How to Hire Film Crew Members

Film crew members can help media producers create a project efficiently by specializing in different aspects of a motion picture production. Learn how to identify and hire the right professionals during the pre-production stage of your movie.

Use the film script related to your project to create a list of film crew members that are necessary to begin production. A good cinematographer and a reliable sound technician are essential to creating visually stunning movie. Figure out whether you also need more crew members that have specialized departments on a production such as a special effects coordinator, stunt man, makeup artist or technical advisor.

Watch the end credits or making-of documentary of a movie that is similar to the plot or genre of your film script if you are going into production for the first time. This can help you figure out what type of crew members you may need to hire for your own project. You can also read entertainment industry trade magazines and interviews with film directors to find out the titles of specific crew positions and what the duties are for those who work in each position.

List job openings in the classified ads section of filmmaking websites and newspapers for the film crew members needed in your project. You will need to determine whether your production will be affiliated with labor unions or not, as this may affect how jobs are offered to potential crew members. You will also have to figure out how much your production workers will be paid, in advance. The pay for film crew positions vary between productions and may include union scale rates, modest wages, deferred payment, credit or a combination of these options. Pay scales can be mentioned in your job openings or discussed during interviews.

Review the resume and demo reels of men and women who respond to your classified ads to find out who has the best expertise for your type of project. Interview the film crew members that you are most interested in hiring for the movie and negotiate contract terms for their services if necessary. Enter into a written agreement with people that you select from the group of interviews to receive their production services on specific dates. If the pay rates for the crew members that you want to hire is bigger than your production budget, downsize your workforce. Modify aspects of your production by combining the duties of multiple crew positions into one job or only hiring a restricted number of crew members that are crucial to the success of your production.