There’s something about production (of any kind, including film and television) that’s just as important as writing a script, casting, and editing. But they don’t typically offer classes for it in school. Production is all about people-wrangling and diplomacy. I’m talking knowing how to work a crowd. Anyone involved with production of any kind, even the smallest most independent feature in the world, has to know how to become a diplomat of the highest standards.
Because people are essentially skin-wrapped egos. I don’t even mean, “ego” in the negative sense of the word. I just mean that we’re all full of ideas, especially in any kind of creative industry. Not to mention one that involves all aspects of creativity, from writing to directing to acting to producing.
Pair that with the fact that many people on-set are aspiring actors, directors, writers, etc. and you’ve got a potentially volatile situation on your hands. Everyone thinks they know best, and you’ll often hear “I wouldn’t do it that way.” uttered by everyone working on any set.
The real danger in this is that things can get ugly. Fast. Forget drinks for the crew or accidentally ruin a take, and you could have an angry mob on your hands in minutes. (Let’s just hope there aren’t any pitchforks in your prop department if this scenario occurs.) This isn’t because everyone in the industry is a jerk or a diva with a bad attitude. Though the odd one sneaks in from time to time. It’s just plain old group dynamics at its simplest.
Bad experiences have a way of stopping us in our tracks professionally, especially us sensitive film types. So what can we do to prevent personal trauma, mutiny and chaos? Not to make myself sound like an infomercial, but I can give you some firsthand tips that will make life on a production easier, no matter what your role on set. I can especially help you by telling you what not to do based on my own experiences. It’ll take a six part series to accomplish such a thing.
From my time on marketing teams in independent film, to producing student productions, to being involved in Webisode shoots, to working as an extra and more, my experiences can always be divided into two distinct categories. Those that were amazing and smooth and those that were awful.
I’ve yet to experience a middle-of-the-road production of any kind. I’m seeing a trend here. I’ve started to learn what separates the great experiences from the terrible, why the two extremes exist, and I’ve been surprised at how often simple people skills have made the difference in a production outcome.
Even in conversations with directors and assistant directors, (Obnoxious name drop in 3, 2, 1…such as
Craig Huston.) I’ve been surprised at how non-Hollywood the problems and solutions are in the world of production.
Every Thursday for the next six weeks, I’ll share my own experiences, and some advice I’ve been lucky to get along the way. I realize that we all have to learn things for ourselves, but if I can give you a heads up on potential problems and solutions so you don’t have to pull your own hair out, I’ll feel great about this. (Mine’s growing back nicely, thanks.)
Next week? Preventing problems before production even begins by knowing how to choose the right people with whom to collaborate.
Image: techhelphome.com
Comments
Cool
Looking forward to the series.
Very interested to hear more...
Thanks for delving into filmmaking group dynamics. I have also had my share of experiences on the film set and would love to compare them to your own. I'd even love to share issues I faced while on set if something you say echoes my own. Our stories can potentially save a newbie on set from making the wrong move :).
Can't wait to read more...
Interesting
No middle ground at all, huh?
Sounds great -- I'm sure your
Sounds great -- I'm sure your stories/insight will be a benefit (and a treat) to us all!
Hey skilmer, so far there
Hey skilmer, so far there hasn't been any middle ground for me personally. But I'm still young and I'm sure I'll run into it eventually. I'd take middle of the road over awful any day! There was a time when I was an extra that was middle ground for me, but the crew was clearly having an awful time, as well as the actors. So I guess that counts in my case as middle ground.
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