Doing everything yourself SUCKS!!

The first few films I've shot have been done with just me and a bolex, and an ill-conceived boom setup being held by a C-Stand.

Then I started working on other larger productions as a PA. Doing ***** work. I actually never got coffee. Haha, I was nice to my director and producer. The producer loved me. My UPM didn't, but I didn't like him either. And it was great seeing how it all flowed.

My next shoot was done with three crew members. One on sound, one AC, one PA. And it worked flawlessly, still done on a bolex. (God I hate those things.) My next film I had a dedicated crew and shot with an Aaton LTR. I AD'd, our director was worthless, and I also had a DoP and sound op and PA. Trainwreck...

The next one I shot, director was okay. Sound op was okay. Trainwreck because I failed to get a good AD...and I can only AD and shoot so much. Our PA was a waste of life. Didn't do anything. I ended up running to the car with the Aaton mounted on my shoulder to grab a second prop. We had balloons as props. And of course, our PA let one go.

Time fest I did everything by myself. But it was to have fun with a few of my younger brothers friends. Not a great film. But a blast.

Gearing up for a feature final quarter of this year. I have a set designer, a writing staff, a DoP who I am talking to right now, and a few other people to help. But we are just entering writing stages.

So having a crew helps, but sometimes it ends up in a trainwreck. The crews I've worked with so far, I've only had one that made the process easier.
 
filthrich said:
Video director and ATL director Chris Robinson has been personal friend for almost 20 years. And when I go to his sets it seems like he does not really do much (compared to what we do). But I guess that is the goal right? To have everyone else do the heavy lifting so you can concentrate on the vision. I was there for the $1000.00 videos when we carried and set up everything for him, now you can't touch a Chris video for under $200,000. and he Does not touch a single light. That would be strange to me at this point. I guess it boils down to trusting those around you.
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I guess I just felt less engaged, more an observer than a participant. There's something about looking through the lens at the actor and being in complete control of the image that makes my brain feel fully in the moment.
 
I can definately see why you would feel that way. I'm just trying to get better and hopefully get to a point where I can stop hitting the damn time clock 4 times a day.
 
filthrich said:
Man I wish I could only focus on the actors.
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It's a funny thing, for all the geeking out I'll do over lighting, audio and camera equipment - the instant I have a performer in front of me and a story to tell I couldn't care less about the hardware.

I guess that means I should probably put more effort into finishing my scripts and finding actors, and less into debating whether the "square-root of all evil" does in fact = 4:2:0...

*sigh*
 
I find myself missing things that I should catch, because I am doing so much. I don't even know what a good crew costs nowadays. But I would like to have one on my next film, that much I do know. check out some of my old music videos at www.myspace.com/joystickfims I shot all of these with no crew at all. Just me behind a camera. They are about 3 years old and I had only a general idea of how to use the DVX.
 
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