Film units and crew

1. Film Units and Crew
Directors

2. Watch the clip and take notes for:
• How many departments you think were involved in the filming
• How many locations were needed
• Considerations you would need to make
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E679XJellLs

3. Above the line and below the line crew
• Above the line- begin their involvement in the development stages
• Can you think of 3 examples of above the line crew?
• Below the line- involved only in production
• Can you think of 3 examples of below the line crew?

4. Film units
• The first unit films the key face to face drama between the
principal actors. 1st units will have a Director, cinematographer and
assistant director.
• The second unit films the Action sequences and Pick ups. 2nd
units also have a Director and cinematographer and sometimes
their own crew.
• Second unit is a discrete team of filmmakers tasked with filming
shots or sequences of a production, separate from the main or
"first" unit.
• The second unit will often shoot simultaneously with the other
unit or units, allowing the filming stage of production to be
completed faster.

5. Second Units
• Action sequences are often filmed in discrete locations, using stunt
performers, rather than the principal cast, and requiring significantly
different filming arrangements than for ordinary scenes. Therefore, they
are an obvious opportunity for second unit shooting.
• "Pick-ups". After the main unit has finished on a set or location, there may
be shots that require some or all of this setting as background but that
don't require the principal actors. These shots might include things such
as close-ups, inserts, cutaways, and establishing shots.
• Why do you think a second unit is necessary on big budget features?

6. Spot the units- First or Second?
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tMKqQPQcks

7. What are the challenges/opportunities for a
second unit director?
• Trying to keep in style and tone of the film and match the other
directors style.
• Many second unit directors go on to become fully fledged directors
• Some directors such as Christopher Nolan prefer not to use second
units.

8. Assistant Directors
• The role of an assistant director on a film includes tracking daily
progress against the filming production schedule, arranging logistics,
preparing daily call sheets, checking cast and crew, and maintaining
order on the set. They also have to take care of the health and safety
of the crew.
• Assistant directing was a stepping stone to directing work; Alfred
Hitchcock was an AD, as well as Akira Kurosawa.

9. Assistant Directing
• 1st AD
• 2nd AD
• 3rd AD
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6KRJEKYY7k

10. 1st AD
• The first assistant director (first or 1AD) has overall AD responsibilities and
supervises the second AD.
• The "first" is directly responsible to the director and "runs" the floor or set.
• The first AD and the unit production manager are two of the highest "below the
line" technical roles in filmmaking (as opposed to creative or "above the line"
roles) and so, in this strict sense, the role of first AD is non-creative.
• Their responsibility is to keep the production on schedule throughout the day,
communicate to the entire crew, and to maintain the safety and security of the
staff and shot itself. An assistant director must be very good at estimating how
long a scene will take.

11. 2nd AD
• The second assistant director (second or 2AD) creates the daily call sheets
from the production schedule,in cooperation with the production
coordinator.
• The "second" also serves as the "backstage manager", liaising with actors,
putting cast through make-up and wardrobe, which relieves the "first" of
these duties.
• Supervision of the second second assistant director, third assistant director,
assistant director trainees, and the setting of background (extras) are parts
of the "second's" duties.

12. 3rd AD
• The third assistant director (third or 3AD) works on set with the "First" and
may liaise with the "Second" to move actors from base camp (the area
containing the production, cast, and hair and makeup trailers), organize
crowd scenes, and supervise one or more production assistants (PA).
• Production assistants communicate between departments to ensure
everyone/ everything is where it needs to be. Each department might have
PA’s.
• There is sometimes no clear distinction between a 2AD and a 3AD.

13. TASK- Begin to write assignment 1 (Unit 8:film
practices)
• Write about who you will employ in the following roles and what their
responsibilities will be:
• Above the line roles (script, director, producer, editor)
• Below the line roles (gaffer, production staff, camera ops, PA’s, Script
supervisors)
• Units
• The role of the director.