Setting the Scene by Barb Karg, Rick Sutherland, & Jim Van Over
Cinematography can create a milestone in filmmaking or a massacre of epic proportion. Think Lawrence of Arabia as opposed to Attack of the Killer Tomatoes, or The Sound of Music versus Bloodsport III. What the audience sees on the big screen leaves a lasting impression, and the cinematographer along with a host of production designers, artists, and location experts ultimately create that ambiance.
Cinematographer
As important as a director's vision can be, it can easily become distorted in the hands of an inexperienced cinematographer. Also referred to as director of photography, or DP, this individual is responsible for bringing a director's creative vision to full fruition in as spectacular a manner as possible. All of the beautiful sweeping scenery, mood lighting, and daring scenes that grace the silver screen come to life as a result of a DP's efficiency.
There isn't enough that can be said about the importance of hiring the best DP your budget will allow. This means careful consideration and screening of all potential candidates, whose specialties include filming, camera equipment, lighting, and visual recording devices. When interviewing potential DPs there are several important factors to bear in mind:
Resume. The previous work she has done should be closely examined in regard to flexibility and complexity of lighting and camera work.
Amiability. Is she compatible with the rest of the crew, in particular the director and producer?
Availability. Does she have a flexible schedule and is she available for the entire shooting schedule?
Camera experience. What types of cameras and formats has she had experience with? Also, does she have her own equipment, and how much time will it take her to set up the camera and lighting?
If you're on a tight budget, you can do without many crew members, but you can't do without a cinematographer. Most cinematographers are camera operators and often have their own equipment. If this individual is your only camera operator, then her presence is obviously crucial.
Production Designer
The production designer is another important crew member to be hired. A consummate artist, this person has the daunting task of creating the overall visual appearance of a motion picture, including the sets, props, makeup, and wardrobe. The production designer works closely with the director, cinematographer, and technical specialists. Their right-hand man is the art director, who is responsible for seeing that the production designer's vision is carried out.
Costuming
On most productions, there needs to be someone in charge of costuming. On a very small-budget film, actors can often be in charge of their own wardrobes, but this can be time-consuming and aggravating if the actor's choices are in conflict with those of the director or producer. A wardrobe department with its staff of costume designers is typically overseen by a wardrobe or costume supervisor who works in conjunction with the art director. On a big-budget production, especially a historical period drama, for example, the wardrobe department is crucial. Over the years, many a character has been remembered for their stylish garb and perfectly detailed appearance.
In the 1963 production of Cleopatra, Elizabeth Taylor wore sixty-five costumes that appeared in the final screen version. Left on the cutting room floor were scenes featuring an additional forty costumes she wore. In total, Taylor's costumes cost a whopping $195,000, the highest amount ever spent on a single performer's wardrobe at the time.
Wardrobe personnel spend a lot of time and effort making sure an actor's look is consistent with the role he's playing. Some classic motion pictures, like Gone with the Wind and Cleopatra, and the more recent Moulin Rouge are examples of highly stylized films that required talented wardrobe specialists. On a big-budget production, dressers are often hired to assist the actors in changing their wardrobe from one scene to the next.
Makeup Artists
The function of the makeup artist has greatly evolved over the decades, from Lon Chaney Jr.'s Wolf Man to the Elephant Man to Jim Carrey's Mask and Tolkien's Lord of the Rings trilogy. Makeup is no longer just a quick swipe of face power and a hint of lipstick. Instead, makeup artists are creating elaborate characters complete with prosthetic devices.
Reputable makeup artists should have a strong portfolio and the experience needed to maintain script continuity. What this means to the ultimate finished motion picture is that actors consistently have the correct look, hair style, and other appearance-altering mechanisms.
