A few weeks ago I got a call from a line producer based in Chicago who was working for a production company in Milwaukee if I was available to location manage a shoot in Springfield. The shoot was for an “image campaign” for Baystate Medical Center. The campaign is to educate the community about what Baystate brings to the region as well as to provide a glimpse at the “Hospital of the Future.”
The line producer had gotten my name from someone in the valley who I had never worked with or met but who had come across my site. I guess what promotion I’ve done for the site has worked.
The company was interested in hiring some local crew but had a crew of grips, electrics, and camera department with their own equipment that they had worked with before. On the bright side that meant more money being spent on hotel rooms and restaurants. Locally they hired someone to do both Hair & Make Up and Wardrobe (for the “talent” who were former patients, doctors, and other community members), a sound mixer, prop master/set decorator to dress a few sets, and 4 PA’s.
In advance of the actual shoot the line producer, director, and 1st AD flew into Springfield to do a director’s scout to chose the specific locations within the hospital and other associated buildings.
When they returned to Milwaukee to finish preparations I put together some “site maps” using the maps of Baystate provided on their website so that the crew wouldn’t get too lost in the hospital.
Here’s what my map looked like:
A few weeks after the directors scout the director, 1st ad, and line producer returned with a few more key crew members including the director of photography, gaffer, key grip. We then went on a “tech scout” which is when we visit the filming locations and determine what will be needed for the shoot in terms of crew and equipment.
The next day the rest of the crew arrived and we got to work.
We shot for 3 12 hour days mostly in the hospital but also in the YMCA, and one of Baystate’s medical clinics. We had amazing assistance from members of the hospital’s creative services and PR departments which made my job much easier than usual. I spent most of my time posting signs between set, catering, and other places the crew had to get to and from. The hospital is a huge place and we were moving a lot so I did my best to stay ahead of the shoot and nobody got too lost.
The hospital was very helpful and once everyone had adjusted to the size of the crew things went smoothly. Hospitals are always a challenge to film in because the shoot is never as important as the patients or employees being able to do their jobs. Luckily the crew understood that and was very professional. Most of the crew had worked on similar projects so they knew how to handle the situation.
After we finished shooting and ate some Red Rose Pizza we went out for drinks at The Picadilly Pub on Riverdale St because it was close to the motel where the crew stayed. Other restaurants that proved popular with the visiting crew included Bottega Cucina, Cal’s, Samuels, Sierra Grille, Mama Iguana‘s, and The Green Street Cafe
All in all the crew used about 12 hotel rooms during the shoot as well as 4 during the tech scout. They ate at various restaurants 3 nights during the tech scout, and another 5 nights during the shoot. They didn’t spend anything on location fees because everything was arranged by the hospital but even on a small job like this quite a bit of money was put into the area economy.
Here are some photos starting with the director’s scout and ending with the shoot itself
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