5 Film Set Hacks Every Filmmaker Must Know

Working the film set becomes just another day on the job for the film crew as time goes on and it’s amazing some of the film set hacks and tricks that these professionals come up with over time. Everything from multiple uses for things like zip ties and gaffer tape to adjusting the way that various devices are used to produce lighting on the set become commonplace. Check out these film set hacks and tricks that are commonly used in low budget productions to achieve ultra success.

You’ll be surprised at how simple these film set hacks are and at how much time they can save!

1. DIY Tracking with Roller Blades

The roller blade tracking shot really isn’t something new, but the effect is something that filmmakers continue to aim to perfect.

Tracking shots continue to makeup some of the most complicated and sophisticated scenes in film production, which is probably why there are so many different options to recreate tracking on a budget.

Everything from roller blades to the car to an actual dolly track has been used on the set. Film set hacks like this are vital!

To achieve the tracking shot with your old rollerblades all you have to do is get ready to ride! You’ll need to practice a bit in order to achieve the balance and desired effects but the end result is a powerfully effective tracking shot.

You can achieve low angle tracking with roller blades too — all you have to do is grab hold of your camera in one hand and grab the bumper of a car in the other — the car starts rolling and voila, you’re tracking!

2. Easy Tracking from the Trunk

Another opportunity for a great tracking shot and you don’t have to invest any money in equipment. Most of us already own a car or truck, and don’t even realize how the vehicle can provide excellent tracking for our shots.

A little planning and some imagination and you’ll be tracking from the trunk in no time! Consider tracking from the trunk or the bed of a truck if you’re trying to capture a shot of another car.

Shots like this can provide excellent angles and sophisticated filming techniques can be used to imitate driving as well as other motions. Consider some add-ons like fans to produce wind or moving lights to simulate streetlights.

There’s tons of film set hacks that you can utilize from the trunk of your car!

3. Diffusion Hacks

There are so many different ways to diffuse light on the set, but some of the best film set hacks that we’ve found use — trash. That’s right, trash. Things like old CD cases, cracked pieces of glass, and various colored pieces of plastic work great as diffusion.

You can even use an old colored CD case to produce the appearance of soft tones of your camera. Simply hold the case a few inches from the light source to get the desired effect. For a cracked appearance, hold the cracked glass or plastic over the light source to get desired shadows. 

4. Smartphone Light Hack

Did you know that you could use your smartphone to reproduce several different lighting effects on the film set?

The introduction of smartphones in every pocket has led to an array of film set hacks that are specifically focused on the use of the smartphone light or flashlight.

Consider trying to reproduce the look of a car light, moving lights outside a window, or even adding soft light behind a household object such as a colander to produce shadows on the background with your phone. There are endless options.

5. Scarf Stabilizer

If you’ve got a scarf you can stabilize your camera and perform various steady camera moves. All you have to do is tie the scarf around the camera and then hold taut to steady.

Or, with the scarf tied around the camera you can allow it to hang low to capture various low movements. Several other options to stabilize your camera exist with basic items.

For example, if you’ve got a neck strap on your camera, you can easily steady it by simply pulling out away from your neck taut. Film set hacks like this can be used to improve your shots without adding to your budget!