows bring ALL of their own gear in.

AC: YES. Ideally, you'll have some kind of central-air, however, a lot of production in LA will rent out "portable" AC units and use really really big yellow tubes to pump the cooler air directly into the set, not just on the stage.

Parking: Make sure you have enough for a production to park several large trucks as well as space for personal vehicles that cast and crew will arrive in.

You also need well-maintained bathrooms and a separate space (or a couple) for Makeup and Hair.

Brian Dzyak
Cameraman/Author
IATSE Local 600, SOC
http://www.whatireallywanttodo.com
http://www.realfilmcareer.com

Thanks, Bryan - I really, really appreciate your input. Someone has offered 2,000 square feet, and I think that could be enough. I didn't know about the rooms for makeup, so thanks. 🙂

I will have to intern and see what the other studios have.

About two months ago you asked the same question.
http://www.filmmaking.net/fnetforum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=8338

I only bring it up because I mentioned rooms for makeup back then.

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The aim of an argument or discussion should not be victory, but progress.
Joseph Joubert, essayist (1754-1824)

You're right, CI - old age must be getting to me. (Sheepish grin)

But I'm learning more and more, thanks to you both and this forum. I'm getting a general idea, and now I will probably have to get experience and make some contacts.

I was thinking more about this question in terms of what I'd look for in "studio" space.

First and foremost, is physical space. Is there enough open space for me to accomplish what I need to do? Is it big enough AND is it TOO big?

To that end, a "perfect" studio would have options. A large studio space at least big enough to drive a vehicle into for car/truck shots (plus room for lights, camera, carts, video village).

And, in case I didn't need a space that size, I'd like to see a space roughly half that size at a reduced price for smaller shoots, like multiperson interviews, etc.

Also a room smaller than that as an "insert stage" where tabletop product shots or shots of still photos could be filmed/videotaped.

Those three stages would have a cyc wall... white, but paintable, so that I could have a green or blue wall and floor if necessary. Also, very large "curtains" of black, green, white, and blue on railings at the top to just pull around as needed.

Of course power, as mentioned is a major consideration. Does the stage have enough power on each stage to run lighting units up to 20K if necessary? And lots of power because a shoot takes a lot of lights. And outlets everywhere, in the ceiling and at floor level for lights in the overhead grid and lights on the floor and other power needs, like video village and battery recharging.

I'd want to see an entirely separate room for "lunch," with a food prep area... a table or counter to put the take-out or catered food and separate tables for the cast and crew so we're not eating on the working stage or in the parking lot under an easy-up.

Heavy duty air-conditioning everywhere, entirely controllable in terms of on-off, temp, and fan intensity.

"Free" Wi-Fi on all stages and in all rooms. You could roll the cost into the cost of the stage so it appears free... but you don't make it an ala carte service that the client has to pay for separately.

Printing services so that if a client has to download and print documents for whatever reason, they'd have a way to do it on site.

Ladders, scissorlifts and a forklift for the crew to move things around with and reach as high as they need to safely.

A "Fog machine" ... it seems silly, but it's a low-cost item that can just be on stand-by in case production forgets that they need one or later on decide that they could use some "atmosphere." Wallah! You have one available for $50 bucks plus the cost of the fluid.

GOOD coffee already brewing in the morning when the crew starts to arrive. And possibly fruit and bagels, though the production SHOULD be providing it's own Craft's Service and catering.

The idea is to provide the space and the small amenities that a production may use and will appreciate to make YOUR stage a more attractive and efficient place to shoot at. You could just have an empty warehouse and tell the productions to bring EVERYTHING they need to make it work, but why should they rent your space when they could just go lease something cheaper and do all that anyway? Make YOUR stage experience comfortable and inviting at a competitive rate and you'll likely see more customers even if the base price is a little over what others charge. You don't want to operate at a loss, but you want to offer a stage that has as much "built in" as possible because for a production to bring all of that in separately will undoubtedly cost much more, not only in terms of money, but also in terms of time and headaches.

Brian Dzyak
Cameraman/Author
IATSE Local 600, SOC
http://www.whatireallywanttodo.com
http://www.realfilmcareer.com

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Originally posted by Aspiring mogul
and now I will probably have to get experience and make some contacts.

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Something I've been suggesting to you for
quite sometime.

Reading book and conversing on forums is great.
But if you really want to get a feel of what a studio
space should have you really need to walk into one.
Better yet, work on one. That way you'll know what
works and what's missing that YOU will put in when
designing your 2,000 square foot space.

I don't think you've ever mentioned where you live. Is
there a studio space nearby that you can take a tour
of? When you're really ready to design the space (I know
you're several years away from actually spending the
money) the best thing you can do is bring three people
into the space to consult with you; a DP or gaffer, an audio
person and a UPM. Each of them have different needs
and if your final design can satisfy all three of them, you
will have a workable, rentable studio space.

Yes, RJSchwarz, "soundstage" is what I'm looking for. I've googled the term and various phrases, and I realize now that the proper subject area is "architecture", so I have to ask architects and check their forums and specialized libraries.

For what it's worth, the Dummies series has a section on picking locations, and a sub-section on soundstages.

http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/picking-locations-for-your-film.html

For those in Saskatchwan, Canada, there is a reference to a soundstage architecture in Regina, Saskathwan.

http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/topics/Canada-Saskatchewan_Soundstage

I now have a better idea of where to look, and, since everyone here has been so helpful, I'll share my findings. 🙂

quote:

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Originally posted by Aspiring mogul

For those in Saskatchwan, Canada, there is a reference to a soundstage architecture in Regina, Saskathwan.

http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/topics/Canada-Saskatchewan_Soundstage

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Hey, I got to visit a production set there a month ago! 🙂

Cool stuff!

Some architects have expertise in soundstage and other film projects.

http://www.bastienarchitects.com/entertainment.htm

I'm now very close to finding the expert(s) I need. 🙂