Im gonna ask lotsa questions that might even be irrelevant with the title.

Clarification:

I know everything depends on my budget... but lets say im going to have a relatively small crew because i have a small budget. Who must i hire? Whats the minimum number of crew i can have and complete a film? And then lets say on another film i have a little bigger budget, who are the the nextpeople i think about hiring that i couldnt hire on my previous smaller budget. And then as my budget gets bigger and bigger who do i hire that i couldnt hire before?! And i asked and found out that i have to only hire the department heads and they hire the rest. but i saw on a video theat i hire the DP and he hires the Production Manager who hires the Production Designer. i was like wtf? So can some one please clarify that... yeah...

well the most important people of crew are cameraman, DOP and sound engineer. Thats what i think


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For a very low budget picture an efficient set up would be:

Director > AD

Producer > PAs

Production Designer > Set Dresser

DP > AC

Gaffer > Best Boy Electric > 3rd (or PA)

Key Grip > Best Boy Grip > 3rd (or PA)

Sound Mixer > Boom Operator

Script Supervisor

Hair/Make-up

Wardrobe

Prop Master

Locations Manager

The emboldened you can possibly do without if you can do it yourself.

Yeah, for the production we completed we only hired a DP and a sound person. Everybody else in the crew did it for free.

Yeah, for the production we completed we only hired a DP and a sound person. Everybody else in the crew did it for free.

Welcome to Indie filmmaking! :lol:

...the only addition I would make to the DP, camera and sound -- if you are really keeping things small -- is one PA, because you will most likely need an extra pair of hands. Plus they can fill in in other places as well and you'll be glad you had them around.

-- spinner :cool:

Over the years I have tried as many different combinations as I
could - from just me and the actors to a crew of 50. You can make
a complete movie with very few people. The more people you have
the faster things go. When each department has at least one
person doing that job the day goes smoother than when you have
people doubling or tripling up on jobs.

For me the minimum crew for a smooth shoot of 12 to 18 days is 15:
DP/operator
1st AC
1st AD
script supervisor
gaffer
dolly grip/key grip
2 grip/electric
makeup/costumer
set dresser/props
mixer
boom op
craft services/caterer
3 PA’s who each have specific tasks


Depending on the needs of the production a stunt coordinator,
make-up efx and/or special efx might be needed. And when shooting
HD (true HD) more camera people will be needed.

When I make an ultra low budget movie where I pay almost no one I
ALWAYS pay the three most important people - scripty, first AD
and sound mixer. I can always find an excellent gaffer who wants
a DP credit for free and a best boy electric who wants to be a
gaffer for the credit. But an experienced First, scripty and
mixer are essential to the smooth running of a ULB and all three
will save time and money in post - well worth spending the money.

If I can afford it I’ll separate the make up and costumer, add a
grip/electric or two (really speeds things up) add another person
or two to the art department (for the same reason) and add a
person to do only video assist.

My total “dream” crew for a low budget movie is 26:
DP/operator
1st AC
2nd AC/video assist
1st AD
2nd AD
script supervisor
gaffer
dolly grip/key grip
4 grip/electric
makeup
makeup assistant
costumer
costumer assistant
set decorator/dresser
props master
sound mixer
boom op
craft services
caterer
4 PA’s who each have specific tasks

In general you the producer (you?) should hire the department
heads and they will hire their crew. On a very low budget movie
there will be ONLY “department heads” so the point becomes moot.
As the show gets bigger and bigger the producer will rely more
and more on the department heads to fill their crew needs.

I’ve never been on a show where the DP hires the production
manager, but I do encourage the DP to be involved in hiring the
production designer/art director.

You should also have someone in charge of your sound/audio. After all, film is an audio/visual experience, so audio is about 50% of an audience's experience! Bad audio, i.e. audio done by people that don't know what they're doing, can ruin a film.

If you and/or your editor are seriously trying to save money by doing the sound editing yourself, make sure you have a nice, pro-audio setup to do it. You can't do good sound edits with a pair of $30 laptop speakers from Office Depot. You should have a nice, pro-audio sound card, mixer, and some great speakers for clarity and accurate feedback. This equipment can cost up to $2,000, not to mention the skills necessary to do good sound edits.

