Film Sets

[New Spark Films]

Instead of just costumes and props, you should do an episode on Halloween sets. Yeah you can turn just about anything creepy with the right lighting and sound, but what if you need a mysterious graveyard, or a haunted forest, or a Count's chambers? You've never really covered sets and this would be a great time to do it. I'm not talking about green screening in backgrounds, I mean real movie sets.

[WesScog]

Real movie sets costs more than 50 dollars just in Lumber costs alone.

If you're filming something cheap, find the locations yourself.

Go to a local graveyard and shoot, mess with it in post and it'll look plenty creepy, they shot in a real graveyard for Night of the Living dead, they didn't make a set.

[sidpharcus]

You could find used lumber and thrown away furniture, any wood will do. They sell cheap scraps and odd sizes usually at a lumber place. You will have to spend a little more than $50 but if you want a more, you gotta pay more.

[New Spark Films]

Real movie sets costs more than 50 dollars just in Lumber costs alone.

If you're filming something cheap, find the locations yourself.

Go to a local graveyard and shoot, mess with it in post and it'll look plenty creepy, they shot in a real graveyard for Night of the Living dead, they didn't make a set.

Well yeah I have access to a real graveyard that's not used anymore, but obviously not everyone else does. There has to be some cheaper way to do a movie set... I get your point, I'm just tryng to think of other ideas.

[WesScog]

Oh, there is really cheap ways to make sets. It's just about impossible for you to do it for less than 50 dollars.

In film school, Prof showed us a student film, not more than 7 minutes long, used one set, very sparse, made out of cheap materials, cost something like 300 dollars for the whole thing.

Thing with sets, you need a sound stage, you need to design it, build it, and dress it up like the location.

If you can't make your garage look like something, then don't worry about it, try to make it yourself, that's the best idea.

[sandmanfvr]

In the film my friend and I will be making, we will make a cemetery. How? Fake tombstones. Creep Show did that. You can use wood and foam. My friend and co author is going to show me. Maybe I should film it. But don't know when we are going to do that. Got to find a camcorder, then scope the locations, and go from there. Houses etc, can be tough but find ones people will let you use or abandoned ones, legally get permission. How they did Night Of The Living Dead.

[SPARC]

Well yeah I have access to a real graveyard that's not used anymore, but obviously not everyone else does. There has to be some cheaper way to do a movie set... I get your point, I'm just tryng to think of other ideas.


You mean they removed all the bodies? Far as I know every graveyard is used 24/7 by the people buried in it...unitl its time to put up a shopping mall....then somehow everyone agrees that the graveyard can be moved and no one will care. :)

Really people, please have some consideration for graveyards (Wes I know you did not mean any disrespect in your comments). Don't be defacing memorials or tombstones even with temporary stuff. Climbing on or sitting/standing on markers, memorials, etc is disrespectful, and if you damage one you're looking at a major expense to repair. I'm not saying you're going out looking to destroy property but recently in my area some kids did just that and caused over $75K in damages to a Civil War graveyard. They spray painted headstones (paint is difficult to remove from some stones like marble) and overturned markers and other stupid stuff.
Around Halloween this type of vandalism increases. If you're unlucky you'll be the one spotted there doing your innocent shoot and that evening someone else will come in a tear up the place and you'll be blamed.

Sorry if this takes the fun out of it, but I felt first-hand the expense in the recent episode here and how it upset their descendants.

[New Spark Films]

You mean they removed all the bodies? Far as I know every graveyard is used 24/7 by the people buried in it...unitl its time to put up a shopping mall....then somehow everyone agrees that the graveyard can be moved and no one will care. :)

Really people, please have some consideration for graveyards (Wes I know you did not mean any disrespect in your comments). Don't be defacing memorials or tombstones even with temporary stuff. Climbing on or sitting/standing on markers, memorials, etc is disrespectful, and if you damage one you're looking at a major expense to repair. I'm not saying you're going out looking to destroy property but recently in my area some kids did just that and caused over $75K in damages to a Civil War graveyard. They spray painted headstones (paint is difficult to remove from some stones like marble) and overturned markers and other stupid stuff.
Around Halloween this type of vandalism increases. If you're unlucky you'll be the one spotted there doing your innocent shoot and that evening someone else will come in a tear up the place and you'll be blamed.

Sorry if this takes the fun out of it, but I felt first-hand the expense in the recent episode here and how it upset their descendants.

I never said I would be defacing the memorials. What I meant to say is there is a Civil War era (not soldiers) graveyard that I have access to that's probably the size of an average front lawn. I'm not into vandalizing stuff like that, I just think that if I needed to shoot some graveyard scenes, that's where I would do it. Sorry if what I said was dumb and thoughtless. Plus, the graveyard thing was just an idea, I really mean any set that's Halloween themed.

Anyway, I have some ideas on how to build cheap sets, I just think it'd be cool for Erik to show us how he would do it.

[WesScog]

Well filming in a graveyard, you should always definitely be respectful of your surroundings. Don't touch any headstones that you didn't put there and that aren't fake.

Don't walk on anyones grave, and don't make a lot of ruckus and noise, it's disrespectful and can upset family members.

[New Spark Films]

I'm pretty good at making fake tombstones, and the ones at the said graveyard are too worn by age to read anyway. I'm actually really respectful towards that kind of stuff. And afraid of the law.

[Darkmast508]

Hi, I wouldn't mind seeing a few Indy mogul Episodes based on how to make film sets such as Sci-fi sets, graveyards Etc...

