What Is A Cover Set?
A cover set is an alternate filming location that is reserved in case the original filming location is unusable. Cover sets are typically reserved by the AD if the original filming location is outdoors and weather conditions might prevent the shoot from happening.
Film productions can take a proactive approach by closely monitoring weather forecasts. While some weather conditions like a light sprinkle may not have a major impact on a shoot, conditions such as heavy rains can not only damage equipment, but even while attempting to shoot a scene with everything covered, the unwanted sounds of the heavy rain drops hitting canopies and tarps can be picked up.
In other situations, filming in harsher weather conditions can be dangerous. For example, filming in lightning, heavy winds, or even more extreme weather is never recommended as the potential for cast and crew to get hurt is quite high and not worth the risk.
Experienced filmmakers often schedule exterior shoots early in the schedule and save interiors for later. If it looks like a shoot will need to relocate to a cover set, communication is important to ensure that all departments have everything they need to make the cover set work for the scene that was originally planned as a little bit of extra work may be needed to match the desired shoot as close as possible.
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