Common Pitfalls in Filmmaking & How to Avoid Them (MMM#35)
Greetings all,
Madeline here with entry #35 in The Movie Minute. For this entry, we’ll be focusing on common pitfalls filmmakers encounter and how to avoid them!
Whether you’re a rookie first getting into film or a professional with years of experience, it’s important to know some common mistakes made by filmmakers all the time. So here’s some things to know that will help you make your story powerful:
Know the story before the camera rolls. You can’t always just wing it- having a plan is crucial to getting the best story possible. Of course, things may not always go as planned on shoot day- but nevertheless, being prepared for what interviews and content are to be produced will provide a big benefit!
Balancing b-roll. This one’s a bit of a tricky one, especially for me. As I mentioned in the previous Movie Minute, b-roll is important to supplement the main story, but how much is where it can get tricky. On one hand, you want to make sure you don’t shoot too little b-roll, as it’s still important to have such footage to enhance the story and cover j-cuts from removing filler (as described in the previous blog). On the other hand, shooting too much b-roll can potentially put strain on the editor, in addition to taking up more space on the memory cards and storage drives.
Respect the people and the environment. It’s important to acknowledge the type of environment you’re producing content in, especially if it’s a more formal or corporate setting. Professionalism and soft skills can have a big impact, even when the camera’s not rolling. That means minimizing cell phone use (unless it’s something important), and refraining from conversations about things that are not suitable for the environment. Clients value working with a team that demonstrates care, empathy, and attention to detail!
Don’t rely on “fixing it in post”. As I’ve reiterated many times in previous Movie Minutes, post-production is not intended to be a way to fix mistakes that could have easily been prevented during the production process. Yes, post-production can fix some things (usually things that are relatively minor), but addressing pitfalls during or even before production can help prevent the project from going awry!
Overall, taking the time to plan for and avoid common mistakes can make a significant difference when filming. Some can be easily fixed on the spot, while others take a lot of time and energy (and money!) and thus it’s more effective to prevent these from happening in the first place. While it might sound mundane and time consuming to some, it remains an important step in telling the most powerful story possible.
And that concludes this entry in The Movie Minute. Wishing you all the best, and see y’all in 2 for a special entry on another of our biggest projects! -Madeline
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