[screamingdeathpunchpictures]

Most that stuff you can do with green screen, or do what Ed Wood did and steal it from a major studio's supply closet. No, I feel your pain. I have a really sucky editing program and can't figure out how to use any of the good ones. So I'm stuck green screen-less.

[WesScog]

MOST REAL sets, cost more than 50 dollars in just lumbar costs.

I've seen a set that cost in excess of 300 dollars, it was smaller than my itty bitty bedroom.

I think that filming on natural locations, using locations you have access too, or using lighting and props to make your living room look like the Rebellions Command Center will work for the time being.

I highly suggest the Robert Rodriguez idea, of writing what you have access too, if you've got a guitar case, put it in your movie, it's been conscripted into the Prop Army.

If you want to make a Sci-Fi fantasy, it's going to be tough if its Starship Troopers, they filmed all of that on huge sets, and in the desert, cost millions of dollars.

[ciwi286]

I agree... use what you have and can get easily. Sets cost ALOT and i know the show is about finding cheap ways of doing stuff but all the cheap alternatives really suck... unless the guys did a show with loads of tips how to maximize your scene!

[Weker1]

Poster Board, wood, And Paint., any paint will do, poster board can be used twice(two diffrent colors) and Wood can be reused just use small nails and place them in diffrent places along the wood.Flooring kinda at a loss for what to use, maybe ply wood.
Allso attatch Holes on the corners of the walls at diffrent levels. like how a door is hindged, then get a long pole(Broom stick, pvc pipe, Exs), all so watch Mythbusters to get the hindge idea I'm trying to describe, There Sucurity Glass they use for Bombs is a hindged thing like I am talking about.
And with that your half way there!

[New Spark Films]

I read some book that told you how to do it for cheap, but I forgot the title.

[Weker1]

I read some book that told you how to do it for cheap, but I forgot the title.
GOD YOUR HELPFULL!!!lol, Just messin Spark!:D

[New Spark Films]

Yeah sorry. But I remember it said something about using foam (maybe) and just making sure it's really quiet wherever you build the set.

[Weker1]

Yeah sorry. But I remember it said something about using foam (maybe) and just making sure it's really quiet wherever you build the set.
Yeah I was just givin you shit, And foam would prolly be good in my design for sound controll!
Not to mention if it's out doors!
It might reduce the wabblie ness of the set!

[Weker1]

allso Further Idea, just use poster bord and that sticky tack stuff(it's useully Orange and it is used to hang thing with out useing nails)So you can change the walls in a room of a house, cheep however there is one problem with it, the sticky Orange stuff often leaves behind a stain like the one from the sticky hands you get in quarter MaCHINES.

[capitalistdegrande]

Orange Tack, isnt that a clever name for Roadie Chewing gum!lol

[hawaiiirish]

You know - some of the best 'sets' were really just matte paintings and use of an editor. Look at something like Terragen for some great outside terrain images in 3D. Mix it with a little greenscreen ... and viola! instant set.

But, more than that, shoot a normal scene outside. Then "paint" or clip some images and add to the scene. Need a school house? Find a image at FLICKR (etc) and cut and paste. With a little color grading, you'd be money.

More than anything use establishing shots. You can be inside your neighbor's farmhouse...but, if the scene opens up looking up at a building in NYC, the viewer will think that's where the action is taking place. IMAGINATION is key.

[DirectorfromDK]

Would be so cool to see how to make sets cause i dont know where to start.

[HertzDonut]

Hey, I'm building a set right now, for Halloween puposes. I'm using poultry netting (AKA chicken wire), old pallets (free wood for any project, got mine at Home Depot) , and paper mache to make a cave. Most places don't mind to give you pallets, just ask. You can get paint additives that give stone textures on the cheap, also at Home Depot. You can make just about anything you can imagine out of a simple wood frame, chicken wire, and paper mache. Chicken wire bends and keeps shape very easily. There are lots of paper mache recipes on the internet, basically water, flour and a little salt (like a couple of teapoons) to prevent mold. Mix to the consistancy of a thick glue. You can also use cheap sheets soaked in liquid starch (stay flo starch works well) to coat larger areas, since paper mache can be tedious and require lots of time. Paint and your done. Hope this helps.

[HertzDonut]

A few more ideas about set construction... You can do finer details with paper mache using PVA glue (Elmers All-purpose glue, which can be bought in gallons) and cellose insulation (ground up recycled paper and flame retardant material, wear a dust mask when using this stuff) both are fairly cheap. This could be put into molds or sculpted whatever suits the need of the project. Use small sets and green screening to fill in the gaps for larger projects.

[SPARC]

Would be so cool to see how to make sets cause i dont know where to start.

Read your script then build a list. Look at what scenes are similar and you can adapt one set to be two or more different places.

Start now by looking around your neighborhood and cataloging potential shooting locations, even if you don't have a project in the near future. Jot down these locations along with a photo in a log on your computer, noting any special characteristics or requirements for shooting there like maybe you just need to call a certain person and let them know or its OK to shoot anytime the mood strikes you or maybe that there a a source of AC power that you have permission to use for lights, etc.

Check out second hand shops of the Salvation Army or Goodwill for props, you might even be able to make a deal that you can return it undamaged and get your money back less a small donation. Check with relatives and neighbors for possible props or shooting locations.

[DeadFishProductions]

I once made a pretty fucking cool spaceship set using some great big white boards, white masking tape. Three broken computers and microwave. It cost about £70 and it was really cool. The best thing about it was at the end they crash landed and we got to trash the whole set. (unfortunately I got tonsilitis and wasn't there for that actual event) that was cool though.

