quote from "wanted"

Brad Grimmett · August 20, 2007

Directors operate on union movies all the time. There are a couple who operate almost every shot and there are a lot more who just operate sometimes. The problem is how much it slows everything down. I can't see how a producer would actually like to have their director operating. It's hard enough for a DP to operate full time on a movie. But hey, if money isn't a concern, then the director should be able to do whatever he/she wants. The question is, when is money NOT a concern?

Every position on set could be done by the director, but it wouldn't make much sense.

Gary McClurg · August 20, 2007

Directors operate on union movies all the time. There are a couple who operate almost every shot and there are a lot more who just operate sometimes. The problem is how much it slows everything down. I can't see how a producer would actually like to have their director operating. It's hard enough for a DP to operate full time on a movie. But hey, if money isn't a concern, then the director should be able to do whatever he/she wants. The question is, when is money NOT a concern?
Every position on set could be done by the director, but it wouldn't make much sense.

The best way to explain it is this way?

On the first feature I line-produced? we cut on a Avid film composer? I had never cut on one? so we hired someone really just to run the machine? this person who was a friend would not give up control of the keyboard.

So in terms of saving time? it was easier for me to just take the keyboard from his paws and go to the frame I want to cut on? than to explain no? go there? no back? no go forward? no? now go frame by frame? no frame 01:33:10:03? not frame 01:33:10:02 or frame 01:33:10:04?

Then he ask, ?Well what does it really matter if its off by a frame?? some times you can?t explain it? it is just a gut feeling..

And it explains why my friend is still just an assistant, logging, prepping the stuff for an editor? because he has no clue how to tell a story?

Maybe that?s why the director operates some times? it is just easier to do it in 30 seconds than spending 5 minutes explaining on what he or she wants... that it is just a gut feeling on how he or she wants to tell their story...

This is just my humble .02 opinion for the day? but on a side note? I let the DP operate the camera over 100% of the time on a feature? because my directing has only been only on music videos? not features?

But when I do direct my feature? I?m sure I?ll only want to touch the camera maybe only 5% of the time if that? I promise?. :lol:

Edited August 20, 2007 by Gary McClurg

August 20, 2007

"Every position on set could be done by the director, but it wouldn't make much sense."

Hey great point! Next time I'm doing all the positions, it will save a lot of time over telling people what to do.

All I have to do is learn how to act and compose music.

R,

David Mullen ASC · August 20, 2007

I let the DP operate the camera over 100% of the time on a feature?

Is it possible to operate for more than 100% of the time? What, did he operate during the lunch break too?

Gary McClurg · August 20, 2007

Is it possible to operate for more than 100% of the time? What, did he operate during the lunch break too?

I thought about that after I re-read my post... but again what's a lunch break... I know some dp's who'll go shoot a pickup shot if he or she thinks it'll cut into the film... for example a train going by... a police car is flying up the street... hey saves me money... free production value...

Guest User · August 20, 2007

Hey great point! Next time I'm doing all the positions, it will save a lot of time over telling people what to do.

But Richard then there'll be no one left to shout at...

August 20, 2007

But Richard then there'll be no one left to shout at...

Ahhhh but this is where I have the advantage, I have a split personality disorder. Richard can yell at my alter ego, Francois, the left wing arty farty socialist from Paris who wants to shoot every thing in black and white and use no cut aways.

R,

John Sprung · August 20, 2007

Every position on set could be done by the director, but it wouldn't make much sense.

Maybe for a Ray Harryhausen or claymation type shoot it would be reasonable.

-- J.S.

Gary McClurg · August 20, 2007

Maybe for a Ray Harryhausen or claymation type shoot it would be reasonable.
-- J.S.

Not a bad idea... edit in camera on most of the scenes... no big payroll for actors... not a bad idea.... :lol:

Edited August 20, 2007 by Gary McClurg

Brad Grimmett · August 21, 2007

Maybe that?s why the director operates some times? it is just easier to do it in 30 seconds than spending 5 minutes explaining on what he or she wants... that it is just a gut feeling on how he or she wants to tell their story...

Sure, it might be easier sometimes. But when it's a dolly move or some other kind of complicated shot it doesn't make sense because those shots take a little while to set up. Some part of the directors job will suffer if they try to do too many things.