FiveSix ProductionsFIVESIX Productions

Video Crew Positions

A guide to video crew positions.

We here at FiveSix Productions greatly value all the hard work and expertise that so many of our crew members bring to set everyday; from pre-production through the post process, our crews are the best. One of the character/work traits that we value the most is the ability for our team members to excel beyond the traditional, basic job requirements, and give more on set. For instance, our P.A.'s (Production Assistant in the U.S., Runner in the U.K.) may be asked to have basic knowledge in camera, audio, or footage management; while we don't typically ask our P.A.'s to do file transferring, some crews expect it. We have a great network of cinematographers, Directors of Photography, and camera operators, but some of our very skilled camera operators wouldn't go out as a D.P.; some crews/clients require that their "A Cam" or "Camera 1" operator is in fact, a D.P. Audio mixers and audio technicians are also two different things. An audio mixer may be expected to have a more thorough knowledge of audio, mixing, and maybe even the post process, where an audio tech may or may not have an advanced knowledge beyond the convention floor or basic interview audio. Also to consider, our grips, gaffers, and electricians occasionally find themselves on a set with a client from Philadelphia or London, where the gear may have different names. What we out west call our light dimmers, a gaffer from the U.K. most likely will call it a squeezer, so having a broad, extensive knowledge of your position will make the production run smoother.

From director of photography, to gaffer, audio tech, P.A., grip, producer, makeup, and the many other positions, we push ourselves to have the broadest and most extensive knowledge in our field. We at FiveSix Productions expect the best, and thus, we provide the best video production crews in Southern California and Nevada.


FiveSix ProductionsFIVESIX Productions

On This Day In History

On this day in 1913, acclaimed director and producer Stanley Kramer is born in New York City. Kramer produced and directed numerous "message" films that tackled issues ranging from politics to race to social equity, and more. Kramer worked with such film stars as Humphrey Bogart, Frank Sinatra, Fred Astaire, Cary Grant, Sophia Loren, Vivien Leigh, Tony Curtis, Sidney Poitier, and Katharine Hepburn. His plethora of films includes The Defiant Ones, Judgment at Nuremberg, Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner, Home of the Brave (1949) High Noon (1952), and the 1963 comedy It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World. Stanley was nominated for six producing Oscars, and three directing Oscars, but sadly was never chosen as the winner. Stanley Kramer was a passionate and fearless filmmaker who certainly left an indelible mark on the industry and society. He passed away at the age of 87 in Woodland Hills, California, on February 19, 2001. Make sure to check out IMDB page so you can start enjoying his collection of excellent films.


Las Vegas Video Production

What makes a good Producer, in the sense of corporate video? #videoproducer #producer

Putting together corporate videos takes a leader, someone has to be in charge of the project or usually nothing ends up happening, well nothing good anyway.  These people who are put in charge are often given or anoint themselves the title of producer.  What does that mean?  Well it means you oversee every facet of the production from start until finish and make decisions on everything from budget all the way until the final edit and deliverable.  Oh I get it, they do everything.  No.  Stop right there.  Bad producers do everything. Bad producers micro manage every part, stifle creativity, and frustrate everyone else involved.  Often these are new producers, they take to their role like a child with a new toy, they don't know what they want but it's mine and I'm not letting it go.  They tend to alienate members of their team and the product suffers as a result.

But what makes a good producer?

A good producer is someone who knows what they want.  If it's a car commercial, a green screen interview, a behind the scenes shoot, high end real estate, or even a convention video, a good producer will do their homework and find out and strategize what the client is looking for.  They will then form a team of the individuals that can best perform each duty that will be needed such as camera, sound, editing, lighting, etc.  Then, they will provide direction to the team and let the team do what they do best, create.  A good producer will allow each member of their selected team to have input and coordinate with them to make sure the client's needs are being met.  They will address problems as they arise instead of create them.  The producer themselves can be creative but their role is more of the coordinator and facilitator of the whole project and good producers know that this is their primary focus.  Being the liaison between the client and the video team is extremely important, we all know nothing gets done well and correctly without good communication.

Too often producers want the role of creative, or the role of director or director of photography, or they think they are entitled to  make creative decisions.  True they are the lead on the project and they should have a great deal of input into the final look and feel of the video they deliver to the client, however, too often they hold onto too much.  The best results often come from a diverse set of ideas and not from a single person and a single view point.  A good producer knows when to let go and when to take control.  That is the most difficult part of the job.  So to all those good producers out there, thank you.   For those producers still learning, relax and let your people do what they do and most of the time they don't disappoint.

Oh and the best producers always feed their crew, on time.