Movie Diaries 16

Directing: A Brief Tutorial

• Arrive on the set when you say you'll arrive on the set. Have your shooting schedule, notes, and script with you.
  
• Have the set ready before the actors get there, especially if it's a night shoot. Have your lights set, your cameras and camera operators ready to go. Don't leave your actors waiting for four hours while you figure out what you're doing.
  
• The time between "Action!" and "Cut!" should be uninterrupted unless the scene is a complete train wreck, in which case, back up and start over. You cannot jump in, give the actors direction, and then restart at that point and expect to get usable footage, especially if what you're filming is supposed to be documentary. In the glossary at the end of this handbook you will find "Action!"; "Cut!"; "That's a wrap!"; "Quiet on the set, please!"; "We need more blood on him..."; "How can you be out of bullets?"; and even "Bill, what the fuck was that?"
  
  You will not find, "Pause!" Anywhere.
  

A typical day on set.

( Courtesy snip... )

Movie Diaries 16

Directing: A Brief Tutorial

• Arrive on the set when you say you'll arrive on the set. Have your shooting schedule, notes, and script with you.
  
• Have the set ready before the actors get there, especially if it's a night shoot. Have your lights set, your cameras and camera operators ready to go. Don't leave your actors waiting for four hours while you figure out what you're doing.
  
• The time between "Action!" and "Cut!" should be uninterrupted unless the scene is a complete train wreck, in which case, back up and start over. You cannot jump in, give the actors direction, and then restart at that point and expect to get usable footage, especially if what you're filming is supposed to be documentary. In the glossary at the end of this handbook you will find "Action!"; "Cut!"; "That's a wrap!"; "Quiet on the set, please!"; "We need more blood on him..."; "How can you be out of bullets?"; and even "Bill, what the fuck was that?"
  
  You will not find, "Pause!" Anywhere.
  

A typical day on set.

( Courtesy snip... )