[Lord]

I am making a movie that will take place in some catacombs and I need to know how to make cheap, (somewhat) portable, easy, rough hewn stone catacombs. I was thinking like foam board to make a tunnel and then some how making it look like rough stone. I have access to a full workshop (my dad is a carpenter) and I could spend about $100 on the catacombs, maybe you could do a 2 part special on it.:D:fcross::D:fcross::D:fcross:

[Alasdair]

Green screen, seriously! then you can make a mini cavern out of foam and take some pictures and use it as a background for your green screened actors!

[ericslovechild]

You could just carve up some styrofoam and paint it.

[Alasdair]

If you want some ideas on making mini scenery, look up wargaming sites - they love making fancy good looking terrain :)

[Lord]

Green screen, seriously! then you can make a mini cavern out of foam and take some pictures and use it as a background for your green screened actors!

Ahh... very good idea, but the problem with that is I need like, battle scenes with all different angle shots so, I would just be making green catacombs. I would rather paint the catacombs like i need them.

[uhrisuh]

I work for my schools drama department and we had to make a huge cave like structure. We started with a simple wooden base with scrap pieces of wood jutting out all over the place. we then wrapped it in chicken wire. After that we took muslin, or you can use any type of fabric and drapped it ove the chicken wire. We then used a mixture of water and white glue and soaked the fabric. after it dries it is hard and bumpy. We then painted it with greys and browns simulating rocks and such.

[Scott]

I am making a movie that will take place in some catacombs and I need to know how to make cheap, (somewhat) portable, easy, rough hewn stone catacombs. I was thinking like foam board to make a tunnel and then some how making it look like rough stone. I have access to a full workshop (my dad is a carpenter) and I could spend about $100 on the catacombs, maybe you could do a 2 part special on it.:D:fcross::D:fcross::D:fcross:


Are there no caves around where you live?

[Crosius]

It's going to be hard to get much of a cavern built for $100, but I would lean towards the chicken-wire & fabric technique uhrisuh suggested. If you want to save a little cash, you could collect old newspapers for a while & use paper-mache instead of fabric - although the resulting panels would be heavier and your construction phase would be messier and more time-consuming.

When constructing the cavern, I'd suggest making the floor-plan curve, so that you cannot see out the end of the cave with a camera placed at the other end. This lets you get away with a much shorter cave than you'd need if you built a straight "hallway"-shaped cave. You've seen this trick used on many science-fiction sets for ship-board hallways.

If you also build the cave to split in half along a seam at the top, you can open it up to film shots with one of the wall sections as the backdrop.

[Alasdair]

You can use uhrisuh's suggestion, but so you can do it on the cheap just make it at 1/4 scale and use green screen :)

[punkandska66]

you can watch the directors commentary on pirates of the caribbean 1. they talk about how they made the caves.

[uhrisuh]

you could probably do what uhrisuh said, because she's awesome..

[Doctor Webley]

Instead of making a fake cave for $100, use $5 in gas money to drive to a real cave! No limitations and all natural. Ahhh... I can already smell polar bears being saved. (Except for the driving part, but take the good with the bad.)

[Alasdair]

It depends on where you live though. Where I live there really aren't any caves nearby. Lots of rocky cliffs, but not the sort that have caves form in them.

[Leatherfeet]

Request: Collapsible sets and set pieces

Idea: Sets (rooms, floors backdrops) and set pieces (rocks, walls etc) that can be picked up and taken away quite easily. Maybe made of cardboard or wood?

This would help quite a lot of independent film makers like myself that need a wall putting up across the path or something.

[Alasdair]

I think it depends on what your budget is - if you want to build a set of a room on the cheap that's going to be weird like the inside of a wizard's tower or on a spaceship, you should probably make a model, take pictures, and then greenscreen your actors in

If you're going to be building full size sets, you're going to be building out of wood (Cardboard would be much too flimsy), and you'll need some carpentry experience.

http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/2041/sigpr6.gif

[greatscot]

If you want some ideas on making mini scenery, look up wargaming sites - they love making fancy good looking terrain :)

You might also want to check out model railroading sites, especially if you are going the green screen and model route.

[greatscot]

Green screen, seriously! then you can make a mini cavern out of foam and take some pictures and use it as a background for your green screened actors!

It might be possible to find pictures of actual caves and use them. If you can find any that were taken by the US Government, they will be Public Domain and anyone can use them.

The same would be true for rockets and space pictures and videos from NASA for Sci-fi film makers.

[Lord]

Are there no caves around where you live?

Nope :'(

[Lord]

Thanks to all of you, I think I might use uhrisuh's suggestion though.

[DudeThatSkateboardsInHisUnderPants]

what if u get pictures from google of caticombs and green screen it

[Scott]

you could probably do what uhrisuh said, because she's awesome..

Sometimes ;)

[splitnag]

Here is a very good site that's all about scenery http://www.terragenesis.co.uk/ hope this helps.

[djwatermoore]

you could find a cave and pay for gas and transportation to shoot in it for 100 dollars ;-) haha I think the most realistic method is to build a small cave and green screen but it will probably look green screened.

[nooneimportant77]

tin foil, painted. lots of tin foil. and lots of paint

[DrOddbody]

Late to the party, I know, but check out Dungeon Majesty on YouTube - a dungeonmaster plays D&D with four cute chicks, and they do really cool and funny little green screen recreations, always inside a miniature cave.

[blue91]

Hello
can anyone give me any ideas how to make a basic set.
blue91 is our filming production and we are stuck for a set and we carnt use our houses as parents are like they are so plz can you give me some ideas thanks..

