Filmmaking / Directing : Lake, Fake House, or Real House? by Maurice Vaughan

Hi Maurice, what a question, they both sound expensive

Why u worrying about stunt budgets?

Anyways, probably safer for cast & crew on a soundstage

I want to keep the budget low as possible so I can pitch the script to more producers, Dan MaxXx. Ok, thanks. I think a soundstage is the best option.

You can shoot in my house Maurice, just promise not to get anything wet.

Thanks, Mark Garbett. Will today work? Haha

Sound stage. You need a controlled environment.

Thanks, Francisco Castro. I decided to set the story in a flooded house. Thanks, everyone.

There's three major characters, Claude Gagne. Two of them will be in the water in some scenes, but in a lot of scenes, all three characters will be on counters, furniture, etc.

Agree that if all three are options for a flooded house location, shooting on a proper stage build for water with control is ideal. Flooding a real house can be tough for multiple takes and any re-shoots and can be dangerous as an old house might literally collapse with that type of water usage (did you see the clip of the navy base flooding in the Marshall Islands?). On a lake brings its own challenges but sounds like a flooded house is where you're headed. Excited to hear about your progress on this, Maurice Vaughan!

Great points, Sam Sokolow. Thanks! Can't wait to share this script with the community and start pitching it!

There are no cheap houses anymore!

Maurice, I learned that in some cases, the production found big pools, like in an old school, and build there the sets. Home Alone was made this way.

Cool, Rodrigo Portela. Thanks. I'm thinking the house will gradually get flooded, so a lot of scenes might not need water.

I directed series called Estonia. It’s a true event of the sinking of the MS Estonia, the country's largest ship, in September 1994. The cruise ferry was hit by a major storm, which led to uncontrolled tilting. Within one hour, the MS Estonia sank in Finnish waters in the Baltic Sea, claiming more than 850 lives.

We shot that at Lites water stage in Belgium. They have a platform where you can build a set and then gradually sink it, as we did with set. We did build part of the cruise ship.

But one thing I can guarantee, it’s not cheap and remember that working with water stage makes everything 30% more slower and more difficult.

That's my recommendation always - aim high, and let's solve the problems when those become reality. Worrying about the costs quickly makes the script weak, and there are always many solutions for execution. Naturally, it's easy to understand that some of the lines of the script can create major headaches and be extremely expensive.

With CGI, it's good to remember that physical interaction causes problems, e.g., interaction with the water is complicated to create in CGI.

Paint a picture that a set designer can use to create the environment and so the DP decide how to shoot it. Be descriptive without directing. It's been my observation many movie and TV writers try to do too many jobs while writing their scripts and in doing so make their projects too literal and too personal. In any case, just spit out the vomit draft as fast as you can without revising in-line. You can always revise later.

Such great education here... Thank you from me for all these highly elevated & experienced mind-thoughts!

Writing out many scenes already for my feature film and see such value in all these comments... Thanks Maurice for the question you posted... helping all of us once again.

Thanks for sharing your experience and the advice, Juuso Syrjä.

Thanks for the advice, Claude Gagne. If it was a bigger budget script that I was gonna pitch to big producers and companies, I would write the script and not worry about the cost, locations, etc., but I want to target low-budget producers and companies with this script, so I'm trying to keep the cost as low as possible.

Appreciate the advice, Anand Ramachandran.

You're welcome, Sherri ZImmerman. I'm glad the question helped you too. Hope it helps others.

So you are writing a story that involves a house that gets flooded in a low-budget film? Not sure if you've done your homework on flooded houses but I can tell you that you need to have a reason for the lake to flood! is there a damn that controls the water level? Is the house in a low valley and a mudslide happens during a massive rainstorm and floods the valley?? What is the importance of the house??? what role does it play in your story????

just so you know I live on the East Coast and I've seen flooding, it's not a fun thing to see happen.

Yeah, Gregory Barone. A story that involves a house getting flooded in a low-budget film. The house is huge in the story. The lake would have been too if I would've went in that direction. "Is the house in a low valley and a mudslide happens during a massive rainstorm and floods the valley??" Not sure. I'm gonna do research as I outline.

Maurice Vaughan At least now you have someone to ask about such things, don't be afraid to shoot me an email if you have more questions about it.

Ok, I appreciate it, Gregory Barone.

To bank off Gregory Barone, I'd say visit some storm/food sites. We have plenty in Baton Rouge. South Carolina might be a good place to visit. I would check with clean-up firms such as ServiceMaster, building contractors, and/or insurance adjusters. Maybe even your local TV weatherman. I'm sure any of those folks could show you some sights and tell ya some stories.

Gregory is right. Geographically appropriate details matters.

Great advice, Anand Ramachandran! Thank you!

Your question immediately brought to mind a TV movie from the 80s called “Cougar,” which involves a farmhouse getting swept down a river with two kids inside. (Later they crash on shore and encounter a cougar.) It caught my imagination as a kid because you can’t help thinking about your own house being half underwater when watching it.

Anyway, turns out it’s on YouTube, of course. in the first 10 minutes, we see the house on the river (model shots). The kids look out the second floor window and see the moving river (clever set placement). And the boy goes to the flooded downstairs to swim for food. That stairway set is in a tank of some sort. The rest of the house is suggested, not shown.

https://youtu.be/vOd3nBbi3i4?si=RorN1hPHL_xT3YEX

My point is, my young imagination filled in a lot of details. It could be that all you need is one small controllable room to suggest more.

I never thought about that, Mike Boas. That's a great idea! Thanks. And thanks for the link. I'll check out COUGAR.

Anand Ramachandran Thanks!

Talk to Amile Wilson in Mississippi. He can probably get your cheap house and supply the flood. Look him up on imdm PRO. Tell him I sent ya :)

I'm not producing or directing the movie, Shane Stanley, but thanks for sharing the info. It might help someone else who needs it.

Maurice Vaughan , like the discussion. Depending on the volume of water needed for the scene, it will be better to film by the lake. Hope this was useful.

It does help, Eon C. Rambally. Thanks.

Maurice Vaughan , you're welcome!

Some really good suggestions from so many here. Having been in production for decades (from Prod. Secretary to Producer, from major studios to commercials, docs, indies, and corporate) there is an important concept -- "Write for the Shoot". Particularly if you are going to be pitching your script as a low budget one. // If not, and you are looking to sell the script without being attached, then some of the advice above to just write it as you wish and let others work out the logistics could serve you well. // A wide range in between of course. May you enjoy the writing process, and find much success with your creativity, Maurice.

Thanks, Pamela Jaye Smith. I've thought of ways to write this script so it doesn't cost a huge amount to make. I appreciate the comments and advice, everyone.