What should a small crew for a short consist of?

shockimpulse

shockimpulse

I'm going to be filming a short, a 4 part maybe 5 minute each series to put on YouTube and I was wondering; what kind of positions should I have in a small film crew to work it?

I'm nothing of a pro but so far all that comes to mind is: Director, writer, camera operator, mic holder, editor, and actors.

Is that proper for a basic crew filming a short? Or am I missing out on a few positions here? Because whenever I see a movie and the credits roll, there are just sooo many jobs (not just movies but even for shorts!).
 
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Director, writer, camera operator, mic holder, editor, and actors.
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Get the writing out of the way, before even starting to worry over the rest.

When your script's written, then you can start to plan how many people (and which positions) will be needed for your production.

That's also when you'll be able to make a tally of what resources you have available, what you'll be providing yourslef, and what needs to be rustled up. It's also when you begin to rework the script to accomodate what you can't arrange. :)
 
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Zensteve said:
Get the writing out of the way, before even starting to worry over the rest.

When your script's written, then you can start to plan how many people (and which positions) will be needed for your production.

That's also when you'll be able to make a tally of what resources you have available, what you'll be providing yourslef, and what needs to be rustled up. It's also when you begin to rework the script to accomodate what you can't arrange. :)
Click to expand...

Actually, I finished the storyboard last night and wrote up the script not too long ago, which is why i started considering what I needed.
 
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shockimpulse said:
Actually, I finished the storyboard last night and wrote up the script not too long ago, which is why i started considering what I needed.
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I'm getting mixed messages here, fella.

You just posted in the Knightly thread that you have "finished the story board, timeline and everything last night so all I need to do is actually write the script".

I'm just thinkin' that your workflow might need a little adjustin'?

Unless you've got some crazy experimental (or improv) thing going on, usually the script comes first.

Can you tell us anything about this, to help you out easier?
 
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The kinds of positions you need depends on so many factors it's
an impossible question to answer. One person behind the camera
and one person holding the mic might be all you need.

If you're using lights one more person to help move them around
is nice - but not essential.
If you're using a dolly one more person to push it is essential.

My minimun crew is:

DP/operator
1st AC
1st AD
script supervisor
gaffer
dolly grip/key grip
grip/electric
makeup/costumer
set dresser/props
mixer
boom op

I don't always need that made people. Sometiems I need more.

By no means a complete list - but here are few positions that are
needed to make a film:
PRE-PRODUCTION
Writer
Producer
Executive Producer
Associate Producer
Production Assistant
Casting Director
Production Coordinator
Production Manager
Casting Director
Location Scout
Prop Builder
Production Designer
Art Director
Set Designer
Set Construction Coordinator
Costume Designer/Coordinator
Wardrobe Buyer/Stylist Assistant
Storyboard Artist

PRODUCTION
Line Producer
First Assistant Director
Second Assistant Director
Second Second Assistant Director
Production Assistant
Director of Photography
Camera Operator
First Assistant Camera
Second Assistant Camera/Loader
Steadicam Operator
Stills Photographer
Stunt Coordinator
Location Manager
Script Supervisor
Set Decorator
Set Dresser
Swing Gang
Prop Master
Greensman
Armorer
Food Stylist
Gaffer
Electrician
Best Boy
Key Grip
Dolly Grip
Grip
Rigging Grip
Sound Recordist/Mixer
Boom Operator
Special Effects Coordinator
Pyrotechnician
Special Make-up Effects
Transportation Coordinator
Driver
Make-Up Artist
Hair Stylist
Wardrobe/Dresser
Animal Trainers
Caterer
Craft Service

POST PRODUCTION
Post Production Supervisor
Film Editor
Video Editor
Editing Assistant
Sound Supervisor
Dialogue Editor
Sound Effects
Sound Mixer
Foley Artist
Foley Recordist
ADR Recordist
ADR Editor
Composer
Arranger
Conductor
Musicians
Titles Designer
Negative Cutter
Publicist
 
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Zensteve said:
I'm getting mixed messages here, fella.

You just posted in the Knightly thread that you have "finished the story board, timeline and everything last night so all I need to do is actually write the script".

I'm just thinkin' that your workflow might need a little adjustin'?

Unless you've got some crazy experimental (or improv) thing going on, usually the script comes first.

Can you tell us anything about this, to help you out easier?
Click to expand...

Well see, technically I wrote A script. Something that if I read I could understand and film, but it's not properly formatted for someone like knightly to see; if that makes sense? I never properly learned how to write a screenplay so I wrote it in my own format so technically it is a script, just not an "official" one that a director who knows nothing about it could understand easily.
 
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directorik said:
The kinds of positions you need depends on so many factors it's
an impossible question to answer. One person behind the camera
and one person holding the mic might be all you need.

If you're using lights one more person to help move them around
is nice - but not essential.
If you're using a dolly one more person to push it is essential.

