Few successful film productions are the work of a single contributor. Much as the industry may laud the visionaries and artists, it is the efforts of the people filling the credits roll that bring a movie to life. Some directors may think of themselves as auteurs, but their ideas would remain just those without a committed and talented crew.
As a producer, one of your focuses should be a positive approach to obtaining the best possible staff for your set. This doesn’t just apply to the key artistic roles. Every member of the crew — from production assistants to marketing coordinators — influences the potential for success.
We’re going to review a handful of tips for staffing your film set.
Recognise the Pitfalls
Before you start to hire staff, it’s important to recognise how missteps here can send your production in negative directions. Not only can they disrupt the smooth running of filming, but they can also cost you significant time and money in administration, rehiring, and correcting mistakes. As such, it’s worth getting a handle on what issues you should avoid.
There are some general problematic approaches to employment consistent across most industries. It’s certainly not unusual for business leaders and producers alike to take a reactive approach to hiring due to time pressures. While understaffing as a result of budgetary crunches may seem prudent, but it can lead to a drop-off in quality. Make a formal list of these prevalent errors so you can guard them against your hiring and employment activities throughout the production.
It can also be beneficial to talk to other producers and film industry human resource (HR) managers. They are likely to have insights into some of the specific industry errors that aren’t quite so well-publicised. You may also be able to collaborate on new solutions to these or even steer clear of them entirely. Remember, the film industry is a community — everyone wants each production to have the best experience.
Plan Ahead
There is a lot of planning that goes into the preproduction process of any film. Indeed, if this is your first indie production, it’s not unusual to find the bureaucracy involved a little overwhelming. Though it represents some more work, it’s worth your time to dig a little deeper to create a specialised strategy for your crew staffing ahead of production.
Developing a human resource plan is an efficient route to align your resources, your skills needs, and your operational timetable. In essence, it involves looking at what tasks will need to be completed at each stage of a project and making sure the people with the right abilities at the right prices are allocated accordingly. This also makes certain excess employees aren’t hanging around being paid when they’re not needed. This plan can also work in conjunction with your shooting schedule so staffing and shots line up in a productive and cost-efficient manner.
You don’t necessarily need to be immovable when it comes to your staff planning, though. A film set is almost guaranteed to be subject to change and unexpected challenges. This is why you also need to build periods of assessment into your plan. Make sure key crew and (on larger productions) department heads are involved in this so you can more accurately review coming needs and adjust accordingly.
Prioritise Safety
Safety has become an increasing priority on film sets. However, progress in the industry is slow, with new policies and legislation taking time to test and implement. As such, it’s important to take the steps you can to boost safety on your set through the staff you hire.
Understanding the scope for potential issues is crucial. Businesses of all kinds are subject to a variety of risks, from potential physical hazards to location-specific dangers. Committing to a thorough risk assessment protocol can identify how and where your cast and crew may face problems. Indeed, a professional risk assessor should be one of your first hires.
When you have details about potential hazards, you can then strategise to protect your staff. This may include hiring specialist crew members to take responsibility for dangerous materials, equipment, and props. It should also include producing stringent safety guidelines for each day on set and making certain department heads walk staff through their application.
Embrace Diversity
There are clearly changes the film industry needs to make in terms of representation and equality. While it is an issue to be addressed by the sector as a whole, some of the most meaningful steps must be made by individual productions. Even if you’re a beginner in the industry, you can make a difference through your staffing approach.
This isn’t just about making certain you have professionals from a variety of cultural and socio-economic backgrounds. Though this is important. You also need to make certain your set is a welcoming and supportive environment for traditionally marginalised staff. This should include full accessibility of the set and production offices for those living with disabilities and neurodivergent traits. Your staff should also feel your production is a safe space to raise concerns about discrimination or the presence of microaggressions. Put protocols in place to ensure these are handled fairly and swiftly.
Pay also comes into play regarding equality. One of the prevalent issues in the film industry is a serious pay disparity along racial, cultural, and gender lines. There should naturally be levels based on seniority and expertise. But you must ensure that those performing similar tasks experience pay equality.
Conclusion
A successful film is only possible with a dedicated and talented crew of professionals. Whether you’re working in the studio system or are a first-time independent producer, you should pay attention to your staffing strategy. Take time to understand the staffing obstacles you face and make agile employment plans. Alongside steps for efficient production, you should also focus on staff safety and equality. These actions can add to your film’s financial success and helps create positive outcomes for your crew, the industry, and audiences.
