TV Directing 07: Working With Crew

TV Directing 07: Working With Crew

I'm going to bullet point some tips:

• If you want to direct, I highly recommend having worked at least 50% of the jobs on the set so you can understand what things are difficult.  Just like I recommend studying acting so you can understand their perspective, the crew are equally important to understand.  You will also have a chance to work  with other directors and see what works and what does not work.

• Be decisive.  You are leading your crew and they will feel better if you have an opinioni about something.  If your choices are serving the purpose of telling a more engaging story and making a better product (which they are because you've done your homework) - then they will be 100% behind you.

• If you realize you made a mistake, just admit it and be equally as decisive about the solution.   In this shoot so far, I did set up a shot only to realize that the moment would make much more sense if seen from the other character's perspective.  Instead of just shooting it anyway, I just said "we're moving the camera, the moment will work better from the other characters perspective."  Within minutes, the problem was solved and the moment worked much better.  What often happens is that people will not be able to admit they were wrong or they simply won't have an idea.

• Be respectful to your crew.  You'll need their support in a crunch and when things get down to the wire, the speed and energy they can put out to help you is tremendous when they believe in you. 

• Use their experience as much as possible.  Listen to their ideas and see if it plays into your story vision.  If it doesn't, be able to say why quickly.

• Just like with actors, don't overtalk, just keep to simple sentences and tie your reasoning to the story.  Everyone knows that story rules and that everyone's job is to help tell the story.

• Use the AD to do the yelling - that will make your voice more unique if you ever need to get everyone attention.  I don't mean yeling as ing screaming, I mean yelling as in "Okay, first team on set - let's get this shot - etc."

Maybe I'll think up some more for the "book" version.  ;)