Filmmaking / Directing : Life of a first feature film director: scouting location abroad by Daniel Latteo

Daniel Latteo

Life of a first feature film director: scouting location abroad

First official location scouting for my debut horror film here in Innsbruck, North Tirol...

This for me is such an important part of the pre-production process, as your sets and locations are essential to tell your story credibly, both in terms of atmosphere and selling the story to the audience.

I will go as far as saying that, to me, they are just as important as the characters.

Anyways, we are moving forward with tunnel vision. The motivation is at an all time high. The passion is burning. Next steps are to do some more scouting here in Italy and then do the long-awaited trip to Los Angeles.

Main goal: Start doing some tests on the prosthetic make-up effects and start building the sets by late summer.

Thank you to all the wonderful friends and artists who support me and believe in me, with whom I hope to share the set real soon

Maurice Vaughan

The first location looks great, Daniel Latteo! I agree that location scouting is an important part of pre-production. It's also important when writing the script because picking a unique location can set your script apart from other scripts. When I outline a script, I look for a location that hasn't been used often. Or I try to figure out how to use a usual location (house, store, etc.) in a unique way.

Mark Garbett

Looks cool, good luck on the shoot.

Nick Waters

Beautiful location. Keep us posted!

Sam Mannetti

Innsbruck seems like a great location for this!

Andrew Sobkovich

Daniel Latteo when taking location pictures, I find it really useful to have people in the frame, holding a card with the scene number, positioned approximately when the performers in the scene will be. Shots of the people should approximate the angles that would be used in coverage, but each wider than you would actually use. When you end up with a file of hundreds or thousands of location shots, some in frame identification really helps. In remote locations, like mountains, time, date and GPS co-ordinates of where the camera is located is a huge help as well. In a couple of months when it has all blurred together you will realize you never have enough notes, assuming you can find the appropriate notes. Good luck. with the shoot. Exciting!

GiGi Raines

Totally agree! Hope you find some beautiful locations the set the stage for your story!

Murali Krishna

Good luck Daniel

Ashley Renee Smith

What beautiful scenery for a horror film! Definitely keep us in the loop on how your project is coming together.

Daniel Latteo

Andrew Sobkovich

Thank you Andrew!! Great advice and I'm taking it all in. This was just a prelim scouting though... I'm counting of having many others before official prod starts.

Daniel Latteo

GiGi Raines

Thank you so much GiGi!! Working on it.

Daniel Latteo

Nick Waters

Will do it Nick!... Thanks!

Daniel Latteo

Mark Garbett

Thank you Mark, I appreciate that!

Daniel Latteo

Ashley Renee Smith

I will do that Ashley... I will be posting all my progress here.

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