What type of 'crew' do I need for my independent film?

What type of 'crew' do I need for my independent film?

Ben Lyons (Producer) gives expert video advice on: What is 'scale'?; What different unions will I work with?; How can I get actors, make-up artists and crew to work for little or no money? and more...

The type of crew you need depends on what your independent film is. If it's two characters sitting in a diner talking for two hours, you probably aren't going to need a huge crew to light and shoot that independent film. But if you're shooting something that's in the city, and at night and during the day, and takes place over 20 years, then you're going to need a huge crew, like a crew that will make a movie. Whether it's from the technical point of view, the actual people who are lighting the set and powering up the generators, to security people who are securing the location, who are protecting the actors from the outside public if you're shooting in a public place. Whatever it takes to get the independent film done is what you need in a crew and it's important to have the right people for the right jobs, to have someone who knows how to work a camera, work the camera. If you have your buddy Chris down the block work the camera, chances are it's going to be out of focus. If you have money to play with you might as well spend it on professional people who are going to get the independent film done properly.