Want to know what it's like on a film set for the first time? Keira recounts her first day on set!
As a beginner in the world of film and photography, I knew my first shoot day would be a memorable, challenging and exciting experience. From prepping the equipment to packing down the set at the end of the day, every step was crucial to ensuring the shoot went smoothly. Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at how I navigated the first shoot of my career with the Main Media Team.
A successful shoot starts long before the cameras roll. The first task to tackle was prepping the kit. Going through each bag and ensuring everything we needed was there as well as charging batteries fully just in case. Clearing any cards, cleaning camera lenses and sourcing any other miscellaneous equipment. With everything in place, the equipment was carefully packed into the car ready for the long journey to Rochdale.
While the journey itself was smooth, we were mindful of any traffic delays and made sure to leave early enough to account for any unforeseen delays. Once arrived at the hotel I had booked two weeks prior, we unloaded the equipment in our rooms and had an early night!
We woke up early for the long day of shooting ahead of us. I reviewed the call sheet I had also made to refer to throughout the day, ensuring a smooth order of the day. We began rigging the set, setting up lighting and cameras, and shuffling around objects to achieve the shot we wanted. As we set up each shot, we all adjusted according to lighting and tight spacing.
The call sheet helped us stay on track and organised during a fast-paced day. Shoot days have many moving parts, but using the call sheet, we were all able to tick off scenes as they went by.
As the day wound down, it was time to begin packing down. Packing down is almost as important as setting up, I made sure to handle all equipment properly to avoid any damage. Double-checking every space we had filmed in for any rouge bits and bobs that may have been overlooked.
Once everything had been packed away, the team and I began our journey home, reflecting on my day, what went well and what needed improvement. The day had been an intense mix of creativity, technical challenges, and teamwork. It was a great learning experience. Knowing now that every shoot from here on out will get smoother and more efficient.
My first shoot reminded me that preparation, teamwork, and adaptability are essential on set. By staying organised and sticking to schedule, we were able to pull off a successful day.
But the work doesn’t stop after the shoot is finished. Once I returned to the office, I had to dive into the post-production process. This involved ingesting the rushes, preparing the project for editing, and organising the footage. I also began the sync pull for the B-roll and worked on the transcript of the interview for easy but essential reference during the edit. It’s a crucial part of the workflow that sets the stage for the final product. The Main Media dream team and I dedicated ourselves fully to bringing this project to life, offering support to each other every step of the way!
