Photo Credit -Daz T

So I now have at least 6 years’ experience in the film industry. Granted it’s only been in the past few years that the gears have clicked and I think I understand how it all works. My first ever film set was when I was 15 years old as a production assistant. I was scared of everyone on set; I kept to myself and ate my packed lunch sandwiches on my own in the production office scared of talking to anyone. It’s funny what film does to you. Now when I walk onto a film set I feel comfortable, it’s normal to talk to strangers, I’m becoming quite friendly.

Working on a film set doesn’t make me nervous, I am very happy to work on film sets. Even jumping in the deep end to learn a new skill doesn’t faze me. But I always know that film sets mean long hours. I am not lazy I can work longer than any normal person can, as all film makers do. It’s just that film days tend to be long. The longest I’ve ever done is a 20hr day, after that happened I made a rule to myself -no more than a 16hr straight work day. But even that is too much when you’re working days/weeks at a time.

I’m wondering why film days last so long. There enjoyable but we all need to watch our health and sleep at some point. To think that the only thing I am afraid of when it comes to making my own feature films are the 18hr days most directors experience.

I found this great article online all about it, stressing the importance of a 12hr work day for film makers –

http://www.vulture.com/2012/05/how-long-are-the-days-on-a-movie-set-polone.html

I think that filming days are all planned well but always go to over time because of a reason. That reason maybe bad organisation, bad planning from the director, a bad 1^st AD, the director and/or DOP over shooting and many other reasons. I used to believe the saying ‘what can go wrong will go wrong’ whilst shooting a film. But I have seen many well organised films sets where not much has gone wrong.

A lot people over estimate (including myself) how long it takes to film a scene. I’ve seen- 12hr days getting over 100 slates a day,12hr days getting 15 slates a day,16hr days getting 50 slates a day. After 12hrs of work everyone on a film set starts to get tired. Although work may still be needed to get done, tired people make mistakes and I believe that sometimes that extra 2 hours isn’t worth it.

I’m planning in my head how I would plan to shoot next time I do. I know I would have limited money and time, so storyboards and/or extra planning would be a good idea. If I plan for a 12hr day I would end up going over time on some days. I think planning for a 10hr day and never going over 12 would be a good idea. Aiming at 25-35 slates a day (Quality over quantity). As well as breakfast available in the morning, an hour dinner break and tea, coffee and biscuits available all day. I wonder if this utopia of a film set is possible, even whilst on a low budget…