Take Your Time: The Art of Slowing Down on Set
Trust the pause—great stories unfold when you give them space.
Question: I feel like everything would look and sound better on-screen if I could just learn to slow down, but when I’m on location I’m always worried I’m taking too much time to set up, get my shots, etc. Any advice on taking up space, taking your time, etc.?
Answer: I’m uncomfortably familiar with the nagging feeling that I’m taking up too much time or space while on location. You might worry that your participants are getting impatient, that you’re slowing down the shoot, or that you’re taking too long to get set up. But here’s the truth: quality storytelling requires time, patience, and presence.
The best documentaries result from allowing life to unfold in front of the camera, which takes more time than most people realize. Learning how to balance your needs as a filmmaker with respect for your participants’ time is crucial, but you should never rush the process at the expense of the story.
I also want to note that there tend to be two extremes here. There are people who (like the person asking the question) are afraid to take up any space, and those who take up too much space. Neither approach is helpful. We are seeking a balance between respect for the participants’ time, and a respect for their/your story. You are there, after all, to do a job. You are not there to take, extract, or “capture” something in a greedy way. Developing your filmmaking maturity is key to finding the balancing act of slowing down while being respectful.
Here are six tips on finding that balance.
1 - Set Clear Expectations Before You Arrive
One of the most effective ways to ease your anxiety about taking too much time is to set expectations before the shoot begins. Clear communication is key. In the pre-production phase, you should have an open conversation about how much time they can commit to the project. Knowing their availability beforehand helps you plan accordingly and manage your time more effectively.
Here’s an example of how you might word this in an email or phone conversation:
Hi [Name],
Looking forward to filming with you on [date]. I just wanted to confirm the logistics for the shoot. I’ll arrive around [time] to get set up, and I estimate that I’ll need about [X amount of time] to film the scenes we discussed. I’ll also need around [Y minutes] to mic you up before we get started. Does that timeline work for you?
If there’s anything I should know about your schedule (like a specific time you need to be done or any breaks you’ll need), feel free to let me know so we can work around it. You can reach me at [your number] if anything changes!
Thanks,
[Your Name]
By addressing expectations upfront, you give your participants a clear sense of what the day will look like. This not only reduces the potential for misunderstandings but also frees you from worrying about taking too much time—because you’ve already set a mutually agreed-upon timeframe - and eases the participant’s anxiety if they are nervous about the shoot.
2 - Ground Yourself And Connect
Once you’re on location, the temptation to rush can feel overwhelming—especially if you sense that your participants are busy or that things aren’t going smoothly. But it’s essential to remember that slowing down is often the best thing you can do for your film.
Before you pull out your camera or start setting up your gear, take some time to connect with your participants. Arrive early, grab a coffee with them, chat about something unrelated to the shoot (did you see the supermoon!?!), and make them feel comfortable. This step not only helps them relax but also helps you create an environment where authentic moments can unfold naturally.
Even if you’re feeling rushed or anxious, showing up early to build rapport with your participants can have a significant impact on the quality of the shoot. When people feel comfortable with you, they’re more likely to open up and be themselves on camera, and that can’t be rushed.
3 - Prioritize the Essential Shots
If you’re feeling crunched for time, it’s important to have a plan in place for what shots are essential versus what would be nice to have. Go into each shoot with a list of must-have shots, and focus on those first. This doesn’t mean sacrificing creativity or flexibility, but it helps you manage your time better by ensuring that you get the most important footage even if things get tight.
4 - Adjust as Needed
No matter how much preparation you do, sometimes your participants will have less time than expected. This happens. When it does, you have two options: lower your expectations for the day or reschedule the shoot.
If they’re genuinely pressed for time, it’s okay to strip down your gear, get the key shots you need, and leave them to their day. In these situations, lower your expectations and focus on getting what’s essential. There’s no point in trying to force a complex shot list when your participants are clearly rushing. Instead, adapt and adjust on the fly.
However, if the scene or interaction you’re documenting is too important to rush, it’s completely reasonable to ask to reschedule. Rushing through something important will only result in frustration and a loss of the genuine moments you’re aiming to capture. Rescheduling gives you another chance to come back with more time and care.
5 - Connect To Your Breath
Mindfulness plays a huge role in how I approach filmmaking. I’ve found that when I allow myself to be fully present in the moment, I’m able to use time more wisely and feel less anxious about what I still need to capture. Mindfulness in filmmaking means focusing on what’s happening right now, instead of dwelling on what you might have missed or worrying about what comes next.
While setting up a shot, practice focusing on the small details—the way the light hits a participant, the sound of the environment, the emotion in someone’s eyes. These details will ground you in the moment. When things go wrong (and they will), reframe the situation as an opportunity to adapt. Use the challenges as a way to grow, rather than a reason to panic.
Sometimes it helps to plant your feet and breathe deeply before each shot. It’s easy to get caught up in the urgency of the moment, especially if things aren’t going as planned. You can ground yourself, reset your focus, and ensure that you’re giving each shot the time and attention it deserves.
Count to 20 before you hit record. This forces you to slow down, check your framing and ensure everything is set before you move forward. These brief pauses will help you avoid the rushed, panicked feeling that often comes with working under time pressure. Then count to 20 when filming. Nothing is worse then getting back into the editing room and realizing you only held a potentially great shot for 3 seconds.
Mindfulness isn’t just about staying calm—it’s about slowing down time, so you can be fully aware of what’s happening in front of the camera.
6 - Trust The Process
Lastly, you need to trust that you deserve the time and space you take while filming. It’s easy to feel like you’re a burden or that you’re inconveniencing others, but you’re there for a reason. Your presence has value, and the time you take to set up the perfect shot, capture the right sound, or allow the moment to unfold is an essential part of the process.
You aren’t just “taking up time” for the sake of it. You’re investing time in capturing a story that will resonate with others. As long as you’re respectful of your participants’ schedules and transparent about your process, you should feel confident in taking the time you need.
REMEMBER
Confirm time commitments before the day of the shoot.
Communicate the time you’ll need for setup.
Arrive earlier than your participants.
Before each shot, take a deep breath, and count to 20.
Focus on connecting with your participants before the camera rolls.
Identify the essential shots so you know where to focus your energy.
If your participants are rushed, either lower your expectations or reschedule.
Adapt on the fly—strip your gear down to the essentials and capture the moment.
Journal Prompt:
Take 10-15 minutes to cultivate a deeper understanding of how to embrace time and space in your filmmaking process. The more aware you are of your relationship with time, the more confident and focused you’ll become on location. Use the following questions to guide your thoughts:
How do you feel about taking time in the field? Do you feel guilty or anxious about it? If so, why?
When was the last time you felt rushed during a shoot? What triggered that feeling, and how did it affect the quality of your work?
What does it mean to you to "deserve" the space you take up as a filmmaker? How can you remind yourself of the value of your presence in the field?