Directors–Include Publicity Shots in Your Shot List.
By Rodney Robbins from the Charlotte Creative Community Board:
With all those lights and all that great looking talent, you have the perfect chance to shoot stunning, attention grabbing publicity stills. Instead of thinking of these shots as add-ons that slow down your already Super Tight production schedule, I say schedule them in and SAVE time! Do your publicity shots after the last take, before you strike the lights, that way it takes 2 minutes to get a great shot in stead of 20. Here are some shots to consider adding to your Shot List.
Close-up of lead crying or laughing
Two shot of leads arguing or being VERY expressive
Director giving notes to talent on set
Medium shot of actors pointing at lines
Actors playing with (er…um…I mean Rehearsing with) props
DP and producer with camera
Gaffer and DP or director setting lights
Writer and director framing a shot
Talent and director pigging out at craft services
People usually find these “candid,” behind the scenes shots much more interesting than a wide shot of the entire cast and crew. May I also suggest that you go ahead and feature individuals in your shots, make them STARS, but for different media outlets. Let the talent be the stars of main stream newspapers–they love that stuff. PAs can be stars in their college newspaper. Producers can be stars in business journals and newsletters. Directors and photographers can be stars for weekly newspapers and journals. I hope this helps.
Best wishes,
Rodney Robbins
