Post by Ghost on May 11, 2004 11:44:19 GMT -5
Okay, "Grave October Moon" just wrapped and I found some time on my hands, so I wanted to address a big question that I found popping up all over this board: how do I find a good crew?
If you're a film student, this is easy. Make a trade with another reliable student. Work as DP or on sound in your friend's film for his/her help on your film. I did this many'o times and found myself gaining lots of experience in different areas. This is important for becoming a good, well rounded director.
If you're out of college (or just not attending at this point), I found a couple easy ways to find help. (Even in Nebraska, a few times--and if you can do this there, I'm sure you can do this anywhere).
One way is to go to a film school (or one w/ the program) near you and talk with the faculty. They should be able to help you find a good student looking for experience.
I like experienced professionals working in three important positions on my team: DP, Sound and Production Manager (PM)...
My PM happens to be in ad/marketing and management (and my girlfriend, but that's not going to help you). I merely put out an ad for business management/marketing skills to help on movie set in his/her free time. Not a lot of people can afford a PM, however, (and I ended up getting mine for free) so it's not important to have one unless you're going to have a large crew and cast.
Many larger towns and cities have a Filmmakers club of some sort. Contact yours and see if anyone is available. This is where I picked up my Sound Director. I showed up at a couple of meetings and watched a movie or two that my Sound Director brought for people to see (or hear) his work. It was good, so I talked to him about my project and got him to jump aboard.
Every state has a company that works to create local commercials/one that does weddings and special events, etc. Contact these to see if anyone would like to work on a side project. This worked for me a couple times. This is where I got a good DP who I'm good friends with now. The two of us plan to make more movies together because we found that we compliment each other very well.
Don't forget to USE CONTACTS that you make. Finding everyone I need was made easier by people knowing people who did this or that. I was lead to my DP this way. An actress I was auditioning, who had directed another short film with the DP, gave us his card and I went down to his company to talk with him.
The rest of the crew can be taught what to do. Friends really work out to fill these other holes.
The point is, this all came from starting from scratch in a new city. I ended up getting almost everyone for free. Some I made deals with (for example, my DP will get paid if "Grave October Moon" takes off), others simply joined for experience, exposure, etc. It's not easy, but keep looking and asking around. Get to know your local area and what it has to offer and try, try, try... and keep trying. It took me two years to pull this whole thing together, but I did. And I knew nothing about how to make such a big production. I learned on the way. I'm sure anyone can make it so long as they have the tenacity. And I'm still meeting new people all the time. Local bands for sound track material, band managers, the state bikini team, other filmmaking students...
Oh and two last ideas, for now: every state also has a state film department. Some are small and some are large. Their job is to sell their state for a place to shoot movies. They will have a free web site and free packages with booklets with names and addresses of lighting companies, crew, talent agencies. There's an almanac that will tell you about the seasonal weather. A book of scenic pictures of their state (for sites to film at). Use the web site to post your crew positions or post pics of you working on set. Advertise yourself or your company, so when people do searches on the site, they can find you for a project.
Don't think that just because you're making a horror movie, these places won't help you. Yeah, I got a lot of surprised glances my way, but once I explained the business edges of indie horror filmmaking to them they nodded their heads to me every time.
If you're a film student, this is easy. Make a trade with another reliable student. Work as DP or on sound in your friend's film for his/her help on your film. I did this many'o times and found myself gaining lots of experience in different areas. This is important for becoming a good, well rounded director.
If you're out of college (or just not attending at this point), I found a couple easy ways to find help. (Even in Nebraska, a few times--and if you can do this there, I'm sure you can do this anywhere).
One way is to go to a film school (or one w/ the program) near you and talk with the faculty. They should be able to help you find a good student looking for experience.
I like experienced professionals working in three important positions on my team: DP, Sound and Production Manager (PM)...
My PM happens to be in ad/marketing and management (and my girlfriend, but that's not going to help you). I merely put out an ad for business management/marketing skills to help on movie set in his/her free time. Not a lot of people can afford a PM, however, (and I ended up getting mine for free) so it's not important to have one unless you're going to have a large crew and cast.
Many larger towns and cities have a Filmmakers club of some sort. Contact yours and see if anyone is available. This is where I picked up my Sound Director. I showed up at a couple of meetings and watched a movie or two that my Sound Director brought for people to see (or hear) his work. It was good, so I talked to him about my project and got him to jump aboard.
Every state has a company that works to create local commercials/one that does weddings and special events, etc. Contact these to see if anyone would like to work on a side project. This worked for me a couple times. This is where I got a good DP who I'm good friends with now. The two of us plan to make more movies together because we found that we compliment each other very well.
Don't forget to USE CONTACTS that you make. Finding everyone I need was made easier by people knowing people who did this or that. I was lead to my DP this way. An actress I was auditioning, who had directed another short film with the DP, gave us his card and I went down to his company to talk with him.
The rest of the crew can be taught what to do. Friends really work out to fill these other holes.
The point is, this all came from starting from scratch in a new city. I ended up getting almost everyone for free. Some I made deals with (for example, my DP will get paid if "Grave October Moon" takes off), others simply joined for experience, exposure, etc. It's not easy, but keep looking and asking around. Get to know your local area and what it has to offer and try, try, try... and keep trying. It took me two years to pull this whole thing together, but I did. And I knew nothing about how to make such a big production. I learned on the way. I'm sure anyone can make it so long as they have the tenacity. And I'm still meeting new people all the time. Local bands for sound track material, band managers, the state bikini team, other filmmaking students...
Oh and two last ideas, for now: every state also has a state film department. Some are small and some are large. Their job is to sell their state for a place to shoot movies. They will have a free web site and free packages with booklets with names and addresses of lighting companies, crew, talent agencies. There's an almanac that will tell you about the seasonal weather. A book of scenic pictures of their state (for sites to film at). Use the web site to post your crew positions or post pics of you working on set. Advertise yourself or your company, so when people do searches on the site, they can find you for a project.
Don't think that just because you're making a horror movie, these places won't help you. Yeah, I got a lot of surprised glances my way, but once I explained the business edges of indie horror filmmaking to them they nodded their heads to me every time.