Indie filmmaking tips and tricks from the set of The Graduates. (dir Ryan Gielen)

Creative Framing: I want a swooping crane shot for a dinner table scene. Unfortunately we have the location for only two hours and the lead actress had to bail to work the dinner shift at the steak house that actually pays her for her time. And I don't have a crane. Creative framing can save a scene in a situation like this, if you can isolate why the scene is necessary and frame your shot to highlight that exact point. In the video I use a really simple example: I need to establish a fun high school party, but I don't have any extras at this hour of the night, only crew people. Using creative framing, sfx, and the score I got my shot, established the party and moved onto the next major debilitating issue :) graduatesmovie.com