What do Directors expect from their DPs?

-JunK- said:
Good stuff here. I won't rehash what others say, which I agree completely.

As director, you are in charge. I'm guessing you're acting as producer too financing. A DP should respect your vision and try their best to fufill it. Always peeps with egos and such, but the process is collaborative. That doesn't mean sacrificing your or your DP's artistic visions. A good DP will be your right hand not trying you make you his.

Take your time hiring one, I know experience can also breed ego, a newer director can easily handover much creative control. Just a balancing act.
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Hey,

I plan to do just do that. Take my time. There seems to be an arrogance here and it's not me. I don't mean this forum either just DPs thinking they know better and beleiving they should have control they do not deserve.

If they cannot play by my rules they can go elsewhere. It is not their film but mine.

Chris
 
imageonepictures said:
It is not their film but mine.
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as a director/producer and possibly the writer as well it definitely is your film, but keep in mind you are hiring these people to help you. And at times when making an indie film people do things for cheap or free and they are contributing to the birth of your child (the films final product). So stop complaining and find someone you can trust to uphold your vision. We've all had troubles with someone on set, but remember with a position, especially, the DP you're film might not turn out the way you want it without them. Strive for the best result, but find the right person first.
 
If you are looking for someone to just do what you ask, then perhaps you don't need or want a DP; perhaps you should consider hiring a camera op in their place. Keep in mind that without a DP you will need to pick up the slack and will likely be in the position of having to handle issues with other department heads (gaffer, key grip, loaders, etc.) that would normally be handled by the DP. This approach will give you more control, but it will also burden you with more details to handle. If this does not too adversely effect your ability to direct the talent, then go for it, after all - it's your money.
 
imageone, you sound like a young inexperienced soul who is intimidated by anyone on the set who is a professional and has some experience. Take your camera and go make your little movie by yourself. You will be a lot happier and so will everyone else that you have ask to work for little to no money.

You definitely don't want to be working with other people to make YOUR movie.
 
khmuse said:
If you are looking for someone to just do what you ask, then perhaps you don't need or want a DP; perhaps you should consider hiring a camera op in their place. Keep in mind that without a DP you will need to pick up the slack and will likely be in the position of having to handle issues with other department heads (gaffer, key grip, loaders, etc.) that would normally be handled by the DP. This approach will give you more control, but it will also burden you with more details to handle. If this does not too adversely effect your ability to direct the talent, then go for it, after all - it's your money.
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I do need a DP. What I need most is someone who will respect me on set. Not someone who is trying to change thigns that I did not askj to be changed and bringing their own crew when I asked them not to. There is somethign called over stepping. Boundaries must be respected.

They are being paid to do a specific job. What is th problem with that?

Chris
 
greenheron said:
imageone, you sound like a young inexperienced soul who is intimidated by anyone on the set who is a professional and has some experience. Take your camera and go make your little movie by yourself. You will be a lot happier and so will everyone else that you have ask to work for little to no money.

You definitely don't want to be working with other people to make YOUR movie.
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Yes, you are right I am inexperienced at handling buffoones who can't do their job correctly. Stick to the job description or get out.

I cannot make it more simplier.

Chris
 
Yes, you are right I am inexperienced at handling buffoones who can't do their job correctly. Stick to the job description or get out.
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Pic below Chris is on the set giving directions...
Sorry buddy, couldnt resist... :Drogar-BigGrin(DBG)
 
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imageonepictures said:
I do need a DP. What I need most is someone who will respect me on set. Not someone who is trying to change thigns that I did not askj to be changed and bringing their own crew when I asked them not to. There is somethign called over stepping. Boundaries must be respected.
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You won't find the answers to this in any Movie making courses or HowTo's.

Generally speaking, if you find you are not getting the respect you deserve, then you probably either don't deserve it, or don't know how to recognize it. This has everything to do with you, and nothing to do (specifically) with making movies.

Of course, to be a sucessful director, you simply must have the respect of everyone on the set. However, this respect is earned, not ordered.

Managing respect is a psychological, interpersonal skill that has to be developed in one's life in general. Once you're on the set, its far too late for a crash course to be of any benefit.

I'd suggest some materials on general leadership and personality development.

For starters, this book in particular might be helpful. I bought and read it a few years back and can highly recommend it:

Becoming a Person of Influence.


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Interesting advice

Interesting advice

Hey,

What I find most interesting about the advice I am getting is the insisting that I must change. Are we in the Twilight Zone or something?

When I hire a DP all I want is someone to do a specific job. Not someone to run my production for me, not someone to hire the crew for me or tell me how to spend my money?

What is wrong with that? When I insist on maintaining "creative control" they all go run and hide like I've mistreated them... maybe they need to go back to film school and learn the job of cinematographer all over again.

