Roles
Below are some of the roles one might fill on a successful iMovieFest team. Consider these guidelines when you start to divide up the responsibilities. If each person knows what their role is and what they are responsible for, you are more likely to make this process smooth, clear, and fast. Remember your five day time limit is to shoot and edit the movie. If you have a certain style, then go for it.
The one thing we must stress is that someone must be resonsibile for the equipment. The cameras and laptops we will be using have been generously provided by Apple Computers, and we must be certain they are returned in the same condition as they are recieved.
Director
Directors are in charge of making sure the narrative comes across. Directors set up scenes, help actors portray their roles, and just generally ensure the narrative is portrayed. A director could also be a "team captain," taking responsibility to make sure things get done on time and the equipment is well cared-for.
Communication Representative
Communication representatives work closely with the director, relaying information to all other members of the team. They should also stay in consistent contact with the iMovieFest crew, so that any questions or problems which come up can be quickly resolved.
Cinematographer
Cinematographers are in charge of the visual style of a film. They tell the camera technicians where to shoot from, what angle to use, how to move through a scene, and take charge of everything else one can do with a camera. They might also wish to wield the camera themselves.
Casting director
Casting directors are in charge of deciding which actors play which roles. They should work closely with the writer, director, and actors to make sure that each character role will be portrayed succesfully in terms of the narrative, and the film's style.
Camera technician
Camera technicians are in charge of the technical side of cinematography. They take charge of the actual camera, learning the ins and outs of its features to help the cinematographer execute the film's visual style.
Editing technician
Editing technicians are in charge of using the software provided (iMovie!) to bring the whole project together. They will work closely with the director, writer, and cinematographer to help the narrative and visual style come through in the final product.
Audio technician
Audio technicians are responsible for all the sound and music in the film. They will ensure that dialogue is audible and clear, and find non-copyrighted music for use in the film.
Writer
Every film has a story or purpose and the process of making a movie begins with writers -- They are in charge of writing a coherent and distinctive story, which everyone else will work to portray and enhance. There can be more than one writer, but collaborating to come up with a plot can take longer than you think.
Actor
The actors are the ones who actually get out there in front of the camera and bring the story across. Understanding a character's role and putting every ounce of energy into every take can be grueling. There's no movie withour actors!
Equipment manager
This may sound silly, and while it isn't a lot of work, it's a lot of responsibility. Your team will be borrowing some very expensive and fragile equipment. Someone has to put their name in and be sure that the camera and computer are protected, respected, and returned in the same condition in which they are acquired.
What if I just want to help out?
If none of the roles sound good to you, don't fear! There will be plenty to do without any particular responsibilty. Just sign-up, and make your own role. You could even be the caterer, providing food for the team.
iMovieFest is produced by the student staff of Residential Technology Services