Analysis of the different departments within a film production

1. Unit 22- LO1
Departmental Analysis
Camera Department
Director of Photography (D.O.P)
The directorof photographyisthe leadingmemberof the technical staff.Theyare incharge and
responsible forthe cameraandlightingwithinanygivenshot,sothat the perfectscene iscaptured
for the final cut.He alsooverlooksthe costume designandsetdesign,ashe isthe one whoselects
the right colourstocomplimentaparticularscene,whichcanimplya mood.He alsolooksat how
lightingwillaffectscolourswithinashot.The DOPhas a say in anythingthatgoesina shot,as he is
responsible forsettingascene.Thisalsomeansthathe isin charge of supplyingequipment,tomove
the camera he wants.
The DOP is nextinline afterthe director,ashe isalsoresponsible forlookingateverythingthatgoes
intoa shot. Thismeanshe can tell otherstaff whatto do,and is alsotherefore incharge of hiring
staff that he wants.The DOPis the closesttothe director;theyworktogetherona range of things.
For example,lightingandsetdesign.The DOPalsohasthe powerto control the powerif he so
choosesto – but thisisdependantonthe scenario(e.g.involvementof unions).Tobe a DOP,you
mustpossessthe followingskills:
· Have a backgroundof electronics
· Understandhealthandsafetyimplications
· Have knowledge of lighting
· Understandfilmhistory
· Be able to use applicable equipment
The DOP is involvedinthe pre-productionprocess,ashe helpsthe directordecide oncolour
schemes,lighting,sets,costumesetc.He isalsoheavilyinvolvedinproduction;he mustensure that
everythingrunssmoothly.Once post-productionbegins,the DOP’sjobisdone;therefore theyare no
longerneeded.
Clapper Loader
The clapperloaderloadsandunloadsall camerason set.Nobodyelse onsetisallowedtodothis.In
analogue styledfilmproduction,theyare responsible forkeepingfilmreelsata particular
temperature.Thisistokeepthe reel frombeingdestroyed.He alsotakesnote of whattime shots
were recorded,andthe exposure inwhichtheywere shotat.Thisissotheycan be developed
properlylater. The clapperloaders’keyresponsibilityistostore and maintainreelsduring
production,topreventthe filmfromspoiling.The clapperloaderisonlyrequiredduringthe
productionprocess.The clapperloadermustreportbackto the D.O.Pand hisdepartmentmanager.
Focus Puller
The focus puller’sjobistosetthe focuspointsinany givenshotduringproduction.Thiscomprises of
measuringthe distance betweenthe camera,the background,andthe focuspoint.These are
accurate measurements,andare whatenablesthe camerato be infocusat all times.The focus
pullerdoesnotlookthroughthe lens,andtherefore mustrelyonthese measurementsand

2. calculationstofocusthe shot.His jobmakessure that the scene isin focus,andthat the audiences
attentioniskeptwithinthe frame.
Props Department
The prop makeris incharge andresponsible forcreatingrealisticandsuitable propsthatwill be part
of a shot.Theyworkcloselyalongsidethe setdesigner,andinsome cases,the propdesigners.They
co-operate withthese people,combiningtheirskillstocreate the perfectscene.The skillsrequired
to be a propmakerare:
· Carpentryskills
· Casting
· Sewing
· Painting
· Welding
· Computeraideddesign
· Historicknowledge
· Able toworkwithdifferentmaterials
· Crafting
· Creative
· Attentiontodetail
Also,the prop makerwill make twoof everypropusedwithinaproduction.Thisisbecause,
sometimesonset,thingsare lostorbroken,soif two versionsof the same thingare made,there is
lesschance of disruption.Theyalsoworkwithproductionbuyerstogarnermaterials,and
sometimesevengainproductplacement.Theyare involvedinpre-productionandproduction,as
theyneedtoknowwhat to make,andneedtopotentiallyoperate the propsonset.Theyare not
involvedinpost-production.
Makeup and Special Effects Department
Makeup Artist
A makeupartist’sjobisto create appropriate looksforthe characterswithinaproduction.Theyare
alsoin charge of more dramaticmakeupjobssuchas masksand otherprosthetics.Theyare briefed
and directedbythe chief makeupartist,sothattheyknow whattheyneedto create.Theyare also
providedwithnotesandimagestoworkoff.The artistsare thenallowedtodesignalook.Theyare
heavilyinvolvedinpre-productiontoexperimentandsee whatispossible withthe given
instructions.Inproduction,theyare requiredtothenrecreate these looksandapplythemtothe
cast. Theymustproduce theirownschedule toworkoff,as thishelpsthemworkwiththe effects
duringproduction.Theymustalsoproduce a breakdownof the worktheywill needtodoonsetso
that theycan brief theirchief makeupartistonwhenandwhere these looksare beingcreatedand
used.Makeupartistsare requiredtocomplywithhealthandsafetyrequirements,andtherefore
mustcomplete standardriskassessmentstomake sure that makeupisusedina safe manner.For
example theyhave toconductmakeuptestsonactors,to make sure there are no allergicreactions
to the chemicalsinthe makeup.Thisimportantbecause itisveryimportanttonotharm the actors.
Overall,the skillsapersonneedstobe a makeupartistis:
· Have goodIT skills
· Be able to workunderpressure
· Goodat workingina team
· Great presentationskills

