Logistics

Who? What? When? Where? And Why?

Logistics is organising every minute detail of a production so every possible problem has a solution and production can move as smooth as possible. Logistics is, in my opinion, the hardest part of pre-production as you have to consider every possible outcome and take into account all the pitfalls your project may fall into. Poor logistics leads to a more dangerous set which causes issues with health and safety and damage control, ultimately culminating in a loss of money or even life. Even when a project is as basic as a shoot for a magazine cover it’s important to take into account: what days the model can do; what they should do (i.e. use of and props/positions); how long they will be there; where it’ll be and the purpose of the shoot. 

Breaking down logistics:

Who?

Logistics are often used to look at how two actors may interact on set. Lot’s of the time, big personalities meeting behind scenes can lead to disaster so logistics are important for keeping the peace. But more importantly, it’s organising the whereabouts of everyone at all times so that all of the crew knows their hours. This can be difficult, especially if not everyone has been casted yet or if equipment companies need to be called as everything is uncertain, however, it is critical that it is done or accidents will occur and people will get hurt or be in the wrong place at the wrong time. 

What?

It’s important that in the pre-production phase you are often considering what you want the outcome to be and what the possible issues are that may need contingency plans. Contingency plans are essentially plan Bs incase an actor is late or some equipment hasn’t arrived, which can help move a production along swiftly. During the production of the TV show Titans a special effects coordinator was killed by some loose shrapnel from a car in a stunt. The production was closed for 2 days but due to countless contingency plans and some flawless logistical planning it started again and was completed before the deadline. The first episode featured a tribute to Warren Appleby and special measures were taken to help his family.  

When?

Every member of the crew must be seen as human beings who have a life outside of the production so it is of the uttermost importance you plan out dates and times to a T. The daily plan for the production of Harry Potter: Prisoner of Azkaban featured a massive timetable of where people will be and when, with details as minute as the length of time it’d take a taxi to get from Daniel Radcliffe’s hotel to the set. This level of precision guarantees a painless, stress-free production that is not only efficient but also enjoyable.

Where?

Similarly it’s important you know where everyone will be at all times to maximise productivity. A careless crew is a dangerous one so having control over that can reduce possible damage to property and lives. 

Why?

It’s easy to question the necessity of logistics as they seem to be the pinnacle of pedanticism but they are critical for reducing accidents and meeting deadlines. Often studios will want to know anything and everything about a production so this is the best way of keeping them happy. Logistics have been around since the birth of film with one of the first incidents happening on Across The Border in which 16-year-old cast member Grace McHugh was on a boat crossing the Arkansas River when they suddenly capsized.the camera operator (Owen Carter) immediately jumped in pulling her to safety. Unfortunately, the river bank was quicksand so the crew had to helplessly watch as the two slowly sunk into the sandbar where they drowned. 

How to be logistic:

The first thing you should do before beginning production is flesh out all the possible things that could go wrong. This is easier said than done because there’s no way of predicting radical weather or sandbank quicksand but it is still important to plan out all the smaller details that are arguably just as important. Work through it bit by bit and have a solid plan with no room for error to reduce the chance of any issues occurring. During the production of Lawrence of Arabia the actor Peter O’Toole almost died falling off a camel and then broke his thumb drunkenly punching through a caravan window, so as long as you have a strong plan and contingency plans to go with it you should avoid messy production.

In Conclusion:

Logistics are vital to a productions success, assisting in the reduction of continuity errors and maintaining a safe set during filming. In other forms of media it’s just as important if not more important. For the creation of an advert you must take into account so many varying details to make it as entertaining as possible. Logistics may seem over the top or too much work but they do directly correlate to the success of a project. Logistics keep everyone in order and on time allowing for a smooth production and less risk. Some media projects require more planning than others, for example the longest film ever made ‘Logistics’ should’ve been a daunting task with 51,420 min to fill but no it was relatively straight forward. In my opinion it is one of the most important aspects of pre-production but often times films can be successful without it, take ‘Logistics’ for example, it’s rejection to do logistics landed it a 5.5/10 on IMDb, compared to Harry Potter: The Prisoner of Azkaban’s 7.9.