Running Behind on Set: Don't Dilly Dally

Ah, the glamorous life of filmmaking. Early call times, long shoot days, and everything magically falling into place—right? Wrong. Anyone who’s ever stepped foot on a film set knows that staying on schedule can feel as likely as winning an Oscar with your first short film (sure, it happens, but not to you).

In our recent podcast episode (recorded fashionably late, of course), we dove into the chaos of running behind on set and shared our not-so-secret secrets to saving time on film sets. Spoiler: it’s less about magic and more about making peace with Murphy’s Law.

The Problem: Running Behind Happens to Everyone

Picture this: you’ve got a 40-page script, half of it set in a single location, and only one day to shoot it. Smart? No. Manageable? Also no. But we’ve been there, sweating through 20-hour days, rewriting shot lists on the fly, and begging for ideas from the crew while silently questioning all our life choices.

The Fix: Practical Ways to Save Time on Film Sets

1. Pre-Production is Everything

   Time saved on set starts long before “action.” Nail down your script, rehearse, and create a detailed shot list. Sure, it might still go sideways (hello, mirrored hotel room fiasco), but being prepared lets you adapt faster.

2. Over-Communicate with Your Crew

   Miscommunication is a schedule killer. Hold pre-shoot meetings, align on goals, and keep an open dialogue on set. If something isn’t working, huddle up and problem-solve together. Ego-free collaboration is your best friend.

3. Work Smart, Not Hard

   Shooting 8-10 pages a day is ambitious enough. Trying to shoot 20? That’s an invitation to chaos. Use multiple cameras when possible, keep extras organized, and make adjustments to your shot list as needed—quickly.

4. Be Ready to Improvise

   Whether it’s rewriting scripts on the fly or using your gaffer as a camera operator, flexibility is key. Bonus points if you can laugh about it later (we certainly do).

   
   

Lessons from the Pros (and Us)

Even big productions stumble. Remember the infamous Island of Dr. Moreau? A director went AWOL and snuck back disguised as a dog-man. Lesson learned: no one is immune to time management disasters.

On indie sets, the stakes are high, but the solutions often boil down to teamwork and adaptability. Whether it’s reorganizing a shoot day to accommodate a baby’s birth or salvaging a mirrored room debacle, the ability to roll with the punches can mean the difference between wrapping on time or pulling an all-nighter.

Final Takeaway

Saving time on film sets isn’t about being perfect; it’s about planning well, communicating better, and staying open to creative solutions. And if all else fails, just remember: you’re not the first to struggle, and you certainly won’t be the last.

For more behind-the-scenes chaos and survival tips, check out our latest podcast episode. And if you’ve got your own time-saving hacks (or horror stories), drop them in the comments below!

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