Depending on the size of your budget, there are other positions that you may
need to fill. On a low-budget production, many of the following could be you
or someone filling one of the positions mentioned earlier in this chapter:
Casting director: This person breaks down the script and suggests
actors suitable for each role. The casting director looks at submitted
headshots and resumes and selects actors to come in to audition. Often,
in a low-budget production, the filmmaker is also the casting director.
Location scout: The location scout breaks down all the locations in the
script and finds the actual locations to shoot the movie. The filmmaker
can also be the location scout. I’ve driven around town many times looking for the perfect place to shoot.
Transportation person: This person is solely dedicated to driving the
crew and cast around from hotel to set or parking area to set. If it’s a
small production, everyone usually drives his or her own car, or sometimes you have another crew member pick you up, and you carpool!
Production designer: A production designer designs the overall look of
a film. Although some films (for example, Batman, where a whole world
had to be created from scratch) depend on a production designer, most
small-budget films don’t have the luxury of having one.
Stunt coordinator: This person is skilled to either perform stunts himor herself or coordinates with others who are trained stunt people. If
your film includes stunts, don’t try to save money here. Always hire a
professional stunt person who is skilled in even the most basic of stunts.
Try to avoid stunts on a low-budget film; they can be expensive and
risky and raise your insurance package.
Postproduction coordinator: The postproduction coordinator coordinates the completion of the film, schedules when the picture editing and
sound elements are to be done, and sets a finishing date for the final
production so distribution plans can begin. On a low-budget film, having
a dedicated postproduction coordinator is a luxury. Usually, the filmmaker performs these tasks.
Still photographer: You need to think ahead and hire an on-set still photographer to take photos that can be used for publicity and eventually in
the artwork on the DVD. Distributors (Chapter 19), request production
stills to use in posters and in one-sheets, also called sales-sheets, which
are flyers advertising your film. You also need photos for film festivals
and newspaper and magazine articles.
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