What Essential film crew members do you need for a film set?

Kid_Filmmaker

Kid_Filmmaker

Active member
I have another question and I couldn't find it after researching online. For a low budget (meaning under $100k) film, who are the main crew members do you need to have to make a great film run great? I have listed:

Producer
Line Producer
Associate Producer
Boom Operator
Director of Photography/Camera Operator
1st. Assistant Camera Operator
Crew Production Assistant (1)
Crew Production Assistant (1)
Still Photographer
Electric/Lightning/Best Boy
Swing Gang
Make-Up Artist
Key Grip
Script Supervisor
Film Editor
Server (1)
Server (1)
Cook
Drivers (2)


Is that essential to what I need for a digital, low budget film set or do some of these positions I don't even need at all - and if there are some I don't need at all, which ones do I not need on a low budget film set?
 
Top of that list should be a good 1st Assistant Director. And you'll need a Production Designer and at least two people on lighting, your gaffer and an assistant/best boy for him.
 
Grug said:
Top of that list should be a good 1st Assistant Director. And you'll need a Production Designer and at least two people on lighting, your gaffer and an assistant/best boy for him.
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So I need to add a gaffer, production designer and gaffer assistant to the list, what other positions should I add to the list?
 
Well obviously, that is a given but I am referring to what crew members you need for a low budget film, not for a film that's shot on a Universal Studios film lot but a indie film, what are the crew members that are needed...
 
It depends on the film and the requirements of the script. For all I know you might need a fluffer or a cat wrangler.
 
Liam Hall said:
It depends on the film and the requirements of the script. For all I know you might need a fluffer or a cat wrangler.
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Ok, let me put it like this then, for a dramatic, non action flick type of film, what are the essential film crew positions needed to make a film of that nature?
 
Liam Hall said:
It depends on the film and the requirements of the script. For all I know you might need a fluffer or a cat wrangler.
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Exactly!

There really is no such thing as one size fits all.

I know I had to put my biblical drama feature on hold when I couldn't raise the $800K needed. And that low number was after calling in all my chits. With all the post work the full budget was at $2.2mil, not counting any promotional.
 
I've done multiple features as the DP/Gaffer/Editor with a Director/Producer/Sound man and an assistant for me. Special case though.
 
Well should I try looking at an indie film online and looking at the end credits to see what crew members are used in that indie film as a way of finding out what crew members are needed on an indie film set?
 
Are you trying to fill out a crew for a production of your own? If so just break down the jobs that need to be done and those are your crew positions. On anything small budget or no budget chances are there will be some crew members needing to do double duty to make it work within budget.
 
Yes this is for a production of my own, someone said I could just try looking at who's listed as the film's crew in the credits of a low budget indie film, that's why I thought up just doing that idea. I don't want the crew to be too big because I don't have a lot of money but just enough for me to be able to make a great film.
 
Yeah I am trying to do that but I'm stuck on what film crew members I need. But I think I will just stick with what I posted already and add in gaffer, production designer and best boy....
 
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