Monday, February 18, 2013

When is a Scout not a Scout?


When the Account Exec and the Client are the only two there!

A recce, pre-pro, walk about or scout is the most cost-effective way to insure a successful production.   Everyone know this but for some reason scouts are always rushed through before all the usable information can be gathered or worse yet the wrong people are invited and nothing filters down to the appropriate departments.   
How many production problems could be averted if the crew was better prepared.
Having the right people at a scout starts the problem solving right away.  The sound department would be aware of AC duct noises and could work with house maintenance to resolve the issue.  The gaffer would know that we need a power drop because all the outlets are on the same circuit.  The DP would know that the floor to ceiling windows that look due west might not be the best place to shoot the late afternoon setup.  The director can start thinking about coverage and what gear may or may not work in this environment.  The producer can get an early grasp of equipment and labor cost and can start to solve logistical problems.  Something as simple as walking the route equipment must travel from the load in to the staging area could save lots of time and effort.  If there are no ramps or the elevators are too small for Magliners, you can plan the extra time and labor to move gear and get smaller carts.  

It’s simple, if you want to save time and money, be prepared.  A scout let’s you put together a plan with the right gear and the right labor at the right time.   
To get the most value out of a scout you must be committed to spending the time getting the readings and measurements and talking through the challenges the location presents.   Being pushed through a location before you gathered all the data that you need can be very frustrating so you have to make your case for the savings a well-done scout can produce.   A pleasant demeanor and a fact filled rationale for what your doing goes along way in getting you what you need. 


What’s in my scout kit?

I have a small bag that contains a color temperature meter, a light meter,
A foot-candle meter, a laser range meter, a compass/inclinometer, an Ammeter, an outlet tester, a tape measure, a digital voice recorder, a point and shoot camera,
a small HD camcorder for pre-interviews, pens and a notebook.  I also carry an Iphone and an Ipad with Helios, Panascout, Artimis and PCam apps.


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