Cast and Crew Titles Help at DVinfo.net

Oliver Darden · May 17th, 2008, 08:24 PM

I wanted to ask some of you filmmakers what your options are on what these titles should be. I am going to give a description of what the person did and you tell me what the title should be on the credits. There is already a director.

This person helped with the structure of the film and wrote where things should go in the editing process. So basically the person that was editing the film was looking at what this person wrote to see where to put things. I was thinking this person would be the writer but it sounds weird to having a writer in a documentary...

This person monitored the audio during interviews, moved all the equipment to whatever location we needed, set up lights and sound, and did the white balancing etc. He also took notes and labels dv tapes. I was thinking this would be the sound person but they did so much more so I was unsure....

This person made sure we were on schedule and make sure we got all the shots in the script, took breaks, when to eat, etc. They also make the flight and hotel plans, got driving directions etc. I was thinking script supervisor....

Thanks.

Edward Carlson · May 17th, 2008, 09:19 PM

The first person would be your Script Supervisor, if you had a script. Not sure exactly what to call him...
The second is a Production Assistant, although you could also credit him as Sound, Grip, and Lighting.
The third person is your Production Coordinator.

Paul Cascio · May 18th, 2008, 07:02 AM

I did a Google search and came up with this:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Film_crew

Oliver Darden · May 19th, 2008, 12:14 AM

Nice Paul, thanks

Brian Drysdale · May 19th, 2008, 03:14 AM

On documentaries it's pretty common for the sound recordist to help with putting up lights etc., but they usually are just given the sound credit. Just as the person doing camera can - at times - be directing, but they get the camera credit. However, you can also have people with two credits eg writer/director

Documentaries do have writers and there is a commonly a writing process involved, especially on more controlled flagship documentaries well in advance of the filming. Basically, you should roughly know what your story is before you start filming - that can change as real life events kick in and then you're in a world of rewrites. If you don't know what the story you're telling is, you should then ask why are you filming? Good films come out of asking yourself hard questions.

May 17th, 2008, 08:24 PM	#1
Oliver Darden Major Player Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: USA Posts: 522	Cast and Crew Titles Help I wanted to ask some of you filmmakers what your options are on what these titles should be. I am going to give a description of what the person did and you tell me what the title should be on the credits. There is already a director. This person helped with the structure of the film and wrote where things should go in the editing process. So basically the person that was editing the film was looking at what this person wrote to see where to put things. I was thinking this person would be the writer but it sounds weird to having a writer in a documentary... This person monitored the audio during interviews, moved all the equipment to whatever location we needed, set up lights and sound, and did the white balancing etc. He also took notes and labels dv tapes. I was thinking this would be the sound person but they did so much more so I was unsure.... This person made sure we were on schedule and make sure we got all the shots in the script, took breaks, when to eat, etc. They also make the flight and hotel plans, got driving directions etc. I was thinking script supervisor.... Thanks.

May 18th, 2008, 07:02 AM	#3
Paul Cascio Trustee Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Bristol, CT (Home of EPSN) Posts: 1,192	I did a Google search and came up with this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Film_crew __________________ Paul Cascio www.pictureframingschool.com

May 17th, 2008, 09:19 PM	#2
Edward Carlson Major Player Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: North Hollywood, CA, United States Posts: 807	The first person would be your Script Supervisor, if you had a script. Not sure exactly what to call him... The second is a Production Assistant, although you could also credit him as Sound, Grip, and Lighting. The third person is your Production Coordinator.

May 19th, 2008, 12:14 AM	#4
Oliver Darden Major Player Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: USA Posts: 522	Nice Paul, thanks

May 19th, 2008, 03:14 AM	#5
Brian Drysdale Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Belfast, UK Posts: 6,143	On documentaries it's pretty common for the sound recordist to help with putting up lights etc., but they usually are just given the sound credit. Just as the person doing camera can - at times - be directing, but they get the camera credit. However, you can also have people with two credits eg writer/director Documentaries do have writers and there is a commonly a writing process involved, especially on more controlled flagship documentaries well in advance of the filming. Basically, you should roughly know what your story is before you start filming - that can change as real life events kick in and then you're in a world of rewrites. If you don't know what the story you're telling is, you should then ask why are you filming? Good films come out of asking yourself hard questions.