I try to use at least one person for each department.

1st AC
1st AD
scripty
gaffer
dolly grip/key grip
grip/electric
makeup
costumer
set dresser/props
mixer
boom op
craft services/caterer

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The aim of an argument or discussion should not be victory, but progress.
Joseph Joubert, essayist (1754-1824)

? That looks like a well-rounded crew. I don't think I've ever had all of those positions filled on one of my films, but I sure wish I could structure all my shoots that way. Unless you're doing a hugely complex scene, you shouldn't need any more people than that.

Of course, it is possible to work with a much smaller crew: ?url? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMtuXS4voAU?/url? This was shot on the RED ONE with a budget of $25 and a crew of two, including myself. I directed and switched off between running sound and running camera, and then I had a DP who also traded off sound/camera. It's obviously not a very complicated shoot, but it does prove that sometimes a 12-person crew is excessive.

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Andrew Gingerich
Exploding Goldfish Films
Check out my blog at http://www.exgfilms.com
and my reel at http://portfolio.exgfilms.com

It's folly to ever think that having the proper amount of crew as being "excessive." The fact is that there are duties and "things" that need to be accomplished for every setup for every movie made. Some setups require additional personal, like Stunts or Special Effects, but ALL setups require that SOMEONE do the necessary tasks, like all things camera and lighting and makeup and hair, etc.

Now, whether you have crewed properly and each job is staffed or if you have skimped and make one person do more than one job throughout the day, the fact is still that those tasks have to be done. NEVER is it more efficient to have one person do one or more jobs.

The question of money comes up. For example, why have a First AC and a Second AC if you can't afford both? Sure, maybe you don't have the money, but you don't get something for nothing. Now you've got one guy doing both jobs (or likely THREE jobs assuming you also don't have a Loader). So now this one person is splitting his time doing all the duties that an efficient full department performs. What this means is that instead of concentrating fully on his job, your Focus Puller will be off loading mags or dealing with equipment maintenance and organization when he should be at the camera working with the Operator and Dolly Grip, getting marks and prepping for the next shot. Will he do that prep like he's supposed to? Sure, but when he's able.

So, as they say, time is money. Because you've chosen to not hire a Second AC and Loader and the First AC has to do all of those jobs, your production day will slow down which, in very real terms, means that unless you plan to work 18 hour days, you will not likely get all the setups you'd like to and/or the setups you do get will have compromised quality. This means you lose shots that you'd like to get for production value (or just to tell the basic story) and/or you are forced to do fewer takes in order to get in all the shots you want to get that day, which could definitely force you to abandon a setup before you get that "perfect take."

Whatever the reason for not properly crewing up, there are repercussions in one way or another. Can ONE person shoot and produce a movie all by himself? Possibly, but it's not likely to be a very good feature film for a host of reasons. Could TWO people pull it off? Perhaps, but again, there are bound to be loads of compromises due to lack of resources and time. Could THREE or FOUR? Maybe... you could play this game all day until you reached the optimum number of crew for the system that has been developed for maximum efficiency over the past fifty+ years.

Trust me, with budgets as tight as they are on big features, the UPM isn't going to hire anyone "extraneous." It just isn't going to happen. What has happened over time is the realization that proper crewing pays off in terms of efficiency and quality. Less people and/or less qualified people make the days go longer (which costs in terms of Overtime) or in terms of shot quality and/or shot quantity. Compromise on the crew and you are compromising on the quality of the project, period.

For a full list of everyone you should have for each setup and a full description of what they actually DO all day long and how they all interact on a shot-by-shot basis, read "What I Really Want to Do: On Set in Hollywood." All of those jobs have to be done by SOMEBODY, whether you decide to do them all yourself or have one person per job. But if you're going to make movies, knowing what all of those duties are and why you NEED people there to specialize in those jobs is imperative.

Brian Dzyak
Cameraman/Author
IATSE Local 600, SOC
http://www.whatireallywanttodo.com
http://www.realfilmcareer.com

I've found it seems to work best with myself, a cameraman, one guy to do sound, and a fourth to rig lights alongside the cameraman, who also works as an on set grip to hold things like cue cards, make sure cables don't get tangled, etc. So, four. (and everyone is willing to do the packing, lugging and set up.

