Critchfield Hall is located approximately 10 miles northwest of the school’s main home in University Center A:
When providing directions to cast and crew, you can use the PDF above or share this link to Google Maps.
Pro tip: When heading towards Critchfield Hall, the final traffic light you hit (right after you pass the I-10 freeway) requires a complete stop on red. There’s a good chance you’ll get a ticket if you roll through on a red.
Meet with the Head of Production to discuss the project you are producing.
Complete a Location Agreement and Shooting Plan with the Head of Production for the space(s) at Critchfield you intend to use.
Organize the Tech Scout of the location with the ATL. Establish where the restrooms, parking, staging, base camp and set will be. Complete a Location Hazard Assessment Checklist. If any location hazards, then also complete a Hazard Notification Report.
Prepare all scheduling information and other materials required for Directors Prep.
Attend Directors Prep and takes notes for the Director.
Assist the Director with any and all logistical needs to prepare for principal photography.
Run the Production Meeting by reading the action of the script. Answer crew members’ questions. Have each crew member sign a Crew Deal Memo.
Prepare all the paperwork needed on set.
Check the weather periodically to monitor adverse conditions. Have a back-up plan.
Pick up Craft Services by the night before production.
Have a Greenlight Meeting with the Head of Production, during which you will:
Show all completed Location Documents.
Follow through on any questions that were brought up in the previous Producer Meeting.
Following the D1 Handoff Chart, pick up the pertinent items from the Equipment Room.
Double check every logistical piece of information and make sure nothing has been forgotten.
Create the Call Sheet, including a map, and email it no later than 12hrs before call time.
On Set
START OF DAY
Arrive at set FIRST, 30 minutes to an hour early.
Establish Base Camp.
Set up Zone B Checkpoint with Walkies, Production iPad, and forehead thermometer where crew will check in when they arrive.
Set up Craft Service table where crew will collect their snacks during check in.
When trucks arrive, verify they are parking in the correct place.
As crew members arrive, take their forehead temperature, check them in using the Production iPad, and hand them a walkie.
Give the Script Supe laptop to the Script Supe.
At call time, have a Safety Meeting with the entire crew. Complete the Safety Meeting Report.
THROUGHOUT THE DAY
Run through the 1st AD Set Procedure: Block, New Deal, Build, Rehearse, Shoot…
Manage the time on the set by keeping up with the Setup Schedule. Adjust schedule as needed.
Look ahead to next setups and make sure departments are prepared and working ahead.
Verify with volunteer or caterer that lunch will be brought to set in time to set it up prior to releasing for lunch.
MEALS
Six hours after Call Time, release the cast & crew for lunch.
Make periodic announcements on time remaining on lunch.
Make sure lunch does not exceed one hour.
END OF DAY
At Camera Wrap, make sure crew sanitizes equipment while wrapping safely and efficiently. Make sure to have Company Wrap on time.
Complete the Performers Time Report, and have the actors sign it before they are dismissed for the day.
Make sure 2nd AC, Script Supe, and Sound Mixer meet at end of day to verify their reports. Have them give you all reports.
Collect the camera card from the 2nd AC, and the sound card from the Sound Mixer.
Have crew members sign out using the iPad. Once all crew has clocked out and returned their walkies, plug in the iPad and walkies for the next day’s production. Monday Producers can hold on to the walkies and return them to the ER by 10am on Tuesday; and hold on to the iPad to return to the Head of Production by 10am Tuesday.
Once the Script Supe is finished with the SS laptop, then pass that laptop to the crew member who is the Producer in pre-pro the following day (i.e. the Friday Producer passes it to the Sunday Producer; the Saturday Producer passes it to the Monday Producer). Sunday and Monday Producers can hold on to the SS laptop to return to the ER by 10am Tuesday.
Clean and secure location. Be the LAST TO LEAVE (except perhaps Art Dept). Leave the location better than when you arrived.
Pass the key to Critchfield to the Producer for the next day’s production. Monday Producers can hold on to the key and return it to the Head of Production by 10am Tuesday.
