When you begin working on a film you will most likely work with some people you haven’t worked with before. Establishing a good relationship with the crew will reduce conflict allowing for, hopefully a smooth production. It is especially helpful to have a good relationship with the ones you will be working with the most. If you are the director that will be the actors, assistant directors, director of photography, camera crew, and editor in post production to name a few; if you are the production manager that would be the production key positions. Because of this reason some may choose to bring a colleague that they have worked with before and get along with. This may be different than a friend in the industry because working with a likeminded; dependable colleague is different than working with friends. However, you may not always be in the position to work with the ones you choose. A good way to start creating a positive relationship with the ones you have not worked with before is to introduce your self to them before you start shooting. Another way is to acknowledge their good work; by doing this it shows that you have confidence in their work and judgment. Trusting each other is what makes a good team and a good film. As a director dealing with talent some may be more demanding than others. You may want to speak with the actors before hand to see if they would rather be called by their real name or their character’s name on set, since some actors may have a preference. In addition you can find out what other preferences they may have and account for them before hand so that hopefully during production the actor is not late because of this. In conclusion establishing a positive relationship with everyone on a production is most desired when doing a film. It eliminates conflict and helps the production run smoother. Knowing that what you are doing is business and nothing personal helps keep a good relationship as well.
