Working Relationships

3.1     Explain the importance of teamwork when working on a film production

Film production is fundamentally a collaborative process. Each member of the crew brings different skills and experience to contribute to the quality of the piece. As there are so many different aspects of film (camera, writing, designing etc) it’s important to have a variety of skills but to always work together for the same shared vision. Ultimately, a film is a shared project where creatives can learn from each other and further develop through the connections they make.

Without good teamwork the quality of the film will be compromised and the production experience will be tiresome and strenuous. Without good teamwork and communications, there may be misunderstandings, confusion and conflict as a film is typically not just one persons project so everyone’s opinion needs to be heard.

3.2       Identify the qualities needed to work well with others

One quality for working with others is good timekeeping. This means always showing up when you promise so you are not late. I made sure I did this on our set by always arriving early to the shoots so I was able to prepare myself in advance. Additionally, if I was unable to attend I would give as much notice as I could so others could be arrangements.

Another good quality for working with others is being reliable. This means that you are consistent, contactable and sustain a high quality of work and personable skills. I demonstrated this during the academy by always answering messages, ensuring I had always completed the tasks I needed to do and remaining professional during filming.

Additionally, sharing ideas is another valuable quality for working with others. As I mentioned previously, it is crucial to all be able to contribute to the overall film and inspire one and other. I did this by making valuable suggestions to my team during pre and post production as I was able to be objective regarding some of the decisions.

Finally, safe working is crucial to being in a team as it ensures everyone is safe. This can be as simple as taping down wires to prevent tripping to making sure everyone is aware of the risk assessment and knows the appropriate actions to take in an emergency. This means that everyone can be confident in their safety on set and focus on creating the film instead.

3.3       Describe how you worked with others collaboratively on your film production

As Director of Photography, I mainly worked with the directors and the camera assistants. In pre-production, myself and the directors sat down to create a shot list that would serve our story. This meant we had to communicate our ideas effectively so that we were in mutual agreement of our visual style. Fortunately, we shared similar visions and were able to create a shot list and visual style that suited both of us. Additionally, during production I was working with two camera assistants so effective communication was crucial. I made sure we all worked together well by always discussing the set ups for the shots before hand and always allowing for new ideas and compromises. By establishing such a good relationship and rapport with my team, I was able to work effectively and efficiently with them.

The main problems we encountered as a team were conflicting ideas around the script in the initial stages. Our script writers had different visions for the film, particularly in the sense of taking a naturalistic or surrealist approach to the story. This meant our team was divided on which route to take. However, through many discussions and compromises on both parts we were able to reach a conclusion that both writers and the team was satisfied with. This was mainly achieved through listening to each other and being open minded to new ideas.

I could improve my ability to work with others by maintaining the flow of communication between all departments. While I mainly worked within the camera team and with the directors, it could of been beneficial to communicate more with the editors to establish our shared vision as well. By establishing purpose and vision across all departments is how I believe a film can be most purposeful and successful.