Redundancy on Shoot Days, Done Properly
Backup equipment and plans that keep a shoot running when something fails.
Tomas Lindqvist
Why does it matter?
Cameras, cards, batteries and microphones all fail eventually, and shoot days rarely allow a second attempt.
What are the numbers?
- Critical items camera, audio and power are the usual failure points
- Spares backup bodies and microphones prevent lost days
- Media spare cards prevent mid-shoot stops
- Time swapping equipment costs schedule time
What should I do?
- Carry backup camera and audio equipment
- Bring more media and batteries than planned
- Test all equipment before leaving
- Know which shots are unrepeatable
- Build contingency into the schedule
What should I avoid?
Avoid:
- Single microphones on critical interviews
- Batteries charged the morning of the shoot
- No spare recording media
- Schedules with no equipment failure allowance
When should I get help?
Short answer Bring in help when shoots cannot be repeated.
Where this comes from
- European Broadcasting Union — Production guidelines
- Blackmagic Design — DaVinci Resolve Reference Manual
The figures and practices above come from the sources listed.
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