Pre-Production

The most important stress.

  • Foresee as many problems as possible.

    • Where will the sun be? What time of day should we shoot here? Will the sun be here long enough?

    • Where can trucks park, where can craft services be, where can bathrooms be, video village, camera carts, grip trucks… It’s maddening, but hugely important.

  • Similar to the interview process, but expanded way out.

    • My production office walls.

  • Piece of meat. I want to marinate in spices. I gather everything and keep thinking, sitting in it.

  • Image hunting:

    • Pinterest

    • Shotdeck/ Film-grab

    • Google Image search

    • Grow your own library

    • Learn about photographers, painters (Gregory Crewdson, Caspar David Friedrich, still from Bat Mitzvah)

  • Hunting for the Darius Khondji “Big Bang” moment

  • What time of day, where can trucks park, where can craft services be, where can bathrooms be, video village, camera carts, grip trucks

  • Scheduling (my weakness). At the mercy of AD, so try to chime in.

  • Blocking, both camera and actors.

    • It will change, but the more prepared you are, the higher your floor is, even if you throw it all out. Pen15 unique combo of creative voices.

    • Be ready to let go.

    • I theorize that my ADHD is why I’m good on set.