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f you’ve ever wondered how all those people whose names appear on the screen contributed to your new favourite film, this quick reference guide to understanding movie credits is for you. Roll it!
The boom microphone is the long, thin, sound device held above or below the camera’s view during a scene, to record dialogue or sound effects. It’s this person’s job to operate it and ensure it does not bob into the shot, which would be embarrassing.
Actors need jobs. Directors need people to be in their movies. A casting director ensures that the best actors get hired for the parts. And that the producer’s cousin’s no-talent brother-in-law stays in the background with the extras.
In scene one the star opens a carton of milk. He pours himself half a glass. In the next scene, his glass is filled with orange juice. In scene three, he’s back to milk again, but this time in a bottle. What happened? The person in charge of continuity messed up, that’s what. It’s this person’s responsibility to make sure nothing is out of place from one scene to the next.
You know how during romantic movie moments when the profile of Mr. Next Big Thing melts into the teary-eyed face of Miss It Girl and just as they are about to kiss, a beautiful sunset scene fades lazily in from the background? That’s editing! It’s the editor’s job to creatively cut and paste all the right scenes together at the right moments.
A gaffer is the head honcho of the electricians. They arrange the lights that will illuminate all the actors, sets and props in a scene. This is extremely important since lighting can set mood, create atmosphere and affect where the audience focuses their attention.
This person could be told to go fer more camera cable or they could be asked to go fer sandwiches. Get the idea? It’s not glamorous, but it is a way to break into the movie business.
Grips are crew members whose tasks include arranging and tearing down equipment on the set. The person in charge is called the key grip.
The producer is involved in picking a script, hiring actors, budgeting, distribution, financial backing and most other aspects of getting a film into theatres. Some stars fill the position of producer, director and star. This gives them ultimate control and means they are held responsible for a movie’s success or failure since, should things go sour, there is no one to blame but themselves.
This department is not only in charge of blood and guts and alien heads — they are also experts at creating things like controlled explosions and weather conditions on set. Sometimes their contributions to movies can be very subtle, like the light drizzle falling during a character’s stroll through a park.
It’s not exactly a good idea to have a major star jump off a cliff or drive a car into a wall. Even if the script calls for it, insurance agreements mandate that the stars not be allowed to hurt themselves. So the coordinator organizes all the stunts on a film including falls, fights and chases. Stuntmen and women make a living performing dangerous acts while pretending to be the main characters. And thanks to clever editing, the audience never knows the difference. That is, until now.
—Robert Piotrowski