Greetings,
I’ve been on a pretty big shoot over the past couple of weeks in Melbourne; lots of clients, stakeholders, crew, hero talent, heaps of extras, challenging locations and a very tight time-frame.
As the director, it was important for me to lay out my vision as to how I saw the commercial unfolding. It was crucial to transfer the idea from a two column AV script to a detailed shooting board (albeit my rough chooky scratchings – more on storyboarding here). It was important for everyone to see what was inside my head – to view the client’s product, while at the same time enabling every department involved in the shoot to address such things as location logistics, art department, lighting, wardrobe, product placement, camera movement and lenses and most importantly, to be able to match the script that talks about the product, to an emotional, visual journey.
A sample of my arty farty chooky scratchings 🙂
The client would play very little part in the decision-making process during the shoot, which was great as the schedule was tight and to be making creative decisions by committee on set is fraught with danger. This minimal involvement was a result of the detailed pre-production meetings we had, where all minute elements were sorted, to the point where there was a level of confidence in the key creators – director, writer, producer and DoP, to let us just get on with the job we were hired to do.
The shoot unfolded, myself driving the production, with valued support from the script writer and my producer. I decided not to engage the services of a 1st Assistant Director, much to the DoP and Production Manager’s surprise. It was based on a number of reasons. Firstly, throughout my career, I have directed most of my productions without a 1st AD, sometimes due to budget, sometimes one wasn’t available, other times I felt I could cope. So I’ve learnt to wear many hats. Second, my desire on this shoot was (due to the intense schedule)to speak direct to the hero talent, the extras and to discuss directly with the DoP and crew. Things can so easily get misinterpreted on a film set, so I decided to cut out the middle man, so to speak. I also have a very loud voice and can make myself heard across wide expanses quite easily. Don’t get me wrong – 1st AD’s play a vital role in pretty much all productions, but on this occasion I felt I had it covered.
But still, during the frantic shooting process, I was fielding incoming opinions.
The hero speaking talent(who happened to be the CEO) had his opinion on some sensitive words that needed looking at, the owner of the company had his opinion on where he should be standing in the frame, the writer had comments on the tone of the delivery, the producer had an opinion on how long things were taking and whether we should ditch a shot to keep on schedule, the DoP had concerns about the lighting and lenses and how one shot would cut with the next one, the production manager had an opinion on how wide the talent could encroach on the street, which would effect my framing. The wardrobe stylist wanted to adjust the hero’s shirt, even an extra make a comment about the hero talent’s delivery, advising me to shoot another take.
Comments, concerns, opinions, disagreements – all constantly coming at me, the director, from every angle.
Can you see what is happening here? I am being bombarded with comments that must be answered confidently, quickly, yet respectfully.
And the incoming comments don’t end when I call, “It’s a wrap”. The post-production process brings out another set of personal takes; where all clients, editors, music makers, sound mixers, the creative team, their husbands, wives, children and friends get to drop their thoughts into the time line.
“I like him walking better in take 4 than take 5”,
“This edit works better”,
“I don’t like that shot, do we have any others?”
“We need to see more of him, her, them”.
And that’s all fine. At the end of the day, it’s a team effort.
So here’s the thing…
I’ve been creating visual stories for a while now, be that high-end OR low-end TV commercials, or long form corporate videos for online.
I have worked with some amazing people and gathered many special memories.
While I’ve been directing, producing, shooting and editing all these years, I feel I have now wrapped all those skills into one role…not a director but a Manager of Expectations.
From the CEO, to the marketing team, to the ad agency head, account manager, the writer, art director, actors, the extras, crew, the editor, even the workers at the coal face who make and sell the product…they all have a different, personal expectation on the film I am creating…right down to the most important person of all…the audience.
It’s my job to keep everyone happy.
And I think the ability to understand what people want – workplace wisdom if you like, that has come from my experience dealing with a diverse range of individuals from countless corporations, communities and cultures around the world.
Of showing respect to those I work with, of engaging in open, transparent and consistent communication…and being prepared to change.
A big part of this is leaving your ego at home. There is no room for an arrogant know-all in any sphere of business, let alone on a film set.
Yet the most enduring key to success?
It’s simple.
Work hard and be nice to people.
Oh, and that production I’ve been talking about? Turned out a treat. Everyone very happy….eventually.
Have a great day.