This is such a HUGE topic for me! I have had the perspective of both a producer and part of a crew (not including also being a director) and each position gives me a vastly different perspective and way of writing about how things are perceived on set.
But this is a producing website, so I will write mostly from the point of view of the short film, low/no budget producer.
First of all, if you’re just starting out, your crew will have more experience than you. That’s ok. They should have more experience than you, and they should be extremely knowledgeable in the area that they are being brought in to cover.
They will be your mentors through the process. They will not necessarily producing mentors, but they might be able to give advice in this regard. They might have produced their own projects before themselves or picked up techniques and ideas on some of the projects they worked as crew.
But, more importantly, each individual representing each department has specialty knowledge in that area.
Observe them working and learn. It’s the best way to get the most out of having these great, generous, patient people on set.
I say patient because when you ask them to work, you will be very clear about your experience level. If this is your first time, then say so. People prefer to work for first-timer producers that acknowledge that they are learning and don’t know much because that’s a lot better than working for people who don’t know anything and pretend that they know everything.
Hell! I still get on sets sometimes as producer or director and say, “You probably know more than me. I’m always open to learning new stuff. Please do what you do best, use your expertise, and if you have time, answer questions that I know I will have about your process.”
However, only ask questions when there is time. You’re still the producer, and on these short films you are still the driving force that is getting things done. You cannot be distracted by your curiosity or your thirst for knowledge (that’s always a tough one with me – I’m always curious and fascinated with what everyone is doing).
Actors that are not producing are part of the crew don’t get to ask questions.
Sorry. I mean, you can, but you will be perceived as schmoozing rather than truly gathering knowledge and you will also be perceived as slowing down the process standing around talking when other people are trying to get stuff done (you can always ask your questions AFTER the shoot is over, at the wrap party or something like that.)
There are crew positions that are really important, and there are crew positions that are NORMALLY important but with no budget you have to make do with what you’ve got.
There are projects where you will have everyone you need, and there are projects where one of your actors will double as a set decorator because she has a bit of experience with that and will do a better job than you will.
I like getting crew people with acting backgrounds because you never know when you will have to throw a person into the scene. I have had projects in which every crewmember (except for the DP) had an on camera roll.
How to Find Crew
Great links, strategies, and leveraging your contacts.
Crew Positions for Short Films
Here are the bare bones crew positions I like to have
covered.
I imagine some gaffer is going to arrive at this page and say,
“What about us?”
<sigh> Darlin’, I wish I could find gaffers for
my shoots. And lord knows, the DP really wishes it!
But I find that they’re harder to come by on short no-budget
projects and we seem to function all right without them.
In fact, aside from the director of photography and production
assistants, I have shot projects as a director (not producing) missing
one or some of the positions listed below. It took away from
our quality a bit, but we got the job done.
- Director of Photography
- Sound Department
- Assistant Director (A.D.)
- Make-up Artist
- Script Supervisor
- Production Designer
- Production Assistants (PAs)
- Editor
You will find as you go continue producing that you will find a GREAT
person once in a while that does great work and is responsible and fun
to have on set and you will want to use them all the time in the future.
I don’t normally pay any positions for shorts, but if someone
has proven themselves previously I am more likely to pay them because
I’d rather work with a great person and have it cost a bit
more up front, than a so-so person that might cause problems that will
cost me MORE in the end.