3. · Possessknowledge of basiceffecttechniques (e.g.burns,aging,bodyart)
Production Department and Casting Department
Location Manager
The locationmanager’sjobisto workwiththe director,as he must understandtheirvision,andhis
concepts,sothe locationmanagercanwork outwhere theyneed tobe shot.The locationmanager
mustidentifypotential locationideas,create alocationschedule,andcreate aphotographic
storyboardso thattheycan presenttheirfindingstothe directortosee if theyapprove. When
choosinga location,theymusttake intoaccountnumerousthings,suchasdirections,ease of access,
vehicle parking,accesstoelectrical power,anditsfeasibility.Theyare responsibleforhe
maintenance of anyparticularlocationthroughoutashooting,forexample,if theyhire aroomfor
the day, theymusttidyall of their equipmentaway,andmake sure nodamage is caused. Theyare
alsoresponsiblefororganisinginsurance (if applicable) tooveranydamagesthat occur. The location
managerlooksafterall aspectsof shooting,u=suchas scoutingthe location,workingout/negotiating
the cost if the location,andtakingintoconsiderationthe budgettoo.
The locationmanagerisinvolvedinpre-production,astheydecide possible locationsandkeep
thingsrunningsmoothly.Skillsneededtodothisjobproperlyare:
· Beingable toworkwell underpressure
· Havingknowledgeof the areathat theyare filmingin
· Havinga creative mind-setwhenchoosingthe locations
· Beingable toprepare foraccidents,andrefer to a contingencyplan
Production Manager
The productionmanagerdeterminesthe bestwaystoschedule shoots economically.Theyare
requiredtocomplete businessdealstogainappropriate locationsandequipment.Theyreportto
theirproducer,andtheirline producer.Theymustpossessskillssuchas:
· Communicationskills
· Knowledge of economy
· Capabilitytobudgetproperly
· Understandingbusinessdeals
Theymust alsooverlookthe daytoday runningof the set,and therefore makingeveryone sticksto
the schedule thathasbeenpreviouslyprepared.If theydonotlike how thingsare beingrun,he/she
can reportthe situationtothe foreman,andfindouthow thingscan be changedto make the
productionrunmore smoothly.
Theyare involvedinthe entireproductionprocess –as theyestablishdepartmentcostboundaries.
Theyalsolookoverthe filmscript,and reportto the producerand the firstAD if theyhave any
issues.The productionmanageralsoschedulesdraftmaterialsandexpenses,andorganisessupplies
and the crew.Theirmainfocusis monitoringfinances,andcheckingthe daytoday runningof the
set,to make sure it isall runningcorrectly.He alsonegotiateswithheadof departments;tosee
whatequipmenttheyneedinordertodo theirjob.Theyalsoassignbrokendownversionsof the
scriptto all departments – andcontrolstheirbudget.Theyalsoregulate healthandsafety
procedures,andmake sure theyare followedtopreventaccidents.

