We (GIMP) were out filming a nice little piece for Ford on the Explorer today, we were doing some great driving shots. When shooting driving scenes it is always about safety first, even though you are driving at relatively low speeds (always looks faster on camera) you can still damage the vehicle or worse get injured.
There are so many things to watch out for when filming a driving scene here’s 7 quick ones to consider:
- Where are you driving? (Terrain, Temperature, Climate Conditions, Sun Rise/Set)
- What are the capabilities of the vehicle (Is it 2WD, AWD or 4×4)
- What shots are needed (Close, High-Speed, Wide, Epic Landscape)
- Don’t hit other vehicles or your chase vehicle (Makes people hurt inside)
- Plan, plan, plan and plan more (These situations are prime for a small mistake to result in huge injury)
- Don’t drive near hunters (There angry, there old and they all look like Dick Cheney aiming for you)
Yes, don’t get near hunters, today we were filming some of our principal photography which consists of nice wide shots driving through the mountains and a little off-roading using the 4×4 abilities. While filming there was a small group of local hunters out and about shooting quail or some other small bird. (Isn’t quail illegal to shoot in California?) Well, they saw us driving around on what was apparently their property (there was confusion as we thought we had the rights) and they started shooting towards us. This isn’t the first time, which makes me wonder “Where the hell do I live that we get shot at when filming?” So, to say the least, we got off their land rather quickly and sat on the public road filming them, hoping they would shoot again at us causing Michael (who was filming) to get grazed on the shoulder providing great YouTube video. It’s not that we’re gusty, I guess it is because after filming for some time in these type of situations you become accustom to it and embrace it. The situation, not the bullets hopefully.
All this to say, when filming indie style, like we all do nowadays, it is important to watch your surroundings and be alert as to any crazy, orange-touting, garb wearing, face shooting (Cheney) hicks who think you’re a better target than their most precious illegal to shoot (I think) quail.
Be safe!
