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How does one make locations look good?
For my next project I would like to make the locations and the production design look really good, since I didn’t feel they looked that good in my previous works. I thought maybe I should just spend the money and hire a killer production designer, if I have to, or will that not do any good, since I am forced to rent real locations, which I am not allowed to paint or alter in anyway pretty much?
In that case, what do you do to get locations look good?
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18 Replies
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Ryan, here’s a suggestion: Before you post ANYTHING more, put up links to videos you have actually completed.
Rick Wise
Cinematographer
MFA/BFA Lighting and Camera Instructor Academy of Art University
San Francisco Bay Area
https://www.RickWiseDP.com -
Sure, I can do that, but I did that before on here though, and perhaps no one has seem them? Or where should I post them?
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Right here.
Rick Wise
Cinematographer
MFA/BFA Lighting and Camera Instructor Academy of Art University
San Francisco Bay Area
https://www.RickWiseDP.com -
Sure, here are a few links to some of what I have done so far, and I have a current project being edited and underway:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_dNwMo32D4&t=25s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-o1G_-zRltQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7t5XZSz_oo&t=1s
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I forgot, I should have stated a warning for violent and sexual content.
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[ryan elder] “In that case, what do you do to get locations look good?”
Hire a set designer.
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Okay thanks, but I tried that before, and they said that they cannot make real locations look near as good, cause I have no control. The location owners will not allow me to repaint for example, so the set designer said they wouldn’t be able to do much good if they can’t control the color.
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Before you hire a production designer, hire a DP with lighting gear and experience. A lot of your footage needs better and more consistent lighting technique, and lighting that enhances the mood you’re trying to create. Some of this can be adjusted a bit in post with better color grading, but it’s not a miracle cure.
I know this is hard on a micro budget, but lighting and sound are two things you just can’t afford to skimp on. They’re fundamentals.
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[ryan elder] “Okay thanks, but I tried that before, and they said that they cannot make real locations look near as good, cause I have no control. “
Then they weren’t actually set designers.
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Okay thanks. I got a lot of good sound equipment, but I can’t be behind the camera and operating the boom and the mixer at the same time time of course, so I need someone else to be behind the camera, so I can operate the audio equipment.
I have been trying to find a really good DP but they have been hard to find in my experience. I was told by someone at my film school that I should just hire one from the DGC (Director’s Guild of Canada), and even though they are a lot more money, it’s worth it.
But I looked it up and a DP from the DGC is actually quite a bit of money and it will eat through future budgets for sure. So do you think that it’s the only way to get what you pay for, or are their other organizations to find cheaper DPs willing to do cheaper projects?
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