Pick-Up
Additional shooting done after principal photography to capture missing or improved footage.
Definition
Pick-ups are supplementary shooting sessions scheduled after the main production wraps. They might capture insert shots missed during principal photography, reshoot underperforming scenes, or add material based on test screening feedback.
Pick-ups range from half-day sessions for simple inserts to weeks of substantial reshoots.
Why It Matters
Smart producers budget for pick-ups knowing they're often needed. Rushing principal photography to avoid pick-ups can result in more expensive problems later.
Pick-up scheduling affects talent and crew availability, requiring careful deal structuring.
Examples in Practice
A comedy adds pick-up days to capture jokes that emerged during editing, improving the film's laughs.
Test screening feedback prompts two weeks of pick-ups to clarify a confusing third act.
A director shoots additional reaction shots during pick-ups after the editor identifies pacing issues.