If you’ve been working in production for one year or ten, you know how frustrating (and expensive!) it can be for a shoot to run over the production schedule. It can happen for a million reasons: wardrobe not fitting, makeup taking longer than people thought, batteries dying or gear getting lost. It’s easy to hope for a perfectly run set, but it’s harder to actually pull it off.
In order to cultivate a positive environment where everyone is working efficiently and prevent production delays, here are five things we practice on Mighteor sets that we recommend to everyone:
1. Expect Everyone (from Hair and Makeup to the Production Assistant) to Read the Scripts and Storyboards
Everyone who’s participating in the shoot should come knowing their role and what is expected of them. Part of this is communicated through the producer, but one thing that is often not practiced on many sets is a shared expectation that we all KNOW what we’re creating! We believe in being completely transparent with the entire team and share our scripts and storyboards along with our schedules for every single shoot with all cast and crew. This way, there is no doubt everyone is on the same page, which makes it easier for the director and crew to adapt as the day progresses. If the director has to explain every shot on the shot list, it takes valuable time away from what’s supposed to be getting done and it makes staying on schedule difficult.
2. Shoot Days are Fun! But We Must Stay on Task
There may be moments when not everyone is needed on set and in those moments it’s important to communicate that everyone should be preparing for when you are needed. This could look differently for different members of the crew, but if everyone is making sure they are fulfilling their jobs it makes shoots go smoother. Our favorite makeup artist is always ready with hairspray and touch ups, which is why we love her so much! As a production manager of one of the world’s first internet production companies, I understand that access to digital mediums is a necessity and our devices make it ever so easy to plug in. I know it may seem harmless to browse the internet and surf Twitter in your few minutes of downtime on set, but I stress that all members of the crew leave their smartphones tucked away and out of sight while on set to make sure we’re staying focused and on task.
3. Forget Titles: Observe and Anticipate
As a production manager, I primarily focus on the logistics of the set. I’m in charge of keeping everyone on schedule and making sure everything is running smoothly. I often serve as a production assistant when I’m needed to help out. What I’ve found to be helpful to keeping everyone on task is to observe and anticipate what the team needs to stay focused - which means not always being obsessed with your job title. Often, I find myself doing jobs that are traditionally more in line with a production assistant’s title, but pitching in generates positive energy and contributes to a timely shoot. An actor who is willing to charge batteries is a hero!
4. Ask How You Can Help
If you don’t have anything to do at the moment, ask your fellow crew members how you can help them. This could be something as silly as moving a car or getting water for the actors. But asking people who are critically busy or engaged if you can do anything is time well spent.
5. Simplify Catering
Lunch can be a moment to regroup and pick up everyone’s energy OR it can be a total time waster that leads to a sluggish afternoon. We believe in simple, healthy and fast lunches that can be eaten while the director fills everyone in on the day. We avoid sugar and overly greasy foods to cut down on afternoon crashes. If you have an extravagant catering spread laid out, it can create a temptation for people to graze throughout the day as well. A fast and healthy catering plan means you can get to happy hour much more quickly too!
**About the Writer **
*Ryan Thomson, Production Manager, Mighteor *****
Ryan Thomson is the Production Manager of Mighteor, one of the world’s first internet video production companies. After graduating from the Leeds School of Business at the University of Colorado at Boulder with a marketing degree, he has found a home working for the Denver production company. Ryan is an avid skier and concert-goer, and he volunteers with the Boulder Food Pantry.
