Production Roles Lvl 2

Question 1

Briefly describe the role of the line producer, who do they typically hire?

Answer 1

Hires; PM and Director

Makes sure right crew members are hired at other locations

Overall: Ensures product is delivered on-time and on-budget with the creative feel that was promised

Question 2

Briefly describe the role of the UPM

Answer 2

Day-day logistics and money; contracts, rental equipment, bills, etc.

Question 3

What is the ‘associate producer’ typically responsible for?

Answer 3

Brings in extra money/connections

Question 4

Who creates the budget for a film?

Answer 4

Producer

Question 5

What do charts and stripboards do?

Answer 5

Show at a glance which characters and scenes must be shot at which locations

Question 6

What are the ‘above the line’ costs? What does the line divide?

Answer 6

Pre-production vs production costs

Above the line / pre-production: producer’s fee, screenplay option writer’s fee, director’s fee, principal actors fee

EVERYTHING ELSE is below the line cost

Question 7

Briefly describe how a producer ‘options’ a writer

Answer 7

The option is the offer:

The producer offers a sum of money (usually small % of total fee) to have exclusive rights for a period of time

If the writer agrees, they ‘option’ to give rights to their story for the specified amount of time

If the buyer puts the story into production, they pay the rest of the amount to the writer on the ‘1st day of principal photography’/1st shoot day and say see ya

Question 8

List the 4 major crew roles in the camera department

Answer 8

Camera Op
1st Assistant camera
Focus Pull
2nd Assistant Camera

Question 9

What does the 1st Assistant Camera do ?

Answer 9

Responsible for everything about camera; lens clean/change, settings, focus

Question 10

Who translates the shooting schedule into day-day call sheets? Which key crew members need to check the schedule?

Answer 10

1st AD and UPM

DP, Director, SS always check schedule

Question 11

What are the four departments that make up the art department

Answer 11

Construction specialist (builds set)
Special effects
Wardrobe and prop
Makeup and hairdressing

Question 12

Briefly describe the 3 types of extras

Answer 12

General

Special business - they have skill/talent/look that makes them believable for a specific scene (paid more)

Atmosphere - not necessarily paid but might gain access to an event

Question 13

Briefly describe 3 scenarios where it would be more appropriate to shoot in chronological order

Answer 13

Story relies on an external event happening to the protagonist

Story is one interior space with limited cast

Films with a high degree of improv