Filmmaking / Directing : Filming in a Cemetery by Randa Karambelas

I'm looking to make an independent film about 4 people who were offered $50,000 by a millionaire to spend the night in a haunted house and video tape the place! I would write the story myself, my Google blogs are recognized in 125 foreign countries. If this is done the film will be sold at Amazon prime and You tube. The Blair Witch Project was a low budget film and it made money. Anyone interested?

Rich - you should post that on the Jobs Section. https://www.stage32.com/find-jobs This isn't the best vehicle for you to get a response. Here people are looking for advice, suggestions, start conversations about film making, etc... Good luck with your search.

Thank you. Randa

Thanks guys this is helpful. Really appreciate the feedback. I've made some calls to Cemeteries back in my hometown in Vermont. Hoping to hear back soon. Would NEVER use the names on the real headstones. I have to build mock-ups for those or do some post-cgi something or other later. I had a feeling it would be tricky, but it is necessary. The whole short takes place here. It is a must. I hope to get permission. Praying to the movie Gods.

Unless you need very wide shots of headstones marching off into the distance, might be easier to shoot in a small private cemetery attached to a church or have the art department create you own graveyard on the side of a hill.

All locations are sensitive and need to be respected. Cemeteries are no different, speak to the owners, tell them exactly what you want to do, and they will either say yes or no.. If because of the nature of the script you are struggling to find a suitable location. Then you either create the location or rewrite it out. A quick google brought up this film friendly cemetery in New York. http://www.allfaithscemetery.org/home.htm. I'm sure there are many more....

http://www.green-wood.com/2010/film-and-video/#locations

We shot a film in a cemetery for three days. We were granted permission by the community and the owner. The crew was respectful of the occasional visitor and we never stepped on anyone's grave (very important). Keeping noise and equipment to a minimum was a key asset, people feel you're invading their privacy if there are too many things going on. (Which is normal for a standard shoot) Keep food services away from the area and charge a PA to monitor the grounds for empty water bottles, wrappers and stray equipment. At the end of each day, we did a thing I used to do in the AirForce called FOD (foreign object damage) walking. Everyone polices the area for anything we might have left before leaving the area, you'd be surprised what you may have missed. Aside from the weather, you should have a great shoot.

I filmed a short scene at a cemetery up in Seattle without any problems. We were lucky though, and were in and out of there in an hour. The cast and crew were very small, and so we didn't attract any attention.

Good points here! The keys are respectful and keep noise down and that's a winner.

Ahh! Andrew, that sounds like guerilla shooting. (That's what it's called on the east coast.) That's my specialty, I love getting in, shooting a few takes and getting out before I got caught. Oh the rush!

Guerrilla shooting....how very professional. It makes everyone look bad when you are caught.

Guerrilla shooting isn't just for that JD, it's used a lot in music video's, war news reporting, live tv shows, reality shows, horror and paranormal productions, EFX shoots, nature and documentary productions. So yes it is a professional, acceptable and commonly used form of shooting.

It's used by shooters (aside from news) who can't (afford to?) or just won't get a permit. I call BS on the other applications for shooting without a permit. Music videos, documentaries, no permits.....really?

Peter's right JD, apparently you're not an independent filmmaker who's done edgy filmmaking. I've done it for years and yes bad directors like Randall do get into trouble. I read that article and I couldn't believe he ignored the obvious dangers. I would never, ever put my crew and myself in a crazy position like that. There are plenty of abandoned track to shoot on. He was the exception, indie filmmakers and major productions all over the world use this style.

There's more to filming a movie, and I'm glad I'm learning here.

Anytime Rich. Ask away.

building yourself a cemetary could be cheap and convincing with smoke and lights