How it works
On a normal location day, the grip and electric departments roll their carts off the trucks at the start of the day and build a staging area near set: C-stands in a row, flags and nets on a cart, sandbags stacked, cable coiled on pads. Everything a crew member might need during a setup is within a short walk of the camera.
In a tailgate setup, the trucks park close enough to set that building a staging area isn't worth the time. The key grip and gaffer keep the gear on the truck, the liftgate stays down, and crew walk to the back of the truck for each piece. The best boys run the trucks, handing out and tracking gear.
When crews choose it
The deciding question is how long the company will be there versus how long it takes to stage and wrap. A scene list for a day might include:
| Scene | Location | Pages | Time on site | Setup style |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | EXT. GAS STATION - DAY | 1/8 | 45 min | Tailgate |
| 13 | INT. CAR (driving) | 6/8 | 2 hrs | Tailgate, process trailer |
| 20 | INT. MOTEL ROOM - DAY | 3 2/8 | 5 hrs | Full staging in hallway |
Staging and wrapping the carts at the gas station could take as long as shooting the scene. At the motel, with several hours and a hallway far from the parking lot, carts near the room make more sense.
Tradeoffs
Speed in and out is the benefit. A small unit can shoot two or three quick locations in a morning if nobody has to rebuild a staging area. That's also why splinter units and second units almost always work this way.
The cost shows up when the shot changes. If the director wants a bigger negative fill for the reverse and the truck is 150 feet away, the grips are walking. Over a day, those walks add up to fewer setups.
Parking is the other constraint. A truck next to set needs a permit or permission for that spot, and it may end up in the background of a wide shot. The location manager and transportation captain work out whether the trucks can be close without being in frame, and the 1st AD decides with the department heads which style suits each location on the day.