A recent experience

H

Huy Vu

Veteran
Recently I decided to volunteer on a three day shoot for a film group working on a short for an upcoming student film festival. Since I was the new guy my job was fairly simple, basically setting up the dolly track and working the clapboard. The director and the DP already known each other pretty well, but everyone else on the crew was either new volunteer or casual acquaintances.

At firs everything seemed to go well, the DP and the director were obviously very excited about their project, the first day everyone went home tired but happy (we were filming on a 12 hour schedule). But the second day the director and the DP called me and another guy (also a new volunteer) in before the shoot and told the both of us that we weren't living up to their "professional" standards. Perhaps they were right and I have no problem with them critiquing my performances. However their tones quickly took on a condescending note, telling us that they were seriously considering not taking us back for the second day but they have decided to "give us a second chance." It seems to me that the implication was that they were doing us somekind of favor by letting us work on their film. This confuses me since we were the one who were actually volunteering our time to help THEM with their film (the festival has no monetary prizes). Then the DP began to lecture us about how the enormous amount of pressure that he and the director were under and if we were to "feel the weight then we would collapse." This greatly angered me. Even though I was young and inexperienced compared to them (the director has been working on film for no less than 3 years while the DP has studied film for 15 years), they were dismissing my previous works as insignificant without having known anything about what I have done. The most insulting comment made by the DP was "if you're not a pro working with us by now, then there is either something wrong with your brain or there is something wrong with your attitude."

At the time I simply didn't know what to say to them so I simply nodded and promised that I would try harder. However this became a non-issue later when they claimed that there weren't enough cars to carry all of us to location and suggested that the other guy and myself go home and they'll call when they need us. And they did call us: to go back and clean up the set for them. What made the entire experience so disappointing for me was that I learned virtually nothing about filmmaking working with them for two days. The motto on the set was "if you don't know how to do it, don't touch it."

So I guess the question that I want to ask is, how far can a director go? The whole thing is "his" film (as the writer, director, editor etc.) but does this justify him mistreating the cast in pursuing perfection? I realized that this is sometimes the norm in professional production, but in this case we're not doing the film for profit; all of us are just a group of people getting together to make something cool. So for non-commercial production like this, is it the crew responsibility to suck it up if the director happens to be an asshole?

What do you guys think about not letting inexperience people work on your film at all? I'm not talking about situation like you letting them handle your $5000 camera, but how about something simpler like pushing a dolly or booming the mike? People generally sign up for these things to learn (especially if it's not a professional production for money) and if they're never allow to touch anything because they might screw up the shot why should they even bother to volunteer in the first place?
 
let me speak from a director's perspective. despite the fact that your two examples (pushing the dolly and operating the boom) are things i'd like someone with experience to do, the terrible twosome you describe sound like arrogant pricks. on my sets, i foster a fully collaborative environment. everyone from the dp to the pa feels free to contribute an idea. before production, i make it clear to everyone that there is no room for ego here and that the "a film by" credit will be shared by everyone to drive the point home. it was only about 3 years ago i had this "realization" (if you can call it that) and since then, my shoots have been much more satisfying for everyone involved.

so to honor that spirit of collaboration, my advice would have been to tell those guys to go **** themselves.
 
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Hi jade8472

I have to say that I think the ones being unprofessional here are the so-called DP and director! IF someone isn't performing a job up to a required standard, then their errors should be brought to that person's attention as soon as possible, discreetly, and they should be given a chance to rectify the situation.

If it's a case of a volunteer not having the required experience, either they should have got a professional with experience or helped that volunteer to gain the experience at the time.

Believe me that sheer numbers of years being a director or DP doesn't necessarily make you great at it if you have no passion and talent for it. And obviously it doesn't stop you being an asshole! What have these guys done that's so great?

I think it's hard to generalise, because if by chance these two guys are the next big thing, then tolerating their abuse might get you into their "circle" and might lead to future work. On the other hand, I would make the choice NOT to take further work from them, because personally I don't want to waste my limited time on this planet working with people I don't like. However, I might just stand to do it if I knew there were other crew working on it that I wanted to work with - short term discomfort for long term gain.

The very best people in most disciplines often are the ones most free with their knowledge and expertise, because they have nothing to prove. I would seek those out if at all possible.

A last note: pushing a dolly and booming a mic are not simple at the highest levels. They just seem simple at a beginner level like playing a guitar might be simple. Be careful not to insult the crew doing what appear to be easy jobs!! They're as worthy of respect as you are. :-)
 
ericyoung said:
A last note: pushing a dolly and booming a mic are not simple at the highest levels. They just seem simple at a beginner level like playing a guitar might be simple.
Click to expand...

Thanks, I never really think that operating a dolly & mic are simple jobs. I've tried it myself and it is hard work. But I just think that practice makes perfect and the people who are inexperienced should be given a chance at these task in an actual filming situation.
 
Jade8472,

For this one lamentable experience, you'll enjoy many more rewarding ones. On most sets, even professional studio pictures, you'll come to know really good people who love to share their knowledge of the craft.

Directors, producers and dp's are under tremendous pressure at work, and it sounds like you bore the perhaps misplaced brunt of their frustrations. If you represented that you were inexperienced but willing to learn, and put forth a good-natured effort, the onus is on them to nurture your understanding of the crafts.

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Tell them to go F themselves. I spent years trying to gain a foothold in the industry by doing similar jobs to you and most all of the experiances I encountered were similar to yours. i.e. arrogant pricks who have just come out of film school (little to no talent) and know all the terminology. Like my dad says they talk a good game. Sorry if I sound bitter it's beacuse I am. I'm not saying there are not nice people to work with in this industry (beacuse I have met hundreds) but you do not need to learn from so called proffesionals like them. If you are that eager to learn by pass the "pro's" and teach yourself. You'll find you move up the ranks far quicker and don't have to take ****. MAKE YOUR OWN MEDIA.:furious3:
 
I agree with everyone who has posted on this subject. I live and work in "Hollywood" and I run into these kind of jerks all the time. Usually, they are the ones with the least talent and it's their way of getting defensive about it so that no one challenges them. The best thing to do is to simply walk away - immediately. Buy yourself an inexpensive camera and shoot a couple of short films. If you have vision and are a nice guy, you'll pass these guys on your way up pretty quickly. Good luck and have fun.
 
I agree, these guys sound like pricks. of course, we are only hearing one side of the story, so we can't say for sure. But taking your story at face value, they are jerks.

Well, welcome to being a PA.

I do have one slight disagreement with a lot of the post though. There is SO much competition out there to work on film sets (not talking about backyard DV projects) that even though you are volunteering, you are, in essence, at the mercy of the heads. Fact is, a lot of other people want to be where your are, and you have to understand and respect that.

Also, you have to protect your reputation. That is the most important thing of all. If you are perceived as a slacker, then odds are, that is what will go around town and make your life all that much harder... even if you aren't a slacker... it's not fair, I know.

So I think the worst and weakest thing to do is just get pissed and return the hostile vibes. That's not going to get you very far. It's a collaborative medium, and sometimes you won't clique with people, sometimes you will. The best thing to do is hold your head up high and be honest, and work your ass off. Keep your tone light, and, instead of just "walking"... if you get pissed, take a breath, relax, reason with people, befriend them. It's tactics man.

If it's just out of hand, find a good reason to leave other than "I hate this."
 
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