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Originally posted by Bababooey

I'm shooting a film with an almost even amount of ext and int shots. How do I organize when to shoot what scenes? I know films aren't shot in the order they're shown in. Obviously, I will try to work around my cast' schedules, but in general, how do I plan this?

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MOST of the time, the priority goes to LOCATIONS because often, location availability (and existence!) will have more to do with whether a movie actually goes into production or not than anything else.

After that, you work with the Talent schedules. But that generally comes in with A-list Talent who have a lot of other things to do that will compel them to tell you that they are only available at such-and-such a time.

Of course, in reality, you'll be dealing with the schedules and availability of everyone and anything all at the same time, trying to make everyone happy. And of course, that is virtually impossible unless you're actually paying the going rates for locations, people skills, and equipment.

Ideally, you'll "shoot out" a location fully before moving on to the next one, wherever it happens to be. That may mean bringing Actors in randomly over the course of that part of the schedule. The alternative, is to work around an Actor's schedule, which could lead to you moving to and from locations several times. For a LOT of reasons, it is far preferable to shoot out a location and make Talent come when you need them instead. But when you're not paying the going rates, that could be a difficult proposition.

To help you with this, I recommend: http://www.amazon.com/Film-Scheduling-Long-Shoot-Movie/dp/0943728398/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1263765873&sr=1-1

and http://www.writersstore.com/product.php?products_id=2324&source=g-mmscheduling&gclid=CNqPgfC2rJ8CFQcQagodqF3y0w

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

Great stuff, man! I like the "shoot out a location" idea. I have previously read that, that was the most convenient way to go, but it's always good to get more opinions.

Another thing to keep in mind, shoot exteriors first whenever possible with an INT as a backup. That way you won't lose days of shooting waiting for the weather to clear. If you shoot interiors first you've got nowhere to fall back to if the weather doesn't cooperate.

RJSchwarz

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Originally posted by Bababooey

Great stuff, man! I like the "shoot out a location" idea. I have previously read that, that was the most convenient way to go, but it's always good to get more opinions.

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Not only is it convenient, it frequently is necessary from a scheduling and budgeting standpoint. In fact, there have been movies that haven't been made because the proper location hasn't been available (as a practical location) or feasible to build elsewhere. For this reason, LOCATIONS is the first category that typically gets addressed, followed by Talent availability.

During Pre-Production, the UPM and First AD will put together a "best case scenario" one-line schedule that budgets and other elements are based upon. When actual physical production ramps up, the Second AD takes over the day-to-day planning and replanning as daily callsheets are created. Rarely (or likely "never") does the initial schedule ever remain intact. Locations are lost. You won't get everything shot that you wanted to necessitating having to stay additional days. Talent comes and goes. As mentioned, weather alters the best laid plans.

Creating the schedule is a fluid exercise and the more elements you have involved to create your project, the more involved that job is. That's why there is someone (the Second AD) who primarily does only that for the duration of the shoot on large projects.

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