movie shoot in empty dark high school

[Jay Cowley]

I've really into film making for couple of years now, and have always been doing projects here and there, some by myself, and others with a few friends.

 

Now i've come across a film festival going on in my school board, and i've gathered up a crew to make a music video as professional as possible.

 

MY CREW:

-7 Actors

-Director of Photography

-Director

-2 Producers

 

I've choose music video so there would be no sound in this project, because this adds an entire new dimension to the filming process, and makes it much more difficult to keep professional.

 

I have written a script for this music video (Hotel California) that is almost entirely set in an empty high school at night. I did this because i know I can make my images look so much better when they can be entirely artificial light controlled. I have a band that will be playing on the gym stage, each member lit up with blue spotlights.

 

EQUIPMENT

-I have been able to find myself 3 miniDV camera (consumer) plus a fourth lower grade camera for behind the scenes shots.

-I have access to most objects in an entire school, and therefore using overhead projector carts on hard floors, as camera dollies.

-School has 15-feet scafolding on wheels.

-Three fog machines for cool look behind band on stage

-Drama Department theatre lights and portable stands

-Set of 500W x 2 constuction lights

 

 

WHAT I"M SHOOTING

-Some of my video will just be cool shots of the band playing Hotel California. They are supposed to be a 'ghost' band, so each member needs to be a bright blue colour. I will be shooting the band both in the library and on the gym stage.

 

-I also am shooting a more romantic scene in the middle of the gym. A fancy table with flowers, wine glasses...etc and a couple on a date, with the rest of the gym dark. I would like to have them lit up really well, not sure how to do this yet.

 

-Shots of someone walking through empty dark hallways. This will be probably be a camera following character on dolly, behind and in front. I'm going to need some kind of 'moonlight' on this character, plus i want to just be able to make out the lockers in the hallway.

 

 

 

 

So this is it. I have an entire school at use for an entire night, and a crew of about 10 people, with 3 camera. I have to make something professional, but I'm already panicking about Wednesday and how so many things could go wrong.

 

I would just love some suggestions/what-not-to-dos/lighitng advice.... to make the best final product i can with what i have. thanks

[Tim J Durham]

Moonlight in a high school hallway? That goes without saying.

[Ron_mc_Don]

The two most important words in film: test shoot.