Jobs of a DP

[houseofwolves]

Hi I posted this in D Mullens' section, but I know he may be busy often and not have a chance to reply as soon as one would like. What are your thoughts?

Hello,

I'm having a little problem being definitive about this. As a DP what exactly are the duties involved? I know the obvious ones like Lighting/camera planning, but my question is more directed towards the duties where the director if also involved like in shot list.

Now it's is my understanding that the Director is the one in charge of calling the shot list from the first page of the script to the end. the director calls the angles the compositions and so forth. Am I wrong here? I know the DP has to see the shot list to communicate the directors vision to the screen, but how much say does a DP have when making a shot list? Is it ultimately the director's decision as to what gets shot? or can the DP have power here?

How about calling lenses. Does the director get to call lenses as well, since most have their little director's viewfinder?

Just want to make sure I'm thinking this the right way. Thank you.

In your experience on set, what have been your duties besides lighting the scene and going to telecine and picking up/choosing equipment?

 

[element80]

I replied in the other section, if you want to take a look there...

 

[Billy1970]

Good question.

It really depends on the director involved. Some directors are really 'hands on' and like being intimately involved with camera decisions, others...not so much.

Ultimately, the director is in charge of production and they have the final say in all matters regarding image acquisition, including things like lens selection.

Hope this helps.

 

[Agenda Productions]

Re: Jobs of a DP

I'm having a little problem being definitive about this. As a DP what exactly are the duties involved?

Hi, I added this link in the other section.

http://www.bscine.com/html/rolecine.html

Cheers, James