YOUR OPINION – SHOULD REMAIN SILENTLY YOUR OPINION

As much as you have a creative opinion, and we all have them, you are on set, not at a dinner with your friends sharing your viewpoints on life. This is not place to let it all hang out. In this instance, sharing is unnecessary. Even if the director flat out asks you what you think – s/he doesn’t really mean it. What they’re really saying is – “You agree with me don’t you?”

As much as you think you have a better way to do it, or your creative idea is the best, there’s an Executive Producer, Supervising Producer, Field Producer and Director on the set. They likely have 50-years of combined experience. It’s not that your idea isn’t special or doesn’t warrant being heard, but this is the time for you to shut up and learn. Look around you, see what’s happening, and who’s doing what. When your neck is on the line for 3-5 million dollars for a series, then it’s your turn and you can scream your creative opinion from the top of the Golden Gate Bridge. Have at it. But for now, soak it in. Watch and learn.

FOOD IS REALLY REALLY IMPORTANT ON LOCATION OR ON A SET

Don’t be the person who is ALWAYS at the crafty (snack and beverage) table. Food is an important part of a shoot. The crew has been up since before the sun peaked over the East. They’ve been carrying cases, cameras, lights, props, furniture and in general doing the hustle without any disco music playing – do not be the one person who is at the crafty table stuffing your face. It just makes you look like you have nothing to do, or that you’re unwilling to help others when you have nothing to do. And people who have time on their hands are dispensable.

DON’T MESS WITH A HOT SET

A Hot Set is a set they will come back and shoot, but for right now the crew is either eating lunch, screening something, working over the script, or shooting something else. Whatever the case, the set marked with tape or string and has HOT SET written all over it, means do not touch, we’re in the middle of shooting and we aren’t finished. Don’t be the dumb-ass who picks up a pen and paper from the hot set cause you need to write a coffee order. You should have a pad and pen in your pocket at all times anyway.

YOU WANT SOCIAL HOUR – CALL YOUR FRIENDS

Don’t join in on the conversation when the Director is directing the actors. First it’s his/her conversation with the actors and second – you’re not there to socialize. The Director is giving direction and you have no part in the conversation unless someone asks you a direct question. Stand back. Far back. And listen. Watch. Learn.

WATCH WHERE YOU’RE WALKING

This may seem obvious. Almost like telling someone not to text and drive. But – I’ve seen it time and time again and I have been guilty of said crime – not looking where I’m going and bam – tripping over something important. Don’t be the one who trips over the light stand causing the light to move when they just spent 2 hours placing that light. People will give you dirty looks. Be observant – do not sleep walk while on set or on location.

Enjoy your first few times on set or on location – they can be exhilarating. The most important point is to be observant – you’ll learn a lot. A Lot.

I’ve had my share of rookie moves on set – come on spill. What’s the funniest mistake you’ve seen happen on a set or on location?

In the first place – I’m never worried.  I may be concerned or I may be strategically thinking about how to solve a problem, but there isn’t really any problem that can’t be solved.  Ever. Whether it’s the lead actor in the production who’s suddenly stricken ill during filming, or whether the network hates everything you’ve shot even though they’ve signed off on it – all of these ‘problems’ have work arounds and can and have been solved.  So, there really isn’t anything to worry about.  But, during my last production we did a lot of hand held shooting very quickly and there wasn’t always an opportunity to have a monitor available so I could see what was being shot as it was being shot.  When I asked the DP to make sure he captured a particular shot at a particular angle I was told, “no worries.”  When I told the DP I  needed to reshoot something, I was told “it’s all good.”  Now, I’m not singling out this DP, because in fact he had a great eye, but he wasn’t the only crew member to give me the ‘no worries’ brush off.

I repeat, I’m not worried; I only want to ensure that what I need to get on tape is gotten.  I want to leave no doubt in my mind that when I enter the edit room everything I need will be there.  It’s part of my job to check, double check, and triple check.  That’s one of the things I do, and I do it very well.

So when a producer asks: Were the final changes incorporated into the script, or did you check to make sure the grip trucks had their permits changed or , or, or… the answer is either ‘yes’ or ‘no.’  It’s pretty simple. I want a definitive answer. Sound harsh?  Not really – at the end of a production cycle you want to make sure you deliver more than what the network expected.  A ‘yes’ or a ‘no’ helps the producer guide the production to a winning result.