DV Info Net - Should I be using multiple mics to record dialogue and sound effects?

Ah - but that's the snag, you don't, so why don't you delegate.

Now I'm older, I don't feel the need to be the central axle any more. I let the experts think and put in their opinions, then I take this and cost it. Sometimes, one of the younger ones with less experience will suggest crazy budget items, often because they're the flavour of the month, but expensive and pointless. I reject these and ask them for a more budget friendly solution. If the expert comes up with something I'd not thought about, and it's a good suggestion - you go with it. My job is overview. Can I do it better? Sometimes I think I can, but I don't have time, or inclination. Let it go - let the expert take it on. I now take things over only when the project will be impacted. When it goes wrong, it's my fault - if they've done what I said. As a Director, you need to know when your teams are pulling a fast one. They will. It's not about just shouting 'action'. Bad directors get confused. They then confuse others, and worse, if the team are confused of why things are done, they produce worse results. You don't need to understand makeup to use it - you are concerned with end result not application.

I'm deeply suspicious about the quality of your friends. They have given you wrong and confusing information before. As Director, why would you use these people and assume they will save your bacon?

You have made up your mind to hire a gimbal operator? Why? Do you need one, or just a decent ordinary cameraman. Surely, you use a cameraman who looks at what you want to do and then that person uses the kit best able to do it.