Which if any of your responsibilities crosses over into another department's domain? How do you handle that?
The only situation I can think of where I’m potentially crossing into someone else’s business is with the onset dresser. I’m pretty good about letting them know if something needs to be adjusted, tweaked, or moved to improve the shot, but sometimes, it is just easier to do a quick fix yourself – such as shifting a wine glass two inches to the left on a dinner table so it isn’t blocking an actor. This can definitely get you into hot water if they aren’t receptive to that kind of collaboration, but as long as you come to some sort of agreement early on, and they are told what has been changed if you do it yourself, you will generally be fine. I never want to go behind someone’s back, but sometimes they are at craft services, and a table lamp needs to be shifted so it isn’t blocking something in the background, or a tape ball needs to be added to the right side of a poster on the wall so it isn’t reflecting a light… Filmmaking is collaborative, and as long as people know that you have good intentions, you value their work, and you’re only trying to improve the shot, they will generally not be offended if you have to tweak something on your own.
Other things, such as watching a light go up that is being placed too low, or a sider or diffusion frame that is extending into the shot are things I’ll bring to the attention of others to fix, but don’t actually attempt to do myself.
The biggest one I can think of is set dressing. As an operator you are constantly moving and tweaking things on set. I always try to include the set dresser but sometimes there is a last minute thing where they can’t get in there. If I do something myself I always do my best to let them know because that is their job.
You are also often making executive decisions on what can work cheating wise - a table, a lamp, etc - based on what you know you have seen and what will be seen.
Wardrobe, hair and makeup are areas where you’ll be involved too. Not in the sense that you are touching up actors but in the sense that you are asking people to come in an take a look.
In all of these situations the key is to be respectful of other peoples jobs. I wouldn’t wnat someone coming in an adjusting my frame even if that was acceptable. They have jobs and need to be involved.
The other area, which is for everyone is safety. In light of the tragedy that struck Halyna Hutchins, if an AD is not running a safe set, it is incumbent on every single crew member to step up and speak out. Loudly and in a way that can’t be denied. Sometimes that’s not fun and as the op, in the middle of it all, I feel I am one of the first people who may have to throw myself into the fray.
There’s no crossover there. Its everyones job.