4. Casting Director
The casting directorassemblesthe cast.Theyare involvedinpre-production,andfindcastmembers,
and workcloselywiththe directorandproducer,toassure that theyare happy withthe cast choice.
Keyskillsneededtobe acast directorare:
· Knowledge of wellknownactors,andwhattheyusuallyplay
· Negotiationskills
· Matchingcharacters to actors, takingintoconsiderationtheirability,availability,theirappeal,
and howmuch theycost
Theyalsowork the productionaccountant,todevelopabudgetfortheircast. Theyalsoorganise and
conduct auditions/interviewsforthe agreedshortlistof actors.Theymustalsoofferan initial feeand
contract plan,and be able to explainittothe actor. Theycollaborate withthe director,tomake sure
he is happywiththe selectedactors.Theyorganise meetupsbetweenthe actorsandthe director,to
discussanyissues.The castingdirectorisonlyinvolvedduringthe pre-productionprocess.
Costume and Wardrobe Department
Costume Supervisor
The costume supervisor’smainresponsibilityisturningdesignersideasintoareality –but make sure
theyare still practical andfeasible.Theyreview the plot,andIsgivenabreakdownof the script,to
assistthemwithdesigningappropriate looksandsuitablecostumes.Theyconsultwithcostume
hiringcompanies,togatheritemsof clothingforcastmember.Theirjobalsoconsistof takingnote
of continuity,tomake sure outfitsare the same betweeneachscene.Requiredskillsare:
· A good imagination
· Gooddesignskills
· Understandingof garmentproduction
· Excellentabilitytoconductresearch
· Have knowledge of fashionhistory
· Have goodleadershipandmanagementskills
· Be able to understandfilmbudgets,andthe overall process
· GoodUnderstandingof the technologyof movie making
A Costume supervisorisrequiredduringpre-productionandproduction,tocreate,change andset
up the costumes.Theyare not requiredduringpost.
Milliner
A millinerisahat maker;theyconstruct the headwearforcast members.Theytendtoliaise withthe
costume designer,tomatchtogetherthe whole outfitwiththe hat.Theyworkwiththemtoalso
make sure that the outfitand hat will workwiththe story.Theyrefertosketchesanddrawingsto
make the final look.Skillsrequiredare:
· Trainingindesignwork
· Havingcreativityandimagination
· Havinggoodresearchskills
· Havinggoodknowledge of modernandhistorical fashion.
The millinerisinvolvedduringpre-productionandproduction,astheyneedtoplan,create andfit
the hats. Theyare notrequiredforpost-production.

5. Sound Department
Boom Operator
The boom operatorisonlyinvolvedinthe durationof the productionprocess.Theyrigandde-rig
the soundsetup, whilstonset.Theymake sure all equipmentisundamaged,andinfull working
order.The operatormust holdthe boompole andmake sure thatthe micisn’tinthe shot.If the
mic’sare inshot,the whole shotmustbe done all overagain.Theyare also incharge of microphone
placementandmovement,thisistomake sure that soundispickedupproperly,andinthe most
effectivewaypossible.Skillsrequiredare:
· Knowledge of the onsetrequirements
· Abilitytooperate the requiredequipment
· Canwork well underpressure
Production Sound Mixer
The productionsoundmixerisincharge of makingsure that the soundanddialogue of any
particularscene isas clearas it possiblycanbe.Theyare able to requesta new shooting,if the
soundrecordedisunusable.Theyalsomarkoutkeylocationsforsound,andwhere soundcanbe
mosteffectivelypickedupwithinascene.Theyare alsoresponsibleforregularlyperformingsound
checksto make sure that soundis still effectivelybeingrecorded.Skillsrequiredare:
· Understandingof basicmediaequipment
· Abilitytoworkwell underpressure
· Havingleadershipskills
· A keen knowledgeof the soundindustry
A productionsoundmixerisonlyinvolvedinproductionandpost,astheycheckand assessthe
soundwhilstfilming,andafterfilming’scompletion.
Sound Engineer
The soundengineerisresponsible for allsoundin the movie.Theymustmake sure thatall,music,
soundand dialogue isclear,andtoa standardthat the directorishappywith.Theyare the one who
mustamplify,reproduce,create,mix andcheckthe soundswithinaproduction.Theymustmaintain
highqualityaudiothroughoutthe entire production.He alsohasthe authoritytosuggesta re-shoot
for a scene he theyare unhappywiththe sound,howeveritisthe directorsfinal decision.Theyare
involvedduringpre-productionandproduction.
Lighting Department
Lighting Technician
A lightingtechnicianisresponsible forsupplyingrelevantlightingequipmenttothe scene,and
supplyingpowertothe studio(if applicable).Theyare alsorequiredtocleanequipment,and
maintainlightingequipment.He isalsoresponsible forsettingupthe equipmentbefore the shoot
begins,andof course theymustcarry out the regularcheckson the equipment,tomake sure there
are no safety/healthrisks.He isalsoincharge of storingthe equipment,tomake sure noequipment
isdamaged,and thatno healthandsafetyrisksoccur. Theyare alsoincharge of lightingfilters,and
fittingsandpositioningof lightsduringashoot,tocreate the most effective scene.A lighting
techniciansjobrolesandskillsdifferbasedonthe production,andtheyare require toadaptto
whateverrole theyare given. However,whateverjobtheyare askedtodo,theymustreport

