Reading the Credits: Who Does What

Note that you're responsible for the printed information on this page. The videos are for people who want more info or learn better that way. Except for the video on Foley, material that is only on the videos (not printed here or presented in class) will not be on the tests.

Above The Line: Above the line credits refer to the "creative" staff of the movie.  This includes producers, directors, writers, and actors.  Above the line costs are highly variable...Shooting a movie with top stars and top directors will be hugely more expensive than shooting with "C" or "D" listers.

Executive Producer: Executive producers are generally involved in raising money and promoting the project but have little direct involvement in actually making the film.

Producer:  Producers are the executive directors of the movies.  Their critical job is to raise the money to make the film.  However, that also means they choose what project gets made and which directors and actors get to make it. There are many different kinds of producers. The line producer is the CEO of the movie: they are the single individual who has critical management responsibilities for the logistics of everything from pre-production through distribution. Line producers generally work on a single movie at a time.

Director: Directors have overall responsibility for the ways in which films tell stories.  They work with the actors, decide what scenes will be shot, how they will be shot, and how they will be played.  Generally, they have more critical impact on the way that films appear than any other individual.  While films are always the result of large numbers of people working together, they are generally understood as reflecting the story telling vision and creative skills of their director.  Film production companies may also have many assistant directors in charge of various technical aspects of production.

The term showrunner has been used for US television series since the early 90s. The showrunner combines the positions producer, head writer, and directoral supervisor. Like directors, many showrunners have become famous i their own rights. You've likely heard (many times) of many of them, for example Shondra Rhimes (Scandal, Grey's Anatomy, and many others), Tina Fey (30Rock and Unbreakable KS), David Benioff and Dan Weiss (Game of Thrones), Jenji Kohan (Weeds, Orange is the New Black)... The showrunner title does not appear in the credits. Usually, showrunners are credited as producers or executive producers.

Talent: This includes any combination of stars and other actors.

Below The Line: Below the line credits refer to the production staff of the movie.  Below the line costs are relatively fixed.

Director of Photography: The DP (also called cinematographer) is the expert on the mechanics of actually shooting film.  The DP tires to capture the director's vision on film.  The DP directs the setting up of both camera and lighting. It's common that directors and DPs work together over numerous movies and there are many famous collaborations. Some current and recent ones: The Coen Brothers and Roger Deakins, Steven Spielberg and Janusz Kaminski, David Fincher and Jeff Cronenweth, and Martin Scorsese and Rodrigo Prieto.

Camera Operator: Operates the camera as directed by the DP (DP is sometimes Camera Operator)

Focus Puller: (First Assistant Camera) is responsible for setting up the camera and keeping it in focus.

 

Clapper Loader:  (Second Assistant Camera) Holds the board that identifies each shot (the "clap" is used to synchronize film and sound) and is also responsible for loading film into the camera. That last sounds trivial but, if you're using real film, and someone messes up the loading and it doesn't feed properly, the damage can be enormous (and enormously expensive).

 

Gaffer: The chief electrician on a production crew.  Primary responsibility is for setting up lighting. Again, it sounds fairly trivial, but getting the lighting right is one of the most difficult and most important jobs in movies. Here's a brief film about lighting:

 

Grip: Grips are in charge of moving camera and electrical/lighting equipment around. Often they are in charge of the "Grip Package"  a truck mounted collection of lighting equipment, camera dollys, and track that generally comes in more-or-less standard 2, 3, and 4 ton sizes. If you want to see what comes on a 3 ton grip package, click here (optional)

Key Grip: The Key Grip is the person in charge of a crew of Grips.

 

Best Boy: The manager working under either the gaffer or the key grip. Gaffers and key grips create the lighting design to enact the director and DP's vision. Best Boys manage the crews that enact these designs. They also do much of the paperwork involved. If there is only one best boy, it's most likely the gaffer's best boy. Of course, the term dates from the early years of film. There are lots of female best boys.

 

Swing Gang: A group within the art department that constructs sets and takes them down as well as moving large items to and from the set. Items can include furniture, drapes, and fixtures. Swing gangs also last minute changes on sets. The head of a Swing Gang is a Leadman.

Second Unit: a subordinate crew used to film scenes that do not involve face to face interaction among principle actors. These may include action sequences that use stunt personnel and crowd scenes.

Foley Artist: produces much of the non-dialogue sound in movies. Watch this short video on Foley (there will be a test question or two):

 

(You can find lots more by clicking here)

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