27 Lessons from filming "Countdown"

By Audrey Larson

FYP we will be filming a 3-minute short film for the White House Student Film Festival this Sunday (AHHH! 3 days from now!!!). Shay and I have been consumed this week with final script edits, prop lists, wardrobe plans, location scouting, finding extras, storyboarding, and so much more. 2 years ago we were busy with the same items for our debut short film, "Countdown" which was filmed over the course of 4 days in February 2013. I dived into the FYP "archives" and found a fun list of lessons we learned from those 4 amazing, stressful, fun, chaotic days. 

So without further a do, I present... 27 lessons from filming "Countdown"! 

1. Kids need food. 
2. Lots of food.
3. That food should never be candy. 
4. Or else they will break into laugh attacks
5. Sometimes laugh attacks can bring real tears - which is good... if the scene is sad
6. Sometimes you just need a snack break
7. But there is a time for food. And there is a time for filming. Don’t let them cross. 
8. Attempting to confiscate Oreos from the Producer/Director is a stupid and potentially dangerous activity. 
9. You will need to hide them. 
10. Very well.
11. Filming outside in February in Massachusetts = Very. Bad. Idea.
12. You will need hot water and lots of tea.
13. Or else the Directors may just freeze (kidding...)
14. Except the Associate Producer is somehow immune to cold... We are all in awe, Sarah.
15. Even doggie “actors” need to be properly taken care of and kept warm.
16. A fake bomb is not a good prop to make last-minute
17. Don’t let cast members go home in their costume. Do not. 
18. Tears are really hard to produce. Even with onions.
19. Some people like eating raw onions.
20. It is near impossible to get the smell of onions out of your set.
21. Remember to take a group picture when everyone’s actually there.
22. Don’t bother the makeup artist. Ever. You will be yelled at and possibly speared with a makeup sponge.
23. Always leave the camera on. Or else you may miss a perfect shot.
24. Nerf guns + boys = Chaos
25. Remember continuity.
26. Remember continuity.
27. Remember continuity. 

We'll be back soon with more announcements about our newest short film!