Things not to do on a Movie Set!
06/14/2008 07:44 PM
There are a certain number of things you do not do on set to keep your dignity. these things you should try to avoid if you do not want to completely embarrass your self and look like a total fool. one of the following happened to me to day which inspired this post. I am not going to tell you which one because i think all of them have happened to me at one time or another.
Listed in no particular order of embarrassment:
1.Knocking over a C Stand at any time, or any pice of equipment, but particularly in the middle of a shot while the camera is rolling. this will immediately focus everyones attention on you. the camera will stop and everyone will wait for you to pick it up and set it right. then afterward make fun of you as if you have never been on a movie set before and have no idea what you are doing. If you can in any way make it look like all you where doing was trying to save it from falling in the first place, you might come out of this one looking like an almost hero. If not just apologize to who ever your hit or almost hit and try to stay out of sight for a while.
2.Farting in the middle of a quiet scene in front of the entire crew, cast and any one else who might just happen to be there, resulting in the cast busting out laughing and unable to regain composure for 15 min. during which time the whole crew waits and stares at you for adding an extra 30 mins. to their day. Try to cover that one up, i dare you. your best defense in this situation is to just smile and say “did you guys hear that too? Sorry it was suppose to be silent.”
3.Walking thru a door right in to the shot only to have it lock behind you. there you are stuck in front of the whole crew busting a shot and unable to escape. there is really no way out of this one. Just hang your head, apologize and quietly get out of the shot. at this point you should keep a low profile for the rest of the day and make sure you know where the camera is pointing for the remainder of the shoot.
4.Talking shit about the director, sound mixer or anyone else who has on a headset while standing next to the boom guy with a live mic. There is really no getting out of this one. I usually do it on purpose if i know the mixer but if you get caught doing to some you don’t know you should just avoid ever talking to that person ever again. If you have to deal with that person again and there’s no getting out of it , go up to them and say” hey do you remember that time i was talking shit about you and you heard me over the comtex? That was funny huh.” if they say “dude that just happened five mins. ago.” You have to respond with, “I know that was funny huh.”
5.Blowing up a building. I did not do this one personally but i have been there when it has happened. If you are an FX guy and you have to do a fire/explosion effect and you blow up a building or lift the roof off a house, all you have to do is say” oops, i might have given that a little to much.” and just go back to cleaning up your gear.
Any ways, i could go on and on about what not to do on set as the list is very large and detailed but i will save you time and energy by saying just stay away from them and get a real job. As far as which one of these i did today, i will nearow it down, I did not blow up a building.
Listed in no particular order of embarrassment:
1.Knocking over a C Stand at any time, or any pice of equipment, but particularly in the middle of a shot while the camera is rolling. this will immediately focus everyones attention on you. the camera will stop and everyone will wait for you to pick it up and set it right. then afterward make fun of you as if you have never been on a movie set before and have no idea what you are doing. If you can in any way make it look like all you where doing was trying to save it from falling in the first place, you might come out of this one looking like an almost hero. If not just apologize to who ever your hit or almost hit and try to stay out of sight for a while.
2.Farting in the middle of a quiet scene in front of the entire crew, cast and any one else who might just happen to be there, resulting in the cast busting out laughing and unable to regain composure for 15 min. during which time the whole crew waits and stares at you for adding an extra 30 mins. to their day. Try to cover that one up, i dare you. your best defense in this situation is to just smile and say “did you guys hear that too? Sorry it was suppose to be silent.”
3.Walking thru a door right in to the shot only to have it lock behind you. there you are stuck in front of the whole crew busting a shot and unable to escape. there is really no way out of this one. Just hang your head, apologize and quietly get out of the shot. at this point you should keep a low profile for the rest of the day and make sure you know where the camera is pointing for the remainder of the shoot.
4.Talking shit about the director, sound mixer or anyone else who has on a headset while standing next to the boom guy with a live mic. There is really no getting out of this one. I usually do it on purpose if i know the mixer but if you get caught doing to some you don’t know you should just avoid ever talking to that person ever again. If you have to deal with that person again and there’s no getting out of it , go up to them and say” hey do you remember that time i was talking shit about you and you heard me over the comtex? That was funny huh.” if they say “dude that just happened five mins. ago.” You have to respond with, “I know that was funny huh.”
5.Blowing up a building. I did not do this one personally but i have been there when it has happened. If you are an FX guy and you have to do a fire/explosion effect and you blow up a building or lift the roof off a house, all you have to do is say” oops, i might have given that a little to much.” and just go back to cleaning up your gear.
Any ways, i could go on and on about what not to do on set as the list is very large and detailed but i will save you time and energy by saying just stay away from them and get a real job. As far as which one of these i did today, i will nearow it down, I did not blow up a building.
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