-10 DIT Filmmaking Guide – Crewing Your Film – L2S2p2

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THE CREW FOR YOUR FILM

Who youll need!

            So your ready to get out there and start assembling your soon to be star studded crew. Pack up your pitch and hit the bricks and Internet highway.

Producers

Its a hobby until you get paid!

You are the executive producer of your film, but you cant do everything yourself. So, it is up to you to get the help you need in order to get your film made.

Check out Find Investors – How do you find investors and partners for your business.

Because you will be attempting to get all of your film needs at no cost, your first crew choices should be another producer or two, in order to maximize contacts and resources. I personally recommend three total producers, who will divide responsibilities among each other as follows:

Executive Producer: This is you! The person who puts up/gets the money for the film and is also the mastermind behind the project, you run the show! A leader who knows how to inspire and get it done!

             Duties during pre-production:

Supervise and aid in casting, crewing, equipment, locations, budgeting, scheduling, and all other aspects of the film.

            Duties during principle photography:

Oversee all aspects of the production, by insuring quality control through the produced by.

(Could/Should also be the writer and director, therefore those duties take precedence on set.)

            Duties during post-production:

Supervise, oversee, approve editing, sound design, and score.

            Duties upon completion: In charge of insuring marketing and distribution of the finished film through festival submissions and digital distribution channels.

Produced By: This is the person should be an outgoing people person who is excellent at networking. The go to person for acquiring actors, equipment and locations, good with paperwork, and numbers.

Duties during pre-production: Oversee all aspects of the production, by insuring quality control and problem solving through department heads.

Duties during principle photography: Stay in close contact between the Line Producer and 1st AD to insure quality control of the set.

Duties during post-production: Oversee, editing, sound design, and score to insure completion of the film.

Duties upon completion: Aid in insuring marketing and distribution of the finished film.

Check out a great video with indi-producers @ Rambling On… with Producers: What Does a Producer Actually Do?

Line Producer: This is a highly analytical person who’s key responsibilities will be scheduling and budgeting of the film, working closely with the first AD in order to keep the film on time and under budget.

Duties during pre-production: Aid in location scouting, budget and schedule the film. Create rehearsal schedule. Assist 1st AD in daily shot scheduling.

Duties during principle photography: Stay in close contact between the 1st AD and the produced by to insure quality control of the set. Act as production manager, keeping track of all financials, contracts, and schedules.

Duties during post-production: Keep post-production crew on task to insure a timely delivery of the film.

Duties upon completion: Aid in insuring marketing and distribution of the finished film. Keep track of financials.

Check out a funny video @ Crew Encyclopedia – The Line Producer and a more serious one @ John Duffy – Difference Between Line Producer and UPM

Directorial Department

Creatively Organized

            Director: This is the visionary of the film. May also be a producer and/or the writer?

Duties during pre-production: Final say in location scouting, casting. Line’s the script for shot design and directorial beats. Works closely with the DP on shot design and mood. Works closely with the 1st AD for daily shot scheduling. Rehearses actors.

            Duties during principle photography: Direct actors and camera to insure quality performances and vision. Review dailies.

            Duties during post-production: Oversee all aspects of post-production. Final say in edit, sound design and score.

Check out Symon Says TV for an awesome directors school, and some cool notes at Notes to a First-Time Director as well as How To Be A Director (Web Film School #8)

1st Assistant director (1st AD): This person is an organizational, time management, and problem-solving genius, with a knowledge of all departments of film and on set activity.

Duties during pre-production: Use the schedule and shot list to break down the films schedule into a daily shooting schedule. Create crew lists and call sheets.

            Duties during principle photography: The BOSS on set. In charge of cast and crew. Keeps time and track of all functions of the production to insure all departments are running in sync. Works closely with the director and DP to keep shooting on schedule. “Calls” the shots and ensures the set runs on time.

