Hey, Stage32 people!
So, we just kicked off shooting our first feature film Pure Vortex, and let me tell you, wrangling a cast scattered across the globe made in-person rehearsals a total nightmare. Especially since we were gunning to shoot this thing as fast as possible.
So, we went full digital, running rehearsals on Zoom (or whatever group video call app everyone could access). We were at it almost every day, clocking 1,5 to 2 hours per session.
At first, I was a little nervous. I mean, actors rehearsing from their living rooms or random coffee shops? Would they bring the same fire to the set? And what about group dynamics? I was worried that jumping from virtual to in-person would throw things off.
Here’s the kicker, we rehearsed online right up until the cameras rolled, with barely any of the cast meeting in person before the first production day. The actors, total pros! They were locked in 10 days before we even started shooting.
Still, I had this nagging thought about whether the energy would translate on camera. Then I stumbled across a YouTube video where a big-name director talked about using a camera during rehearsals to review performances and make sure they pop on screen.
Lightbulb moment! We were basically already doing that with Zoom rehearsals. The actors were performing to a camera the whole time Talk about great accidents! Sure, we still had to nail the blocking on set, and the in-person vibes were a bit different to sort out. But you know what? It worked great.
The actors were just as electric on set in front of the camera as they were on Zoom.
Now I’m wondering, if this was a stage play instead of a film, and we rehearsed over Zoom, would we have needed to adjust for performing without a camera? Food for thought.
What do you all think?
Ever tried virtual rehearsals for a project? How’d it go?
Hit me with your thoughts!
I hope you guys have a nice weekend and wish me luck for tomorrow in set!
Congratulations on kicking off shooting Pure Vortex, Vital Butinar and everyone working on the film! I think running rehearsals on Zoom is a great idea, and I'm sure it saved a lot of time, money, and...
Expand commentCongratulations on kicking off shooting Pure Vortex, Vital Butinar and everyone working on the film! I think running rehearsals on Zoom is a great idea, and I'm sure it saved a lot of time, money, and headaches. Hope you have a nice weekend too and filming goes great!
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This is a brilliant realization! <3
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Interesting. Keep us posted please!!