Lights, camera, ACTION!

Welcome to the movie business. This is an industry filled with big dreams, bigger ideas, and lots of talented professionals working hard to entertain the world.

Are you preparing to shoot your next television pilot or commercial production? Congratulations. Now it's time to get serious about prep so that nothing gets overlooked.

Film production includes a ton of variables that can sometimes create challenges you didn't even realize. This can include dealing with the weather. After all, Mother Nature might not be willing to cooperate with your shooting schedule.

This article takes a look at how to handle film production during bad weather. Keep reading to get the inside scoop on tips that every producer and filmmaker needs to know.

Research the Area

First of all, spend plenty of time researching the area where you'll be shooting. Study the forecast on weather.com. This will give you a big heads up about what to expect before you even leave the house.

If you're having to travel to the location, become as familiar as possible with the local area, including seasonal weather patterns that could interfere with production. Research the climate, geography, and the average precipitation for the time of year that you'll be there.

Understanding the climate where you'll be spending time will provide tremendous insight into how to best prep so that there's less of a chance that you might be caught off guard by abrupt changes in the weather.

Over prepare

There's no substitute for being prepared. In fact, your best bet is to over prepared.

This is especially true when shooting exteriors for a TV production, event film, or any outdoor production for that matter. After all, you're at the mercy of the weather, so you'd best be ready for clouds to roll in at any moment. You can't stop the rain or snow, so you have to understand how to work around it.

Every film production needs a contingency plan, so take what the defense gives you today and be as creative as possible. Keep in mind that the Jaws shoot was a disaster, and yet it turned into one of the highest-grossing movies in history.

Bring an Assortment of Clothes for the Shoot

It's important to keep in mind that the clothes you bring to the film location will be your first line of defense against rain, snow, and extreme cold temperatures.

The right clothes will make the difference between a good experience onset or a total nightmare.

A good rule of thumb is to pack warmer clothes than you think you might need because you never want to be caught out in the cold without enough layers to keep you nice and warm. That means, always pack long underwear, dress in layers, and invest in quality snow clothes just in case you find yourself stuck outside for an extended period.

Protect Your Cameras

Never forget that your film is dependent on the quality of your film equipment. Especially your cameras. And nothing puts the safety of your cameras at risk more than extreme weather conditions.

It's no secret that technology is fragile. Even just a little moisture, exposure to extreme heat or freezing conditions can cause damage that would render your camera equipment unusable.

That's why protecting your cameras from the elements should be one of the top priorities of your crew. You can use camera covers or plastic bags, or invest in specialized gear that will help shield them from major shifts in temperature or sudden changes in the weather.

The key is to act quickly when a sunny day turns into a downpour. Keep protective gear close at hand.

You'll also need to be prepared for shooting in colder conditions, such as warming the cameras prior to filming each day. This will help them operate as designed and reduce the odds of mechanical failure.

Using pop up tents is an effective way to protect cameras and other equipment. This will provide a place for the members of your production to shelter until the rain moves on. Pay close attention to the forecast for each day so that you can be proactive with pop up tents rather than scrambling to create cover when bad weather comes on suddenly.

Communication is Key

When you're filming during rain or snow, good communication between you and your crew will make the difference between success or failure. Never assume that anyone understands what you're thinking unless you express it clearly and thoroughly. And remember that nasty weather makes everyone's job harder.

Making a film is stressful for everyone, but showing up prepared, keeping your cool under pressure, and going the extra mile to communite with everyone on your crew will help create a pleasant and efficient work environment.

Create COVID-19 Protocol for Your Crew

It's never been more important to stay safe and healthy. COVID-19 has obviously changed the way productions have to operate. You'll need to practice social distancing and make sure the set and equipment remain properly sanitized at all times.

Reschedule

A film production is a complicated operation with lots of moving parts. That's why you have to plan, try to prepare for every eventuality, and keep a tight schedule. And yet you also need to be willing to reschedule when complications arise that don't offer a workaround.

This is not always feasible or in the budget but could be considered. Changing dates to accommodate for better weather should be your last option.

Rescheduling can help resolve issues, prevent small inconveniences from becoming bigger problems, and help you avoid things like unseasonal weather that would disrupt filming. The pros know to pad the schedule as much as possible. In fact, you'd be wise to maintain a secondary schedule that allows you to keep your crew working regardless of what it's doing outside.

Here are more tips for managing your production during the pandemic.

A Guide to Film Production When it's Nasty Outside

Shooting a film is a special experience. Fortunately, these tips for how to prepare your production for unpleasant weather will help keep everything on track even when Mother Nature doesn't want to cooperate.

Contact us today if you are looking for experienced and professional professionals that can produce your next film project.

Prep Your Film Production for the Weather