Advice on a video assist gig

B

BadIdea_Jorge

Member
So I landed a video assist job for a feature in florida. I've never really been on set before but I learn really fast. I know the gig consists of lugging a monitor around for the director and dp. I was wondering what sort of tools I would need, and if I could get general advice on the general operation, and maybe some trouble shooting tips. Any help is appreciated.
 
Video Assist often means running a recording and playback system, especially if you're on a film shoot. Yes, you may have to set up Video Village (where the monitor for the director/producer/etc.. is). The recording is often more important though, since it's what'll be used to review takes on set, and sometimes even do offline edits. Some video assist people have their own recording/playback systems, and some people I know have production rent one from a local rental house.

Are you sure setting up Video Village is all they're asking of you?

Once you've figured that out, this is what I think every crew member should have:
- A pair of work gloves (Home Depot has decent ones that most people I know use)
- A Leatherman, or similar multi-tool. Should have flat and phillips screwdrivers, at least 1 blade, and a pair of pliers. Comes in real handy sometimes.

That's all I can think of that a video assist guy would need, and even those are somewhat optional.

Best of luck!
 
I would have some windex cleaning spray and paper towels to clean the plexi-glass screen on your monitors... directors like to touch screens when describing things. Maybe a nice note that says,"please don't touch screen".... some safe wipes for actual screen cleaning. I'd have some HD-SDI couplers so you can link lengths of SDI cable. I'd get close to the grip department and have them expecting and ready to build you a courtesy or a "floppy-tent" to help the video village. Remember that shading from the sun helps, but getting a big floppy behind the people watching the monitor removes reflections.

If the monitor does not come with a rolling stand, try to steal one from the GnE dept. (that means ask)

Maybe rent a small cart with a baby pin, or get a pancake with a baby pin and have the Video village monitors be portable on a cart.

If you have the means, a power-backup in case power trips out. This could go on your cart as well.
 
Since you say you've not had much experience on set before, I think the biggest piece of advice I received early on was " the mist important thing is to make the bad things go away.". Or the nicer, Tim Gunn version " make it work". The point is, the most important thing on set is that the production keeps moving. That mean identifying potential problems and making people aware of them or fixing them before they could potentially stop the production.
 
Be helpful. That's the best advice I've heard for anyone who works on set. Most people there do their jobs, but the ones who get called back are the ones who are ready to jump in and go beyond that, helping whenever the see the opportunity.
 
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