You should write your screenplay to take advantage of locations you have. Write an entire story in an apartment complex and redress the same apartment over and over to make it look different. Shoot and light each one differently. See if anyone really notices. Think of it as a challenge.

RJSchwarz
San Diego, CA

quote:

---

Originally posted by darkwolf416
...Maybe I should go around finding locations and finding out if its okay to shoot at places, cuz I'm feeling really bummed out about shooting when I have no place to actually shoot at.

---

What state/city do you live in? Maybe we can help you google your state/city film commission, they sometimes have a list of available locations for filming. Contact your city commissioner-- I did and asked and they told me and quoted the city ordinance that if I film and disrupt traffic flow on a city street or sidewalk I would need to get a $pecial permit, but I figure otherwise if on public property and not disrupting flow of people or cars I am ok now since I contacted them on that. Maybe contact your local college-- empty during school break, you might be able to film at least on their outdoor locations, maybe even indoors if you pay a fee or else include their theatre dept acting students in the film, etc. Be creative. Outdoor locations are cheap and free. Find friends and friends of crew who might let you use their home/apt. Know anybody who knows someone who owns a business--there you go for an indoor shot of a business place. Pay a taxi driver to drive you around and (s)he could care less that you film in the taxi or from the POV of the taxi and might even be happy to be in the film.
?Beowulf

quote:

---

Originally posted by darkwolf416

Anyone know of a good site or something where I can buy movie supplies and props at?

It seems very hard to find these things, like fake weapons, costume peices, props...ect ect....

---

There are a lot of places to find props. Unless you live in a city where prop houses are needed (big cities with a lot of professional film and TV production) you will need to search specifically. You won't find one, all encompassing place on line that carries everything you need. For example - a company that specializes in prop weapons won't carry costumes. Make a list of exactly what you need - "costume pieces" doesn't do it, if you need chaps or a superhero outfit you need to search specifically for that.

I'd be glad to point you in the right direction if you can be more specific. Keep in mind that buying some props and costume pieces is very expensive and renting form out of town will also cost a lot - shipping and insurance can really add up.

Supplies are a different matter: check http://www.studiodepot.com and http://www.castexrentals.com

I see no reason why you can't go around finding locations. Getting new locations to shoot seems important to you. Doing the work to get those locations should be part of what you do to make your movies better. Right? Just like finding the right crew, actors and equipment, you need to do the work to find the right location.

And yes, you need permission. Again, that's what us moviemakers do. We need to get out there, find what we like and ask.

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

Thanks guys, and yeah I'd appreciate any help finding out my vities laws on filming. It's a huge tourist place with celebrities and the like so they usually seem pretty picky.

I live in Santa Barbara, California.

quote:

---

Originally posted by darkwolf416

Thanks guys, and yeah I'd appreciate any help finding out my vities laws on filming. It's a huge tourist place with celebrities and the like so they usually seem pretty picky. I live in Santa Barbara, California.

---

Maybe you will find some leads here
http://www.filmsantabarbara.com/
http://www.filmsantabarbara.com/index.php?cat=5&subcat=23
Perhaps also call or email the film commission there
http://www.filmsantabarbara.com/index.php?cat=1&subcat=40

Wow. Small world. I grew up in Santa Barbara. I made over 30 films there from age 10 to when I left at 17. Oh the stories I could tell - jumping off Sterns Wharf, staging medieval battles (all 5 of us - but in full armor with broadswords) at the Botanic Gardens on Mission Canyon Road, getting in trouble with the police for staging a chase and fight scene along Anacapa Street early one Sunday morning, tossing a dummy off the tower at the Courthouse and having guns pulled on us by the cops when we were shooting a kidnapping scene behind an old hotel on lower State Street.

My first "serious" movie was made during my senior year at SBHS when I shot a parody of the silent serials - I had the damsel in distress tied to the tracks of the miniature train at the Zoo. With careful angles and a little undercranking it looks huge - until it reaches her. Pretty funny. Knowing that area I'm surprised that you can't find locations.

Whoa weird.