My minimun crew is:

DP/operator
1st AC
1st AD
script supervisor
gaffer
dolly grip/key grip
grip/electric
makeup/costumer
set dresser/props
mixer
boom op

I don't always need that made people. Sometiems I need more.

By no means a complete list - but here are few positions that are
needed to make a film:
PRE-PRODUCTION
Writer
Producer
Executive Producer
Associate Producer
Production Assistant
Casting Director
Production Coordinator
Production Manager
Casting Director
Location Scout
Prop Builder
Production Designer
Art Director
Set Designer
Set Construction Coordinator
Costume Designer/Coordinator
Wardrobe Buyer/Stylist Assistant
Storyboard Artist

PRODUCTION
Line Producer
First Assistant Director
Second Assistant Director
Second Second Assistant Director
Production Assistant
Director of Photography
Camera Operator
First Assistant Camera
Second Assistant Camera/Loader
Steadicam Operator
Stills Photographer
Stunt Coordinator
Location Manager
Script Supervisor
Set Decorator
Set Dresser
Swing Gang
Prop Master
Greensman
Armorer
Food Stylist
Gaffer
Electrician
Best Boy
Key Grip
Dolly Grip
Grip
Rigging Grip
Sound Recordist/Mixer
Boom Operator
Special Effects Coordinator
Pyrotechnician
Special Make-up Effects
Transportation Coordinator
Driver
Make-Up Artist
Hair Stylist
Wardrobe/Dresser
Animal Trainers
Caterer
Craft Service

POST PRODUCTION
Post Production Supervisor
Film Editor
Video Editor
Editing Assistant
Sound Supervisor
Dialogue Editor
Sound Effects
Sound Mixer
Foley Artist
Foley Recordist
ADR Recordist
ADR Editor
Composer
Arranger
Conductor
Musicians
Titles Designer
Negative Cutter
Publicist
Click to expand...

Holy Hazmat suits, that is a LOT! There's a lot of positions I don't recognize and I can google them but there are three that seem to be hard to google, so could you explain or go into a brief summary of what a "DP" "AC" and "AD" is?
 
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DP = Director of Photography (aka Cinematographer)
AC = Assistant Camera (there's 1st AC and 2nd AC)
AD = Assistant Director (There's 1st AD, 2nd AD, 2nd 2nd AD, 3rd AD, 4th AD, and Add ADs.)

and please, it's called a Boom operator, not a mic holder....
 
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Thank you Costa! Helps a lot.

And benj09, the short's about how a single act of kindness and a $20 bill travels through 4 people. 4 people, 4 stories, 4 parts. That's all I can say for now without giving everything away. And so far I'm the only writer. I thought of the story a couple days ago so I worked on storyboards and timelines by myself because I'm abroad right now and cut off from my friends in the U.S.
 
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directorik said:
The kinds of positions you need depends on so many factors it's
an impossible question to answer. One person behind the camera
and one person holding the mic might be all you need.

If you're using lights one more person to help move them around
is nice - but not essential.
If you're using a dolly one more person to push it is essential.

My minimun crew is:

DP/operator
1st AC
1st AD
script supervisor
gaffer
dolly grip/key grip
grip/electric
makeup/costumer
set dresser/props
mixer
boom op

I don't always need that made people. Sometiems I need more.

By no means a complete list - but here are few positions that are
needed to make a film:
PRE-PRODUCTION
Writer
Producer
Executive Producer
Associate Producer
Production Assistant
Casting Director
Production Coordinator
Production Manager
Casting Director
Location Scout
Prop Builder
Production Designer
Art Director
Set Designer
Set Construction Coordinator
Costume Designer/Coordinator
Wardrobe Buyer/Stylist Assistant
Storyboard Artist

PRODUCTION
Line Producer
First Assistant Director
Second Assistant Director
Second Second Assistant Director
Production Assistant
Director of Photography
Camera Operator
First Assistant Camera
Second Assistant Camera/Loader
Steadicam Operator
Stills Photographer
Stunt Coordinator
Location Manager
Script Supervisor
Set Decorator
Set Dresser
Swing Gang
Prop Master
Greensman
Armorer
Food Stylist
Gaffer
Electrician
Best Boy
Key Grip
Dolly Grip
Grip
Rigging Grip
Sound Recordist/Mixer
Boom Operator
Special Effects Coordinator
Pyrotechnician
Special Make-up Effects
Transportation Coordinator
Driver
Make-Up Artist
Hair Stylist
Wardrobe/Dresser
Animal Trainers
Caterer
Craft Service

POST PRODUCTION
Post Production Supervisor
Film Editor
Video Editor
Editing Assistant
Sound Supervisor
Dialogue Editor
Sound Effects
Sound Mixer
Foley Artist
Foley Recordist
ADR Recordist
ADR Editor
Composer
Arranger
Conductor
Musicians
Titles Designer
Negative Cutter
Publicist
Click to expand...

When you stack it up like that, it's a pretty intimidating list.

Sheesh. :D
 
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