What is the minimum crew needed to shoot a low-budget short, along the lines of Blair Witch Project or something else with minimum production values.

Can I get away with three people? One for camera, one for sound, and one for lights? Or is this unrealistic?

How many people did you use for your latest film?

min. crew and cast is 1.

- C. Davis
YELLOW HAMMER PRODUCTIONS

I assume your mentioning "Blair Witch" simply for production style (gorilla) and not for length since it was a feature.

As to your question there is no specific answer. Most would probablly say 10 to 20. Then again 90% of my short "Intersection" was shot with 3 people, and two of them were actors. I was director, and co-DP but also an actor. My DP/Cinematographer/Producer/sound guy and then another actor who helped lug stuff around.

My buddy showed the short to the film students at FSU and they couldnt believe we only had 3. They just couldnt wrap their heads around it because they were taught the "hollywood" way, which is much easier BTW.

If you have three skilled and commited people you should be fine.
R. Michael

"Luck, is when opportunity, meets preperation." "There are 3 sides to every story. Yours, mine, and the truth, and none of us are lying" -Robert Evans
Tizzy Entertainment "Redemption" Hi-Def trailer

Chad is right.... 1.... thats all it takes.

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One person? Would you rely on the camera's mike for sound? I can understand how one-man high school production might have one guy, but would anyone else?

I've read a number of times that poor sound is one, if not the, most common problem for low-budget films, and that you should always use a separate mike if you want it to be watchable.

This means at the very least two people, but even then there would be no one to do lighting. I'm not as experienced as many others here, but I can't really see how you can get away with less than three if you want the final product to be decent.

Alex O read "Rebel Without A Crew," a studentfilms.com and one of my favorites. One is enough even for a full length. Rely on yourself, no one else.

What I believe in isn't scary, it's what I don't believe in that is.

I just finished a movie with a crew of exactly . . . me.

The actors didn't know much about cameraing so I did it all myself. Yeah, the audio sucks and we learned. So next time we will just BUY a stand for the microphone. You don't have to have someone hold it.

A Crew of one means you only have to take care of one.
P.S. LOOK OUT FOR THE MOVIE "MY COUNTRY."

Film Director is not a name,
It's a lifestyle.

Alex, good for you noticing how bad sound is a real problem off the bat. If you have friends, I would train them for a few of the positions. First, if you like to act, then you need to find a cam operator. This kind of thing has to be felt, and you'll just know if someone is doing it right. Otherwise you could take more time and explain how to move in each shot (pan, dolly, ect.) After that, you need a boom operator. Puting a mic on a stand may be effective, but only if your subject is'nt moving. If they are, the dialogue won't be consistent, and what if you need to cover more than one actor? You need someone pref. with good arms to hold the cheap painters pole you'll first get(assuming your broke). As for lighting, it's always faster to have someone ready, even an actor, to pull out the gells, bulbs, lights and stand heights so you don't have to do all the work.

Heads up- on my last film competition (the NYC movie making madness) me and my 5 friends (also actors) had to make the film in 2 weeks. We also had to deal with other peoples time, so we were tight alot of times, and had to make not so good compromises. I had just bought all the lights (x4, 50 gels, barn doors) and I tried to teach one other friend how to use it, but he got borred. Anyway I ended up changing the bulbs, gels, ect. and I absolutely had to run around the room, no joke. One of the adult actors was pressed for time, and was always asking what he could do to help move stuff. That's helpfull, but usually they put the light the wrong height, angle, ect., so I had to correct anyway. Teach your crew (friends) a little about their "specialty". Have your strong friend hold the boom pole, teach him how to cue actors and be quiet. Tell your gaffer (lighting assistant) what all the gells, color temp., lights mean, and what to look for. Do not listen to anyone who says to do everything by yourself, especially if you have willing friends that can help you. It's not only rude to actors waiting around, your production will maybe lack quality if that boom pole or camera move is'nt smooth.
So if you absolutely had a minimal crew, and you werent acting, 2 people would do it. You'd just have to set up the lights. Only if you don't have a stand will you need someone to hold a light, and most won't want to do that. Other positions are script supervisor, which is very helpfull. They call have the script and storyboard ready with a pen to check off the completed shots. GOod luck..

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Originally posted by TizzyEntertainment:
gorilla

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Guerilla.

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http://www.jswfilms.com/

Well it seems like the answer = 1.

I still find it hard to believe that you could shoot a decent movie w/o a boom operator and someone to hold a reflector, but I'll take your word for it.

I can believe shooting with one person for certain shots, or once in a while if you're desperate to finish a scene, but it's hard to imagine making an entire short film this way, especially a quality short film.

Thanks Screenwriter 14. Two people sounds more realistic, although I'm thinking 3 may the best minimum crew ( 1 cameraman, 1 boom, 1 reflector guy). It sounds like you've had your hands full with previous productions, but at least you're in a metropolitan area and should be able to find good help for your future ones. I'm in Little Rock, that wilderness to the east of you, so I have to take what I can get.

Alex O, the boom operator just holds the fishpole... you can get a boom stand.

P.S. ADR!!!! Post production audio is off the hizzle!

- C. Davis
YELLOW HAMMER PRODUCTIONS

Alex.. If you can't afford a softbox or diffusion material to go directly on your lights, the reflector/white board is essential. Some people use bounce cards anyway for filling in shadows quickly. You can have someone hold it (very quick shot), or you can use a c-stand on a cheap tripod. Don't ever put your boompole on a stand, and ADR is so much work compared to doing it right initially.

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Originally posted by JW:

quote:

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Originally posted by TizzyEntertainment:
gorilla

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Guerilla.

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Yes, thank you JW. "Gorilla" is sorrt of an inside joke of mine and was writen as such intentionally. I guess no one would get that though, unless they were on the "inside"

If youv got people to use as crew, use them. Never turn down willing and dedicated people.
R. Michael

"Luck, is when opportunity, meets preperation." "There are 3 sides to every story. Yours, mine, and the truth, and none of us are lying" -Robert Evans
Tizzy Entertainment "Redemption" Hi-Def trailer

I did EVERYTHING alone for a short once... acted, lighting, camera, edited, sound lol it was ruff but I think if your really into what your doing then you can do it with 10 people or 2 people it all depends on the dedication of your crew and how much they love doing what they are doing! And I feel special that someone remembers it yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay... ok im done now yaaaaaaay

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Mike Jones
Green Sky Productions

[This message was edited by Mike Jones of Green Sky Productions on October 16, 2003 at 09:32 AM.]

Can I get away with three people? One for camera, one for sound, and one for lights? Or is this unrealistic?

YES. As others have pointed out, it's possible to do it with one person, but if you want a film that has potential for broadcast quality, at least get a boom person.
I am getting reading to shoot a 10 minute short with 3 people: one person as DP, one sound man, and me:director,gaffer and script supervisor and editor.
I have 15 people in the cast, so I am spending a lot of time in pre production with storyboards and floorplans to save as much time as possible and make it as easy as possible for all the others with such a small crew. If you have a good DP and sound person, (and you can be your own DP) then you can pull it off...but don't sacrifice sound. (She said after messing up her first film with bad sound)
Good luck,
Sharon

You might be able to get away with only 3 people. Don't forget some of those actors might be willing to crew and act. Anyways it really depends on the project that you're doing. It would make things a hell of a lot easier if you had more people to help though. That's the general rule....most of the time.

"I KNOW I've seen more movies than you, well at least good ones."