The purpose of the crew drills is to practice working in each of the crew positions. Don’t get too caught up on trying to make the “perfect” scene. Keep it really simple. BFA3 department heads mentor those in their department, as follows:
1st AD mentors both 2nd ADs
1st AC mentors both 2nd ACs
Key Grip mentors both BBGs
Food will not be provided, so make sure you plan accordingly. You have a 1-hour lunch break, so either bring your own lunch or plan to go out nearby. Just make sure you’re back in time.
Crew drills will take place on the set in Stage A.
Crewing
BFA3 will complete the Crew Drill grid together as a class. There are 8 BFA3 positions for each drill. This will give each of you an opportunity to mentor the BFA2 and get to know them better. This also gives you a chance to get your hands on the gear again to reignite that muscle memory.
BFA2 will work the 3 positions (2D, 2C, BG) in pairs. One of the 2Ds and one of the 2Cs will start off as Actors for the first half of the drill. Then they will swap, and the other 2D & 2C will be the Actors. The BGs will remain working in pairs during the entire drill.
Production
The production will have 2.5 hours to unload the van, block, rehearse, build, shoot, and wrap.
Plan on having 6 total setups. Once you have shot the first 3 setups with the first 2D/2C Actors, swap them with the other 2D/2C Actors. Have the Director modify the blocking, the 2C lay down new marks, and then reshoot the scene with the other 3 setups.
1st New Deal 0:10
Camera on set 0:30
Lighting complete 0:40
Start Shooting 0:45
Swap Actors with other 2D/2C pair 1:10
2nd New Deal 1:20
Camera Wrap 2:00
Company Wrap 2:30
Crew responsibilities
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Director
Before the Drill
You will use a scene (or part of a scene) from your BTH script for this crew drill. The script must meet the following criteria (make up a crew drill version if necessary):
Must be no less than 1 full page, and no more than 1 4/8 pages in length
Must only have 2 characters (no more, no less)
Must have dialog (so the Sound Mixer can practice recording it)
Keep it simple (no stunts, close proximity, weapons, complicated SFX, etc.)
The cast will consist of one of the 2D and 2C pairs, then they’ll swap half way through.
Discuss the shot design with the DP.
During the Drill
At the beginning of the shift, briefly block with the Actors on the set (keep it really simple).
During the New Deal, have the Actors demonstrate the blocking for the crew.
Direct the Actors in the scene.
Once you have shot the first 3 setups with the first 2D/2C Actors, swap them with the other 2D/2C Actors. Modify the blocking with them, then reshoot the scene with the other 3 setups.
Production Designer
Before the Drill
Discuss the production design with the Director (keep it simple).
Acquire props, wardrobe, etc (only if absolutely necessary).
During the Drill
Dress the set, provide props & wardrobe only if necessary.
Director of Photography
Before the Drill
Discuss the shot design with the Director.
Create a simple Setup Schedule with 3 setups for each of the 2D/2C Actor pairs, for a total of 6 setups. For example:
Once you have shot the first 3 setups with the first 2D/2C Actors, swap them with the other 2D/2C Actors. Have the Director modify the blocking, the 2C lay down new marks, and then reshoot the scene with the other 3 setups.
1st Assistant Director
Before the Drill
Get a copy of the Setup Schedule from the DP.
During the Drill
At call time, have a Safety Meeting with the entire crew to communicate an emergency plan, location hazards and any production safety concerns. Complete the Safety Meeting Report.
Get the DR to quickly show the Actors the blocking, while the 2C lays down marks, then call a New Deal.
Run the set, making sure the crew is working safely and efficiently.
Keep track of your time using the Setup Schedule.
Once you have shot the first 3 setups with the first 2D/2C Actors, swap them with the other 2D/2C Actors. Have the Director modify the blocking, the 2C lay down new marks, then call a New Deal
Reshoot the scene with the remaining 3 setups.
2nd Assistant Director
During the Drill
At the beginning of the shift:
Take forehead temperature of each crew member.
Have crew sign in using the iPad timeclock.
Hand out walkies to department heads.
During the shift:
Remain in Green Room with the Actors, except to escort them to/from set at 1st AD’s request.
