All photos: Kyle Loftus
When filmmakers are just starting out, there can be a kind of pride in working on a shoestring budget and DIYing your way through the process. However, as your production size and budget start scaling up, working in a non-traditional space doesn’t just cost you some sanity. It costs you time and money you often can’t afford to lose.
Film studios are much more than a space you can rent out. They are purpose-built facilities designed to minimize friction during production and keep you and your crew focused on the work. Working out of a studio gives you the conveniences and amenities you need to streamline your workflow, save time during the shoot, and ultimately produce better results. Here are a few of the ways in which a studio space can boost your production efficiency.
On-Site Rental Equipment and Lighting
Loading in at the beginning of the day can often be the most stressful part of a shoot. You have to get there early, delegate effectively, and do your best to stay on schedule. Forgetting a single cable can grind production to a halt, costing you time you don’t have.
Fully equipped film studios take the stress out of load-in by maintaining an arsenal of equipment available for clients to rent as they need it. Having your equipment already at the studio can cut your set-up time down drastically. Instead of having to bring your own equipment, source it from a third-party vendor, or both, you can instead pick and choose what you need from the studio’s selection.
You can also trust everything will be compatible with the space and that you’ll have dependable power sources to run everything you need. Some studios even have pre-rigged lights and grids, giving you tried-and-true options that produce consistent results.
Green Rooms and Prep Spaces
The work your audience sees on camera is only a fraction of the work done during a production. For all that valuable off-camera work, good film studios provide green rooms and designated spaces for your talent to get ready. A green room isn’t just a place for your talent to unwind; it’s somewhere for them to do the hard work of reviewing lines, getting into wardrobe, and decompressing. A dedicated hair and makeup space gives your team a place to work with all the high-intensity lighting, mirrors, and ventilation they need to make sure your talent will look right on camera.
If your team has to work in cramped hallways or take whatever rest they can get in an uncomfortable folding chair, it’s going to come across on camera. A studio team knows to dedicate space to each department, giving everyone the environment they need to do their best work.
Amenities for Productivity and Comfort
Beyond all the technical aspects of a shoot, there are a million little logistical challenges that a production needs to manage. Film studios provide amenities not just for the shoot, but for all the adjacent work as well. Take, for instance, Lightz Out Studios in San Diego. In addition to the technical tools, there is a conference room and high-speed Wi-Fi available to let you take meetings, make production plans, and stay connected with partners who might not be on site.
Other amenities are designed to support the comfort of you and your crew. This might sound minor, but simple conveniences can make all the difference in keeping everyone’s morale high throughout a long shoot day and save you time and money. A full-service kitchen makes feeding your team over the course of a long day easier. Air conditioning keeps actors and models looking fresh, and you and your crew comfortable around all the lights and equipment. On-site parking minimizes the hassle and potential delays of arrival and loading in.
These amenities aren’t just optional creature comforts. When a production crew has everything it needs, everything tends to run a little more smoothly.
Flexible Spaces Featuring Cyclorama Walls
Access to a cyclorama, or cyc, wall is another huge benefit of working out of a film studio. Cyc walls eliminate visible edges, corners, and shadows, creating a clean backdrop that keeps your audience’s focus on the subject. While simple, a cyc wall provides a degree of versatility and professional polish that makes it ubiquitous throughout the industry, particularly when producing commercial and branded content.
Cyc walls can also be a major boon when it comes time for post-production. Since there are no shadows or edges in your background, you won’t have to spend any time manually smoothing it out yourself. They also make compositing shots or chroma keying much simpler, saving you time in editing.
Production Support When You Need It
All the equipment and amenities at a studio are certainly big selling points, but one that should never be overlooked is the availability of production support. Film studios often employ in-house staff who are there to provide client support throughout production. Whether it’s an equipment coordinator, lighting technician, or studio manager, this staff provides invaluable expertise throughout your shoot.
The studio staff knows the space better than anyone and can help you find the most effective ways to achieve your goals. That might mean going over lighting setups they know work well in the space, or it might mean troubleshooting a technical issue with a piece of equipment. It’s another instance where renting a studio isn’t just about using the space; it’s about bringing on a creative partner to help you realize your vision.
Final Thoughts...
Film studios are spaces designed for creative efficiency, giving you access to all the tools you need to elevate the overall quality of your production. The conveniences they provide translate into faster workflows, less chaos, and a more polished final product. When you add up the time and money saved compared to shooting in a DIY space or on location, you’ll often find the cost is comparable, if not lower. By utilizing a studio space, you’re giving yourself the freedom you need to focus on the creative work itself. At the end of the day, that’s what will shine through the most.
