The Film Crew

1) producer - Runs the business end of a film project

and is responsible for putting the project together;

involved in all phases of the filmmaking process

from development to completion

2) director – responsible for making all the creative elements come

together: the heart of the movie; makes sure that his/her vision is

successfully communicated to the crew

3) writer – creates and shapes an original story or adapts another

source (i.e. a book) for the big screen

4) assistant director - Helps the director by planning the filming timeline

and managing the set, the crew, and the extras; creates call sheets

and gets the set ready to start filming

5) script supervisor (continuity person) – must know the script inside

and out to ensure that wardrobe, props, and make-up match from

shot to shot; takes digital pictures to remember what the set was like

last time the camera rolled; helps correct flubbed lines from the

script

6) director of photography (cinematographer) – helps the director

envision the film from script to screen, including shots, lighting, and

set design; known as the D.P. (for our purposes, the D.P. will also be

the camera operator)

7) gaffer – sets up the lighting on set and works closely with the D.P.;

head of electrical department

8) grip – the film set’s manpower: moves equipment and help set-up

lighting according to gaffer and D.P.; key grip – chief grip on set,

dolly grip – operates the dolly

9) best boys – primary assistants to gaffer and grip

10)editor – cuts the film images to create a visual story that flows well;

works with the director to capture his vision

11)sound mixer – responsible for recording dialogue and sound on set;

blends musical selections for the film’s soundtrack (for our purposes,

the sound mixer and boom operator will be the same person)

12)boom operator – positions the microphone at the right distance to

get clear dialogue while at the same time not letting the mic and

boom appear in the shot

13)foley artist – creates sound effects for the film

14)costume designer – in charge of costumes/wardrobe to create the

right look for the characters; ensures that the actors are wearing the

correct wardrobe in each scene to match continuity; checks

wardrobe in and out each day to ensure that actors do not forget

them at home and makes sure wardrobe is kept clean (or dirty!)

15)make-up artist – in charge of hair and make-up to create the right

look for the characters; must know how to work with different skin

types to make actors seem older, younger, larger, etc.

16)production assistant (“gopher”) – the production’s do-boy; must be

a hard worker, energetic, and reliable

17)casting director – breaks down the script with the director and

suggests actors suitable for each role

18)location scout – breaks down all the locations in the script with the

director and finds the locations to shoot in that are suitable for each

scene

19)still photographer – documents the production for publicity, DVD

art, memories, etc.

Verbal Orders (a.k.a. “The Call”)

1) “Lock it up!” – everyone be quiet (asst. director)

2) A - “Roll sound!” – is sound ready? (asst. director)

B - “Speed!” – sound equipment is ready (sound mixer)

3) A - “Roll camera!” – start filming (asst. director)

B - “Rolling!” – camera is filming (camera operator)

4) “Action!” – actors start acting (director)

5) “Cut!” – shot is finished (director)

6) “Back to one!” – retake (director)

7) “Moving on!” – shot is done; time for the next one (asst. dir.)

8) “That’s a location wrap!” - move to the next location (asst. dir.) or

“That’s a wrap!” - that’s it for the day (asst. dir.)