How big should your crew be? (aka when will I stop startng threads?)

C

c.g._eads

Veteran
I had my script professionally budgeted. It's a road movie with two main characters. So there are a number of car dialogue scenes. But outside of a couple of gas stations, a conveinience store, and a cemetary, everything is pretty basic (a few sidewalk scenes, and a bunch of apartments).

I was told I would need a crew of 30 people.

This number really scared me because I just don't feel like I'd need that many people.

So for a low-budget ($250,000) movie like the one I've mentioned that will probably be shot on an HVX, what's the smallest crew I could get away with?

I heard they had about 15 people on that Courtney Cox DVX movie (what was it called again?)
 
you should be able to get by with much less than that! but the real key is pre prod. storyboarding, organization, logistics. that's what will make a difference.

Here's what i've used and it worked for me quite well. Although it was for commercials.

dp/operator 1
soundperson 1
makeup/wardrobe 1
craft services 1 (your mom?)
PA's 2
grips 3
production mgr 1
location mgr 1
production designer 1
 
when we go on location there are always issues with permits, permsission, tapping electrical outlets, parking. the location is like a tempermental star, needs to be managed, coddled, and sucked up to. I'd say it's especially true for a road movie.

and yeah the PM does a lot of AD duties, call times, locking things down. police the set.

I again go back to the importance of pre prod though.
 
I would say on a $250k budget.

Director
AD
DP/operator
production mgr
At least 1 AC
D.I.T./2nd AC (For P2 file management,if using the HVX)
Dolly grip (if using dolly, cranes etc)
Gaffer
Electric
Grips 3
Sound op
Boom op (could be 1 guy if you can get away with ENG style. ie. 2 wireless and boom)
location mgr 1
production designer 1
set dresser 1
Prop master 1
PA's 3
Hair & makeup 1
Wardrobe 1 (MUA do not do wardrobe)
craft service 1
catering 2 (craft service will not have time to prepare meals for cast and crew)
Transport 2 or 3 (you a lot of different locations that you will need to move honeywagons and gear to)

I guess that puts it pretty close to 30, so you have to ask yourself who are you going to do without, then who will do that job? You may be able to cut it down to 15-20 but I wouldn't go any lower than that or you will probably find yourself going over schedule which will probably in turn put you over budget.

Did the professional budget numbers work with a crew of 30?
If so why do you want less people?
 
I want less people because I want to move fast. Get in and out. Logistically, it's a lot harder to get 30 people onto a location than 15. Obviously feeding 15 people as opposed to 30 cuts the food budget in half. You get the idea.

I'm willing to up the respective crew on the days we need them (car rigging days, steadicam operator days) but would like to stay lean otherwise. However, this is my first time doing this, so if you think I'd be best to go with the higher number, please, by all means, tell me why. I'm open to changing my mind.
 
c.g._eads said:
I want less people because I want to move fast. Get in and out. Logistically, it's a lot harder to get 30 people onto a location than 15. Obviously feeding 15 people as opposed to 30 cuts the food budget in half. You get the idea.

I'm willing to up the respective crew on the days we need them (car rigging days, steadicam operator days) but would like to stay lean otherwise. However, this is my first time doing this, so if you think I'd be best to go with the higher number, please, by all means, tell me why. I'm open to changing my mind.
Click to expand...

Having less people will more than likely slow you down as people will have to be doing more than one job. The trick to moving fast is being well prepared, knowing what you need to get and in what order you need to get it. Planning during pre-production is most of the work. If you plan it well and allow for contingencies and have a plan B, then you will be able to execute the moves a lot quicker. What if it rains on one of your EXT. sidewalk days, do you have an INT. apartment location standing by ready to go? If you have a 3 ton grip truck and only 1 or 2 guys do you think they will get it loaded quicker than 3 or 4 guys?
You can definitely cut down on some of the crew on certain days but you will pretty much need your key people/department heads for the entire shoot.
As this is your first time doing this, I would suggest biting the bullet and hiring a very experienced 1st AD and paying them well. Bring them on at the start of pre-production and they will be able to advise you of the best and least amount of crew you will need on any given day, once you have your schedule worked out.
$250k is a decent amount of money that someone is investing in your movie, so you want to make something that will be good. Dont skimp on crew!
 
what i've found is every single piece of equipment, every person, is critical. the less equipment, the fewer the people, the easier things will be. that's been my experience. i like a light, mobile crew. not a juggernaut.
 
