3 crucial tips on building the right team

Assembling the right team is the most important decision to make as a filmmaker.

While everyone thinks they can create a great movie, the secret is that movies, videos, anything that involves cameras, microphones and computers, is a collaborative effort. No one can do everything themselves (although some have tried, with varying success but it’s never fun.). Good filmmaking can’t be done on an island but rather it has to be a well oiled cruise ship. Everyone from the engineers, to the deckhands and to the captain, has to be a good teammate. That will make the difference between smooth sailing or a cruise from hell. 

So here are 3 essential things to consider when building your team. 

1. Offer compensation. Yes, we get that passion projects are on small budgets but you should always set aside some money to pay for each of your crew. Lunch, credit or film equity is not the best way for a potential contributor to buy into a project. Now, you don’t need to sacrifice an arm and a limb but you should offer something. I usually offer at least 100 dollars for the day. The main reason why compensation matters is that if you are having someone work for free on your production, once they are offered paid gig on the same day, they will choose the paid gig, each and every time. I’ve heard stories of a few filmmaker friends (who are cheap - don’t do this) scrambling the day of their shoot because someone on their crew bailed at the last minute. If you have offered some money, then your gig is their paid gig. If you offer pay then it is almost guaranteed that they will show up to your shoot. 
   

2. Attitude matters, especially in an artform that requires a lot of moving pieces. Everyone on your crew doesn’t have to be in love with your project but they should at least beholden themselves to respect it. When crewing up, you should always assess their demeanor and attitude on how the filmmaking process works. If you are talking to a great DP but if he is already bellyaching about your budget or on how things SHOULD run or if he’s just coming off as a prick, STOP TALKING to him immediately. No amount of talent is worth suffering through the production. I can’t tell you how many times productions have been marred but only ONE toxic crew member. While it is impossible to know someone’s true character before the start of your shoot, it is worth putting in effort to get to know your potential collaborator before trusting them with your film. 
   

3. To receive great teammates, you need to be a great teammate. The filmmaking community truly is that… a community. Creating any type of art is hard work yet rewarding work and nothing will work better to your favour than being someone who goes the extra mile for someone else's project. This doesn’t mean opening yourself to being taken advantage of but it’s doing the necessary but important little things. Such as showing up to set on time, helping loading gear, being gracious with notes and having a healthy attitude towards the process. Yes things will go wrong, yes directions will change and yes maybe you are not in love with the material you are working with. But the more proactive energy you put into this production, the more people on the crew will notice. And they will consider you for their next (hopefully well paid project).

These simple yet CRUCIAL tips will save you lots of headaches. While these tips are easy to learn they really take a lifetime to master. People are complicated beings but if you are steadfast in your approach and have the right attitude, one day you will achieve the dream, making your film with your brilliantly talented friends. 

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