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The Light Before the Dawn

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"It's the last week of pre-production, folks. Bring your pajamas."

One of the best line producers in New York City prepares her troops for battle with this cry on the last day off before principal photography. Sad is the person who does not heed her call.

I had a production manager who slept in the production office once, albeit against my protestations. I always say that you need to have a little perspective that even those few hours away from the production office gives. I have fallen asleep in the production office, but not often.

I always need clean clothes and good shower. I think it is important for moral that the producer not seemed more stressed than necessary. PAs may wander in wearing the same short pants and t-shirt, but it unsettles people if the producer looks like Tom Hanks in "Castaway."

Of course, as one of those people with permanent dark rings under my eyes, sometimes its hard to look spiffy.

Tech scouts are one of the final stages of production. These scouts should be run by the AD, and they are the first good indication of what your AD is going to be like on set. The AD should set the schedule for the scout, in conjunction with the location manager and, if there is one, the transportation captain. He must start instilling discipline in the troops, making sure that a 9AM leave time is really a 9AM leave, not getting coffee at 9AM and leaving at 9:20.

The tech scout should consist of at least the following people: Director, First AD, Production Designer, Location Manager, Gaffer, Key Grip, and Director's Assistant. As producer, I always try to go on these, or at least hook up at one point in the day. Depending on the shoot, others who may be along are Art Director, Sound Mixer,

The purpose of these tech scouts is so that every department head is aware of the parameters of each location. The gaffer, and maybe his best boy, should be looking into tie-in possibilities and electrical concerns, while the key grip, and his best boy if needed, look over building, requirements that may mean last minute changes to the expendable and equipment list. Sound and logistical considerations should be brought up here: is that construction across the street going to be completed by the time we shoot, and if not, what are the hours they work and how loud are they. Locations should be in the final stages of securing parking. The AD watches for everything, a keen trained eye searching for any possible problems.

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