Guides · Tips and techniques
Planning your shoot day in a rented studio
How to plan a shoot day when the studio is hired in blocks: build, breaks, overrun and what you lock in beforehand.
Last updated: 7 November 2026
Work backwards from the end time
In a hired studio the clock is part of the price. Studio Big Time states that you build and wrap inside the booked time: a full day until 17:30 means you are finished wrapping at 17:30. So plan not only the takes, but also load-in, lights, lunch, resets between setups and a buffer for overrun. See what a studio costs for hour, half-day and day blocks.
What you lock in in advance
Confirm the address, access, parking, contact person, what will be ready (lights, props, green-screen colour) and the house rules. Send the studio a short call sheet: headcount, load-in time, and whether you need extra power or an early build. Those questions belong in what you ask the landlord.
Overrun and the next booking
Ask whether anyone is booked after your block. Ask Studio Big Time in advance how any overtime would be charged. Mirage3D bills overtime per half hour. Those are their rules, not a standard. Get it in writing; see terms.