Working on other peoples films.

Evan S

Evan S

Veteran
Just recently I was working on someone short film, in which I was the camera operator. They left all the shots up to me. One shot in paticular I had set at a low angle. The director notices this and insists I "follow the eye-lines" correctly. I argued, and he explained his film school background. In which my argument was, "I never went to film-school to learn about correcting eye-lines. I just make go by my eyes." So he decided to operate the camera and "resets" the camera. So I'm looking at dailies and his shot. IS EXACTLY THE SAME.

1 reason why CERTAIN people who go to film school... have no clue what their talking about.

Although, I may not understand the idea behind eye-lines (because every short I've made, I've never seen continuity with them). I do get the 180 rule...

So someone please explain.
 
he's the director, dude, if you tell him you don't know how to give him the shot he wants, then he's going to fire you. that's pretty straightforward, and I would do the same if I were in his shoes, no offense.
 
Film school does one not make. I'm in film school and would never pull the "I went to film school" line.
 
the "i went to film school" line is lame, but the bottom line is he is the director. if he wants a shot, you give it to him. there is no need to argue about it.
 
Yes, but he's saying that his shot was exactly the same. So I think he was giving him what he wanted in the first place.

Unless I'm out to lunch. Which is very possible... :)

Mike
 
People act like there are never disagreements between the DOP and the Director.
What world are some of you living in?

He explained what he said.... didn't sound like much to me.
Yes, the Director is king but even some DOP's disagreed with Kubrick at times. Of course he put them in their place. :D

BTW, is this a paying gig?
 
I think the best method to handle that situation would have been to talk to the director about what he meant by "eye-lines". Instead of arguing and trying to stand your ground you could have used it as a learning opportunity. Just because you were doing it right doesn't mean that you can't learn from someone else. It would have served the team better if you collaborated instead of argued
 
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Michael Anthony Horrigan said:
People act like there are never disagreements between the DOP and the Director.
What world are some of you living in?

He explained what he said.... didn't sound like much to me.
Yes, the Director is king but even some DOP's disagreed with Kubrick at times. Of course he put them in their place. :D

BTW, is this a paying gig?
Click to expand...

Good point... maybe I'll take back the "your fired" comment.

You're re-hired... pending
 
well I consider "arguing" and "fighting" to be two different things.

You want cool calm arguments ... they strengthen why you are doing what you are doing, show you why you shouldn't be doing it that way, or are easily dismissed as from left field if they are in fact really off.

Respectful "arguing" I consider part of the creative process and it strengthens the work. But the buck has to stop somewhere especially after a point, like when you don't have the time to explore looking at something differently which is almost any time DURING production as opposed to pre or post where you can take more time to look at different angles.
 
i would have handled the situation by telling him he is the boss and if he wants to use eye-liner that's fine by me. i prefer a more natural look, but just tell me where he wants it applied and we'll go with it.
 
Jack Daniel Stanley said:
Respectful "arguing" I consider part of the creative process and it strengthens the work. But the buck has to stop somewhere especially after a point, like when you don't have the time to explore looking at something differently which is almost any time DURING production as opposed to pre or post where you can take more time to look at different angles.
Click to expand...
Exactly! Well said.
 
I wasn't screaming or yelling at the guy. Just merely explained that I did not understand what he was talking about. Which in turn he told me about his "film school" experience. Which then turned to an argument, because of his arrogance. As if you have to go to film school to know anything about making films.

And it was not a paid project. It was volunteer.

Also, I notice when anyone else is using the camera it's out of focus, lol @ them.
 
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