Movie jobs you have never heard of (probably) II

Cinematography, with all the responsibilities and challenges associated with it, is not an easy task. But, the cinematographer is not without help. The following people help him so that he could work peacefully and without any hindrance, apart from keeping his gear ready for the shot.

Storyboard Artist:

A Storyboard Artist creates visuals of one or more scenes on a piece of paper or computer for professional films or television programs. They collaborate with the directors to understand their vision for the film, so that the storyboards they create help the director get exactly what he wants in the film without the trouble of multiple reshoots.

Apart from being a good artist, storyboard artist must also have good knowledge on film making process. Understanding the camera angles and film making techniques will help him in translating the director’s vision into reality in a more practical manner. His work helps the cinematographer in understanding and executing the best takes that would elevate the film.

Camera Assistant:

The work of a Camera Assistant is a skilled job, involving long hours and physical work. The camera assistant is a reliable, experienced crew person who is responsible for focusing and refocusing the camera lens without looking at the lens but through several complex marks placed on the set, floor, props etc, as actors move within the frame of each shot. The first Camera Assistant relies on experience and gut for every focal adjustment, and a mistake on his part is not only costly to the production but to the actors as well, as they might not deliver the same quality of performance again. The Camera Assistants are also responsible for the camera equipment and its assemblage, which is to be performed every morning on set before the arrival of the DOP and Director.

Grips:

The Grip’s job in the movie is to assemble the equipment that supports cameras, such as tripods, dollies, tracks, jibs and cranes etc. This equipment is often composed of delicate, heavy duty machinery and need a high level of proficiency to handle it. In addition to that, every film is shot with the help of multiple cameras, and some scenes are shot on challenging conditions such as aerial shots which might need camera suspended from a helicopter, or a deep sea scene. All of these challenges are faced by the Grip, whose expertise can be deciphered in the stunning visuals we see on screen.

Script Supervisor:

The script supervisor works on the script during pre-production, making necessary changes to the script, rewriting certain scenes, character analysis, creating segments and estimating approximate run down time.

During production, the script supervisors file reports and photographic records of the day’s shoot and handle all the paperwork. They keep detailed notes on camera movements, actors’ shots, providing cues etc. They make notes of the scene changes, the focal distances of the lenses, the time and duration of every shot. When multiple cameras are used, the supervisor makes sure that each camera’s output is duly noted and recognized. They keep detailed log sheets, provide daily continuity and production reports.

If you have not had the chance to read our earlier blog discussing the technical crew of a movie production, click right here. We are coming up with the third and final blog concerning the topic next week. Hope you enjoyed this and will try to make the next one much more interesting.

- Open Face Team

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