            Check out Movie Set Job Description – Assistant Directors,

also THE CREW – Assistant Director,

and My Life as a Second Assistant Director

Camera Crew

Shooting stuff

            Director of Photography (DP): This person in in charge of shooting and insuring the “look” of the film matches the directors vision. They will ideally have their own equipment and an in depth knowledge of cameras and lighting techniques.

Duties during pre-production: Assist the director in shot design. Create shooting charts and lighting diagrams to insure smooth set-ups during principle photography.

Duties during principle photography: In charge of camera and lighting crew. Operates camera A. Works closely with the director and 1st AD to ensure efficiency and artistic integrity.

Duties during post-production: Works closely with the colorist to insure quality of the final film.

Check out Movie Set Job Description – Director of Photography,

and Film Director of Photography: Eve Hazelton at TEDxEaling

Camera Operator: They will ideally have their own equipment and an in depth knowledge of cameras and lighting techniques.

Duties during Principle Photography: Operates camera B, and aids in lighting set ups and breakdowns. Check out THE CREW – Camera Department on YouTube.

Assistant Camera (AC): They will ideally have their own equipment and an in depth knowledge of cameras and lighting techniques.

Duties during Principle Photography: Assist the camera operator, by pulls focus, switches lenses, makes “marks” and aids in lighting set ups and breakdowns.

Check out Movie Set Job Description – Camera Department

Sound Department

“Listen Linda”

            Sound Supervisor: This person should ideally have their own rig and sound equipment. Is proficient in location sound recording, folly, audio mixing and Pro-Tools or equivalent software.

            Duties during pre-production: Understanding the locations and environment they will be recording in. Creating a list and bank of audio that may be needed during post-production.

            Duties during principle photography: In charge of location sound and crew. Mixes on set audio, in charge of controllable noise sources.

            Duties during post-production: In charge of post sound crew, foley, dialogue editing, backgrounds, score placement, and the final mix.

Sound Assistant: This person should ideally have their own rig and sound equipment. Is proficient in location sound recording, folly, audio mixing and Pro-Tools or equivalent software.

            Duties during pre-production: Assist the sound supervisor in understanding the locations and environment they will be recording in. Creating a list and bank of audio that may be needed during post-production.

            Duties during principle photography: Assists in setting up equipment, boom operator, laving actors, and equipment maintenance.

            Duties during post-production: Assists in post sound, foley, dialogue editing, backgrounds, score placement, and the final mix.

Check out MOVIE SET JOB DESCRIPTION – Sound Department

Art Department:

Building the world

Movie Set Job Descriptions – Art Department

Art Director: This person is going to embody the duties of production design, wardrobe, and hair and makeup.

Duties during pre-production: Work with director and the script in order to ensure all props, costumes, and sets are appropriate and available. Works with actors wardrobes, networks in order to find costumes, props, and make-up for no cost.

Duties during production: Insures all necessary materials are available on set. Dress the set and the actors. Does hairs and makeup.

Assistant Art Director: This person will assist in the duties of production design, wardrobe, and hair and makeup.

Duties during pre-production: Work with art director and the script in order to ensure all props, costumes, and sets are appropriate and available. Works with actors wardrobes, networks in order to find costumes, props, and make-up for no cost.

Duties during production: Insures all necessary materials are available on set. Dress the set and the actors. Does hairs and makeup.

Check out THE CREW – Set Decoration

and THE CREW – Costume Department

as well as THE CREW – Make Up Department

Editorial Department

Slice and dice

            Editor: This person will ideally have their own rig and non-linear editing software (final cut pro, adobe premier, avid, or the like). They will have an excellent sense of timing and knowledge of dramatic editing techniques and software.

            Duties during principle photography: On set to DIT and begin initial Assembly as scenes are completed.

            Duties during post-production: Rough cut to final cut and picture lock of the film.

Check out What Does a Film Editor Do? And connectedstudios – Film Editor

Colorist: This person shall have knowledge of advanced color software compatible with current editing software.

            Duties during post-production: Work closely with the director and DP to insure the color of the film is up to their standards.

            Check out “What is a Colorist?” on Vimeo

Next Lesson ⇒ IL Casting TN

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