Building the Team

[CJInzana]

You have the idea, you have the screenplay, you have the funding. What about the team to make it come true?

I'm putting together my main crew right now of trusted people I've worked with before. I want to set a few main roles and then everything else will be volunteers. The main crew will be paid and be the same people for the entire production, while the rest of the roles won't and the people filling them will probably change day to day.

My main crew positions are:
Writer/Director (myself)
Producer/Production Coordinator
Cinematographer (Also editor)
Sound Manager
Key Grip

Am I missing any very important positions that should be filled for a medium-sized production? This is the biggest project I've organized myself to-date, so I'm trying to cover all the bases before we get the ball rolling and realize we don't have enough people to keep it from rolling away.

 

[directorik]

The absolute minimum crew I suggest:
DP/operator
1st AC
1st AD
script supervisor
gaffer
dolly grip/key grip
grip/electric
grip/electric
grip/electric
makeup/costumer
set dresser/props
audio recordist
boom op
craft services/caterer
5 PA’s who each have specific tasks

 

[CJInzana]

OH, I have a Makeup artist and caterer, but they aren't paid so I wasn't counting them.

Going by your list, I think I'm pretty good as far as my core crew members. I just felt like I was completely missing something.

 

[2001 Productions]

Rik is right on, as usual. I always plan on having a team like that. However, since I live in the boonies, it rarely works out that way. My last feature wound up something like this:

director (me)
producer (me)
DP/operator (me)
1st AC (me, and occasionally the camera's automatic functions)
1st AD (had one about half the time)
script supervisor (mostly me, along with anyone else who happened to be paying attention on set)
gaffer (me)
dolly grip/key grip (my dad)
grip/electric (whatever actor wasn't on camera at the moment)
makeup/costumer (had one of each, occasionally - otherwise the cast)
set dresser/props (occasionally had someone, otherwise me)
audio recordist (fed directly into camera)
boom op (always had one - occasionally they even knew what they were doing)
craft services/caterer (my mom)
5 PA’s who each have specific tasks (sometimes had 2 if I was lucky - but they tended to wander off and had to be shown exactly what to do all the time, so it was often quicker to just do it myself)

The above, while 100% true, is not meant to contradict Rik. Quite the opposite. Do NOT attempt to do it my way, for the love of God! Only a unique brand of idiot would do that not once, but for 3 features!

 

[CJInzana]

Rik is right on, as usual. I always plan on having a team like that. However, since I live in the boonies, it rarely works out that way. My last feature wound up something like this:

director (me)
producer (me)
DP/operator (me)
1st AC (me, and occasionally the camera's automatic functions)
1st AD (had one about half the time)
script supervisor (mostly me, along with anyone else who happened to be paying attention on set)
gaffer (me)
dolly grip/key grip (my dad)
grip/electric (whatever actor wasn't on camera at the moment)
makeup/costumer (had one of each, occasionally - otherwise the cast)
set dresser/props (occasionally had someone, otherwise me)
audio recordist (fed directly into camera)
boom op (always had one - occasionally they even knew what they were doing)
craft services/caterer (my mom)
5 PA’s who each have specific tasks (sometimes had 2 if I was lucky - but they tended to wander off and had to be shown exactly what to do all the time, so it was often quicker to just do it myself)

The above, while 100% true, is not meant to contradict Rik. Quite the opposite. Do NOT attempt to do it my way, for the love of God! Only a unique brand of idiot would do that not once, but for 3 features!

We'll probably be somewhere in the middle. Most of my crew has been raised on two or three man sets, so they should do just fine. I've done it in some commercials, and short films.

This will be my first feature written/directed/produced by me, so I'm excited and hopefully Murphy's Law won't kill me (it's been working in reverse lately for me, so hopefully it stays that way.

 

[jax_rox]

Possibly the most important key crew on a feature would be: Producer, 1st AD, Script Supervisor. There's no way I'd attempt a feature without them. I'd also give the DP at least a 1st AC if not 2nd AC. I'd also have a Gaffer and at least a Best Boy. I'd also get someone on Production Design, as it is a major component and a Sound Recordist/Boom op.

I'd also put as much money into the production as I can and then if there's anything left over (determined by the Producer whne they budget), then people can get paid. Unless, of course, you're making them give up their day job for it.

 

[Alcove Audio]

hopefully Murphy's Law won't kill me

Murphy's Law - Anything that can go wrong will go wrong

Third Corollary of Murphy's Law - Anything that can go wrong will go wrong, at the worst possible time in the worst possible way.

Fifth Corollary of Murphy's Law - Anything that can go wrong will go wrong at the worst possible time in the worst possible way; and it will be all your fault.

Sixth Corollary of Murphy's Law - Anything that can go wrong will go wrong at the worst possible time in the worst possible way; it will be all your fault, and everyone will know it.

Murphy's Constant - Matter will be damaged in direct proportion to its value.

Murphy's Fourth Law of Finances - Anything you try to fix will take longer and cost you more than you thought.

Hunter's Corollary to Murphy's Law - Things always go from bad to worse.

O'Toole's Commentary on Murphy's Law - Murphy was an optimist.

Wright's Commentary on Murphy's Law - If Murphy's law is correct, everything East of the San Andreas Fault will slide into the Atlantic.