I think at a minimum you want to have:

Director
Production Manager
DP
AD
Gaffer
Electrician
2 Grips
Sound Mixer
Boom Operator (experienced)
Script Supervisor
Makeup/Hair
Craft Service

You could combine the Sound Mixer and Boom Operator if you had to but you're better off having both.

EDIT: Oops. It's also nice to have a couple of PAs
 
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I think the DP can have a big influence on crew size. I worked with a DP who loved tons of gear and help. Guerilla style dp's can do a lot with very little. Many lights means many grips.
 
Blaine said:
I think at a minimum you want to have:

Director
Production Manager
DP
AD
Gaffer
Electrician
2 Grips
Sound Mixer
Boom Operator (experienced)
Script Supervisor
Makeup/Hair
Craft Service

You could combine the Sound Mixer and Boom Operator if you had to but you're better off having both.

EDIT: Oops. It's also nice to have a couple of PAs
Click to expand...

For a video production I think Blaine nailed it. Film will need a minimum of a 1st and 2nd AC. I have also seen the UPM and AD positions combined effectively if the person is AMAZINGLY talented. Combined the mixer and boom op if you want "waiting on sound" a lot and most likely take a huge hit in the audio quality.

Of course, except for the food issue, you can never have enough PAs.

Cheers
 
is this budget including post-editing team or no? From the list given by several members, it doesn't seem like you are including them. Otherwise, the list that Blaine provided is perfect! 2 Grips and 2 PAs are good to have.

That budget of 250,000 is huge, for me of course. That sum would be the largest in my life as of now.
 
You - the director/DP/camera operator
1 DP/camera operator/gaffer
1 camera asst/grip/gaffer
1 grip/gaffer/PA
1 sound dude..... leave him alone and let him worry about only sound
1 all around production dude
1 extra all around production dude (AD, 2nd AD, PA, whatever)

I strongly believe in multi tasking..... yes

I also believe in paying people good money for their labor..... thats why I tend to work with quality/motivated filmmakers who arent afraid (and are capable) of handling a couple extra duties

why have 30 people on set with 20 of them standing around looking cool (re: bored as f**k)

a multi million dollar hollywood production, hell yes.... more peeps the better

an indie shot on the HVX.... no way dude.... keep it small, efficient, lean and mean
 
of course..... it really does depend on the kind of film you are making.....

if you are shooting a movie about 20 beauty queens who live in a house, well then yeah, you will need a sh*tload of makeup chiks.... catch my drift

be flexible with all your rules.... nothing is set in stone/right and wrong
 
Well there's Robert Rodriguez to shoot an action movie all by himself. And then there is Zemeckis to need 120 people to film Tom Hanks alone on a beach.

Depends who you are and what you want I guess.
 
For an example of a micro crew, check out
http://www.nftvm.nl/index.php?page=articles&article=1342
and
http://www.nftvm.nl/index.php?page=articles&article=1342

We shot this 5 min silent short with 8 people on set. We did the sound on a different location (better piano and acoustics) on Digi Beta with a pro-35 adapter. Everybody worked for free, we only had one girl preparing lunch the day before the shoot. We had the following people availeble:

The director
The DOP/Cam operator
Production manager and 1st AD (me)
One guy as gaffer and grip
One cam assistent/focus puller
One sparck
and two PA's

This was what we thought the absolute minimum, although one PA showed up without being planned to be there. It was very usefull that a few people had there drivers licence and their own car, and where willing to let other people drive it. I drove the equipment truck and the PA picked up the talent in my moms car for instance. You better have a motivated small crew than a large payed crew being more concerned about there income than there talent. Lots of folks like our gaffer/grip guy are very experianced in one proffession and are trying to work there way into another. They are willing to do both if needed. Others may not be very experianced but want to get experiance and won't bother working for very little money, if at all. Use those people if you can but have a backup in case they are not up to the job.

You will obviously have to hire a sound mixer and or boom operator. If you're in doubt, try to figure out what the delay of combining the two in one person will cost you. If it is more than a boom op's wage than it is worth it. When budgeting and negotiating, take into account the overtime and extra shooting day's you will have. See if people want to work for a fixed wage per shooting day, say $100 each and keep it the same for everybody. No one will have its full rate but no one will have reason to complain. You will want to make an exeption for the dop, maybe the 1st AD but no one else or you'll be in trouble.

I will keep my fingers crossed for you and hope you will make a stunning feature!
 
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