Does anybody have any tips on getting the cast organised for filming? At the moment I'm making a film with 8 unpaid actors who are basically in every scene so far and they all live in different places.
Do you have any tips on how I can organise them so that they all manage to turn up in the end or I'll never get this done?
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You can't keep 'em out, they're already in!
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You can't keep 'em out, they're already in!
Ask each of them for their availability for the next 8 weeks. If you're lucky enough to find a few days when they are all available - great, you know what to do. If you find a few dates where 6 are available, ask the other two if they can change their plans to work with the majority. If they cannot work with you on their availability you may have to consider replacing them.
Sometimes actors - even unpaid actors - are willing to work with you. Set firm dates. Give them enough time - for example 6 weeks away. Then tell them this is when you're shooting, that you really want them in your movie and hope they can work their schedule to include your shoot. The ones that's can't (or won't) add your movie to their schedule might not be the right people for you to work with.
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The aim of an argument or discussion should not be victory, but progress.
Joseph Joubert, essayist (1754-1824)
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The aim of an argument or discussion should not be victory, but progress.
Joseph Joubert, essayist (1754-1824)
Another consideration is the location. A single location is better, especially if it is out in the boonies, as you can get the cast together, hammer out the scenes, have people sleep over. This kind of roughing it often brings people together, for awhile. Read about the making of Evil Dead for an example of what I'm talking about.
RJSchwarz
San Diego, CA
RJSchwarz
One other thing to think about is if you can't get them together all at the same time for the entire shoot. Then you have to figure out which shots you absolutely have to have them all in at the same time. Those would be the long and medium shots. Then you can shoot close-ups one way and catch several actors then shoot the other direction and capture the rest of the cast. Kind of like shooting live actors with animation. They can interact with something that is not there in the scene if they are good enough to pull it off. So plan out your long and medium shots that require the entire cast. Shoot them first. Then come back and shoot close-ups with the select cast members when they are available. Trying to get all 8 cast members there for every moment may be a logistical nightmare. Plan your shots to eliminate that headache. You'll sleep much better knowing you can pull this off without a full cast being present every minute of the shoot.
Thanks very much guys. It should work out seeing as though I'm a great believer in storyboarding each scene but thank you for restoring my faith.
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You can't keep 'em out, they're already in!
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You can't keep 'em out, they're already in!
