DIY: the $30 Dolly!!!

Look out Hollywood! For thirty bucks you can set up dynamic camera moves to rival the pros. All you need are some skateboard wheels, angle brackets, plywood, screws, nuts, bolts washers and a couple of pieces of 1" PVC pipe.

This is so simple you don't need plans or schematics to create this engineering marvel. Just take a close look at the pictures, then head down to your local home improvement mega-center and grab all the necessary hardware (excluding the skateboard wheels and bearings).

As for obtaining the wheels and bearings... Ebay. I suggest purchasing these prior to your trip to the home improvement center. That way you can take a wheel and a couple of bearing with you to match up the hole sizes, etc.



Once I had all of the components gathered, the actual process of building this dolly took less than an evening.

A word of caution... this is a DIY project and the dolly is kinda flimsy so use extreme caution when loading it out with your costly camera equipment.

I hope this is useful info. Enjoy.

Production: Who does what?

As a self educating film student/filmmaker, one of the basic things many of us never really bother to remember or fully know is who does what on a movie set and what are their proper titles.

My guess... this basic information is probably rote in any film 101 class at every filmschool that you would pay big ca$h for. The thing is, the same information is easily gathered with a few internet searches. Since internet searches tend to suck up lots and lots of precious time and I have already started this process, I will share my consolidated findings.

The following list may be incomplete and may contain the occasional error so feel free to post any corrections or additions to the ever so under-utilized "comments" section of this blog.

In alphabetic(ish) order:

Actor - the person in front of the camera with the most talent

Art Director - designs the set

Best Boy - assists the Gaffer

Boom Operator - holds and maneuvers the boom mic

Camera Operator - hmmm... operates the camera

Compositor - 3D visual effects artist

Costume Designer - conceives of and designs the costumes

Craft Services - the people supplying and serving food/drink (beer) to the cast and crew

Crew - all technical and managerial positions besides director and producer (and exec. prod.)

Director - the person bossing around the cast and crew

Director of Photography - in charge of camera and lighting crew... (more to come on this one)

Dolly Grip - operates the dolly and crane

Double - person that stands in for main actor during lighting setup, etc.

Executive Producer - forks up the cash for the movie to get made

Extras - human props

Featured Role - the main actor or actors

Film Editor - assembles the various shots into a coherent film under the direction of the director and producer

Colorist - adjusts the color of the film either chemically or digitally

First Assistant Cameraman - (first AC) handles camera, pulls focus, takes orders from the camera operator and DP

First Assistant Director - (first AD) takes orders from the director, directs extras, etc.

Foley Artist - creates sound effects to replace the sounds captured (or not really) on set

Gaffer - chief lighting electrician... takes direction from DP

Grip - responsible for bounced and diffused light, camera and lighting rigging

Hairdresser - styles hair and wigs and polishes bald heads

Key Grip - boss of the grips... also helps DP and Gaffer set up lighting, etc.

Producer - the big boss responsible for everything from development to completion and release of the film

Production Assistant - (PA) assists the First Assistant Director, Production Office and everyone else with the little stuff

Production Designer - creates the overall "look and feel" of the film from set design to costumes, makeup, etc.

Production Manager - organizes and manages the shooting schedule, budget, etc. with very little creative input

Script Supervisor - keeps track of what has been filmed from script and makes note to track continuity

Set Decorator - gets bossed around by production designer, sets up props, etc.

Set Dresser - the Set Decorator's assistant... moves furniture, drapes, table clothes, etc.

Sound Designer - in charge of post-production sound

Sound Editor - edits sound and sound effects and I'm sure, answers to Sound Designer

Dialog Editor - edits the dialog and voice-overs

Music Director - supervises composer, mixers and editors... in charge of the music

Composer - writes the score (music)

Stunt Double - specialized pain absorber who stands in for an actor

Talent - the actors

Visual Effects Supervisor - oversees the visual effects department

Walk-on - a non-speaking roll (kinda talent)

Obviously a small zero-budget indie film (short or feature) does not need all of these positions filled. Logically, many of these responsibilities will be taken care of by the few crew members on hand filling multiple rolls.

Now we know. Big deal.

Got Your Ears On?

I just came across this podcast that focuses on producing. Oddly enough, it is called The Film Producer's Podcast... go figure.

Anyway, this is a refreshing break from all of the technical podcasts, blogs, user forums and other websites about shooting and editing. It's a decent look into the business end of the stick.

There are some great interviews.

Recommended.