Nowadays, there is no shortage of options for filmmakers looking to create their dream project. With high-quality equipment available at competitive prices and video production studios popping up in nearly every city in the country, you can create impressive short films, sizzle reels, and music videos with nearly any budget. Even modestly budgeted projects can now afford to choose between filming on location or in a fully equipped studio.
Of course, choosing where to film your project is one of the most important decisions you’ll make during the filmmaking process, and it can affect every aspect of production. As you make your choice between shooting on location vs. studio filming, you’ll need to weigh the benefits and challenges of each so you can select the best option for your production goals.
The Pros of Shooting on Location
Location Shooting Feels More Realistic
One of the biggest benefits of shooting on location is the fact that you’re in a real place, and that added realism is something your viewers may be able to sense. For example, if you’re shooting a music video set on a beach, you may be able to create a fairly convincing beach setting in your studio by laying down some sand and a green screen. However, it’s unlikely that it will be as convincing as the real sunshine and ocean breeze of an actual beach.
Being on location can even subtly affect the performances of your actors. The way they walk and talk on an ocean beach or city sidewalk will feel more authentic to your audience because it is authentic.
Location Shooting May Be Cheaper
Renting out a studio for one or more days can take a large chunk out of your budget. Building a set may be even more expensive. Location shooting may be a less expensive option, since you won’t necessarily need to build anything. For instance, if you film a restaurant scene in a real restaurant, no costly sets will need to be constructed.
However, it’s important to note that this variable can change wildly, depending on the need. Some locations can be extremely expensive to film in, particularly when you factor in the cost of permits and other incidental expenses. You may also need to pay to rent or reserve the space. A busy venue, for instance, is likely to charge you the same fees they charge their typical paying customers. There might be a point where building your own set in a studio becomes the more frugal option.
It’s important to compare all the costs of shooting on location vs. in a studio when drafting your budget.
Cons of Shooting on Location
You Can’t Control the Weather
Most filming projects, large or small, operate on a fairly tight timeline. Actors and crew members might be contracted for specific dates. The location may only be available to you for a limited time. Permits may have expiration dates. You might have deadlines for the final product.
With this in mind, one major downside of shooting on location is the lack of control over the space. You might spend months planning a critical shot and large amounts of your budget setting it up in a carefully chosen spot, only for it to be spoiled by bad weather. There are plenty of other issues that may crop up on a location, too, from noisy airplanes flying overhead to curious onlookers interrupting the filmmaking process. This can lead to expensive delays in filming that your project may not be able to afford.
Difficult Logistics
If you choose to shoot your project in a specific location, you’ll have to work around the schedule for that location. Using our restaurant example mentioned above, if you are filming in a real restaurant, you naturally won’t be able to do so during the restaurant’s normal operating hours. Most likely, this means you’ll have to do your location filming very late at night or very early in the morning, when the restaurant is closed to customers. You’ll have to allow for time to set up and shut down each day that you’re there, and your shoot won’t have the flexibility to run late due to the need for the restaurant to be able to open for business on time.
The Pros of Shooting in a Studio
Control Every Variable
On location, there are many variables you can’t control, including the environment, the weather, and the ambient lights and sounds. In a studio, you can take charge of all these factors. You can have as much or as little lighting as you would like, and it can come from any direction.
It also won’t matter when the sun rises or sets. If you need it to be broad daylight for the entirety of the shoot, professional lighting can make it happen, even if you’re filming everything in a single day. Outside, afternoon daylight is only available for a few hours a day. It could take days of shooting at just the right time to get just the right light.
Sound quality is typically much better when filming in a studio. Soundproofing keeps out unwanted ambient noises that may otherwise interrupt filming or need to be removed later, ultimately saving you time and money.
Greater Flexibility
You also have greater creative flexibility in a studio vs. a real-world location. You can build the set to your exact specifications, experiment with lighting, use a green screen for special effects, and so on.
The added logistical flexibility can also streamline your project. If you rent a studio for multiple days, you won’t need to load in and out each day and can shoot at more reasonable hours than you otherwise would be able to.
Access to Amenities
A lot more goes into making a film than just arriving on set and hitting record. You need electricity to run the equipment, space for your actors to change and wait when they’re not needed on set, bathrooms for cast and crew members, a place to do admin work, and so on. Wi-Fi is also a must if you wish to back up your files to the cloud.
On location, you’re limited to what’s already on site or what you load in. Filming in a park, for example, may require a long walk to the nearest bathrooms or setting up port-o-potties. You might have to haul in generators to run the lights and cameras. Your center of operations might be limited to a canvas tent. At a studio, however, many or even all these amenities are available in one place. Green rooms, dressing rooms, indoor plumbing, Wi-Fi, office space, kitchens, and the like are all part of the rental.
The Cons of Shooting at a Studio
You’ll Have to Build Your Set from Scratch
If you determine that it’s not practical to shoot a scene on location, a studio offers a more flexible alternative. However, you’ll need to create any set pieces you need whole cloth, rather than taking advantage of what’s already there. Continuing with our restaurant example, you can create a set that looks exactly like an actual restaurant. It’s just going to require more time and work to build something authentic, and you will need to plan for it in your budget.
Not All Studios are the Same
The other possible downside of filming in a studio is the fact that not every studio will be properly equipped to realize your vision. If you do decide to go this route, it’s important to choose a fully equipped studio like Lightz Out Studios in San Diego. Make sure the video studio you rent has enough room to film, the equipment you need, and the amenities you’re looking for.
Do your research before shooting on location vs. renting a video studio to ensure you have everything you need to realize your vision in the best way possible.