The best way to have good sound is to make sure that the sound recorded is high-quality. Use a high-quality microphone, several if possible. Also, use a nice boom, not some indie broomstick that rattles and thuds every time you move a finger. Then, during editing and post-production, a sound editor/coordinator makes sure that the sound track has good balance and consistency.

Also, under the category of sound and audio is, of course, music. If you're using library music (which I don't recommend), let your sound editor/coordinator place it and do any necessary fades. If you're using original music, many independent composers (such as myself) provide basic sound editing services as well. I do this, because I already have to work with the audio to coordinate and balance music.

If you're shooting an independent film it's an uphill battle recouping money invested, so I think you should shoot one weekend at a time so that you can do as much of the work yourself to save money. I'd hire a really good DP who also is great at lighting. Then hire a camera AC to rack focus, a soundman and a PA.

If you're shooting an independent film it's an uphill battle recouping money invested, so I think you should shoot one weekend at a time so that you can do as much of the work yourself to save money. I'd hire a really good DP who also is great at lighting. Then hire a camera AC to rack focus, a soundman and a PA.
If you're gonna go bare bones like this you still need a scriptie and boom operator.

How come no mention of a video editor or a post production guy is mentioned? Are they not part of a crew or is this normally outsourced? Or...do filmmakers themselves normally do the video editing? What about VFX? who does that in a low/no budget production?

How come no mention of a video editor or a post production guy is mentioned? Are they not part of a crew or is this normally outsourced? Or...do filmmakers themselves normally do the video editing? What about VFX? who does that in a low/no budget production?

....because the director in and indie film is often the video editor. If there are video effects, the director often does those as well. If you have someone who can do those things for you, good for you :yes: But it would probably mean that you have a bigger budget than someone who is just starting out. Or maybe you have a friend who just wants a project to work on.....

-- spinner :cool:

The Guerilla Film Makers Movie Blueprint (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0826414532?ie=UTF8&tag=intensitymedi-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=1789&creativeASIN=0826414532) has a nice big section that breaks down the importance of production roles based on budget. Quite a bit of other worthwhile info too, including some recipes if you want to keep your people fed on the cheap. :)

Get the Blueprint and the Handbook if you can. I have the handbook and it's a wealth of information.

-- spinner :cool:

How come no mention of a video editor or a post production guy is mentioned? Are they not part of a crew or is this normally outsourced? Or...do filmmakers themselves normally do the video editing? What about VFX? who does that in a low/no budget production?
What was discussed was production, post production is another story, and they are not considered "crew". Editing, sound design, foley, SFX, color correction, etc.

What was discussed was production, post production is another story, and they are not considered "crew". Editing, sound design, foley, SFX, color correction, etc.

Interesting, post production isn't, but caterers are considered crew? (according to Directorik as his Dream crew). But no seriously, I can see the difference in production and crew, all your answers made sense. Thanks for the tips on the Handbook and Blueprint. I guess I'm the friend that wants a project to work on.... :)

Hey, are you knocking caterers (craft service)? ;) Trust me, that's an important department :)

Oh of course not, filmmakers and actors need coffee and donuts too I suppose. He-he! Don't we all like tasty treats? :) But see, I learned something new once again on this forum, didn't know craft services was catering. Kinda just figured craft services was like carpenters, electricians, etc, you know, special skill sets or crafts. I love this forum. I learn something new every day!

I was on a set that had a gourmet chef, omelets made to order for breakfast, etc. You can't beat good food on a film set.

That's awesome! Something tells me that wasn't exactly an Indie film with that kind of expense......

That's true. Commercial. Commercials pay the best.

Great food is even MORE important on an "indie" film. When
you aren't paying people at all or paying then less than their
usual rate, feeding them well is extremely important. On all
my indie movies I provide excellent food. Sometimes that even
means bringing in a catering company that will have an omelet
station in the morning.

I know this is a little picky, but crafts service and catering are
two different things.

Crafts service is the department that provides various services
to the craftspeople on a set. Typically this means a table with
beverages and snacks. Catering is the department that prepares
and serves the meals.

Learning Final Cut Pro is easy. Offline editing should be done by the independent filmmaker. Crew = shoot crew. Not post.