Murphy’s Law states that, when making a film, anything that may go wrong, will. Problems are inevitable during the production process of filming, editing, and screening any content, which can result in setbacks and additional costs. To be successful, a filmmaker must be an excellent problem solver.
Thankfully, there is no shortage of options for dealing with production issues on and off the press. Resources like data analytics platforms for scenario planning and the SWOT analysis technique are available to aid in problem-solving. But first, you must make contingency plans.
The Issues
The production of a film is a multi-step process, each of which has its own set of challenges and solutions. All sorts of things might go wrong, from bad weather to not having enough electricity for the whole crew. Having these problems not derail your production calls for careful preparation. But how can one anticipate every conceivable eventuality?
You can’t. As the adage goes, “Even the best-laid plans are subject to disruption by some force or another,” meaning that no one can truly know what lies ahead. Consider how the appearance of the COVID-19 pandemic altered the method by which films were made.
In this day of low- or no-budget production, no director can be expected to know how to deal with every possible problem that may arise on set. There are just too many potential problems that could arise during filming, forcing the crew to scramble for an answer. The road to a successful film is not without its bumps, but having the correct tools and methods at your disposal can help smooth the way.
The Equipment
A filmmaker, like any other craftsman, can’t do their profession without the proper equipment. Making films today can be a very high-tech endeavour, with many different tools and programmes available to assist you make the most professional product possible. Investing in the proper machinery need not bite too deeply into your production budget. You can be prepared for any emergency with the help of machinery made to withstand stress. The three most crucial pieces of gear for preventing and fixing issues during film production are as follows:
Massive Data Sets
These days, information and its uses may be found virtually anywhere. You might not immediately think of the film industry as a place where data analytics would be useful, but tracking audience behaviour, box office returns and even the weather can all help streamline the production process.
Data scientists and the tools they utilise are being used by major studios to help them make better financial decisions. For example, Legendary Entertainment has used analytics and AI to forecast and enhance the success of films like “Jurassic World.”
Stable Equipment
The next thing to think about is the longevity and adaptability of your tools. There’s always a chance that the weather may turn bad, or that technical issues would force you to film something other than what he had planned. Your gear ought to provide you with a lot of leeway.
Find reliable, water- and weather-proof gear for your team. When going on a trip, it’s a good idea to research local options for renting cameras and other filmmaking gear.
Abundant Space for Storage
The issue of where to keep all of your videos also needs to be addressed. If you’re shooting on film, you can have trouble keeping your material safe in the office or on the road. The problem with digital video, however, is a lack of storage space on the available hard discs.
It requires around a terabyte of disc capacity to store three hours of 4K video. You should bring enough room to accommodate your material and digital belongings. Otherwise, you’ll have to pick and choose what you use.
Your project and team can benefit from having access to the appropriate data analysis tools, production versatility, and storage space. If you want to protect your production from typical disasters, you should look into rental services and even data cloud solutions.
The Approach
Next, approach each day of work with an attitude focused on finding solutions. The following methods can help you better appraise a scenario when a problem emerges if you keep them in mind ahead of time.
Examine Your Production Process for Flaws
Preventing issues is preferable to fixing them after they arise. An analytical method of production, with its tried-and-true methodology for rapidly identifying and fixing problems, makes this much simpler.
One such tactic is the SWOT analysis, which comprises looking at the four aspects of an organisation or a problem (thus the acronym). You can better anticipate potential trouble spots in your manufacturing by doing regular SWOT analyses. This will allow you to head off problems before they even arise.
Consider the Options
RWW is an additional approach for evaluating alternatives to current challenges in manufacturing. RWW relies on the question, “Is it real? Should I bother? Is there a chance of victory? When applied to manufacturing issues, these inquiries yield criteria for evaluating potential solutions.
If an actor is sick and can’t make it on set, for instance, you could have to reschedule or reshoot the sequence. You can make a better choice if you stop to consider whether or not the alteration is genuine, or at least faithful to the film. With this method, you can weigh the benefits and drawbacks of your solution-seeking strategy with greater precision.
Be Open-minded
Finally, try to be adaptable. While easier said than done, being flexible and responsive to changing production needs can put you in a better position to find solutions as they arise. Don’t be too set in your ways until you’ve exhausted all the potential avenues for realising your goal.
Solutions range from rewriting the script to making alterations in post-production. If you’re prepared to go outside the box and adapt to changing circumstances, you’ll be able to meet production needs with more ease and positivity.
On-set Problem-solving
When making a movie, there’s always the chance that something unexpected will go wrong. Everything that can go wrong, will go wrong; this is known as Murphy’s Law. Successful filmmakers, however, are seasoned experts at turning any challenge into an opportunity with the correct approach. The best possible response to practically any tragedy may be led by data-driven software solutions and analytical approaches to challenges on set. Think about employing these resources and methods during production for more effective problem-solving.