Shooting in public - people talking too much.

[Joseph S.]

Since I've just started taking the RED out into public places, people just come up and stat talking. Battery starts to drain, you lose mental focus, etc. etc.

How do most of you "nicely" tell people that you are busy and can't be bothered without looking like an a**hole?

 

[Liam Hall]

I sometimes tell them I'm shooting for BBC Radio and other times I pretend to be French

 

[Martin Weiss]

When on a bigger crew, we always used to say that we were shooting a soap commercial - and people buggered off, dissapointed.

When I work alone or with two, then we tend to say it is a private video project. I've also gotten away with that I am taking photographs Another "excuse" is that we are art students. You really have to look at what type of person is asking you, and then find something that will be of least interest to them.

My favorite story though is when they had laid about 1 mile of tracks, four guys were on the dolly, two grips preparing to push the heavy load, clapper loader ready for the signal, when an old lady walked by and asked "Does that train go to Brighton"

I've also been asked once whether I was making an audio record, lol.

 

[Ramesh Jai]

I sometimes tell them I'm shooting for BBC Radio and other times I pretend to be French

LOL! I'll try the French bit next time.

 

[Charles Angus]

Isn't that what PA's and paid duty officers are for?

But if it's run and gun, I usually just tell people curtly, "It's a short film", and then immediately start looking busy with the camera to forestall further inquiries.

 

[dino g]

one word, mayonnaise. works everytime! shooting a mayonnaise commercial...their gone in seconds flat.

 

[joakim_hansson]

Since I've just started taking the RED out into public places, people just come up and stat talking. Battery starts to drain, you lose mental focus, etc. etc.

How do most of you "nicely" tell people that you are busy and can't be bothered without looking like an a**hole?

A very effective way is not to look at them in the first place. Just do what you do and don´t care about people standing around trying to get eyecontact with you.
If they do come up, see to that you either have an assistant catching them or explain politely and brief that you are working and turn away.
Sure this might seem rude, but who cares?

The best way I think though is to look busy and avoid eyecontact, works most of the time.

 

[Noah Kadner]

Crime Scene tape- costs $6/100 feet. Works like a friggin' charm. (That is until the real police show up.)

http://www.crimescene.com/store/ind...oducts_id=34&gclid=CJuY7arPh5wCFQoKswodVHSBdA

-Noah

 

[chuck colburn]

Mid level "nuclear" spill.