Directing Procedure

Thulsa Doom

Thulsa Doom

New member
This might be a pretty basic question:

But what is the preferred procedure for starting a shot? By that I mean the verbal cues and the physical acts associated with them.

"Camera Rolling."

"Sound Speed."

"Action!"

That kind of thing.

And considering the DV is different than film, what would be the difference in procedures?

I'm not sure how to phrase this question, but hopefully that's enough to go on.
 
Honestly... for me, I just use... rolling, and action, and cut... that's it. Generally you check to make sure sounds good... but the sound is always recording generally, so there's no reason to say "Sound speeding"
 
I run it a tad differently. I generally start off by saying "Quiet on set" to signify I am ready. "Places" To let them know we are ready to go and to be sure they are as well. Then "Roll camera"

"Camera Rolling" (or A Camera Rolling, B camera Rolling) from camera operator

"Roll Sound" to mic, unless it is on camera, I have done shoots where we are recording seperatly. If the sound is going direct into the camera we skip this part.

"Sound Rolling" by sound

"Stand-by" To get the slate in there and read off the slate info.

"Speed" (if we are having a problem with scenes. Typically I just go from "stand-by" to the production slate. I know 'speed' is only really used with film, but we use it sometimes anyway)

"Camera Mark" and slate clap

"and action" when we roll.

And of course "cut"

Of course it really depends on personal preference. I have done the "ready? ... And Action"

and the "go ahead" before too.

It depends on what you want to do.
 
Oh yeah, quiet on set's a given as well, thanks for mentioning that. I don't yell out anything for slate... it just happens... no yelling for sound either.
 
Very cool, Gents! Just the kind of info I was looking for. I know certain preferences are different, but I just needed a general guide on how to get it done.

I've read that when Clint Eastwood directs he says, "when you're ready" as opposed to "Action!". He feels it can be very jarring for the actors.
 
My procedure is:

Quiet on set (First AD)
Roll Camera (Director)
Speed (Camera Op) - confirmation to all that the camera is on and recording
Mark It (Camera Op) - the slate girl or 2nd camera assistant also usually reads out the scene info from the slate
Frame (Camera Op) - often a change of frame/focus is required after shifting from the slate - this can also be called by the DP if operating from the video village
And Action (Director)
Cut (Director, or Camera Op only if there is a camera malfunction)

If shooting with separately recorded sound, those cues would be added in that event.

If a multi-camera shoot, other cameras would precede all calls by camera (i.e. "B-Cam Frame", "C-Cam Frame", etc.). I can't emphasize how simple but important and clarifying those calls can be in multi-cam situations.

I was also recently visiting on a friend's shoot where the DP for some reason frequently called out "Cut" at the end of a take. By the end of the shoot (and we're talking weeks here, not days), there was smoke coming out of the Director's ears - one of the problems associated with not nipping a headstrong DP in the bud early on ...
 
You made a good point, I often say, "whenever you're ready", specifically when it's a very emotional scene... when it requires higher energy I generally yell ACTION.
 
Brandon Rice said:
Honestly... for me, I just use... rolling, and action, and cut... that's it. Generally you check to make sure sounds good... but the sound is always recording generally, so there's no reason to say "Sound speeding"
Click to expand...
Brandon,

This is what I would do...

1. Places everyone.

2. Sound ready (replies "Ready")

3. Roll camera

4. DP yells back "Speed"

5. 1 AC slates scene aka 'Scene 5 take 12'

6. I yell "Action".

7. Actors act then I say cut when the take is done or I wanna stop.

Chris

PS: This is an excellent thread and don't feel bad by asking.
 
Dahopafilms said:
I was also recently visiting on a friend's shoot where the DP for some reason frequently called out "Cut" at the end of a take. By the end of the shoot (and we're talking weeks here, not days), there was smoke coming out of the Director's ears - one of the problems associated with not nipping a headstrong DP in the bud early on ...
Click to expand...
Wow! I can't believe that!

>>>>

Nice thread. Good info!
 
Clint Eastwood just goes "whenever you're ready" and "that's enough of that ****". Stuff like that. It's great for actors anyways. I referenced it in a post a week or two ago. That's what I did when I directed plays. The actors seemed to love it. It was wierd to them at first, but they felt more relaxed in the long run. Things had a bit more flow for them amidst the constant starting and stopping.

Jason
 
I've always done the Eastwood method (even before I knew that's what he did). It fits my personality more than barking orders at people. I like an extremely laid back and fun atmosphere.
 
I'm gathering that there's not a huge difference in the procedure for film or for DV. A call for "sound" might be different, being that sound would be recorded directly to DV tape. Unless your using a separate system for recording sound. In which case it might be identical to the film procedure.

Ahhh...to have a camera operator other than myself....
 
I think the more important factor would be the size of the shoot. Meaning, number of cast and crew, etc. And, of course, typically dv shoots are smaller in scope than a blown out film production.
Really, it's just however you want to handle your environment, and still make sure that everyone is manning their appropriate station.
I think, that if you had head sets or something like that, where you could communicate with crew, to be rolling, etc. That way you can speak more personally to the actors and, hopefuly get a better result from them as a result.

Jason
 
Yeah, typically when I am the only one shooting and directing I am really personal with the actors. But when I have a crew and I am directing only then I start using the run-down.

And it depends on the scene whether I use 'action' or 'take it away/whenever you are ready'. On scenes that have a lot of action in it I use action because my entire crew has to know when things are going to be happening. If there is more emotion, I use "whenever you are ready" It seems to relax them and lets them control the scene.
 
with a dual system set-up for sound and two HVX200 cameras, the procedure on my features is as follows:

1st AD: Places everyone.

Boom Op: (to mixer) Jim, this is 99, take 3.

1st AD: Quiet please. Roll sound.

Mixer: Sound slate. Scene 99, take 3.

Boom Op: Sound speed

1st AD: Roll cameras

Camera B Op: Rolling.

Lead Camera Op: Cameras rolling. Marker (or "Slate").

1st AD: Scene 99, take 3, Camera A (claps slate, turns to other cam) Scene 99, take 3, Camera B. (claps slate, leaves frame)

Camera B Op: Set.

Lead Camera Op: Cameras set.

Director: Aaannnd ACTI... wait, no wait... I think I see a boom reflected in that window. (asks DP to look at monitor.)

DP: Yeah... sh*t.

Boom Op: My range of motion is kind of restricted, I can try it like this?

Director: No, I still see it.

DP: Should we cut?

Director: Yeah, let's cut. Cut it!

1st AD: That's a cut!

Boom Op: (to mixer) We're cutting, Jim.
 
Last edited:
also if you have extras in the scene, i think the AD usually calls "background" to get the extras moving beforehand, then the director says "action".
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top