Yeah we have some great locations here, but within the past couple of years, the more tourist centered and crowded it's become it's been getting pretty hard to shoot at places. The cops in SB have always been d*cks, but with SBCC managing a small film department, and Brooks being called the only "film" school, even though it's mostly photography, it's getting kinda difficult. I haven't gotten in trouble as much as you have though, wow what fun.

Anyways I'm for sure going to start getting more locations, Guess I just needed some motivation. Thanks guys.

quote:

---

Originally posted by darkwolf416
Anyways I'm for sure going to start getting more locations, Guess I just needed some motivation. Thanks guys.

---

Cops can often be rented for about $50/hr, as bodyguards or whatever on set; do that and even put them in the film and I suspect you could do a lot of things that might normally get you otherwise hassled by the cops. At a financial cost of course. Or get others in charge of certain locations to be extras in a film, they might cooperate a lot more if they are 'immortalized' on film, a boost to the human ego.

Also, I just watched the new DVD movie release 'Blood and Chocolate', a werewolf movie. Takes place in Bucharest allegedly. Well, as you watch the movie you can tell most of the filming was done during early morning hours most likely, at least that is my thought, because the streets are all but deserted, hardly anybody on the streets except the few actors. Thus another trick-- film at 3am and just about any location is deserted except for perhaps a homeless person who would likely sign a film waver in exchange for a very small bribe like a pack of cigarettes, etc.

$50 an hour for a cop? I'm sorry, but I think you've been jipped Beowulf if you've ever paid that. I know a lot of cops, as I grew up with my dad a firefighter. The trick is to find someone you know who knows someone who knows someone who knows a cop, then ask to get connected with them. Meet them, then tell them your a filmmaker and talk about what you're looking for. Preferably meet them with the person who's introduced you their the whole time. Don't be all business, be nice and talk about what you're doing but first strike up a conversation about what parts of the street they work or what they do, then who they know who works the streets where you want to shoot. Then meet that person if possible. Go to the police station and be real nice. Find someone to talk to who's just walking around and doesn't look busy, then tell them your a filmmaker looking to film at a certain location, and wanted to talk to them about whether that's ok. Make sure to ask if they know anyone who works that area, then talk to them also. If there is any way that you could use them, then make sure to extend the offer to everyone at the station and all their friends. Then talk to someone in higher authority to make sure that it's official. That's how you get them to show up at your shoot and make it a heck of a lot easier on you, with out spending $50. If you have to spend money, you can pay them, but not that much, more like $30.

"We all have the potential to be great. It is our inability to do so that makes us miserable." C.S.Lewis

I think it depends upon what city you live in. In San Diego I think the going rate is $50 and sometimes unions make rules that are impossible to get around, even if the cop is your buddy.

RJSchwarz
San Diego, CA

Exactly, RJ. It's great that you (danstin) know a lot of cops and of course it's possible to get people to work for free - actors, DP's, crew and even cops) but it's not always the case. Even - as RJ says - when the person is your friend. Beowulf (or any of us) isn't being "jipped" when professionals ask to be paid.

darkwolf - I wonder if your belief that cops in SB are dicks comes across when you are talking to them. Even a little. I have found that all cops in all cities (even SB) are very helpful when treated with respect. I'm not saying you will always get what you want - but they aren't all dicks.

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

Here is another place that sells lots of useful stuff for your shoot:

http://setstuffrentals.com/start.php

quote:

---

Originally posted by danstin studios

$50 an hour for a cop? I'm sorry, but I think you've been jipped Beowulf if you've ever paid that...

---

I didn't. I was just pointing out a optional resource that might be of use to you or someone else. All power to you if you can get free or cheap police to come on set with squad cars, etc.

Sorry, I guess I came off a little arrogant with that post. I meant it with more of a joking tone, but that's hard to pull off through an internet connection. I meant to say as a way to discuss low budget options. Sorry, I didn't mean that as an insult to you or anyone else Beowulf.

"We all have the potential to be great. It is our inability to do so that makes us miserable." C.S.Lewis