I'm in the middle of writing a script for a low-budget film. I'm on page 39 to be exact. But as I'm writing I'm becoming aware of the issues and difficulties around film locations. I realize that not only am I trying to write an engaging story, but I'm also having to be mindful of where I'm placing these scenes. Am I setting a scene in a location that might not be available for shooting? And if I am, do I have an out? Can I change the location of the scene at the last minute and still have the scene play effectively?
I've got one scene where the main character meets with a lawyer. I was going to have it in an office setting, but as I thought about it I realized that an element of character could be shown if the lawyer was out at a picnic table eating lunch. I could show that he's not a high dollar lawyer; that he eats a bag lunch. Maybe he's a little more down to earth. And in the end, shooting at a picnic table in a public park is a whole lot easier than finding an indoor location. So I began to think about other scenes that I've already written and looking at them through this lens. Can a scene that I originally had in a court house lobby be shot outside while the characters are walking up to the courthouse? Can a scene in a mansion be outside the mansion while the character is gardening? Can a scene in a restaurant be outside at a beer garden instead? I know I can't do this with every scene. Viewers might begin to wonder why there are no scenes inside any buildings. And I don't want concerns over locations to take priority as I'm working on the first draft. But I think once I'm done with this draft, I'll go back and see if there are any other places where I could change the scene to a more accessible location without comprising the story.
3 Comments
Joe
6/29/2024 06:33:45 pm
Hi Darrin,
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Darrin
6/29/2024 08:04:19 pm
Hi Joe,
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Joe
6/29/2024 11:11:31 pm
Teaching at MIAD sounds like a pretty good gig. Leave a Reply. |
AuthorDarrin Lile is a 3D Artist, Blender Instructor, and all-around tech and science nerd. He can be bribed with Peanut M&Ms. Archives
June 2024
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