During a setup, remain outside the stage doors to make sure no one enters during a take.
At the end of the shift:
Complete the Performers Production Time Report. Have the Actors sign it.
Have crew sign out using the iPad timeclock.
Collect walkies and put them back on charger.
All Other BTL
During the Drill
Work with BFA3 mentors in your assigned positions.
No later than noon on the day before the prep, the Producer is responsible for sending a clean copy of the script (with scene numbers) in PDF format to each member of the faculty thesis committee.
On the prep day:
In order to go as paperless as possible, everything except the screenplay will be presented digitally on the classroom monitor. Be sure to download any materials to the desktop computer for presentation.
Hard copies of the screenplay — with title page, scene numbers and lined script — will be handed out at the beginning of prep to each member of the faculty thesis committee.
If there are any VFX shots or if a camera other than the primary assigned thesis
camera is planned to be employed in the production then the hard copy signed
VFX approval forms must be shown to the Thesis supervisor.
The presentation will include:
The Producer’s visual presentation file
The Director’s visual presentation file
The Director of Photography’s visual presentation file
The Production Designers’ visual presentation file
The screenplay with scene numbers and the beat-by-beat breakdown
The UPM breakdown script
The production board (header board and a strip for each scene in shooting order)
The shooting schedule
In addition to the above requirements the Cinematography, Editing and
Production Design faculty may require additional items in either electronic or hard
copy form. Please see those faculty members for additional requirements.
Be sure that all above requirements are ready and provided to the appropriate
faculty members at the time the prep is scheduled to begin.
Director’s Prep will occur in four separate sections and in the following order:
Presentation of the movie.
Faculty Q&A.
Presentation and discussion of storyboards.
Creation of an action plan.
The producer, director, production designer, cinematographer and 1st A.D. must
attend the prep. (The production team may determine that the attendance of
other crewmembers is necessary, and may invite them to prep as needed.)
Section I — Presentation of the Movie
The purpose of this section is to give the thesis film’s producer, director,
production designer and cinematographer an opportunity to present the film to
the faculty – uninterrupted. We will start the prep with the director addressing
any notes addressed or not addressed after concept prep. After that, both
cinematographer and production designer will do their presentations.
Let images speak for themselves in both cases.
Address the Cassavetes experience, and also if any information regarding the
crew drills exercises: please share with us any findings, what you learned.
Producer will do the final presentation, showing the temp strip board and a brief
resume of it.
Students will make presentations to the faculty in the following order:
1. The Producer will introduce the title of the film, and the crew positions held by every student in Director’s Prep. This should be done quickly, and without formality; it’s intended to give the faculty an orientation to who is doing what.
2. The Directorwill present a outcomes of concept prep, and what has changed/has been achieved. Then a quick visual pitch of the story to the faculty. The Pitch should be in story order and be supported by visual slide, which illustrate the essence of the directors vision for each moment of the pitch. The director will also present their casting choices, with audition videos ideally, exercise and only as last resource with stills.
Remember that these are images that you have found and or created for visually illustrating your pitch of the story. The images are meant be representational of “key story beats” to illustrate and evoke the feeling of the moment in your story.
The most important thing is that you TELL the story as a storytelling, using the images as background support for your PITCH.
3. The Production Designer will continue to present a brief visual illustration of the major design aspects as it relates to the world and characters of the film.
The presentation will begin with the world in which the story takes place. The presentation should include:
Photos representing the locale of the story.
Photos of every actual location the action will occur.
Photos of any key elements (such as picture vehicles).
After locations, the Production Designer will present photos and/or actual examples of key props/set dressings and the wardrobe for the main characters, with a focus on how the wardrobe helps illustrate the history, emotional construction and objectives of each main character. The presentation should include:
Photos or illustrations of the characters wardrobe/hair/makeup.
Any particularly relevant props and/or set dressing.
The Production Designer’s presentation should emphasize how the design of the world will illustrate – or serve – the overall expression of the story and its main characters (who they are and what they want).
