Industrial Media Assignment snapshot on reading: Developing a crew by Rabiger in Directing Film Techniques and Aesthetics
Developing a crew- Given that film making is relativistic with framing, composition, speed of camera movement and microphone positioning, always use people with experience.
The crew is critical as they affect actors. The crew should be cast for personal and technical capabilities it helps crew members get attuned to each other’s reflexes, terminology and assumptions. It helps lock all lines of communication and responsibility amongst the crew.
While choosing the crew: do the following
-Do trials before main shoots.
-Find out understanding of yourself and the crew.
-Discover what developments are needed for the crew.
-Confirm equipment is working and the crew handling it.
-Dispense all surprises.
Developing a crew- look out for
1) Commitment- commitments help deliver belief and morale
2) Ideas and Identity- under stress, while technical acumen is important, the crew’s maturity and values become important.
3) Right temperament- to ensure support to the project and to all individuals in front of the camera. A good support from crew results in multiplied enthusiasm and energized environment.
4)Always do reference check while recruiting to know the person’s strength and weakness and how they respond to stress.
Important qualities such as
-Sociability
-Sense of humor
-Enthusiasm for films
-A nurturing temperament
-Low key realism
-Reliability
-Ability to sustain effort and concentrate for long periods.
Organize the Crew
1) Define areas of Responsibility
2) Keep a formal working structure
Chart- Genealogical chart of small film unit showing customary lines of responsibility.
Is your film crew with the right personality traits? In the article I have short listed the desirable personality traits of a crew.
Direction department
Director
-Has a lively, inquiring mind
-Likes delving with people’s lives and looks for hypothetical traits and explanations.
-Is methodical and organized
-Can scrap prior work if ass… become obsolete
-Is articulate and succinct
-Can make intrinsic judgements and decisions
-Able to get best out of people without being dictatorial
-Able to understand technical problems and their best efforts.
Script supervisor – answers to director
-Has formidable powers of observation
-Thoroughly understands editing
-Knows the script and how the film is constructed inside out
-Has fierce powers of concentration, acts fast, is an accurate typist and produces continuity reports
Production department
Producer
-Is an enabler, supplier and rationer of vital resources.
-Strengths include planning, scheduling and accounting
-Is a cultivated, intelligent and sensitive business person whose goal is to nourish good work by supporting all artists and crafts people hired to produce it.
Production Manager– answers to producer
-Organized, methodical and able negotiator
-Compulsive list keeper
-Socially adept and diplomatic
-Able to delegate and juggle shifting priorities
-Able to make quick and accurate decisions involving time, effort and money
Assistant Director– answers to production manager
-Organized
-Good business mind
-A voice that can wake up the dead
-Firm and diplomatic nature
Camera department : Crew personalities
-Image conscious
-Good at composition and design
-Team player
-Practical
-Decisive
-Inventive methods and dexterous
Sound crew: Sound recordist and boom operator- report to the director of photography.
-Patient
-Has a good ear
-A person who thinks ahead
-Can listen to sound
Gaffer and grips
-Patient
-Knows every imaginable way to skin the proverbial cat
-Can work tearing down the masses of equipment and have it ready to set up again for the next shootConstruction specialist
-Must be a master crafts person and good at team work
Art Department
Art director
-Designs, fine arts, architecture background
-Ability to sketch or paint
-Eye for fashion, taste and social distinctions
-Strong grasp of emotional potential of colour and it’s combinations
-Ability to translate the script into series of settings with costumes to heighten the underlying intentions of the script.
-Managerial and common skills- he works with painter, carpenter, props, dresser, wardrobe personnel Special effects
-Tenacious
-Inventive
-Resourceful with love for impossible challenges
-Houdini type relationship with danger
Wardrobe and Props
Answers to art director
-Highly resourceful, practical and organized
-Can develop contacts among antique, resale, theatrical and junk shop owners.
Makeup and hairdressing
-Diplomacy and endurance
-Always available on shoot for repair/touch up of their handy work
monamediamantras 