Directing the Documentary, 5th Edition

Chapter 12Directing

Shooting Procedures

Crew Etiquette

While shooting, the crew keeps movement to a minimum and stays out of participants’ eyelines to avoid distracting them. Even when something funny happens, the crew tries to remain silent and expressionless. If you allow yourselves to behave like an audience, participants turn into entertainers. Every crew member has something vital to monitor:

• Camera operator watches for focus, compositions, framing, movements, and whether the mike is edging into the shot.
• Sound recordist listens for unwanted reverb or echo, ambient noise, mike handling sounds, and sound consistency from shot to shot. The last takes the most skill.
• Director monitors the scene for content, subtext, and emotional intensity. ...