Shooting Outdoors
So here’s the “fast and dirty” short film
producer’s no-budget guerilla-style way to do outdoor
locations. Some of these ideas will work for public indoor
locations (especially if your not in Los Angeles), but they can be a
little bit more difficult to execute.
Pick up a camera and shoot. If people say you
can’t, pretend you are tourists and/or that you
didn’t’ know any better. Or that
you’re a student. That often works, too. And
frankly, if you’re making short films, you are a
student. You’re learning, you’re not
earning money, and that makes you a student. You just
don’t have an ID card (you forgot it at home).
Of course, some official person probably won’t see it that
way, but the worst they can do is make you stop. With
features, they can actually fine the production a lot of money, but a
small crew with a camera they will usually only shoo away.
Believe it or not, it’s actually harder to shoot in Los
Angeles than it is to shoot anywhere else. Why? Because this
town is so used to being photographed, that there are so many rules,
regulations, and people, towns and organizations that want some sort of
financial benefit (which is funny when no-one is really financially
benefiting from a short film) that it makes a simple, harmless, and
otherwise fun process a lot more difficult.
So with outdoor stuff, the idea is to be discreet, have a small crew,
be gentle and clean and respectful with the area, try to be quiet, pick
a more secluded area if possible and don’t disturb or shoot
footage of people that have nothing to do with your movie unless you
get an ok from them first (in writing, ideally.)