6. everythingbacktothe gaffer.,andmake sure theyare followinghisinstructions.The skillsneededto
be a lighttechnicianon setare:
· Suitablyqualified
· Able toworkat heights
· Canwork quickly
· Isaccurate
· Has goodattentiontodetail
· Has a good understandingof lightingandshadows
Lightingtechniciansare brieflyinvolvedinthe pre-productionprocess;theyarrange the safety
precautionsforthe shoot,andalso testoutdifferentlightingfordifferentshots.Theyare also
heavilyinvolvedinproduction,astheyare in control of filtering,andarrangingthe scene’slighting.
Gaffer
The gafferis incharge of performingelectricworkonthe production – theyare the leaderof the
technicianteam.Theyworkalongsidethe director,andthe DOPto create the right moodwith
lighting,toportraythe emotionandfeel thatthe DOPwants. Thisis testedduringpre-production,
and once theyare happywiththe results,theyinformthe director,sotheycanmake sure that they
are alsohappywiththe results.Theyare alsoincharge of givingbreakdownscriptstoall members
so that theycan testand approve the lighting.Theyare alsothe personwhomall sectionmanagers
will reportto – he isthenresponsible forreportingbacktothe DOP.Hisdutiesmainlyoccurduring
productionwork – as he needstomanage the team.He isinvolvedoccasionallyduringpre-
production,sothat he can arrange schedules,teammembers,andarrange testshots.
Skillsneededtobe a gafferare:
 Natural leader
 Team player
 Creative mind
 Knowledgeof lightingequipmentandthe industry
 Abilitytomaintainequipment
 Knowledgeof healthandsafetyprecautions
Direction Department
Director
The directoris essentiallythe mainleaderof the production.He isthe creative one,andissomeone
that everybodymustreportbackto.The directorcouldalsobe the scriptwriter – dependantonthe
situation.Theyalsohave the powertoeditthe scriptand produce roughdraftswhentheyare
required.Theyare the storyteller,.Theyare alsothe teamleaderof the entire productionteam.
Everyone mustreportto him.He worksclosely alongside the DO,the FirstAD,and the production
manager,to make sure that the productionisfinishedtothe higheststandardpossible.Theyoversee
everypartof the production,anddecidesonall final decisions,suchascamera angles,costumesand
lights.Theyare involvedinpre-production –as he decidesonthe cast,equipment,andlocation,and
he decideswhatgoesintoeveryshot.Theyare alsoinvolvedinproduction,astheyare there for
everyshoot.He isalso responsible forpost-production, astheyare responsible fordeveloping
marketingcampaignsforthe product.Duringpost-production,theyare alsoinvolvedinthe editing,
as to make sure that each scene isexactlyhow theywant,andtheyalsoreview all scenes
immediatelyaftertheyare shot,to ensure thattheyare happywiththe result.Theyalsohave the
authoritytoorder a reshootif theyare unhappy.Requiresskillsof adirectorare:

7.  Creative thinking
 Good teamworkskills
 Good leader
 Good understandingof the filmindustry
 Knowledgeof technical equipment
1st
A.D (assistant director)
The firstassistantdirectoristhe directorsrighthand man.Theytake responsibilityformanyof the
jobsaroundset- to make sure that the directorcan focus onother things,whilstleaving lesserjobs
to the 1st
AD. Anexample of thisis;duringpre-production,the 1st
ADwill be lefttocomplete the
task of breakingdownthe scriptand constructingstoryboards,whereaswhilstthe ADisdoingthis,
the directorcan be doingthe more importantjobof organisingthe shootingorderandproducingthe
shootingschedule.Duringproduction,the ADisthenresponsible forthenfollowingthatshooting
schedule.The 1st
AD mustassistthe directorat all times.Theyalsocoordinate productionactivity
and supervise the castandcrew.1st
AD'sare in charge of otherassistantdirectorsandrunners.
Duringpre-production,AD'sare incharge of creatinga filmingschedule,consultingwiththe director
whilstdoingthis.Theyalsoconductchecks,andreportback to the director.These checksinclude
equipmenthire confirmationsandweatherforecasts.However,the 1st
AD's mainresponsibilityisto
keepfilmingtoitspre-setschedule.Thismeanstheyhave toissue frequentupdatestothe castand
crew,as to what the progressof the productionis,andwhat theyneedtobe doingnext.Generally,
theyneedtokeepall crewand cast inthe rightplace,at the righttime.Theirkeyskillsare:
 Good teamplayer
 Good teamleader
 Abilitytoworkunderpressure
 The abilitytostickto deadlines
 Understandingof the filmindustry
 Knowledgeof technical equipment
Editing Department
The editorisresponsibleforpiecingtogetherthe overallproduct.The editormakesthe final version
of the movie,he isincharge of developingthe film(if itisanalogue),.The editorisonlyinvolved
duringpost-production.Theyassemble the roughcutof the film, andsubmititto the producers.If
theyare happywithit,theywill askthe editortomake furtherchanges,tofinishthe project
properly.