Watch a film being made and you’ll see people doing all sorts of things that don’t involve pressing record. Moving a light. Listening for a noise. Checking a background. Asking for another take because the line almost landed, but didn’t quite.

Those jobs make a difference. The size of the crew depends on the shoot, and on a smaller production one person may take on several roles. It helps to know what the roles cover before you decide which ones your project needs.

Each person brings a different part of the film together, before, during and after the shoot.

The people shaping the plan

The director looks after the creative direction. They work on the story and filming approach, help people give useful performances or interviews, and keep the film’s purpose in view as decisions are made. They’ll also work with the editor to shape what was filmed.

The producer makes the shoot happen. Budget, schedule, locations and the right crew all need organising. They work with the director to solve practical problems and keep the project moving. The producer is a useful person to know when an apparently simple request turns out to need another filming day.

The people making the picture and sound

The cinematographer, often called the director of photography or DoP, works on how the film looks. They consider the lighting, framing and camera movement with the director. Depending on the crew, they may operate the camera themselves or work with a camera operator and other specialists.

A production designer looks after the visual world around the people being filmed. That can include sets, props and dressing a location. On a larger production, they lead an art department, while costume has its own specialists. On a simple corporate shoot, the task might be choosing a suitable corner of the office and making sure the background tells the right story.

The sound recordist listens to what the microphones are actually capturing. They position and monitor them, watch levels and spot problems such as clothing noise or a passing train. A very good interview is less useful if the air conditioning is its loudest contributor.

The people bringing it together

The editor reviews the footage and builds the film. They choose what to use, work out the order and find the right pace. Sometimes the important decision is where to cut. Sometimes it’s giving a moment enough space to make its point.

The finishing work may involve separate specialists in colour, motion graphics and sound. Recording sound on location and mixing the finished film are different jobs, even when the same person handles both on a smaller project.

The aim is to cover the work properly. A short interview might suit a compact crew. An event with several rooms running at once needs a different plan. Bring the right people in for the demands of the shoot, and make sure everyone understands what you’re trying to make.

You don’t need to arrive at Ace Media with a crew list. Tell us about the film, the location and the deadline, and we’ll help you work out who needs to be involved.