If you want to be a Producer then fine, be a Producer but don't call yourself a DP. Does the craft service person tell the Gaffer how to set up the lights?

Does the PA give the Costume Designer fashion tips? See where I'm going?

Since this is a Christian film the biblical message must be maintained to avoid contamination.

Chris
 
volcano said:
Pic below Chris is on the set giving directions...
Sorry buddy, couldnt resist... :Drogar-BigGrin(DBG)
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Actually that picture made me crack up!

Should my movie be credit as Directed by Adolf Hitler?
 
What I find most interesting about the advice I am getting is the insisting that I must change.
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Panta Rei brother, why not you?
Should my movie be credit as Directed by Adolf Hitler?
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Rather use it as a reminder for how dictators end up...
A good DP wont challenge your vision for the sake of mental masturbation. A good DP is an artist too, whose job is to create IMAGES(that is envisioned by you), A director is an artist who puts these 100000s of images together, somehow coherent, somehow in a way that will make sense...
 
ok. great. we get it.

we all know what you are trying to say. And yes, its the way you are putting it. And you are obviously not taking our advice or reading correctly if you only think we are telling you to change.

Maybe you should re-read the thread buddy, because you are definitely missing the big picture at this point.

But hey, good luck and i hope you can find out what we are all really trying to say.

cheers.
 
You can always trust good 'ol Wikipedia to come up with something..

"...The cinematographer typically selects the film stock, lens, filters, etc. to realize the scene in accordance with the intentions of the director. Relations between the cinematographer and director vary; in some instances the director will allow the cinematographer complete independence; in others, the director allows little to none, even going so far as to specify aperture and shutter angle. Such a level of involvement is not common once the director and cinematographer have become comfortable with each other. The director will typically convey to the cinematographer what he wants from a scene visually, and allow the cinematographer latitude in achieving that effect...."

Basically, nothing is set in stone. Like stated above the realtionship between a DP and a director can range from either side of the two extremes. I can see that YOU have a very specific idea what a DPs job should be, but that does not make it set-in-stone fact of filmmaking.

If you have a very specific vision and don't want to compromise or change it in any way, you should just keep on looking for the DP who is comfortable with that work arrangement, but that does not make a DP with independant cinematography ideas on framing, lighting, textures wrong. Just not right for you...

So you can't just call them arrogant because they don't fit into the mold of a working relationship you have envisioned. It's not like a jantior telling the CEO of the firm he is cleaning the floors for how to run the company. It's a creative compromise between two artists. If you are unhappy with where that compromise stands, than this is not the relationship for you. But that does not make the other person wrong...

Offcourse there should be boundries, and offcourse you should have creative control, but it's all about communication and it's all about trust...

so basically what I'm trying to point out (as were others) is that the relationship between the Director and the DP is not a black and white thing...

You just need to find the right guy...
 
Krummi said:
The cinematographer typically selects the film stock, lens, filters, etc. to realize the scene in accordance with the intentions of the director. Relations between the cinematographer and director vary; in some instances the director will allow the cinematographer complete independence; in others, the director allows little to none, even going so far as to specify aperture and shutter angle.
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I think what the real job of the DP/Cinematographer is to understand how the director tells them they want the shot composed.

I should be able to tell my DP what should be in and out of the frame, but I'll leave the technical decisions such as film stock and filters to him.

Recently, I was doing a shoot with 16mm and it was basically go as fast as you can before you get caught. We broke so many rules that it was a miracle somebody didn't get in trouble. For that, I just told my DP "keep everything in the frame", and "don't mess up" and I trusted him, so it came out good.

Other times, when you're not rushing, you may want to be very specific about how the frame should be composed. Like if you're doing a fight scene in a room, you need to specifically see where each shot should be set up.

So it can go both ways.
 
"my money my movie". seems like you're going to be in a boatload of trouble if you're ever making a movie with someone else's money, which is what most people aspire to do, no?

Since this thread really seems to be a gripefest about one particular unnamed person, there's not much value in any of the commentary. On the other hand, if you find that your creative vision is constantly being undermined by tons of these experienced people that you've hired, you may be right. They may not respect you or your vision. So you've got to stop and think long and hard about why that is.
 
dougspice said:
"my money my movie". seems like you're going to be in a boatload of trouble if you're ever making a movie with someone else's money, which is what most people aspire to do, no?

Since this thread really seems to be a gripefest about one particular unnamed person, there's not much value in any of the commentary. On the other hand, if you find that your creative vision is constantly being undermined by tons of these experienced people that you've hired, you may be right. They may not respect you or your vision. So you've got to stop and think long and hard about why that is.
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basically i've kept a watchful eye on this thread...

...and you said it better than anyone here.

bravo. and I hope that person really read what you've got to say.

kudos.

cheers.
-a
 
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