ASK & DISCUSS INDEX

7 years, 3 months ago - Paddy Robinson-Griffin

Look at controlling the light if you need continuity. Restaurant spaces can be noisy (for instance knives, forks etc) and forget using the loo/doing food prep/etc at the same time.

May be prudent to agree with the owners not to dress the tables except those you need in shot, and for them to allow an extra 30'-1h before opening to kick you out and for them to prep tables.

Otherwise, fill your boots.

7 years, 3 months ago - Stephen Mickelsen

Determine if, and how, to turn off the numerous coolers and refrigerators that are often present in a restaurant. They can create quite a sound problem. But be sure to have permission to do so, you don't want to ruin any food.

7 years, 3 months ago - Jackie Sheppard

Make sure you have a proper location agreement with the restaurant, which sets out clearly timings for the day/fee payable etc and makes note of any special things you may need to do (ie who is going to clean up after you?!). Get that agreed and signed up front. Hope it goes well.

7 years, 3 months ago - Yen Rickeard

Paperwork;- Make sure the contract gives you rights to use the pictures in all media an worldwide.
pre plan;- Do you need to shoot cooking in the kitchen? Can you arrange for the shots not to show too much of the actual cooking (unless necessary for plot?) so that you don't cause extra work clearing up.(not to mention annoying the nice owners!)
scene changes;- moving lights etc takes precious time. make sure you can do all the scenes in each location of restaurant, preferably with the same lighting, one after the other. . (You already know this, just do it better!)
Silent on set: most of thenoisy equipment can be turned off for just a minute or two at a time, ie while you are shooting. If it can't remember to get an 'ambient noise' recording to help you layer the sound to suitable levels.
Finish on time;- with a completely clean set. (OK its rarely possible, but keep it in mind because then you may be allowed back for another shoot.) Good luck!

7 years, 3 months ago - Lubos Jurik

Definitely I would make sure you can turn of the fridges and any electrical equipment behind the bar. It will be a problem for Sound!! Unless you have great post production sound person and lot of money it will be a problem!

Or make sure to be far away from the fridges. Also turning of the speakers is a big one! Even if they are not playing they will make noise!

Good Luck!

7 years, 3 months ago - Hamish Nichols

I agree with all the above and would add that make sure the extras mime in silence while you are recording the main actors speaking, then record the hubbub of the extras afterwards. Have fun :)

7 years, 2 months ago - Charles Normsaskul

Hey guys, sorry for the late response to all the great advice. I was actually able to read and take on board all the above but because we had some last minute issues with casting and general last minute humbug I wasn't able to properly thank everyone. So here I am doing so now!
Very glad to tell you all that the film was shot, and is now in post-production. Certainly, the biggest challenge for us was the sound - not from the fridges or anything attributing to the restaurant funnily - but from the construction going on outside. it just so happened that builders next door decided to take down some scaffolding just as we were half-way through our shoot. So that caused us to be on the back foot throughout the entire shoot...But these things happen I suppose and the lesson to be learnt here I suppose is to inspect any outside elements that could disrupt the shoot as well the interior.

It's possible that we'll come across some production errors during the edit, but for the most part, I think we did okay and managed to minimise the above concerns, so thanks again everyone :)

Goodluck with all your shoots!