10 Questions
Who is responsible for ensuring the film's budget is maintained?
The Line Producer
What is a significant part of a director's job?
Doling out instructions to every department
Who communicates instructions to the department heads to ensure a smooth shoot?
The First Assistant Director
Who is responsible for physically capturing images with the camera?
The Cinematographer
What is the term for actors who have a major speaking role in a film?
Principal Cast
What is the primary role of an Executive Producer in a film project?
To acquire or provide funding for the film
Who do Line Producers report to?
The executive producer
What is a key responsibility of Producers in a film project?
Establishing budgets and communicating with the director
What is a key difference between 'above the line' and 'below the line' roles?
Above the line roles are creative, below the line roles are technical
What is a common responsibility of Line Producers?
Overseeing every aspect of the film's budget
Study Notes
Hierarchy in Film Production
- The director is creatively in charge and leads production from start to finish, guiding the film with their vision and style.
- The director's role includes doling out instructions to every department to ensure that each aspect of the finished product fits their blueprint.
Director's Team
- The first assistant director (AD) maintains the daily shooting schedule and overall production timeline, communicating instructions to department heads to ensure a smooth-running set.
Camera Department
- The cinematographer, also known as the director of photography, is responsible for lighting and shot composition, developing the visual style of the film based on the director's instructions.
- The cinematographer's team includes assistants who help with color correction on set and troubleshoot aspects of filming.
Cast
- The principal cast comprises actors with major speaking roles, with their significance to the film's plot determined by their place on the call sheet.
- Extras, also known as background actors, rarely have spoken lines and work with the first or second assistant director to fill out a scene.
Producers
- Executive producers (EPs) are responsible for acquiring or providing funding for the film and assembling creative talent, such as landing major box office stars or liaising with investors.
- Producers report to the EP and take a more active hand in the production, working with the line producer to establish budgets, communicate creative notes to the director, manage business operations, and ensure the production is running on schedule.
- Line producers oversee every aspect of the film's budget, doing logistical troubleshooting on set if an issue arises that concerns the movie's bottom line.
Above and Below the Line
- "Above the line" refers to those responsible for guiding a project's creative direction, while "below the line" refers to technical crew roles.
Explore the various roles on a movie set and understand the hierarchy of the film crew. Learn about the responsibilities of both 'above the line' and 'below the line' positions, and how each contributes to the creative and technical aspects of film production.
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