Yesterday we shot our first scene for two of UMC's new commercials for the Children's Hospital. These are being produced along with four other spots set to air next month. Everything went well, but I forgot how tiring it can be to wrangle kids on a set (even when one is your own) with a minimal crew...especially when you're trying to direct and work the camera. All in all, everything came out well and I got the shots I was looking for, with one small issue.
Once again, as with every shoot, I'm either learning or relearning a valuable lesson. Yesterday's lesson: make sure to have a script supervisor on set...or at least keep a good checklist/shot list. I usually do this, but neglected to because it was a minimal amount of copy, and as a result I forgot to get our main talent (the kind and generous Hallie Graves from UMC's Child Life Specialist Department) to say her tagline for the end of the commercial. Luckily, this was a minimal lighting setup and today is just as hazy outside as it was yesterday. The lighting should be pretty identical, and I can just get her tag on a tight shot without the kids in the background. I'll get it today while I'm in the same area prepping for our shoot in the NICU.
While this is an easy fix, it could just have easily have been a nightmare. So, "Matt's Latest Cautionary Tale" is...make sure you have someone monitoring your script, or at least keep a dedicated checklist where you physically mark off each shot/line as you shoot. I know I won't be forgetting that for a while.
We're off this afternoon to get our tag from yesterday and do some shooting in the NICU.
matt, i know there must be a jillion things to remember and have ready for each shoot.....you are amazingly talented at what you do, and let's just keep that a little secret about you forgetting to get the tag line at the end.....shhh!
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