[Anonymous_Review]

What do you need to do in the set?

[speekerphone]

yeah, what do you need?

[blue91]

the basics really like a house or some sort of building

[New Spark Films]

There's already a thread on this.

[Scorgefilms]

There's already a thread on this.

Odds are good that he won't bother to search it up, trust me...


the basics really like a house or some sort of building


Maybe the best way to make a set of a building is to actually use a building! Sets are normally ways of fabricating a locale that we might not otherwise be able to get to ourselves.

And unless giant building eating monkeys take away our buildings one by one until the year 2029 they will be around for a long time. So go shoot in some.

If you dont have a building to shoot in(I.E. assuming youre house is too small or you have a bunch of little kids running all over the place) ask one of your well-off freinds if he knows of any place his dad might let you shoot.

For advice on sets in general...just search it up for christ-sakes.

:cool:Peice

[cameraman]

It works well if you find a large where house that you can build your set in. stewie Shows has one that we make everything in. interiors, extiors, space, underground.

And remember, set building is 1% insperation, and 99% persperation. It takes a lot of work, but if you really work on it, it will turn out nicely.

[mrsiefer23]

you can use an empty garage or basement
you should get somewhere with empty space for a green screen and desk for your computer, camera, props, etc

[speekerphone]

i sometimes use my parents office on the weekend

[blue91]

thanks for all the reply gave me great ideas thanks again plz keep them comming !!!

[KMProductions]

The garage idea is good. One thing that I am going to invest in is a really big shed. That way I can keep my greenscreen hung up. Hologen lights, a desk for a computer, and I will also be able to build sets and keep props in there. You can get a decent outdoor shed for under 700 USD. Thats a large amount of money but spent on a very usefull tool.

[felix78]

A garag? the forest? the best places to shoot a movie, or just a decent place.

[cameraman]

A large building will work.

[LauraCroft'scowwithabfg]

can we get an episode on how to make REALY reaistic minatur sets? not like what they did for stop motion,i want an indymogul version of like what the did for resident evil extinction(bad movie dont watch it)!

[puppetpimp]

I went to an aquarium the other day and the whole thing was decked out in cool, carved boulders which were nothing more than styrofoam blocks with some cement on em.

Sounds easy enough but I would love a tutorial on how to do this right!

They look pretty cool, especially for a set.

[BinBinProductions]

I went to an aquarium the other day and the whole thing was decked out in cool, carved boulders which were nothing more than styrofoam blocks with some cement on em.

Sounds easy enough but I would love a tutorial on how to do this right!

They look pretty cool, especially for a set.


sorry to break it to ya but cement is too hard to work with especially for people of all ages

[baron von fogel]

The foam carving technique can get kinda expensive... I'd suggest using plaster and cheesecloth over a wire mesh armature.

[puppetpimp]

thanks for the input,
i found a decent tutorial online if anyone is interested:

http://www.artificialrock.ca

Think Im going to give it a shot!

[moustrapfilms]

The foam carving technique can get kinda expensive... I'd suggest using plaster and cheesecloth over a wire mesh armature.
No offense, but I don't think that styrofoam is more expensive than plaster, cheesecloth, and wire. And it would probably be easier to do it with the styrofoam.

[kennyboy13]

An Idea for Indy Mogul:

Perhaps an episode or two of achieving looks for sets?
eg Set Dressing,requesting locations etc.

Just an Idea. :)

[google550]

That is an interesting idea...

Sets DO create a mood. I like it!

[HunnyBunchFilms]

At our level you simply can't make a set. Wherever you shoot... thats your set. Its easier to find a place that looks a certain way than to make a room from plywood or cardboard. If you need a hospital dress up a room with white walls.

[kpb730]

An Idea for Indy Mogul:

Perhaps an episode or two of achieving looks for sets?
eg Set Dressing,requesting locations etc.

Just an Idea. :)

I think this is a good idea. It does not necessarily mean making a room out of plywood. It could mean what props are good to make a room look scary, or like your grandma's house. And, it would be good to have someone talk about how to go about requesting locations like as professionally as possible. And, we share a name, I think...

[kodiaksix]

My name is Alex and I'm 17 so as you can imagine my $ is pretty low:( anyway i need an octagon shaped cage for seriously cheap I need it for my new short film about an underground bare knuckle fighting group and i need the cage to look gritty ,rusty, bloody and sturdy BUT i need to be able to take it apart and move it around this build is integral to my film and any suggestions or even SOLUTIONS would be extremely appreciated.

-Alex .E.

[_ray_biddle_]

Check freecycle in your area for some old chain link fence. Then find (16) 8foot long 2X4's. You can build it. This way it would be able to be taken apart as needed.

You can dress the section to look as nasty and gnarly as you want them to be.

[aaron32995]

I was going to suggest pvc pipe but thats better.

[BinBinProductions]

what the measurements he wants?

[punkandska66]

what I would do if get some 2 metal pipes and in between them put chain link fence. On both sides of the construction put a hinge. Do this a bunch of times until you have 8 of them. then you can connect each piece together w/ the hinge. And you can also take them apart, and depending how big the cage is, you might be able to fit all 8 pieces in your car.

[punkandska66]

347

click the picture to make it bigger.

OK the black is the pipes. The orange in the chain link fence. on the left side there is a green hook, and on the right there is a green circle. Put a hook on every left, and a circle on every right. That way you can just hook the hooks into the circles and everything gets attached. Some doors have locks that are like this, so you could probably go to home depot and pic up some sets of hooks and circle thingys. Or you can just drill holes in your pipe and use an eye bolt for the circle and they have these curved screws that pretty much would work perfectly.


oops, double post. my bad.

