Who's Afraid of a Little Theory?

**Yammeryammeryammer** · December 20th, 2004, 04:59 PM

PERCEIVED PROFESSIONAL DEFINITIONS:

Director - From what I understand at the higher levels the director is more creative and less hands on, just telling people what they want, and it is made so by the rest of the people.

Producer - The guy who organizes everything financially, administratively, and answers all the non artistic and practical portions of the production. Makes things happen on a reasonable level and tries to make the fewest compromises possible.

Actor - Responsible for constructing a character or lack there of based on the boundaries given to them by the director

Writer - The person who came up with the concept and wrote the script including locations, dialogue, basic characters and alike, or someone who has been hired to make a written version of someone else's idea. Apparently involved in production to a limited capacity a lot of the time

Director of Photography - Responsible for the 'look' of the film. Supposed to possess a knowledge of the equipment, film stock, lighting situations etc. They answer to the director, and so whether or not they are allowed to make creative choices differs from production to production. Supervises camera operators.

Grip - The people responsible for moving, setting up and taking down equipment.

Editor - The person or set of persons who is responsible for making the raw footage from the film make sense and conform to their interpretation, or work with the director to perfect what they had been shooting for, or repair what didn't go as planned.

MY DEFINITIONS:

Director - At our level (our being me and my production group), the director is responsible for basically everything that isn't someone else's job. They answer most questions anyone has.

Producer - The person who makes the schedules, organizes the locations, manages the money (if there is any) and does a lot of driving and dealing with unruly people.

Actor - Responsible for knowing lines and situations prior to filming. Blocking is usually trial and error, and creative freedom is left to them within reason. Rehearsals are a luxury, but sort out a lot of the problems. They are also not above carrying equipment and helping out.

Writer - Usually another member of the production, who wants to see their script get made.

Director of Photography - Usually the owner/provider/operator of the equipment or the person with the best working knowledge of the camera and lights. The person who knows what he is doing, essentially.

Grip - See "Actor"

Editor - The person who sits at a computer or moviola and tries to make the most effective use of the footage shot.

**tim partridge** · December 23rd, 2004, 09:16 PM

Originally posted by Nigel:
I take offence to being basically turned into a Monkey.

As a DP I leave a very big mark on the film. I don't just tell the director what lens to use. Actually it is far deeper than that. I am in control of the enitre image. The director is in control of the actors and the story. I will tell the gaffer what I want to do with the light--Remember without light you have no image. I will tell the grips where to set B-Board and Cookies. It is my decision as to pulling focus and how to move the camera. I will never tell the director that the actor's performance was bad and it needs to be reshot--He will never tell me that he doesn't like the lighting on the table.

There are boundries that have been created like it or not. In the Hollywood model in which I work--The DP has a wonderful position. I can claim credit when the picture does well and hide when it does poorly--Why?? Because We/I work in a Director-Centric world. Which is why everyone wants to be one.

The DP is not just a glorified camera operator. He/She is responsible for everything that people go to the cinema to do--Watch. They Watch/See a movie. They are there to see an image--I create that image. I work my A$$ off to make that image as best I can. For Me--Not for a director.

I think that to many directors try to touch the camera and do my job. I don't talk to actors--Directors don't touch my camera.

Good Luck

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">A DP who doesn't speak to the talent?
[img]eek.gif[/img] Each to their own, I guess. Personally, most of my best work has been through talking to actors, as has letting the director operate, if that's what they want. I agree with everything else you said on the issue, however.

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ December 23, 2004 05:17 PM: Message edited by: tim partridge ]</font>