A few years ago I was working on a short film and as with many short films money was tight and everyone gave their time for free and we covered travel. Running a shoot like this, you have to have faith that everyone will do their job because you can’t do everything, you can’t build a set, frame a shot, put on make-up and prepare food… it is just impossible.
Anyway the person doing props took on their task and delivered a great table, oldy worldy phones, whiskey bottle etc, but when we came to shoot a scene were missing one key item. A shot glass. How could such a simple thing be missed? Easy. The props person made a list, saw shot glass and thought, “I have one of those at home” and crossed it off. When we came to shoot the glass was still at home. I had to run and find a new glass, dropping in on all the pubs I could find for about a mile. I finally reached Asda and brought one and ran back. We shot the scene but this one missing prop had left 2 hours behind. At the end of the night the tube were shut and we had to pay for cars home for the cast and crew setting us back over £100. Missing a £2 shot glass cost us time and money.
The moral of the story is, just because something looks easy doesn’t mean it is not important.