[tommy012345]

make it out of cheap wire stuff - then spray chrome paint and light coats of red in places for the look

[_ray_biddle_]

make it out of cheap wire stuff - then spray chrome paint and light coats of red in places for the look


Are you talking about Chicken Wire? Great idea! The only problem with it is, over time the wire will break and stab the actors. There's smaller chain link fence that would do the job.

[Skycarl]

Lot of old houses being torn down all across the states. Scope out your local area
and see if any places near you are being demolished. Go take a look at them and see if they have a chain link fence on the property. If it's being done by the city, they would probably let you have the fence as they usually don't scrap. Just an idea.

[mccake13]

if u want to get super cheap make a bunch of tightly wound bars of news paper and tape them up. it will take a lot of newspaper and time but if u do it right it should work and i imagine it would have a cool rusty bar effect when painted. (plus it is light and could be taken down easily)

[kennyboy13]

At our level you simply can't make a set. Wherever you shoot... thats your set. Its easier to find a place that looks a certain way than to make a room from plywood or cardboard. If you need a hospital dress up a room with white walls.

True, but I mean turning something you have (eg Grannies House) and cheaply and easily tuning it into something else.

Surely if we were able to do this we would have more choice in possible scenes thus enableing more dialogue, action etc.

But just an idea.

Erik. Justin. Steve. If you can hear/read/smell this: CONSIDER

Taadaa! :learn:

[ilikecookies]

okay, sure. that would be a good episode. i'd watch it

[kennyboy13]

okay, sure. that would be a good episode. i'd watch it

Woop Woop. Already we have an audience!!

[apstinky]

also try shooting at your school (if you go to school) your school staff (unless they hate you) will usually let you shoot there over the weekend. you can get lots of cool shots, in the halls, in the class room, in the basement, and you can also shoot out side. schools are my favorite place to shoot because of this versatility

[apstinky]

heres a little trick you can do, only use one section of fencing. make sure you keep close up, and maybe turn a little, put your audience on the other side of the fence, and the fighters on the side you are shooting form. then if you want to swap sides, just reverse this. probably the most in expensive, and if you make sure to keep the area dark, and filled with spectators, it will probably work. good luck!

[kennyboy13]

Yup. All great suggestions.

I would be awesome to have an episode or two on this. *HINT* *HINT*

[indigorogue]

colleges are also a good place to try, because you can get business shots and ones in lounges and dorms. I'd like to know how to make the settings a little more unique, though..

[indigorogue]

colleges are also good, because you can get casual shots in lounges, and more industrial shots in hallways and classrooms. I'd like to see a way to make sets more unique, though...

[BinBinProductions]

card board and ductape is your friend... sweet. but this would be hard cause there are way to many different places. to do this.

but hey it would be awesome if it was done

[kennyboy13]

I'm so glad everyone agrees.

It would be awsome if there was an episode made of this.

[The Narrator]

Sounds like a swell idea, let's hope it gets put forward!

[xjakknifex]

When I use locations for sets, I always think less is more- minimal things- try and remove odds and ends laying around unless it adds to the set.

Keep: books, dvds, etc
Remove: spray bottles, remote controls, water bottles, etc.

[BinBinProductions]

why do that?

[kennyboy13]

I thinks hes getting at the fact that we already have things in our home that we need and its a question of removing the things that arent relevant to the scene.

Eg. Living Room Scene. Theres a man who hates cats who lives there. Remove the cat.

'Least I thinks thats what hes getting at.

[xjakknifex]

why do that?

I think using a used room (like someone's living room, basement,etc) as a set having a lot of small things hanging around irrelevant to the scene is a distraction- at least for me it is.

Perhaps you have a killing scene in a basement and in the same room there's a pile of clothing ready to be washed- remove it. It's a distraction.

[kennyboy13]

As i thought.

[kennyboy13]

LOOK AT THIS THREAD, INDY MOGUL!

[BinBinProductions]

I think using a used room (like someone's living room, basement,etc) as a set having a lot of small things hanging around irrelevant to the scene is a distraction- at least for me it is.

Perhaps you have a killing scene in a basement and in the same room there's a pile of clothing ready to be washed- remove it. It's a distraction.

Now I understand.

[kennyboy13]

So what do you think guys? An episode on set dressing/requesting?

(You can kinds tell im eager to get Indy Mogul to notice this)

[sonnyfromda02]

I think using a used room (like someone's living room, basement,etc) as a set having a lot of small things hanging around irrelevant to the scene is a distraction- at least for me it is.

Perhaps you have a killing scene in a basement and in the same room there's a pile of clothing ready to be washed- remove it. It's a distraction.
It can also help continuity. I was in a short film once where there were a lot of small items on a table to make the place look, "lived in," but all it did was screw up continuity when we had to shoot the next day.

[_ray_biddle_]

At our level you simply can't make a set. Wherever you shoot... thats your set. Its easier to find a place that looks a certain way than to make a room from plywood or cardboard. If you need a hospital dress up a room with white walls.

I found it easier just use a hospital.

[xjakknifex]

It can also help continuity. I was in a short film once where there were a lot of small items on a table to make the place look, "lived in," but all it did was screw up continuity when we had to shoot the next day.

So true. When I shoot I can only shoot once a week, maybe twice. So projects take forever to complete even as shorts. So, we had the same problem. We have to constantly take pics of certain areas, put "do not move-live set!" signs, etc.

