The Importance of a Special Effects Mindset in Location Scouting—and How to Use It

Is Using Raw Footage a Luxury?

In the early days of filmmaking, nearly all scenes were shot on studio sets. But as cameras became smaller and more portable, filmmakers began asking, “Wouldn’t it be cheaper to shoot an apartment scene in a real apartment?” And so, location shooting outside the studio became more common.

At the time, many considered this heresy. “That’s not cinema! Real films are shot on proper sets!” they said.

Today, it’s standard practice to shoot outdoor scenes on location and use studio sets for time-consuming indoor scenes. It’s a practical balance between realism and cost.

But for low-budget filmmakers like us, the financial scale is entirely different. We have to be far more inventive to make scenes work.

So while legends like:

• Akira Kurosawa removed rooftops that interfered with his shots
• Steven Spielberg took down TV antennas that didn’t match the era
• Yōji Yamada planted spider lilies to enhance a scene’s mood

…we shouldn’t try to imitate these methods. They’re incredibly expensive and don’t necessarily improve audience satisfaction.

Shift Your Focus to the Final Image

Of course, as creators, we want visually satisfying results. That desire is essential. But instead of chasing perfection during shooting, I suggest aiming for it in the final edit.

Some may argue, “The magic of filmmaking lies in the shoot itself. Using post-production to build scenes is cheating.” Personally, I don’t mind being called a cheat.

If you embrace this “unorthodox” mindset, you’ll need to view your locations not just with your eyes, but with imagination. Specifically, you’ll need to think in three ways:

1. The scene works if something is hidden
2. The scene works if something is added
3. The scene works if the scale is altered

Let’s break these down.

1. The Scene Works If Something Is Hidden

This is probably the most common case. You’ve found a great composition, but something unwanted is in the frame.

For example, you want a wide shot of a temple courtyard, but there’s a work truck parked inside. Asking someone to move it isn’t always realistic—and doing so repeatedly is unsustainable.

Instead, shoot with the assumption that you’ll remove the truck in post. The same goes for power lines in a period drama—just erase them later.

In many cases, “a composition with unwanted elements removed” is far more compelling than “a composition that avoids unwanted elements.”

2. The Scene Works If Something Is Added

Adding elements—like spider lilies—is easy in post. You can adjust size, placement, and quantity to suit the scene. This technique is especially useful for conveying seasonal atmosphere.

On a larger scale, you could turn an ordinary city street into a sci-fi setting by adding futuristic vehicles or architecture.

3. The Scene Works If the Scale Is Altered

This technique is a bit more niche. When shooting natural landscapes, lowering the camera angle can make the terrain look like a miniature set.

I love showcasing natural topography in my work, so I use this method often.

Here’s how it works:

• Treat the ground beneath you as a miniature open set
• Instead of building a model, find natural terrain that resembles one
• This works best with rocky areas, since rocks easily distort our sense of scale

Say you need a scene with a 10-meter cliff. You can find a 1-meter rock formation on a beach and shoot it from a low angle to simulate the height.

The key is to avoid including scale-revealing elements like leaves or grass. If they’re present, viewers will subconsciously realize the cliff is small.

If you can’t remove them during the shoot, use the “hide it in post” method mentioned earlier.

Why Use These “Unorthodox” Techniques?

Because even without a big budget, you can still faithfully recreate your creative vision. With these tricks, your film can earn reactions like “Wow, that’s surprisingly polished!”

Hope this helps spark some ideas.