4. The Cinematographer will present a three-to-four minute illustration of the “Cinematographic Plan” of the film. To show found and/or created photos and videos (including the Cassavetes workshop scene), the Cinematographer will demonstrate how color, light, shadow and visual language will illustrate the story. The presentation should include:
Visual References: Present an illustration of the visual plan for the film. You may also include movie clips (website link), paintings, stills, artwork, AC articles, anything that visually echoes the story’s look/visual mood. These references should reflect lighting ideas, contrast ratios, color, camera movement and shot design.
Mood: In writing, identify the emotional intent of the film and be prepared to explain the visual elements you plan on incorporating in your cinematography that support the emotional intent of the director. Describe any changes in mood and how you plan to support, enhance, underscore visually.
Format: Please describe your format choice/s. Please delineate your reasons behind each format choice. This applies to both framing formats (16×9(spherical), 2.4:1(widescreen) and digital capture formats (4k, 2k, DSLR, RED Lake, Etc.). Note any camera systems utilized other than RED should be a colored storyboard to indicate VFX and be prepared to discuss the story-based reasonings of this additional camera system.
Color Temperature Plan: Describe all the different lighting environments and the scene(s) that are set within that environment. For each of these major environments, write a brief description of how you plan to balance the scene/sequence’s color temperature.
Exposure/Filtration Plan: Outline a general exposure plan for each major lighting environment within you story. Note proposed shooting stops, expected footcandle readings at middle grey, expected ISO setting and contrast ratios you are aiming for associated with each environment. Also indicate any filtration you intend to use and the reasons why.
Specific Production Challenges: Describe any major lighting, rigging, power, location and/or camera challenges that need larger development and be prepared to explain how you propose to overcome these challenges.
5. The Producer will return with a three-minute presentation going through the Production board scene by scene in shooting order with the planned CALL and WRAP times for each shooting day including the plan for the use of any overtime.
As the producer goes through each day they should discuss all pre- production accomplishments and challenges related to each scene, with a plan for how the team will meet each challenge.
The Producer should focus on all concerns that any objective person
would have about the production (e.g., a difficult location, an exotic
animal, a dangerous activity, etc.). The goal is to anticipate the faculty’s
concerns and address them before the Q&A begins.
Section II – Faculty Q&A
Faculty will ask students questions related to the presentation of the film in Section I. Students must be prepared to address in detail every story, script and production concern the faculty may have. The First Assistant Director will take notes during this section, making certain to document every faculty concern and related resolutions. It is important that the 1st A.D. has a complete understanding of any and all topics of discussion (the production team will rely on the 1st AD’s notes to address concerns after Director’s Prep). So the 1st AD should be prepared to stop the Q&A at any time for clarification.
This section will take as long as necessary for the faculty to have a complete
understanding of the story, screenplay and production. (The directing faculty
member will watch time and make certain to end this session with enough time to
accomplish the next section.)
Section III – Presentation and Discussion of Storyboards
The purpose of this section is to give the director an opportunity to present the
film to the faculty – frame-by-frame. Storyboards will be presented as a visual
representation of how the film will play when it’s completed (e.g., the first
storyboard should be the first image in the completed film), and SHOULD NOT
be presented as a representation of coverage.
Directors will present storyboards one scene at a time – uninterrupted – describing the action and dialogue that happens in each frame. After each scene, faculty will ask questions and raise concerns. All other production members should be prepared to participate in the answers to the faculty’s questions. Directors will continue to the next scene only after all of the faculty’s questions/concerns have been addressed.
Any storyboard that depicts a camera angle that is intended to be shot as a
visual effect, or is intended to be shot with a camera that is different from the
primary thesis camera issued, must be either scanned from a yellow page or
paper or have a large yellow banner applied under it in the Prezi.
The First Assistant Director will take notes during this section, making certain to document every faculty concern and related resolutions. It is important that the 1st A.D. has a complete understanding of any and all topics of discussion (the production team will rely on the 1st AD’s notes to address concerns after Director’s Prep). So the 1st AD should be prepared to stop the Q&A at any time for clarification.
