As a director on set, people look to you for leadership, and it’s your obligation to deliver. The title alone doesn’t give you the authority – you have to seize it and earn it, again and again. You’ll need certain traits that allow you to guide and inspire your crew and your actors. In this blog, I’ve put together four tips to help you be an effective leader on set.
Be open to creative suggestions
The term director stems from the word dictator, and if you’re not on the right set, it can really feel as though a dictator is running the show. The director is the point person, in charge of all aspects of the creative vision of the film. They have the final say on everything. What I’ve found during my experience in running a set – and as an observer on other people’s projects – is that there is more than one way to tell your unique story. Many times I have begun a shooting day with a planned shot list, and after some collaboration with the DP (Director of Photography) and the actors, we wind up completely changing directions. So, take a step back from being “the dictator” sometimes, and be open to creative suggestions. Everyone on set will feel more engaged when they know they have a creative stake in the project.
Just be sure and balance your open-mindedness with a good dose of decisiveness. Your crew will appreciate this, as no one wants a set full of suggestions. Be effusive about the ideas you love, but move on quickly from ones that don’t serve the story or will torpedo your schedule.
Admit to your mistakes
No one likes a know-it-all – especially when it’s clear you don’t. Be humble. When you make mistakes, admit to them. If you try to hem and haw and avoid responsibility, you’ll lose your crew and sap their morale. You’re certainly not going to be an inspirational leader, which is the requirement.
It’s down to basic relationship science – it’s hard to get along or solve problems when you can’t admit your mistakes. Even in the worst situations, it shows your strength of character. Just keep it in perspective – mistakes are ok, everyone makes them. Just focus on solving the problem and moving forward, with your dignity and your leadership intact.
Don’t talk down to your crew
How you treat your crew is perhaps the most important element of running a set. There’s going to be people above you, like EPs and producers, and people below you, like pretty much everyone else on set. But a good leader, a good director, will treat everyone with respect, because they know filmmaking is a group effort. From the production assistants at the bottom to you, the director at the very top – it takes everyone’s focus, dedication and talent to create an exceptional project.
A leader recognizes that even the most “insignificant” person on the set is important, and if you want them to work hard, you’ll need to make them feel like they’re an essential part of the project and treat them with respect. You’ll feel better about it, and your project will reap the rewards.
Lead by example
A common tip, but an essential one. You’re leading the charge, you’ve taken on a huge workload and you’re under a lot of pressure. How you handle all this will directly shape how your crew handles it. They take their cues from you. So – handle it. Be professional, be unflappable, be inspired, be kind. Your crew will most likely follow suit.
A film set has maybe the most stay-in-your-lane atmosphere on earth, outside of the military, which it often resembles, at least in structure. But just like in the trenches, the grunts usually get inspired when the staff sergeant picks up a shovel. What I’m saying is, don’t shy away from the physical labour, from the dirty work. This is an essential part of leading by example.
There are many times where I’ve had to chip in as a grip, a sound person, a driver, whatever it takes to keep a film on schedule. So, while keeping in mind the very clear lanes of filmmaking, show your willingness to step up and do whatever it takes to make your film great – or at least to get it finished.
You as the director should be the hardest worker on set. No one should doubt your commitment. Because nobody else is going to have as strong of an emotional connection to the film. So if you don’t work hard, you can expect your crew to feel uninspired.
These are just some basic tips to consider when you’re taking on a leadership role on an indie film project. Remember, experience is the key to success, and these tips are all based on my personal experiences.