There is nothing worse than visiting a location before shooting, only to miss the important details. Avoid headaches and make sure you’re prepared for shoot day.
Recce (derived from “recon”) is the art of visiting a setting or place before filming there. Plan your shoot, confirm specifications, and save actual shooting time. I usually don’t need recce in an empty studio. However, some places really need a visit first.
These are the steps I tend to take in pre-production. Sometimes I will need the involvement of others, and this is where I start.
Who Needs To Join You
There are times when I need guidance and approval from other parties, or when I am invited to assist in the research process. If you need confirmation that the outfit will fit, ask the costume designer to join you. If you are recording ASMR video next to a train station, you should invite the audio support staff. Typically, the customer or producer will need to log into the interface and talk to the venue owner.
360 . camera
A week after it’s over, someone will ask how many stores are in the space – and having a 360-degree photo is a lifesaver. It’s quick and easy. Sometimes it works best with a single tripod. I tend to make a video tutorial, then take 360-degree stills around the location. Before using the 360-degree camera, I used the Google Pixel “Photo Sphere”.
Measuring tape
This will be paired with a notebook. Note the ceiling height, the width of the doorways, and the raw square footage. It will make your life a lot easier later on. Want to know if you can blow up the C-rack? Will a piece of equipment fit in an elevator? This is getting easier with LiDAR technology in smartphones, but for now, I know I can trust the physical gauge more.
Video/still camera
I carry a small camera with a super wide lens, plus the approximate lenses that can be used when shooting. This also helps to come up with ideas for the shot from the start. For example, this year I shot in a location with lots of mirrors. I needed to plan the shots in advance so we didn’t set up the lights, the sound, and the cameras – only to realize that the crew was reflecting back in the mirror. Having a camera also allows you to quickly check for flicker at different shutter angles and frame rates.
Phone/Laptop
You’ll want access to weather apps and sunlight location apps. Wi-Fi, Ethernet, and 5G speed testing is also useful. You can also end up doing full test footage or editing the video during viewing. When planning a shot, I might ask a producer to take a test shot and work together to correct a sloppy sequence right there. This just clears up any questions that may arise in the article.
Light meter
You may not always need a light meter. However, it’s a useful tool to realize that f/4 won’t crop in low light. If you want to go wild, check out Sekonic’s C800 this will also give you the color temperature index.
What to pay attention to
These are things I wrote down in a notebook. It just got easier to compose documents for people who aren’t here. This is by no means an exhaustive list, but hopefully it will give readers the right idea. Of course, feel free to suggest more in the comments.
ability to provide energy
Check if the stores are open and how many stores are available. If you are using a power-hungry light, it would be great to know where the fuse box is.
Insurance and union needs
The venue may need proof of production insurance, and you’ll also want to double-check that production insurance covers what you’re filming. No one is liable if someone is injured on your set, and you can’t always be sure that there will be no damage to the location. Also, double check that local unions won’t need to sign off on shootings in their neighborhood.
license
Believe it or not, locations may also have copyright protections. Not just the Eiffel Tower. For example, you cannot capture artwork in the background. You won’t have to worry about tarnishing a painting in your home and simply take it down or replace it.
Other
- Steps and obstacles for rolling equipment.
- If the floor is flat and smooth.
- Window placement and ambient light.
- Toilet location.
- parking is available.
- Nearest hospital location (usually for larger suites).
I hope this article helps readers upgrade their location scouting game. Of course, feel free to suggest your own process in the comments, especially when certain shots require additional pre-planning.
