Crewing (I'm really getting through these blogs tonight huh?)

A shoot is stressful enough, but the presence of a crew that listens to you and you know does not take terse direction personally, is well indispensable. There has to be a hierarchy or the project just might implode on itself as decisions are made or not made in that case. But when there is someone in charge, that person has to be knowledgeable and can't show indecisiveness or you'll loose your crew's respect. In addition, you can learn so much from your crew. They all know a few little tricks or techniques that you have never thought of, and their input can make your idea great.

Another important thing to remember when on a shoot where you are the director and how the crew listens to you is how your film subject, if its human, is how they perceive you. People are always more aware than you think and your interviewee or the owner of the location picks up on if you can lead your crew and what that says about you. If you are asking too many questions or just standing around, the subject/proprietor will think you are wasting his/her time in addition to your crews.

You know what, it being Christmas time and all, all you need to know about crewing and directing can be explained through it immortal genius of Charles Shultz and his seminal christmas special, A Charlie Brown Christmas. The special follows Charlie Brown, Lucy, and the gang as they put on the christmas play, and until Charlie grows a pair and starts acting like a director, the play is in shambles.