But, I personally like clean sets with minimal props. Maybe that's because I am a real-life neat freak, I dunno.

As for a hospital, it's sort of easy if you are into being an asshole. Going inside a hospital and video taking certain areas works well. Most of the time nobody will question it because they think you are visiting family and video taping it. As for a room, get a motel room and dress it accordingly. It will never look like a hospital room, but with nob udget you can't be picky.

[_ray_biddle_]

So true. When I shoot I can only shoot once a week, maybe twice. So projects take forever to complete even as shorts. So, we had the same problem. We have to constantly take pics of certain areas, put "do not move-live set!" signs, etc.

But, I personally like clean sets with minimal props. Maybe that's because I am a real-life neat freak, I dunno.

As for a hospital, it's sort of easy if you are into being an asshole. Going inside a hospital and video taking certain areas works well. Most of the time nobody will question it because they think you are visiting family and video taping it. As for a room, get a motel room and dress it accordingly. It will never look like a hospital room, but with nob udget you can't be picky.

In my case my wife is a hospital administrator. I beg her and she makes it happen. We even got to use machines. The only thing we weren't allowed to use was a bag of IV solution.

We used the offices s the offices in a police head quarters.

I used a classroom/lecture hall in a hospital before. If you act like you know what you are doing and aren't under 21, hospitals are approachable.

Just only shoot actors and crew.

[xjakknifex]

In my case my wife is a hospital administrator. I beg her and she makes it happen. We even got to use machines. The only thing we weren't allowed to use was a bag of IV solution.

We used the offices s the offices in a police head quarters.

I used a classroom/lecture hall in a hospital before. If you act like you know what you are doing and aren't under 21, hospitals are approachable.

Just only shoot actors and crew.

That's awesome that they let you use the facilities. I am sure most places would if you seemed like a stand-up person. I'll have to remember to inquire if I ever need to shoot there.

[_ray_biddle_]

That's awesome that they let you use the facilities. I am sure most places would if you seemed like a stand-up person. I'll have to remember to inquire if I ever need to shoot there.

You can only be turned down but if you don't ask you'll never know.

[kennyboy13]

if you don't ask you'll never know.

Quite right. I agree.

I forgot to put a poll in this thread. Is there anyway I can instert it now? Or if the administerators can do so for me I would be highly grateful.

;)

[WesScog]

Most of the "Set" requests merged.

[GBS]

What you could do that worked for me, for a horror set, is just ask around and go to thrift stores for scrap wood, windows, chairs, anything. I needed 7 pieces of scrap wood planks, a old wooden chair, a broken window (which I broke myself), 3 knives, and a hat.
How I got the above stuff:
Wood: Asked my dad, he does wood..stuff.
Chair: Bought it at the thrift store for $3.40
Window: Basement
Knives: Kitchen
Hat: Bought this at the thrift store for $2

Easy enough. I made a great home movie.

[ctvfilms]

check out angry video game nerd's newest video. It's about how he got into filmmaking and all of his projects. It's very entertaining. and he explains how he made a graveyard out of his parents garage. It's genius!

[UndergroundLairProductions]

What about this: I saw this idea in practice when watching Irishcult's "Space Training" video, where they built mini-sets out of everyday stuff like computer chips, took pictures and green-screened it into their movies. Seems like a great way to make a good sci-fi set

[cohen]

just use card board like they did in the stopmotion episode

[darao80]

theres not much point in makin a big set cause ur only gonna use it once and green screening is easier and cheaper

[Aspiring-screenwriter-pat]

Set building is something I don't think Indy Mogul has ever done. So far they've only showed ways to avoid building one using a green screen. While green screens can be useful they're never quite as realistic as a an actual 3d environment

Here are a few sets that I'd like to see done for cheap:

Space Ship Interior
The interior of a WWII aircraft (complete with the light for when the paratroopers drop).
Hallways and Corridors of various types
Caves
Egyptian tombs

You guys have that whole building now, so don't tell me there's no space.

[Pure Milk Genius Productions]

for tombs read about these guys (http://www.theraider.net/films/raiders_adaptation/production.php). They did a pretty good job redoing the temple from Raiders of the Lost Ark.

[BinBinProductions]

lol. Ive requested this many times.

[tambrm1016]

Wow, old thread, great subject-

I think that for most of us green screen in the most practical way to go. Just look at what they were able to accomplish on GALACTICAST in their Totonto apartment. I'm working on a sci-fi show right now that I filmed entirely in my dining room. I used miniature sets made out of cardboard and it came out looking pretty cool. I was able to do spacefighter cockpits, command decks, and even a hanger bay all out of the same 14" x 20" piece of cardboard for all the walls and just repainting it and adding or removing panels, doors and screens with double stick tape on the back of them.

If you want to see cheap practical sets go to DETONATION FILMS and check out "Agent 12" I think that's about as cheap as it's going to get, and like Wes said, I immagine it still cost hundreds of dollars

[Aspiring-screenwriter-pat]

You mean they removed all the bodies? Far as I know every graveyard is used 24/7 by the people buried in it...unitl its time to put up a shopping mall....then somehow everyone agrees that the graveyard can be moved and no one will care. :)

Really people, please have some consideration for graveyards (Wes I know you did not mean any disrespect in your comments). Don't be defacing memorials or tombstones even with temporary stuff. Climbing on or sitting/standing on markers, memorials, etc is disrespectful, and if you damage one you're looking at a major expense to repair. I'm not saying you're going out looking to destroy property but recently in my area some kids did just that and caused over $75K in damages to a Civil War graveyard. They spray painted headstones (paint is difficult to remove from some stones like marble) and overturned markers and other stupid stuff.
Around Halloween this type of vandalism increases. If you're unlucky you'll be the one spotted there doing your innocent shoot and that evening someone else will come in a tear up the place and you'll be blamed.

