Film making

Are you shooting your very first film? Well, you already know that there are details upon details that you will have to think about. But there are options you also have to think about. For example, where will you shoot? This is an important thing that you have to think about. There are many locations on earth, and you have to pick the right one.

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.

Some places will require a little something extra in order to shoot, though. For example, public parks require a shooting permit before the city in which you live will let you shoot there. These aren't usually hard to get, but it may cost a few bucks at city hall.

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 weather you intend to use explosives or the like, or whether you will need to shut down roads and such.

If you want to shoot in a local restaurant or diner, that's a really great idea. These kinds of businesses are often very accommodating as they see a potential benefit from the shoot in terms of a little bit of free publicity. Plus they will often give you free access to anything you need to make the movie a reality.

But don't ever ever ever forget to treat the restaurant or bar-owner with respect in return. They are going out of their way to let your crew use their business. Don't be a snob.

Places you may be able to utilize after-hours are a library or university. These are government institutions, but they are not in use, and as long as you get the appropriate paperwork, they will let you use their space relatively cheaply.

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.