Well it's that time of year again. We're now in October and it's getting cold out. You wake up in the morning to frost on your car windows. Some years fall seems to be longer then others and opens up a window to get outside and shoot some of the beautiful fall scenary Michigan can provide. Other years we seem to go straight into the cold weather.

Just a couple words of encouragement to all you indie filmmakers out there. Keep pushing. Don't let the cold winter stop you. But remember a couple of things. Bring extra blankets on set to keep your equipment, cast and crew warm. Remember to feed everyone, especially if you aren't paying anyone. Hot chocolate and tea can be cheap solutions to help keep everyone warm. Keep everyone moving as much as possible. The more they're moving the less time they have to sit around and complain about how long the shoot is or how cold the weather is. To do this, keep your crew small and plan ahead so that your actors don't have to be there sitting around for three hours until you get to their scene.

These are things you should always keep in mind no matter what time of year you are shooting. But in the cold weather a smaller cast and crew is a more nimble cast and crew that can move faster, allow each person to do more and help keep their body heat up.

Remember to also bring extra hats and gloves and scarves and don't forget the sunglasses and ND filters. That snow can be mighty reflective. 

Best of luck to all of you.

This is an open discussion so if any of you have anything else to add, just hit the comment link. 

With over thirty years of experience navigating The Shiawassee Flats by boat, I am able to get you up close and personal with nature. I affectionately call this area the “Everglades of Michigan”, and regularly conduct tours through it’s eighteen thousand acres of twisting rivers, marshes, and bayous.

I am a licensed Captain by the U.S. Coast Guard, as well as a private pilot, and want to be photographer and writer. Please see
www.jpqat.com and view my blog for my latest pictures and adventures! Tell me what you want to see or “shoot”, and i will get you there.