In the following article, we will examine some methods that you can implement to cool down your cast and crew without affecting your sound equipment and ruining the quality of your audio recordings. Specifically, I will discuss practices such as placing bowls of ice cubes around the set to chill the space as well as serving cold foods/drinks to your team. Furthermore, I will explain the importance of employing LED lights which give off less heat and using breathable fabrics (such as linen and cotton) for any costumes. Finally, I will examine the benefits of cooling the furniture and placing wardrobes in the freezer before filming to keep your actors from overheating.
Tip 1: Placing bowls of ice cubes around the set
A wise method for reducing the heat on a set involves placing containers of frozen water around the space. As it melts, the ice will cool the surrounding air and lower the temperature of the set without making any noise. This practice functioned as a primitive form of air conditioning prior to the invention of modern day appliances and will make your stage feel like the inside of a refrigerator. Furthermore, using a manual fan will dissipate this cool air around the room and serve to silently relieve your cast and crew members.
Tip 2: Wearing breathable fabrics
Our skin is our largest organ, and it is important that we allow it to breath. Sweating enables us to cool down as the water on our flesh evaporates and reduces our body temperature. Using wardrobes composed of natural fabrics such as linen and cotton will save your actors from overheating under the bright lights of a film set. The website “Linen Beauty” outlines the virtues of these materials and how they can help your body remain cool. These materials are much lighter and more porous than synthetic fibers such as polyester and nylon which trap heat and moisture. Though purchasing clothing made from cotton and linen may be slightly more expensive, it will save you a number of headaches on the set and avoid making your cast members cranky from heat exhaustion.
Tip 3: Using LED lights
One of the biggest contributors to the intense heat on a set is the lights and choosing the appropriate type of bulb will save you and your actors from an unwanted tan. LED lights are an excellent choice for filming as they produce approximately half the heat of incandescents which feature hot filaments. Also, LEDs possess a unique heat sink at the base of the bulb that dissipates the warmth that they produce. Still not convinced? Perhaps the fact that LED lights will also save you money on your energy bill will convince you that this is the best choice for you and your film.
Tip 4: Serving cold foods/drinks
It is important not only to keep your actors cool externally through the use of fans but also internally through the consumption of cold drinks and foods. According to the “First Response Healthcare” website, lime water is a terrific beverage to help alleviate heat exhaustion and entails a mixture of sugar, lemon and water. Furthermore, serving foods that have a high water content (such as melon, cucumber and celery) is a terrific way to rehydrate the body. Conversely, it is unwise to serve salty snacks (which are high in sodium) as they will cause your kidneys to draw fluid from other areas of the body and leave you feeling parched. Also, you should definitely not serve alcohol on a film set because it is a diuretic and will cause the body to expel water.
Tip 5: Cooling the furniture and wardrobes
Sitting in a chair or laying on a bed can build up body heat and cause an actor to quickly become overheated. It is therefore wise to cool down the furniture using fans during breaks in filming as well as chilling areas of the set that are portable (such as cushions, pads or headrests). A great example of this practice is the Chillow, a chilled pillow that you can conceal under an elaborate costume to lower an actor’s body temperature. Similarly, placing pieces of an actor’s attire in a freezer for a few minutes prior to filming will help them remain invigorated and essentially transform them into a human ice cube. Physically cooling down a set will help your cast remain level-headed and focused whenever disagreements arise and stress begins to build.
Regardless of your line of employment, nobody wants to work in an uncomfortable environment. Making a film is such an involved process that it is essential to remain cool under pressure (both in regards to your body temperature and temperament). Feeling overheated will agitate your team and cause them to become short-tempered and stressed out. Following the guidelines outlined above will help keep your set calm and guarantee that cooler heads will prevail!
Final Note
Just remember, whatever you shoot is a marketing tool. It’s there to help promote your work and not everything you film needs to be used for film festivals. It’s there to show what you are capable of and that you are serious as a filmmaker in telling compelling stories. And filming a project under low budget is a marketing tool as well, as it shows that you can make the most of the money you are given, and you are financially responsible as you be handling other people’s money when making a feature film or commercial. There is very little advantage in spending a ton of money for a film project. But most of all, be gratuitous and helpful to all those who help you on your journey to being a filmmaker.
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Note From Tongal: This blog is part of a series of Tongal Community-written blog posts that were originally sourced in the Tongal Blog Open Call Project. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Tongal. Read more Tongal Community-written posts here!