Unless I'm doing something elaborate in terms of makeup, I'll let the actors handle that themselves.

I honestly find it best to work with just me and one other guy who acts as AD and holds the boom pole. I sytarted my last film with a crew of ten people and found all I had was ten people dragging their asses all day. I started dropping people and realized that the speed on the set accelerated with each lost crew member.

If you can do it yourself... do it.

Oh, My! you scrimped and saved so much, is it true or false?
Where are you from?
Many Chinese articles often regard the west project group as enrolling many crew when they shoot a film.
In our studio, there are always enough make up, property ,costums, lighting and booming crew etc. Most of often, actresses never made up by themself.

China Art is also fascinating.

vinnydakid:

It looks like you had a really, really bad crew. There is absolutely no way one person can effectively do four things at the same time. You can only do ONE thing at the time. So, if you are directing the movie, as well as operating a camera, as well as recording the sound, as well as setting up lights, then you will waste all that time doing each of those things after the other. On the other hand, if you have a crew that actually knows what they're doing (and are dedicated to the work), you'll be significantly faster on the set.

So, when the camera is actually rolling, you will be directing the movie. A the SAME time, someone else will HAVE do record the sound (if you don't want to be distracted from directing the film); another person will HAVE to operate the boom; and yet another person will HAVE to operate the camera. Once camera stops, you COULD all break down lights and set them up for the next shot, but as a director, you'll then need time to first set up camera, discus blocking with actors, rehearse, etc. If you're alone, others will have to wait for you to set up lights, set, props, etc.

There are very few kinds of shoots where two people could suffice; very simple scenes with one or two people talking, with little or no set and light changes. Anything beyond that and you simply need crew to move things along efficiently (and not alienate your on-camera talent).

I say if it works for him and he finds it's best to work with j
ust him and one other person then go for it!

I admire you vinny!

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The aim of an argument or discussion should not be victory, but progress.
Joseph Joubert, essayist (1754-1824)

quote:

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Originally posted by Vasic

vinnydakid:

It looks like you had a really, really bad crew. There is absolutely no way one person can effectively do four things at the same time. You can only do ONE thing at the time. So, if you are directing the movie, as well as operating a camera, as well as recording the sound, as well as setting up lights, then you will waste all that time doing each of those things after the other. On the other hand, if you have a crew that actually knows what they're doing (and are dedicated to the work), you'll be significantly faster on the set.

So, when the camera is actually rolling, you will be directing the movie. A the SAME time, someone else will HAVE do record the sound (if you don't want to be distracted from directing the film); another person will HAVE to operate the boom; and yet another person will HAVE to operate the camera. Once camera stops, you COULD all break down lights and set them up for the next shot, but as a director, you'll then need time to first set up camera, discus blocking with actors, rehearse, etc. If you're alone, others will have to wait for you to set up lights, set, props, etc.

There are very few kinds of shoots where two people could suffice; very simple scenes with one or two people talking, with little or no set and light changes. Anything beyond that and you simply need crew to move things along efficiently (and not alienate your on-camera talent).

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Bravo. Again, it's not like you CAN'T do it all by yourself or with very few people... but the questions are A) how efficient with your time and resources will you actually be doing it that way? and B) how good will the quality of your final project be just because you managed to save a few bucks by not having enough people to help?

There may be no simple single answer as to how many people is "the right number," so the best strategy is to FIRST determine your purpose in making the project in the first place (which determines the level of quality you must achieve) and then balance that with the resources you have available (people, money, time).

By starting your discussion at the resources level (ie, how many people do I need? or how fast can I make this?), you're forcing your final project into a box that may not jive with the overall purpose. Make your resources fit the need, not the other way around.

Brian Dzyak
Cameraman/Author
IATSE Local 600, SOC
http://www.whatireallywanttodo.com
http://www.realfilmcareer.com