WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LOCATION SHOOTING & SOUND STAGE SHOOTING? (In the Entertainment industry.)

Sound Stage / Photo Credit: Los Angeles Studio

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LOCATION SHOOTING & SOUND STAGE SHOOTING? (In the Entertainment industry.)

Bruce Bisbey…please follow me at: https://dumbdogproductionsllc.blogspot.com or https://www.facebook.com/DumbDogProductionsLLC/ thank you.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LOCATION SHOOTING & SOUND STAGE SHOOTING?

There are many factors that hang in the balance when deciding between location shooting and sound stage shooting. Every element of your production will be affected by your choice.

In common usage, a sound stage (also written soundstage) is a soundproof, hangar-like structure, building, or room, used for the production of theatrical film-making and television productions, usually located on a secured movie or television studio property.

Production Design

The production designers choose the location that fits the aesthetic needs of the film, which means the space is already built. It may need some minor work such as touch up paint or the purchasing of a few props. The most obvious department that will play a part in this decision is the art department. On location, the space is already built. It may need to undergo some scenic work, such as a new paint job, or it may need to be furnished differently. But, everything is done on the surface. On a sound stage, everything would need to be built. This means not only the walls and furniture, but also any texture that can only be achieved through years of activity in a space. So, a lot of money can be spent recreating a genuine environment.

A soundstage does allow for more flexibility in production design, as the set is built from the ground up in a set location. A production design team may simply use the stage’s in-house features or build custom walls, and handpick furniture and props. In the case of production design, your location is going to depend largely on the specific needs of each individual production.

Camera

This department's advantages and disadvantages are closely linked to those of the art department. On location, the camera is locked into the space that exists. If you want to get a wide shot, you can only put you widest lens on and get as close to the wall behind you as possible. However, in a sound stage, your set walls can be built to fly away. This means much more flexibility as far as camera placement goes, and overall more working space available.

Lighting

On location, the sun plays a huge part in lighting conditions. If you are spending an entire day in a room with lots of windows, the light is going to change from morning, to afternoon, to evening. This means a lot of equipment is needed to control said changes and maintain continuity throughout the scene.

In a studio space, you do not have this problem because all the light (even a hypothetical sun) is artificial and therefore entirely in your control. However, you now need more lights in order to simulate the said sun as it would appear in each of your set's windows. You also need to account for what you can see through these windows, and how you would like to deal with that. On the other hand, studio lighting wins one more advantage with an available rigging grid, complete with electricity above the set.

Sound

There is a reason that it is called a "sound stage". A studio should be completely sound proof. No sound other than what is in the room can ruin a take. On location, you have to deal with "holding for a plane," strange plumbing sounds in your building, or neighbors yelling. Having control can make this department run seamlessly.

Production

The biggest department of all. A good location manager should always be asking herself, where will we stage equipment? Where will actor holding be? Where can we park the trucks? Where are the bathrooms? Is there Internet available for the production team? Is there an elevator to get equipment to the sixth floor? All these questions are eliminated in sound stage shooting. Studios have all of these things taken care of for the production. The kicker is that the studio space costs money.

Locations and sound stages both have advantages and disadvantages. In many cases, the choice will come down to cost, but there are many other factors to consider as well. Also, keep in mind that you need location permits to shoot in many public places.

Sources, References & Credits: Bruce Bisbey, Google, Wikipedia, Wikihow, WikiBooks, Pinterest, IMDB, Linked In, Indie Wire, Film Making Stuff, Hiive, Film Daily, New York Film Academy, The Balance, Careers Hub, The Numbers, Film Maker, TV Guide Magazine, Blurb, Media Match, Quora, Creative Skill Set, Chron, Investopedia, Variety, No Film School, How Stuff Works, WGA, BBC, Daily Variety, The Film Agency, Best Sample Resume, How Stuff Works, Bright Hub, Career Trend, Producer's Code of Credits, Truity, Production Hub, Producers Guild of America, Film Connection, Variety, Wolf Crow, Get In Media, Production Beast, Sony Pictures, Warner Bros, UCAS, Frankenbite, Realty 101, Liberty Me, Careers Hub, Sokanu, Raindance, Film Connection, Cast & Crew, Entertainment Partners, My Job Search, Prospects, David Mullich, Gear Shift, Video University, Oxford Dictionaries’, Boredom Therapy, The Bold Italic, Meets the Eye Studio, The Guardian, Jones on art, Creative Plant, Studio Binder, Film Tool Kit, Still Motion, Film Under Ground, Steves Digicams, Any Burton,

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Sound Stage / Photo Credit: Los Angeles Studio