Sorry if this takes the fun out of it, but I felt first-hand the expense in the recent episode here and how it upset their descendants.

Also if any names on the markers are visible you could be sued for violation of privacy. It happened to Peter Jackson when he made dead alive, and that was from only a partial name.

[Aspiring-screenwriter-pat]

If Indy mogul is so adamant about their $50 maximum limit they could break each set down into a series of key components each costing no more then $50.

[Indymoguler]

my friends and i always do this halloween backyard thing every halloween (and trust me, its like THE PLACE to go to in the neighborhood)
and we have like tombstones and skeletons with a fog machine. spent $40 on a mask and my friend jsut got an animatronic reaper that pops from the ground. oh and we also have a fountain of blood! :)

[Aspiring-screenwriter-pat]

Kick ass. I did several haunted houses in my basement. Its a big open rec room, I divided it into sections with landscaping fabric and made various themed rooms, also I had friends pop out.

If there are any haunted houses being made in Philly this year I'll totally be on their crew. Halloween rules.

[Grenadis Productions]

I wish England was as big with halloween

[WSNProductions]

I would spend $300 on a set. That would be really cool, if i knew how to do it.

[smiffy_films93]

Real movie sets costs more than 50 dollars just in Lumber costs alone.

If you're filming something cheap, find the locations yourself.

Go to a local graveyard and shoot, mess with it in post and it'll look plenty creepy, they shot in a real graveyard for Night of the Living dead, they didn't make a set.

ok i can see were your coming from bout the graveyard but some people may get offended if your using their relative on friends graves in the shots for something creepy thats all im going to say and i helped my friend build a halloween set of a graveyeard and altogether it came to about £43 you just have to do searching and stuff you can buy like cheap plastic gravestones from local superstores around halloween we just transformed his backyard its cool:D

[Pacarus Maxilus]

If you want to find good examples of yard haunts and good DIY instructions, go here;

http://halloweenmonsterlist.info/

[BandDfilms]

rock on new spark

[Ringlord]

I have a basicly no place to use as a set sence I love in the country and have little buildings around to film in. So If its possiable I whould love to see indy mongul try to achieve building a small room built cheap that can be built anywhere indoors or out for a small set.

[Punk.Pirate]

Theres not really any way to make a really cheap set unless you have a lot of spare wood or something. Creating sets is just one of those things that most young film makers without a real budget usually just do without.

I'd just suggest filming in your house like most everyone does, or possibly set up a spot to meet your friends/actors at, or since you live in the country maybe just plan the majority of your film to take place outside.

Sorry I couldn't be more helpful.

[Ringlord]

Your bassicly right, but It's just not going to work in my house and I live in the country but not deep in the country to many fences for a medieval film which is what Im intending to make.

[hedgehogboy5]

just don't film the fences

[Alasdair]

make cardboard battlements and tie them onto the fence, bam it's a castle

[DarkForestFilms]

i think they should make a set kind of like the mad scientists lab where frankenstein was created, or Dracula's layer (like the one from Van Helsing) But if they don't make a set, a Frankenstein costume would be cool

[speekerphone]

I found something that...about...indymogul....set...secret....I found something

[bingebuddy]

I'm not sure if this has been covered or not as the thread is 11 pages haha, but I've found if you are filming around Halloween time, a great way to get great sets for free is ask a local haunted house if you can film there during the weekdays when they are not in operation. There you can usually find a lot of good creepy sets to film in for free. Not to mention you have a lot of sets right beside each other and can condense a lot of your shooting time.

Tim

[movieidiot]

I would like to see that! are you doing a set Parker? One of the videos you made with you schools camera you said that you were going to do a set.

[Cheezepuff Productions]

Instead of just costumes and props, you should do an episode on Halloween sets. Yeah you can turn just about anything creepy with the right lighting and sound, but what if you need a mysterious graveyard, or a haunted forest, or a Count's chambers? You've never really covered sets and this would be a great time to do it. I'm not talking about green screening in backgrounds, I mean real movie sets.

Look dude, Why limit it to halloween sets? I am sure there are plenty of people out there who want a set for something other than halloween. I need a set for a research facility.

[Dramatic Imagery]

Look dude, Why limit it to halloween sets? I am sure there are plenty of people out there who want a set for something other than halloween. I need a set for a research facility.

Why not just make a miniature set our of scrap shoe boxes and toy miniatures? Then you can either luma key or green screen your actors into the scene?


You could also use the age old forced perspective technique...

http://www.flickr.com/groups/44731327@N00/

[smokeybear]

For everyone that doesnt know, Im a special effects artist( non digital) and this would be a great project for me to work on since im designing and building a set as we speak. Anyone that needs help questions and maybe even a video send me a pm and ill help out.

[Poppyl90]

Perfect idea for a WWII set. Go find yourself an open field(make sure there isn't roads or people) tall grass, a forest(if you live somewhere where there is snow i recomend filming in the winter).

[HomemadePictures]

i personally don't like using empty fields with a forest because they're pretty easy to find (where i live anyway)

an old building might work, with a few period changes

Metallica for life.

Metallica is the best band EVER!!

[Poppyl90]

Yes, Metallica!

