How Can You Build Rapport With Your Film Crew?
Building a cohesive film crew and cast is pivotal to the success of any production. We've gathered six valuable techniques from industry professionals, including Executive Producers and Directors, to foster strong connections on set. From offering warmth and music to prioritizing crew care and well-being, discover the strategies that make a difference behind the scenes.
- Offer Warmth and Music for Rapport
- Empower Crew with Idea Ownership
- Maintain High Communication Levels
- Conduct Pre-Production Team Meetings
- Create Engaging Videos for Remote Teams
- Prioritize Crew Care and Well-being
Offer Warmth and Music for Rapport
A film shoot can be an incredibly stressful environment; however, both cast and crew are there to have an enjoyable experience. Keeping spirits up leads to a nicer working environment and better results from all involved. Personally, I try to create this atmosphere from the very start, and it really doesn't take much.
I will always ask for a full briefing session before we shoot, and at this, I ensure everyone involved has a hot drink (if they want one). It's a small consideration that pays dividends. While the content of the briefing session is serious, I always end by assigning someone to take charge of on-set music, and encourage all cast and crew to request their guilty pleasures. It's always a fun ice-breaker and sets the tone for the rest of the day.
Empower Crew with Idea Ownership
I always meet with our crew before a shoot to tell them that I want to hear any of their ideas during the day. Obviously, there are times during shooting when I can't do that, but I always make time to hear them out when I get a break. Historically, some of the best ideas on our shoots have come from our crew members. The process of directing a shoot is difficult when there is a lot going on, and there are times when I'll miss things that other crew members have noticed. I empower my crews to make me aware of issues that will jeopardize the overall production downstream. By doing this, it gives the crew a sense of ownership in the project, and that always makes them do their best work for our clients.
Maintain High Communication Levels
It all comes down to communication.
From having the team meet up in pre-production and get to know everyone, through to holding daily morning meetings where you go through the schedule, address any issues or concerns, provide updates or any feedback, and just generally make sure everyone knows what is going on.
Then, ensuring no matter how busy the day is, you keep the communication levels high both within each department and across departments. This just makes for a team who feel in control and, therefore, will respect you as a leader no matter what happens on set.
Conduct Pre-Production Team Meetings
Pre-production meetings with your technical teams and talent are mandatory. These are before technical run-throughs or rehearsals, before you ever step foot on the set. Meeting ahead of time helps everyone get on the same page. They feel comfortable with the equipment and technology. They understand what's expected of them and know the plan of action. It also gives everyone time to share any ideas, and also see who to expect on-site. When call time arrives, everyone is comfortable, confident, and hopefully ready to expertly deal with any surprises. By setting the team up for success, you build confidence and respect as a producer.
Create Engaging Videos for Remote Teams
In our video agency, where we work with remote actors and actresses from all around the world, building rapport with the team is both crucial and challenging. To foster a strong connection, I record high-energy videos specifically designed to engage and connect with our team. Given that we work with hundreds of creators, it's impossible to form one-on-one relationships with everyone. However, by sending out these videos to the entire team, I'm able to build a parasocial relationship that helps bridge the distance.
These videos allow me to convey my enthusiasm, share updates, and reinforce our shared goals, all while ensuring that everyone feels part of the bigger picture. Even though we may not interact individually, the team gets to know me through these videos, which helps create a sense of familiarity and trust. This approach has proven to be incredibly effective in keeping morale high and maintaining a cohesive team dynamic, even in a remote work environment.
Prioritize Crew Care and Well-being
Always put them first and look out for them. Your first job will always be to make sure the crew is taken care of, because without them, clients, networks, or benefactors will never get the product they need. Be a champion for your crew's meals, breaks, home life, and more, and they will be sure to work hard for you, too.
