Aerial Director of Photography (D.O.P)
The Aerial DOP is responsible for all aspects of aerial filming from birds eye view shots to car chases shot from the view of a helicopter.
Skills
Similar to a DOP the Aerial DOP must have an extensive and up to date knowledge of camera equipment and lenses but also being familiar with Aerial filming systems and techniques. As well as this they should understand aerodynamics and flight and know civil aviation authority rules and regulations in order to keep themselves and the crew safe and in line with laws. They must also be able to lead a team and be able to take directions, being courageous and extremely focused as well as working well under pressure.
What does an Aerial DOP do?
Aerial DOPs work very closely with both Director and Director of Photography as well as working with people from their own team such as Film pilot and Aerial camera assistant. After reading the script the Aerial DOP will meet and discuss with the Director and main DOP to discuss storyboards and talk about the Aerial sequences. Aerial DOPs recommend specific aircraft and equipment being careful to stay within the budget. They must calculate the logistics of refuelling the aircraft, and establish suitable landing sites for reloading the camera. This is all co-ordinated by the Aerial Unit Support Team, who also organise the hiring of all aircraft, and provide back-up and support for the Aerial Crew throughout filming. They must also access the locations before shooting starts in order to see what kind of shots they can get.
Qualifications
You don’t have to have any specific qualifications or even a pilot's license however one must be skilled with cameras and have an extensive knowledge about them. There are many courses you can take for this. As well as this the Aerial DOP must have enthusiasm for aircrafts and aviation.
recommended pay:
As the Aerial DOP is a highly skilled but also dangerous job they will get paid paid quite a bit, it would be similar to that of the DOP per day but not as much overall all as they are most likely not needed as much as the main DOP is.
Director
A Director is the main driving force behind a films production. Visualising and defining the style and structure of the film helping bring it to life.
Skills
To be a director you must have an exceptionally high standard of creativity and great artistic vision. As the director is in charge of the entire creative production he must be a great leader and be able to motivate and convey his vision to everyone he is working with via great communication skills, this will be easier if the director is passionate about the project, it is always essential that the director has passion for the project otherwise it will be nowhere near as good as it could have been. The director must be prepared to work long hours and fully commit all of his efforts to the project he is working on and have a good eye for detail. As well as this the director must be very familiar with the entire film making process including both technical and creative aspects.
What does a Director do?
Directors are responsible for turning scripts into the movies we see on screen. At the end of the day they are judged to be responsible for the commercial success or failure of the film. Directors are sometimes also the writer of the film but other times are not and are hired to help turn someone else’s script into a movie. They must adopt this script as their own and develop their own vision for it. During Pre-Production Directors make crucial decisions such as selecting the right cast and crew. They also then manage the technical aspects of the film such as; Camera, Lighting and sound whilst the film is being made. During Pre-Production the director works very closely with the editors so that they can help him achieve his vision until the final version of the film is completed.
Qualifications
There are no formal qualifications needed to become a director however one must have a wide and intense knowledge of every aspect of the film industry. There are hundreds of training books and courses to help study the art of directing. The role can only be mastered by experience in the field.
Recommended pay
When you’re a Director pay can really vary, if you established in the industry someone will pay allot more for you than if you are not. If you’re not a big director it can be difficult to guarantee. One week you could be making $50’000 per show and the next be working for free because you really love a project. Big directors in Hollywood will often be allowed to negotiate their salaries. The bigger your name, the more your worth.
Grip
A Grip is responsible for building and maintaining all of the equipment that supports the cameras, from tripods to cranes.
Skills
Firstly a Grip must have an extensive and up to date knowledge of all camera equipment and support equipment as this is what they will be dealing with. They must be skilled and able to maintain and build equipment, caring for it as it is their responsibility. Sometimes on or off set problems arise involving equipment, Grips must be able to surpass these problems in creative manners to benefit the team. Teamwork is a huge part of the Grips job, a Grip will be working very closely with the Director and D.O.P and must be able to help them achieve their artistic vision as well as this the Grip will need to be a good leader in order to lead their own team. Finally the Grip must be physically strong, being a grip entails a lot of strenuous physical work as some equipment may be very heavy, manual labour will be a big part of the Grips job.
What does a Grip do?
A Grip is responsible for building and maintaining all of the equipment that supports the cameras, from tripods to cranes as well as setting it all up for the Director and D.O.P. The Grip will always be working closely with the Director and Director of Photography as well as the other camera operators to ensure that all of the equipment is positioned correctly and moved smoothly. They will be responsible for pushing the dolly, being expected to do so with a good level of skill so that the movement of the camera is smooth and looks natural. On big multi camera shoots their are multiple grips with the ‘Key Grip’ being responsible for the main camera (Camera A) with other Grips being on hand for additional support with the other cameras.
Qualifications
You can take National Vocational Qualifications for being a Grip at level 2 and level 3. These have been set up by creative skill set and are awarded by City and Guilds. You will also need a driving license and a health and safety certification.
BECTU recommended pay:
Rates are for High Budget productions above £20M. Rates are for a 5 Day Week with 10 continuous hours or 12 hours with a break.
Key Grip: £2250
Level 3 Grip: £2000
Level 2 Grip: £1900
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