It’s a guarantee that something will go wrong on a shoot, but there’s always steps to take to avoid the worst and often, easily avoidable. Whether it’s equipment, weather, or location, there’s usually something to prepare for. 

I’ve picked the brains of founding Anomalous Collective member and award winning director, Yaz Al-Shaater. Yaz runs two production companies, one co-owned by his brother, aptly named: BrotherBrother. All images are provided by Yaz Al-Shaater.

With years of experience on set, I decided to get his insights on how to prepare for a shoot,  whilst discovering what might go wrong and how to plan accordingly.

Have a look to see if there’s anything you hadn’t thought of! 

Only blue quoted text is the opinion of Yaz Al-Shaater (marked YAS) and Aislinn Furlong (marked AF), the rest is my own. 

AF: What would you say is the easiest way to get caught out on a video or photography production? 

YAS - Not planning properly and running out of time!

AF: What’s the number 1 mistake you see when new creatives try to put something together?

YAS- Honestly, underestimating the importance of location. It can make or break a shoot. Finding something with the right character adds enormous value to anything, from interviews to sitcoms. You can't fake that. The wrong location makes a shot feel cheap, anachronistic, or just poorly thought through.

AF: How do you find shooting on location vs a versatile indoor space? What's the difference/benefits?

YAS- Location shooting obviously offers infinite options - if you can get permission to shoot where you want to. But a studio or indoor space gives way more control of light and sound, and increases reproducibility.

AF: What equipment would you say is unexpectedly essential for any shoot?

YAS - A good water bottle and a coffee cup that keeps your drink warm

AF: What piece of equipment is likely to give out (die/break)?

YAS - The straps on cheap equipment bags. Always on the way to a location shoot, at the start of a heavy day.

AF: What do you need location wise for a reliable shoot?

YAS - Enough space to light and shoot; not too much background noise; and somewhere for cast/crew/talent to have some downtime.

AF: What have you had to replace, item wise, the most as your time as a videographer?

YAS - Cheap equipment bags

AF What techniques did you start out using that you no longer use?

YAS - We had a bit of an obsession with light leaks for a while. What can I say, it was fashionable at the time...

AF: How much space behind the camera do you actually need for a shoot? More or less than expected? 

YAS - Always just a tiny bit more than you actually have :-)

AF: How many shoots does the weather ruin?

YAS - Not too many if you're planning for it - but it will often force your hand. And weather continuity in narrative work is an absolute nightmare, especially on nice days. I've shot one-man shoots and directed broadcast TV dramas, and everything stops when you're waiting for the sun to go behind a cloud.

AF: Do you find that having limitations to your location makes you get more creative sometimes? Any examples of this? 

YAS - For sure! The most recent example I can think of is when a hero car got stuck in a ditch by the side of the road, turning round in the countryside. We were filming the driver when it happened. We shot a whole improvised sequence while we were waiting for help, which ended up being a key scene in the film.

AF: What other tidbits does no one think to ask which you’d like to mention? 

YAS - I sound like my mother but the two most important things are being rested and being hydrated. I've learnt the hard way. Prep is essential but never more important than a good night's sleep

Well there you have it! 

Buy yourself some sturdy equipment bags, a sewing kit, a well stocked hydration station and you’re ready to go! (As long as you’ve also organised everything to an absolute T.) 

It’s tricky making things work in the creative field; at Anomalous, our six spaces offer versatility and flexibility for your next shoot.

Recent media productions we’ve hosted recently include: A livestream, self tape shoots, a filmed audition room, a photo-studio for some giggle doctors and a documentary workshop space. 

Let us know if you have any exciting projects coming up!

Written by Aislinn Furlong