[Cheezepuff Productions]

I prefer Led Zeppelin.

Are we getting off track?

[HomemadePictures]

Zeppelin's great, but Metallica's still awesome!

uh, yea i think we are off topic a little bit

[Killerproductions3]

I have a set of mars in my basement and it looks good, but was really hard to light correctly because what does light look like on another planet? I had to make it darker then normal light because it's farther away from the sun.

[Cheezepuff Productions]

Light on another planet? Check out the Video for "Human" by The Killers. They're in the grand canyon or somewhere, but i think it looks pretty distant planet esque

[HomemadePictures]

it would probably look red-ish there's probably some pictures of mars that you can find on NASAs website maybe

[theSarge00]

Knowing how to make some basic (and reusable!) flats, and a basic knowledge of how to paint up a faux finish, can mean the difference between not doing a shot at all (or worse, having it look like it was shot in your mom's living room) and spending days looking for the right location and deciding not to do it at all because interest has waned/actors aren't available at the time/putting yourselves and your equipment in mortal peril - so much of this level of filmmaking is striking while the iron's hot.

So I say yes, some basic theatre crafts are a good tool to have in one's arsenel. Tombstones are less a set item rather than a prop item, and there're plenty of tombstone tutorials out there for the "haloween house" crowd. Faking a "crawling out of a grave" gag would make a good tutoroial though, which would be a very bad thing to try in a real graveyard.

[whitefoxfilms]

Large piece of plywood, and a support on the back. Spiffy paint job and there you go

[Razback]

Yes i think Indymogul need to focus on some build plan set tecniques and also some editing software composite tecniques,im woundering if this stuff will be in Season 3

[cardboard_samurai]

It probably will, but then again, who knows?

[tambrm1016]

Why not just make a miniature set our of scrap shoe boxes and toy miniatures? Then you can either luma key or green screen your actors into the scene?


You could also use the age old forced perspective technique...

http://www.flickr.com/groups/44731327@N00/

That's how I did it for my Sci-Fi short film

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xETCSj9R98

It would have cost a LOT of money to make interior sets for 2 different space cruisers and cockpits for fighters. I used a piece of cardboard and made doors and panels that could be attached with double stick tape. Green poster board was used for the windows and the view screen so I could key them out.

[Razback]

That's how I did it for my Sci-Fi short film

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xETCSj9R98

It would have cost a LOT of money to make interior sets for 2 different space cruisers and cockpits for fighters. I used a piece of cardboard and made doors and panels that could be attached with double stick tape. Green poster board was used for the windows and the view screen so I could key them out.

Cool,you have make a good sci-fi B movie

[Simplicity Productions]

You should show us how to make cheap, decent looking portable sets for use in our films.

Missing Gary, Steve And Jared

:gary::steve::jared:

[cyrax037]

This, is probably one of the best, and most realistic, deserving of its own BFX episode requests we've had in awhile!

[Razback]

You should show us how to make cheap, decent looking portable sets for use in our films.

Missing Gary, Steve And Jared

:gary::steve::jared:

Wait you asking for a portable digital set like green screen,watch the episode for more information or a real filming scenography.If it this maybe cardboard boxes would work just slide the edges.

[Simplicity Productions]

Real cinemotography

[xsanmdanx]

what does "portable sets" actually mean?

[Neaps]

watch the green screen episode.


oh and by the way, you can make a sig on the control panel instead of pasting your sig into the post.

[xsanmdanx]

I was thinking carboard, carboadrboxes and paint. If you want to do physical sets. If digital is ok, then portable greenscreen.

[Drummerdude96]

The only way I can think of, and this is relatively expensive depending on how u do it, is to use some foamcore, and build some walls. To do this, you take the foamcore and cut it into planks, like foamcore 2X4's, and hot glue or even screw the together into a box shape for a wall, then cover the inside with more sheets of foamcore. probably expensive, and hard to describe in words, but it might work.

[xsanmdanx]

2/10

Your sig looks more like a reply to a post than a sig.

[Simplicity Productions]

I from UK and can't get half this stuff. I was thinking more of a display board approach

[Simplicity Productions]

when I say portable sets I mean sets that can be moved and transported with minimal effort and do not involve the use of a green screen

[illuminatus]

Why would you want to transport a set from one place to another anyway?

You build up your set in one place and film the scenes you built the set for.
Job done!

[srinimadhavan]

I just thought I should give my opinion on this. I was lucky enough to participate in a holiday filmmaking workshop, which was done with a professional company. They rent out pro equipment, run film courses, and they hire out their ENORMOUS shed to small productions. Anyways, they had built a set for us to use in the film, and at first, it looked like it was all made of wood and special materials. But as a result of being the only person in a huge set during the lunch break, I decided to explore the shed, and it was then that I noticed that the whole set was made of thre things. Wooden frames, cardboard and foam. That was it. In fact, their little editing suite within the shed also has a wooden frame and cardboard walls. I was incredibly surprised, but seriously, as long as you don't deliberately try to damage it, cardboard is a VERY useful item.

So yeah, to those who said cardboard would be too weak to be used as walls for a set, there's something you didn't know.... neither did I. In fact, who the heck could imagine cardboard can be used as walls?

[FandFstudios]

Okay, I need some tips on set building. Over the past couple of months, I've been working on the sets for a movie, and even though they look okay on camera with the right lighting, I want them to look at least "pretty good" instead of okay. I know they need a bit more detail and one needs a better paint job, but are there any tricks I've missed that can make the sets look better? Thanks a lot.

[Steelersk36]

Could you show some demos of your set pieces?