Continuity and Multiple Takes

"I'd rather not get wet," she says.

...but her swimsuit is definitely damp.


Wet Bum

Sometimes we have to shoot the same scene several times. I tend to inwardly cringe every time someone falls into water with their clothes on. I always wonder: How long did it take to reset that shot?

And, sure, you may be tempted to shoot the same scene over and over again if you're surrounded by, say, a bunch of attractive women in swimwear... but don't. Time is money, and filmmakers like us tend to have very little of both. So get your shots, even if one of the actresses is a tad damp and she's supposed to be dry. Continuity really isn't so important that you risk not being able to get all the shots you need.

So keep moving. Do your best to keep things consistent, but don't let your desire for perfection stop you from producing your film.

 ~Luke Holzmann
Your Media Production Mentor