Research Into Roles On Set

As I will be making an opening sequence myself, I researched the main roles involved in filmmaking. These include the director, camera operator, editor, art director/DOP and producer. 

In the process of filmmaking, the director works with a screenwriter with a script and are employed by the executive producer or producer who is predominately in charge of production. A director is in charge of the creative element of the production. They guide the actors but also the technical crew and their job includes interpreting scripts, setting the tone/atmosphere of the film, working with department heads and casting directors, directing the actors but also the camera, work with editors, sound and music. An example of someone famous in this role is Quentin Tarantino who directed films such as Reservoir Dogs, Kill Bill: Vol.1 and Once Upon A Time In Hollywood. Some of Quentin Tarantino's advice about directing includes keeping it personal therefore using his own experiences and incorporating them into his work, thinking like an actor to enhance the actors' overall performance and keep music in mind.

Another role in filmmaking is the camera operator. The camera operator has the job of filming all the action. They know the most about all the different cameras to use such as handheld or drones, the composition, framing and movement in the process of filmmaking. The camera operator often works with other cameramen however the camera operator has the responsibility of looking after the kit but also the shooting process. Having this role in the process of filmmaking means you need to have skills such as photography, technical knowledge of the cameras, communication, multi-task, and concentration. They need to be talented at understanding composition, light, colour and framing which all depend on the genre and understand how all the equipment works such as the camera lens. A camera operator needs to follow the requirements of the producers and director, think quickly and adapt to a variety of different styles for the shoot. The camera operator is advised by the director when filming, often requiring an assistant and working under camera supervisors. A famous camera operator is Adam Meltzer who was a camera operator for films including Crank, Rush Hour 3 and The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift. 

An extremely important role in the process of filmmaking is the editor who assembles the material to produce a final film. They are in charge of the recorded material ie the camera footage but also the sound effects, graphics, special effects and dialogue. The editor works tightly with the director as they have a

major responsibility of ensuring the desired outcome for the film. For example, the editor requires creative and technical skills such as understanding how to use pictures, rhythm, pace and tension to tell the story, use editing software, communicate well with the director and have a good eye that pays close attention to detail. In the process of filmmaking, the editor will work with the first assistant editor and any other assistant editors, the supervising sound editor, the dialogue editor, the colourist, the visual effects supervisor and the post-production runner. In the post-production process, the editor and director will work together to create the director's cut which has to receive the approval of the producers before they create the final cut. Thelma Schoonmaker is a famous American film editor who believes that film editors need a strong sense of discipline and a musical sense. She likes to have a sense of roughness to her editing to add reality or to shock the audience, use different editing techniques to shape the concept, prioritize the actors' performance and use very long pauses when editing. She has edited films such as Shutter Island, Who's That Knocking At My Door and After Hours. 

Another role in the process of filmmaking is the Art Director/DOP, whose job includes designing sets, being in charge of props and graphics to create the desired visual outcome of the film. They report to the production designer but also work with artists and construction workers. The art director along with the production designer come up with the visual style for the film and during the pre-production process, the art director will supervise the creation of concept art which are the illustrations used to help visualise the ideas, oversee pre-visualizations which are used to show design concepts and visuals and then supervise the creation of maquettes and models which are the three-dimensional sculptures used for illustrating visual designs for characters etc. However, during the production process, the art director also has to be in charge of the budget (creating sets), work closely with teams who construct the sets, props and other visual elements and also be the coordinator between the art department and other departments including visual effects and costumes.

I also researched the role of a producer in the film industry. The producers determine the budget of the film and find financing from investors, studios and distributors. They are in charge of approving production

costs, locations, hiring staff for the production process. The producers need to understand all the creative processes of making a film eg screenwriting, directing and editing but also approve the creative decisions made in the production process. They need to market the film to distributors but the public as well whilst being in charge of decisions and organising the budget. The producer works with everyone including distribution and marketing teams. The film producer is in charge of the concept of the screenplay, commissioning writers, commissioning a director, researching logistics, meeting writer and director, building the wider film crew, location logistics, determining the budget, raising finances, overseeing the wider production, organising shooting days, managing the film shoot, creating a plan of action for production, monitoring progressing, choosing the cast, managing the crew and market and distribute the film. Paula Wagner is a famous film producer who produced films such as Mission: Impossible 2, Mission: Impossible III and Without Limits. She said that "Part of the job of the producer is to put together a group of people that interact with synergy".