As a director:
- Good actors are consistent actors, don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.
- If an actor isn’t consistent make them consistent.
- And if you can’t make them consistent get a closeup, your editor will thank you.
- Always have something to cut away to. Again your editor will thank you.
- Never ignore a shot on your list even if you think you don’t need it.
- Make a shot list!
- Always have a backup plan.
- If a shoot goes to smoothly, you’re going to get fucked somewhere in editing.
- The worse shoots make the best movies.
- Good lighting and good audio will make a bad actor look good.
- Bad lighting and bad audio will ruin your movie no matter how good your actors are.
- Alway be your own DP if you can get away with it.
- Know when and when not to say “Cut”.
As an editor:
- Editing your own work is a breeze. Editing some else’s is a nightmare.
- If first you don’t succeed cut away to something else.
- Make sure your director/DP always gets room tone!
- If you don’t have the shot you are looking for you can always fudge it with a reaction shot and a voice over.
- After Effects is your friend.
As a DP:
- The shots that you film will always be better than some else’s.
- Make sure you have more footage than you need.
- No matter how trivial a cut away shot may come in handy during editing.
- Make sure your director cares about the audio and lighting. If he doesn’t, make him care.
- Alway get a close up of every actor. Your editor will thank you.
- Never use some else’s tripod. If you don’t have one get one.
- Never loan out your gear unless the person borrowing it knows that if it comes back in any other condition, they will pay with their life.
- When you have gear everyone wants to be your friend.