Section IV – Creation of an Action Plan
The 1st Assistant Director will review with faculty and students every problem identified during prep. Together, faculty and students will determine who will be responsible for solving each problem before production begins. The 1st AD will create a list of these problems and responsible persons, which will become the “Action Plan.” Before the end of the day, the 1st AD will email the film’s Action Plan to each member of the faculty participating in the Director’s Prep. In the days following Director’s Prep, everyone will work to complete the Action Plan.
Prior to the first day of production, the 1st AD will email the completed Action Plan to the faculty, with a description of the resolution(s) for each problem identified.
If the action plan is not complete and submitted 12 hours before the first shooting
day’s call time then the show will be penalized by the reduction of some or all of
the shows overtime/PU days/special equipment privileges to be determined by
the faculty production supervisor.
This is the opportunity for the directors to share their vision, and for the producers to share their plan with the Thesis Faculty. This whole section should last no more than 15 minutes.
Director will Pitch the current story to Faculty that have read the script. Please be concise and to the point. What is this film about? A 5 minute retelling of the script is not a pitch.
Director will show the BEST take of the top two actors that you are considering for the LEAD Roles of the film. If you are able to, show rehearsals, or something that gives us more insight.
The Director will show images of actual locations, which demonstrate the WORLD of the film.
The Director will Show lighting examples which illustrate the overall MOOD of the film.
The Producer will give a logistics status report and summarize the overall Production Plan. This is an important part of the prep, so please do address problems and solutions.
Discussion
Finally, the team should be prepared to answer any questions related to these items.
We shall start asking any questions about story, and after that we shall move ahead with actors, questions about images, and so forth. Of course sometimes are all intertwined, but after the presentation we will start with questions about story.
Secure each filming location by completing a Location Agreement and Shooting Plan. Make sure the location owner is clear about the nature of the production, and provide them with a Location Pamphlet.
Organize the Tech Scout for each location with at least the ATL. Establish where the restrooms, parking, staging, base camp and set will be. Complete a Location Hazard Assessment Checklist. If any location hazards, then also complete a Hazard Notification Report.
Prepare all scheduling information and other material required for Directors Prep.
Attend Directors prep and takes notes for the Director.
Assist the Director with any and all logistical needs to prepare for principal photography.
Run the Production Meeting by reading the action of the script. Answer crewmembers’ questions.
Prepare and make copies of all the paperwork needed on set.
Check the weather periodically to monitor adverse conditions. Have a back-up plan.
Meet with the 1st AD to discuss the schedule.
Purchase Craft Services by the night before production.
Pre-order lunch and arrange for it to be picked up by a volunteer on the day of production.
Create the Call Sheet, including a map and email no later than 12hrs before call time.
Have a Greenlight Meeting with the Head of Production and pick up camera & sound cards, 2D iPad, and SS iPad.
Upload script into LockItScript for the Script Supervisor. Then download it onto the Script Supe iPad.
Double check every logistical piece of information and make sure nothing has been forgotten.
On Set
Start of day:
Arrive at set 30 minutes to an hour early.
Immediately establish contact with the location owner to make sure everything is still going as planned. Check back with them periodically throughout the day as needed.
Deliver the craft services to the 2nd AD for them to set up the craft service table.
Give the 2nd AD all the paperwork you prepared ahead of time for them to have completed throughout the day.
Throughout the day:
Be another set of eyes at the tap monitor to make sure all is going as planned.
Verify with volunteer that lunch will be brought to set in time for 2nd AD to set it up prior to releasing for lunch.
End of day:
Approve the Daily Production Report and have 2nd AD distribute copies at the end of the day.
Collect all the Daily Production Paperwork, camera cards & sound cards from the 2nd AD.
With 2nd AD, clean and secure location. Be the LAST TO LEAVE (except perhaps Art Dept).
Whenever possible, do a walk-thru with the location owner to verify everything is in order.
Leave the location better than when you arrived.
Post-Production
Turn in iPads to the Head of Production by 10am on Wednesday after production.
Below is the data allocation for each production. If you would like to request additional data (e.g. for slow motion), you must present the Data Allocation Approval form at the Director Prep, and get approval from the Prep faculty. Then submit to the Head of Production for final approval.
