FILM CREW 101
WHO’S WHO ON THE CREW
AND WHAT WE DO

ASSISTANT DIRECTORS

These professionals are members of the Director’s Guild of America (DGA) and have perks that the majority of below-the-line crew will never benefit from: first class travel, overtime bonuses, rich turn-around penalties, residuals … just to name a few.

This Department, with all of its benefits, is similar to the U.S. Congress in the film World.

FIRST ASSISTANT DIRECTOR (1ST AD)

There is a mark drawn across the overall budget page for every film production.  It describes where the human resource money is distributed with respect to wages, salaries, bonuses and so on.  The division created by this mark in known as The Line.

The 1st AD is the Ringmaster of our circus and the official go-between for Above and Below-the-Line personnel.  Above-the-Line dwells Producers, certain Production staff, the Director, Production Designer, Director of Photography and other heavyweights.  Below-the-Line exists the rest of us.

A first Assistant Director once reminded me that the 1st AD is The Line.  Under his/her immediate command are: Second Assistant Director, Second Second Assistant Director, additional Second Second Assistant
Directors and DGA Trainees.

The 1st AD is the architect of the Call Sheet.  He is ultimately responsible for making the day.  In order to achieve this he demands full cooperation from all departments.  Like a Ringmaster, the 1st A.D. is a whip cracker.

The 1st AD is often hired for loudness of voice, brashness of personality and expert ability at manipulating the Shooting Board.  His ultimate weapon in pursuit of running an orderly Set is the Taser Gun Stare.  This menacing glare is fired upon Crew Members standing in an Actor’s eye line, caught chit-chatting at inappropriate times, or possession of a naughty two-way radio turned up too loud.

His responsibilities are vast and has been known to combat the pressure by chain smoking, excessive coffee consumption, pacing, and/or endless walkie-talkie chatter.

The best movies have become so, in a great part, by the virtue of their 1st AD

SECOND ASSISTANT DIRECTOR (2ND AD)

The 2nd AD is the closest ally Crew Members will find in the AD department.  This person has paid his/her dues in the lower ranks and has a few shows under their belt.  2nd AD knows everything going on or what will be going on in the course of a day or the rest of the week.  It’s a super great idea to make tight friends with this person so you can get the inside scoop of being in-the-know and being prepared before the whole company gets the group update.

Responsibilities include but not limited to:

• Delegating distribution of Call Sheets
• 1st ADs right-hand person
• Wrangling Extras (aka background talent)
• Directing background action
• Stepping in for the 1st AD on Set
• Taking notes for the Production Report
• Crew parking on location
• Talent contracts
• Assigning lock-up positions to P.A.s (aka Production Assistants)

SECOND SECOND ASSISTANT DIRECTOR (2ND 2ND AD)

Responsibilities include but not limited to:

• Managing Base Camp on Location
• Updating Call Sheets
• Keeping track of Talent in the works
• Updating individual departments with pertinent information
• Recording the Last Man time at meal breaks
• Logging Crew out-times
• Liaison between Production Office and the Set
• LOADS of paper work

FILM CREW 101, TIPS, TRICKS AND SECRETS FROM MOTION PICTURE PROFESSIONALS
COPYRIGHT PETER AND CHERYL CLARSON

STRAWBERRY-RHUBARB CRISP

This is a recipe we made seasonally at Hippie Cowboy and customers were wild about it.  The best part is it’s super easy-no fuss, light and phenomenally delicious!

HERE’S HOW WE MAKE IT

THE RHUBARB/STRAWBERRY FILLING:

1. 1 pound rhubarb stalks, trimmed and sliced 1/2″ thick
2. 1/2 pound fresh, ripe strawberries, hulled and quartered
3. 1/2 cup granulated (white) sugar
4. 1/4 tsp salt
5. 1 tsp fresh lemon juice
6. 1 1/2 TBSP cornstarch
7. 1 tsp pure vanilla extract

Combine all in a large bowl.  Gently stir until rhubarb and strawberries are combined and the mixture is no longer white from sugar and cornstarch.  Transfer to a 2 quart baking dish or an 8″x 8″ cake pan and smooth out evenly at bottom of dish/pan.  Set aside.
Prepare the topping.

TOPPING:

1. 3/4 cup all purpose flour
2. 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
3. 3 TBSP granulated (white) sugar
4. 1/4 tsp salt
5. 1 tsp cinnamon
6. 6 TBSP butter, cut into cubes
7. 3/4 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
8. 1/2 cup coarsely chopped pecans

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 350*
2. In a food processor – combine flour, brown sugar, white sugar, cinnamon, butter cubes
3. Pulse until mixture resembles “bran flakes” with a few-sized clumps of butter within
4. Transfer from food processor bowl to separate bowl
5. Stir in oats and chopped pecans with a fork
6. Spoon topping evenly over the rhubarb/strawberry filling
7. Don’t pack the topping down

BAKE:

About 50 minutes until rhubarb/strawberry filling is bubbling around the sides and topping is golden brown.  Remove from oven.  Let cool for about 20 minutes.

SERVE:

Spoon baked strawberry-rhubarb crisp into small dessert style shallow bowls or on flat side dishes (think salad plates) and top with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.  Or you can drizzle a little fresh whipping cream over the servings in lieu of vanilla ice cream scoops.  TA-DAH!!

~ Hippie Cowboy recipe box