When is it appropriate for the Director of Photography (DP) to talk to the talent?

[Spunkey1pestic]

Sure-I'll speak to talent, but I'm not there to Direct their sence!! I'm not "cold" or whatever- I just do my job and follow the chain of command-
- The Director handel's the talent- I just get the shot He/She wants -
Now,
if what the Director wants is out of the question cinematically speaking- "which happens sometimes BUT RARELY" Then I speak up,but on the norm I'm there to make the camera do what it does best- It's the Director's Job to get the preformance out of the talent- or at least that's how it's gone down for me...

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ December 24, 2004 01:11 AM: Message edited by: Spunkey1pestic ]</font>

[tim partridge]

Alex:

Yes.

As far as this amateur guerilla filmmakers forum goes, yes. I don't do it to pay my bills, hence I wouldn't be on this board asking for feedback on my shorts websites! It's what I'm going into though, it's what I study and practice and spend lots of time and money on. I hope to get into a big film school next year.

Nigel no doubt pays his bills lighting, credit to him- doesn't make me any less informed on this issue though and if Freddie Francis and Jack Cardiff have both told me personally that they encourage DOPs to communiate with talent, that's good enough for everyone here to consider seriously too.

Spunky- great post.

<font color="#a62a2a"><font size="1">[ December 24, 2004 01:35 AM: Message edited by: tim partridge ]</font></font>

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ December 24, 2004 01:39 AM: Message edited by: tim partridge ]</font>

[Alex]

Odd that you assume others have no experience when you yourself are in still in school.

I agree with what Spunky said and I think Spunky's position is closer to Nigels and my position than yours.

[tim partridge]

Actually I made it clear that I am NOT in school right now, I don't do cinematography to pay the bills and I want to get into a top film school next year.

How you came to your conclusions about Spunky's post is anyone's guess. Spunky like myself said he talks to the talent when neccessary, closer to my own comments than either yours or Nigels. You seem to have a deluded belief that talking to the talent translates as the black/white extreme of grabbing the reigns off of the director in order to live out some unachievable fantasy about becoming a director- you implied that all DPs who speak to talent are closet wannabe directors who shouldn't be let anywhere near a film set. Ludicrous and concerningly ill-informed. Like I said, where you manufacture your information from to draw these ludicrous conclusions is anyone's guess. Good luck.

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ December 24, 2004 04:11 AM: Message edited by: tim partridge ]</font>

[Chance1234]

only time i would expect one of my DP#s to talk to the talent, is if a big piece of lighting equimpent was about to fall on there head...

thinking about it. the only time the DOP has addressed my actors on set in terms of directing was when we were doing a scene with a mirror. the scene was specially lit so the puppeteer wouldnt appear in the mirror and there was some serious cheating of perspective going on, as the DOP had been setting up the scene with his crews as stand in's , it was a lot easier for him to give the cues to the actors then to relay to me, then me to relay back. Pureley technical direction mind you though.

[Nigel]

Tim--

I am a Lighting Cameraman/DOP and I do pay my bills with that. However, I have never gotten offered a job to only do lighting.

Now, if an actor doesn't want a stand-in. Fine they don't need one. If they want to be there while my AC's take measurements for pulling focus-Fine. If they want to be there that is fine all the way around. Yet, I will always be looking at the director and telling him/her "Ready when you are." Or if something goes wrong I will say "Boss, We need to talk about XXXX."

You go right on talking with the talent if that is how you work--I will just do my job.

Good Luck

[Tasty Fish Lips]

You go right on talking with the talent if that is how you work--I will just do my job.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I agree. With that part.

Not everybody works the same way. Wether you're a DP, actor, director, or the guy who makes the cheesburgers at McDonalds.

However, I happen to like the kind of film sets where everyone speaks with everyone - it feels like there's less egos, ya know? I'm not talking about throwing a get-to-know-you party where we all just shoot the shit. Just feeling free to....talk. It doesnt mean that it has anything to do with making decisions or giving orders - it's just communication.

It's what human beings do.

But, that being said, if I was working with a DP who shared my point of view - we saw eye to eye on how to shoot the film and I had all the confidence in the world in his ability, then I wouldn't care if he chose not to speak to anyone but me. As long as he's a nice guy and does his job - that's great.

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ December 24, 2004 02:55 PM: Message edited by: Tasty Fish Lips ]</font>

[vt220]

i talk to the talent just enough to make them feel comfortable with me, and confident that i am there to make them look good.

depending on the tone of the set/director, the dialogue could just be a mere introduction, or could be more relaxed.

it really seems to help their performance, and i've never had a complaint from anyone.

and yeah, i'm a working dp (mostly in commercials), blah blah blah.

[TJ_the_director]

I'd say a DP should limit themselves to topics like the weather after initally saying hello and introducing him/herself. IMO DPs should limit their rapport to directly with the director. If you're a professional DP why risk future employment by chatting with actors and unintentionally upset them and earning the ire of the directors, producers and anyone else with $$$ to pay you in another gig down the road.

[Alex]

Lets say the actor is in a bit of a row over some aspect of the movie production, perhaps they don't like another actor or don't like the way the other actor talks over them when they are delivering their lines...etc...

Lets say up until that point the Director of Photography has been friendly and chatty with the cast. It's a perfect set-up for the unhappy actor to simply say out loud to the DP, "How do you think I should play this scene" loud enough for everyone to hear.

Set harmonics have been instantly destroyed. The comment is primarily possible because of the previous chattiness between the DP and the talent and is simply designed to usurp the Directors power. Now the DP must choose a side, and perhaps that is point, as a DP, you always try and get what you think is the best looking and appropriate mood setting for each shot, and you don't want the people who you are working for to not trust your motives. Better for the DP to air on the side of less chattiness than just a bit too much.

In theory, when the DP's done setting up a shot, the cast then works with the director and the shot is consummated. If there is too much time for idle chit chat, then perhaps something is going wrong with the timing and scheduling aspects of the production, and that should be the biggest priority on the set.

Chit chat can alleviate stressful sitatuations, but it can also backfire if the wrong thing is said.