Above the Line Filmmaking Positions

advertisement

Film making requires a lot of creative juices that starts when you decided to enter in an art institute like Seattle Media Arts School

Producer
What does a film producer do?

The producer is basically the backbone of the entire production. They are responsible for putting the entire project together, including financing, hiring directors, writers and actors. Sometimes the producer is also responsible for making creative choices, but usually on a broader level. Typically a producer acquires a script that has already been written, or he hires a writer to adapt a story or write an original idea based on the writers treatment or pitch. Once completed, the producer sends the script to various directors and eventually hires a director for the project, and from there the cast is formed and the remaining crew is hired and so on.

In this day and age, there are typically 2-10 producers on a project due to the difficulty finding financing. It takes multiple producers to get a project off the ground sometimes which can dilute the "back-end" points and creative process as well. Imagine managing a small retail store with 8 other people always giving their input, it can be difficult.



Director
What does a film director do?

The film director is the CREATIVE mastermind behind the project. Everything from the color of the walls in a shot to the emotion that an actor shows is the responsibility of the director. Once hired onto a project, the director works very closely with the producer developing the screenplay further if needed, as well as hiring the cast and choosing locations and shooting dates. (shooting dates are usually already set before hiring a director)In pre-production, the director is involved in casting, production design, location scouting, rehearsals with actors and many other areas.

On set, the director works with the actors and the director of photography mostly, carefully choosing the angle and distance of the shots for that scene and getting the right performance from the actors. One of the most difficult aspect of the director's job is making the actors feel comfortable on set and soliciting their best performance. Communicating what you want from a scene from both the actors and the crew is essential in getting the best shots and ultimately the best film possible, and one of the most difficult things to do.

In post production, the director is usually heavily involved in the editing process as well as the music and scoring of the film. The director works closely with the editor, sometimes sitting with the editor for every cut, other times checking in from time to time to see the progress. In either case, it is the directors responsibility to get the best possible final product that he can.



Writer
What does a film writer do?

The screenwriter creates the script, forming the ideas into a structured story with plot points, character arc's and more. There are a couple different ways that a screenwriter can be involved in the filmmaking process. They can either be hired to write a particular script for a producer or the writer can write a script from their idea and try to sell it to a producer. Most writers will write scripts on "spec" meaning they write them without being paid for it, and then they try and sell it to a producer, whether they have an agent or not.

During production, the screenwriter can be on set making changes to the script. These changes can be creative ideas that they came up with, changes the director or producer want to make, or logistical changes that have to be made based on locations or available props. The screenwriter is not typically involved in post production.