subject: Factors In Doing A Good Movie [print this page] If you are considering your very first film shoot, one of the things you will have to think about it where to shoot. Location is important. You don't want to shoot in a shark pond, for example, because sharks eat people. If you want to shoot in the water, though, you aren't totally out of luck. You just have to do a little forward thinking. Read on for more.
The first thing to do is research. Get in your car or on your bike and scout around for locations. Keep a list of your scenes with you in your back pocket all the time, then you can whip it out when you need it and check if a location will potentially meet your needs.
If you plan to shoot in a park or other public place, you will need to clear it with your city leaders first. Simply ask at city hall. They may make you register; they may make you pay a small fee. In the end they will probably let you shoot where you want to shoot.
You will have to have a pretty detailed idea of what you need when you are applying for your permit. You will need to know how long you plan to shoot on the location, and you will need to know certain details, such as wether you intend to use explosives or the like, or whether you will need to shut down roads and such.
Filming in a local coffee shop or restaurant is a great way to get a little bit of cheap production value. Some businesses will even let you use their location for free in return for a little bit of free publicity in the form of a mention during the credits of your film. Just ask. It won't kill you.
Always respect the restaurant or coffee house you are shooting in. Business owners may be letting you be there, but that doesn't mean you have free reign of the place. It's still their business.
Other great locations include libraries, schools, universities and other municipal buildings. These are maintained by government institutions, but as long as you have the paperwork in order, it is rarely very expensive.
Filmmaking doesn't have to be a beast. As long as you conduct your planning before you start shooting, you will find is relatively smooth and maybe even a lot of fun.
