How to Shoot a FILM more EFFICIENTLY!

[@TheFilmLook]

How do you guys shoot faster on set?

[@OverlayFox]

Great Video definitely learned some stuff We also use Shot Designer to plan were our equipment needs to go. It help us so much to be faster at the shoot ;-)

[@TheFilmLook]

Ahh great idea!

[@lalallalalaaa863]

Guys, just discovered your channel , its pure gold for aspiring filmmakers, thanks !

[@TheFilmLook]

Cheers Andrei! Welcome to the channel!

[@randyrosca6471]

Thank you for this. I would LOVE to see an expanded video on lining and scheduling shots!

[@TheFilmLook]

Awesome, we will add it to the episode list and see what we can do! Cheers for the feedback Randy.

[@ActorsReal2Reel]

Wow you guys are Thorough; last movie I shot and edited I never read the script except when on set, we blocked 20 minutes before the actors got there and had no shot list. I work more organic but that’s because my mom was the director and she understands because she works that way too. A lot of directors don’t work like that and wanna be absolutely prepared which I also encourage people to do because my ways does have draw backs but to me is very freeing even with so little time.

[@TheFilmLook]

For us, we want to be prepared as much as we can be before the shoot, but one the day we work similar to you. We are very open to change on the day, and once we get in the flow it does become a little more organic.

[@ThinkingArtEntertainment]

Great video as always guys! Great advice here.

[@TheFilmLook]

Hope it helps!

[@RusticB]

PS. This was very informative!! I've never personally "lined" my scripts, but I do create shot lists. Also, I love how you put this together from b-roll! I want to do these types of videos in the future also, from my shoots.. that way I don't have to shoot b-roll specifically for my tutorials, lol

[@TheFilmLook]

Our friend Jack shot BTS for the whole shoot for three days. It's made finding contextual footage a LOT easier when editing the episodes 🙂

[@WeAreEnderley]

Having a little Film Look binge pre-short film making haha, how do you guys do the lining it looks super neat, is it a programme?

[@TheFilmLook]

We just bring up the pdfs in Photoshop and add the lines in. We've done it just on paper for most projects but wanted a neat copy for Backstage

[@asianjared]

I was wondering how the lines work! This was a great informational video guys. Keep up the fantastic work!

[@TheFilmLook]

Cheers JJ! You joining us for the live show on Sunday? 2pm EST.

[@asianjared]

Absolutely. Will probably be editing the 48 during that time! Can't wait!

[@ElliotMillson]

Really enjoyed this! Would be great to have a more in-depth video talking about shot lists. I always find it difficult to decide how long each take should go on for.

[@TheFilmLook]

Shoot for the edit and add a bit of breathing room on each side of the shot for momentum. A pre-lined script will give you the running time of how long you'll run the take for that particular shot, so you won't be filming pages upon pages with an empty/uninteresting frame. We always have a solid idea of the edit before we shoot, so we basically shoot exactly what we need because we know the shot will cut a moment later.

[@ElliotMillson]

Great, thanks! It's always a balance, I guess, between not shooting unnecessary footage and still leaving wiggle room for the edit. One other question; do you use any specific software to line your script? In the video the lines look printed rather than hand drawn.

[@TheFilmLook]

We make the first lined draft by hand then import the script into Photoshop for the final version, just so we can print off a load of copies.

[@ElliotMillson]

Ah right ok. Cheers

[@SubjectiveGreyMatter]

This cleared up several things. I didn't know what those lines on the script were called to look them up. Thanks. One thing tho, how do you determine the names? is it 1 for scene then go down the alphabet or whatever is your fancy?

[@TheFilmLook]

From what we've learned it's customary to number the scene (Scene 1) and alphabet the shot (Scene 1, shot A) (1a, take 1). Then you can link the scene and the shot letter to your storyboards and pre-lined script so everything is linked together. You'll have storyboard frame named 3F, for example. On your script, you'll have a line for 3F going from the start to the end of the shot so you know where to begin and when to cut. And then when you write your shot on a clapperboard, you can use 3F as the link. You'll find a slightly different way for most indie shoots. Hollywood has a standard, but sometimes that standard can be far too complex for tiny micro-budget productions. So find their method, and adapt it to your own.

[@s8AEPdeqb699uQVcyV4e]

How did you guys line the script? Did you use specific software? I've had a poke around, and I haven't found anything for lining yet... Love your videos!

[@TheFilmLook]

We just use photoshop for the digital versions. Add some lines and arrows and export it back out as a PDF.

[@s8AEPdeqb699uQVcyV4e]

@@TheFilmLook Cool, thanks!

[@RusticB]

Congratulations on 10k subscribers, guys!! You are awesome!! Would love to have you as a guest on my podcast sometime soon :D

[@TheFilmLook]

Thanks Rustic! We'd love to join you, really looking forward to your pod!

[@scotth22000]

What software do you use to line your script?

[@TheFilmLook]

We export a PDF version of the script and import that into Photoshop. It take a little bit of time todo, but worth it in the end.

[@scotth22000]

Thanks for the info. That’s a big help! And thanks for all of the video’s you guys create.

[@vegardpedersen]

Great tips!

[@TheFilmLook]

Cheers Vegard! Hope it helps

[@DroiMedia]

Cool way to break scripts / shots down, I'd never see it done like that before.

[@TheFilmLook]

This was the first project we really hammered the lined scripts and linked storyboards. Helped a bunch, got all of the crew clued up so everyone was firing on all cylinders.

[@NatesFilmTutorials]

The lines look very confusing

[@emilypickle]

It can be at first, but once you have the storyboards to look at alongside them, it makes scheduling SO much easier!

[@NatesFilmTutorials]

Emily Grew Yeah, Thanks!

[@TheFilmLook]

It's basically a start/stop in the shoot. This technique is great if you already have an edit in mind too.

[@dynnik]

Shot-list & storyboard are fundamental. But the LINING makes little sense in Pre. It is meant as a coverage supervision tool for on-set usage. -Misinforming isn't cool, kids.

[@TheFilmLook]

Lining the script in pre-production helps to provide information of how long each shot should last. So when scheduling your shots, you can use this information to work out how long it will take to shoot each shot. In production you can use the lining information of your script to know when a shot should start and when it should cut. You can line the script whilst in production as well if certain shots go over what you had planned, but doing it before saves time on set and it's another kind of check list when shooting. From our experience of making short films, lining the script before has made scheduling our films a lot easier.