Amateur Film Making and Locations - part 2
Aloha
Location one: Inside a train
We need some shots inside a moving train. The script specifies that the emergency brake is pulled and the train stops.
The experience: The head office of the Dutch Railways in Utrecht has a separate unit for contact with the media and we have to present the script to them. It turns out that it will not be possible to shoot the scene as to pull an emergency brake is deemed “detrimental for the image of the railways”.
We have to modify the script and deliver a new version to the office showing decent railway behavior: no emergency brake pulling. We then get the permission to film. At the train station we get all the help we need and all necessary shots – inside and outside the carriages are canned.
The solution: We simulate pulling the brake and we have our scene as intended. We damage the image of our railways anyway.
We need some shots inside a moving train. The script specifies that the emergency brake is pulled and the train stops.
The experience: The head office of the Dutch Railways in Utrecht has a separate unit for contact with the media and we have to present the script to them. It turns out that it will not be possible to shoot the scene as to pull an emergency brake is deemed “detrimental for the image of the railways”.
We have to modify the script and deliver a new version to the office showing decent railway behavior: no emergency brake pulling. We then get the permission to film. At the train station we get all the help we need and all necessary shots – inside and outside the carriages are canned.
The solution: We simulate pulling the brake and we have our scene as intended. We damage the image of our railways anyway.
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Location two:
Street in front of a bank These are idyllic times – the year is 1991. The police give us all the cooperation we could wish for. A police car races through the streets with wailing sirens. |
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Three officers with weapons at the ready and a police dog spring into action at our instructions. Three bank robbers emerge from the bank after the raid and get arrested in the street, while smoke fills the entrance.
In another scene the fire brigade helps us out. They magic a sudden rain shower out of nowhere at our command.
We also needed a car that had crashed into a concrete pillar. An owner of a garage with nearly written-off cars obliges us. After all our driving shots are made he takes the car – which still looks perfectly acceptable – back to his yard and returns it to the location with the front bumper and bonnet with a deep dent. It is perhaps worth mentioning that this gentleman once was a film amateur himself.
In another scene the fire brigade helps us out. They magic a sudden rain shower out of nowhere at our command.
We also needed a car that had crashed into a concrete pillar. An owner of a garage with nearly written-off cars obliges us. After all our driving shots are made he takes the car – which still looks perfectly acceptable – back to his yard and returns it to the location with the front bumper and bonnet with a deep dent. It is perhaps worth mentioning that this gentleman once was a film amateur himself.
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Location: A house inhabited by old ladies
This is a supreme example of “the kindness of strangers”. We have an entire two-story house in Dordrecht at our disposal. It is beautifully furnished and we are able to film both in- and outside. The owners are out, we have the keys and our crew, actors, camera, tripods, lamps and other equipment are all moved in to make the necessary shots. We are afforded all the time in the world. There is only one possible explanation for this kindness: the owner of the house has to be an artist himself. 
Location: The garden of a hotel in Hawaii
A park in Dordrecht will do. All we need to do is place a few artificial palm trees and some plastic flowers on wires on the bushes in the background. In front of them we have a group of hula dancers and the illusion is complete. Not a single official – uniformed or otherwise – turns up during the shoot. |
Olympia
Location: Studio of the artist Edouard Manet
We have full cooperation from a photographer. His studio is transformed into that of the famous French painter for a few days.
We have full cooperation from a photographer. His studio is transformed into that of the famous French painter for a few days.
We want to have a brief shot of a horse-driven carriage in the street to get the right period atmosphere.
Unfortunately, our appointment with the owner of the carriage has to be cancelled. Some other shots have taken longer than anticipated and we arrive late.
The horses don’t do delays - they need to be fed.
Unfortunately, our appointment with the owner of the carriage has to be cancelled. Some other shots have taken longer than anticipated and we arrive late.
The horses don’t do delays - they need to be fed.
The Suspicion
Location: Gallery of a flat
We found a very suitable house but on the day of shooting the lift is being renovated and a provisional elevator is built right in the corner of the gallery that we need to use. The only solution is to find another apartment building.
Location: Two flats in one
One lucky circumstance of this new apartment building is that there happens to be an empty flat, which we can use for the scenes in the home of the old man as well as for the home of the young neighbour. A charity shop provides us with enough furniture to furnish two flats. The deal is that we borrow the furniture from the shop and return it after the filming.
We found a very suitable house but on the day of shooting the lift is being renovated and a provisional elevator is built right in the corner of the gallery that we need to use. The only solution is to find another apartment building.
Location: Two flats in one
One lucky circumstance of this new apartment building is that there happens to be an empty flat, which we can use for the scenes in the home of the old man as well as for the home of the young neighbour. A charity shop provides us with enough furniture to furnish two flats. The deal is that we borrow the furniture from the shop and return it after the filming.
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Location: Basement with separate storerooms
These storerooms are full of all kinds of bits and pieces belonging to different people. We get permission to empty them. When it turns out that just one is too small for our purposes we have to demolish the wooden partition between two storerooms. After the shooting everything had to be rebuilt and refilled but it’s all free of charge. Though it is a lot of effort, it shows an exemplary attitude towards amateur filmmakers. |
Picasso
Location: The beach promenade in Cabourg, France
It appears that to be able to film on the terrace of a café we need written permission from the local authority signed by the mayor. We manage to get the permit after some delay and are safe in case of a police check. The café owner sees us with our tripods and lamps and thinks we are a professional crew who will be able to pay him for the privilege. In the end we shoot our material without paying anything. The condition is that we use a table that is placed just outside the area of his terrace.
It appears that to be able to film on the terrace of a café we need written permission from the local authority signed by the mayor. We manage to get the permit after some delay and are safe in case of a police check. The café owner sees us with our tripods and lamps and thinks we are a professional crew who will be able to pay him for the privilege. In the end we shoot our material without paying anything. The condition is that we use a table that is placed just outside the area of his terrace.
Nadine
Location: House of the main character
This was one of the most agreeable experiences we encountered. The neighbours of our cameraman leave for their holidays and we have the use of their entire house. We can re-arrange everything we need and after the shoot put things back in their place using photos we made in advance.
Location: Cemetery
My letter to the local council is registered as “Application for a permit to shoot film footage in a cemetery” under No. 2005006417. After it is discussed at a council meeting I receive a letter two weeks later signed by the secretary and the mayor. This letter grants us permission provided that “filming only take place when there is no interment” and that we “do not photograph any personal details of the deceased”. Bureaucracy aside, this was a reasonable solution.
For the funeral scene we found an amateur-friendly undertaker who was prepared to play himself and provided all that was needed. Well, nearly… He said: “You just have to provide the corpse yourselves”.
This was one of the most agreeable experiences we encountered. The neighbours of our cameraman leave for their holidays and we have the use of their entire house. We can re-arrange everything we need and after the shoot put things back in their place using photos we made in advance.
Location: Cemetery
My letter to the local council is registered as “Application for a permit to shoot film footage in a cemetery” under No. 2005006417. After it is discussed at a council meeting I receive a letter two weeks later signed by the secretary and the mayor. This letter grants us permission provided that “filming only take place when there is no interment” and that we “do not photograph any personal details of the deceased”. Bureaucracy aside, this was a reasonable solution.
For the funeral scene we found an amateur-friendly undertaker who was prepared to play himself and provided all that was needed. Well, nearly… He said: “You just have to provide the corpse yourselves”.
