4.1 Pre-production workshop 2: Breaking Down the Script and Location Recce

Objective: To know how to breakdown a script, conduct a location recce and find resources to help you get permission

1. Breaking down the Script

Script Breakdown

Instructions: First you will need to:

• Read the script. 
• Gather all of your colored pens, pencils, and markers.
• Break the pages down into sections. This means starting from the top of the page you break the script down into 8 rows. The script is broken into 8ths to help accurately time the script and decide how much can be covered on shoot days.

Now that you have done that you can go through each scene in the script and mark it in colour according to its needs or the 'script breakdown'.

• Cast/Actors
• Props
• Wardrobe (costume)
• Make up/Hair

2. Recce (Location Scouting)

Read: http://kentfilmoffice.co.uk/training/student-portal/planning-your-shoot/

If shooting on location, ensure you make a preliminary visit to the site before filming; this is called a location recce, or sometimes known as a remote/location survey. The point of the recce is to analyse the location prior to filming and access its suitability for the shoot.

Task: How to do an onsite recce - watch the video and read the article. Summarise 5 significant points

Resources:

• https://docs.google.com/document/d/1kiLoM9784MvpA03apojSad2n8Ce2md7LBK1HmRAKjDg/mobilebasic example location report

• http://kentfilmoffice.kent.gov.uk/clients/kentfilmoffice/locations.php Locations in Kent to shoot

• Why we do recces http://www.videomaker.com/article/8946-11-tips-for-location-scouting

• Getting permissions http://filmlondon.org.uk/get-permission-film

Article: There are a huge number of logistical and technical aspects you should consider while on the recce to ensure nothing affects the filming process:

• Where are the best camera angles? (Photograph them on your phones)
• Are there any obstructions that are going to ruin my shots? (ugly buildings in the distance, awkwardly placed signs etc)
• How is the light changing throughout the day? Will additional lighting be required?
• Background noise – is it near a road, playground or airport?
• Acoustic issues such as wind or echo?
• What power is available on site? Will you need to bring a generator? If so, where can it be situated without disrupting locals or the shoot?
• Transporting equipment and crew (is there access by road?)
• Catering – a fed crew is a happy crew, and a happy crew is a productive crew. How many people will there be on the location? What catering facilities will be needed? Will you need to bring them with you?
• Communication – is there mobile phone signal?
• In case of emergency, how remote are you from aid?
• What insurance or permissions do you need to obtain before filming?

This just gives you an idea of the sorts of things you have to be thinking about when you go to a location. Even the smallest details could affect the shoot. You want to make sure you have all potential problems addressed and ironed out before you begin filming so you get the most out of your time on location with the crew and equipment – rather than having both sitting around idly while you try to sort out an unforeseen issue.

For our next (non-assessed) project we must use a remote location as a basis for a short 1-3 minutes film; therefore a recce was essential if we were to make good use of our narrow shooting window later this week. While trudging around the Brockenhurst area of the beautiful New Forest we were carefully surveying the area and whether or not it would be suitable to film in. Making sure we new where we were on the map at all times, how far we had come from the station (is it feasible to transport the kit this far?) and taking lots of reference photos to take back to the group along the way.

If you have a iPhone or Android smartphone try making full use of the geotagging feature for photographs. It can really help you out. Have your phone store the locations of exactly where photos have been taken and you will have an instant illustrated route of your recce, which you can analyse further when you leave the location. It can make finding the location of that ‘perfect shot’ a walk in the park on the day (that was almost a pun).

One thing we noticed whilst on the recce was the condition of the ground. Due to the somewhat damp whether over the last week, a lot of the ground in the open spaces was very waterlogged and boggy. This would prove trouble for filming with a camera and tripod and could become dangerous when transporting heavy gear around the location. This highlights beautifully the importance of a recce: we would never have known about the ground conditions by looking at photographs or talking to people who had been there before. This is information we could only have obtained by visiting the site itself. Because of this we will have to monitor the weather over the next few days to see if more rain is on the way or mother nature gives the ground time to dry up. If the former is true, we will have to refer to a contingency plan in order to ensure the day is not wasted. (M)

Assignment:
Complete a Recce template by visiting the site. Fill in the boxes and take photos - this MUST be done on site. Add in Google Maps images and travel info from https://tfl.gov.uk/   Research to find out who you need to contact to get permission http://filmlondon.org.uk/get-permission-film or http://kentfilmoffice.co.uk/student-filming-application/

9.location recce template from ctkmedia

Locations from ctkmedia