Been working quite a bit in different roles, different departments, different duties every time. Me, have a boring job? Never!
The best part about it all is the people. Maybe it’s the fact that our workplace is a revolving door, and you never know who will come in and who will go out next, but it’s been so great to work with and learn from people of all different walks of life with plenty of experience to share.
Can’t wait to share some of these stories in the weeks to come. Until then, see you on the next one!
Satire alert! You look great no matter what you wear. :D
The little black dress, a creation of famed haute couture icon Coco Chanel, is a staple of a woman’s wardrobe - you can wear it for just about anything. Funeral? Wear your LBD. Birthday? LBD with a party hat. Late night McDonalds run? Throw a sweatshirt over your LBD and you’re good to go.
Today’s modern crew member might be immobilized when wearing an LBD to set, but this doesn’t mean one needs to sacrifice fashion for function. You might not be able to be able to pull off a LBD, but you certainly can rock a LBS.
Coco Chanel’s best kept secret: the Little Black Shirt.
You may laugh, but there’s a certain art to pulling off the perfect LBS for your next film production. Here’s a handy guide to each look and how to wear it.
LOOK #1: The “CREW” Crew Shirt
This shirt lets everyone and your mother know that you’re a part of the crew. Bonus points if it’s an actual crew t-shirt with “CREW” printed on the back. It’s more meta that way. A word of warning, though: if you wear a coat over it, then you look like one of those people trying to sneak backstage. Make sure to have a “CREW” hat on standby, or some other identifying object.
LOOK #2: The Festival Junkie
Tired of people undermining your credibility as a filmmaker? Wear a festival t-shirt! Bigger festivals are better, like Tribeca, Sundance, and Toronto. Don’t forget that small festival from your hometown - you just might have to explain it a little more.
Never made it to Sundance? Me neither. Just buy the shirt online and throw it through the wash a couple times to give it that authentic, “I Actually Went to Sundance” look.
This guy knows how to work it: he’s a festival insider.
Look #3: I’m With the Band
You’re not in conservative high school anymore: flaunt your musical tastes on your shirt! ...But keep it clean, especially if the client will be on set. General rule of thumb: more artwork, less band names - that’s your safety just in case somebody asks a question. (“Coldplay? Oh, he’s just my favorite neodadaist painter.”)
If you’re working a live event, it's best not to wear a band different than the one you’re working for. Unless you’re that guy who doesn’t want to be there anyway. If you’re working the Wiggles concert, it’s ok to show your love for KISS. They’re both boy bands underneath it all.
Look #4: Talent PA
This is where the Little Black Shirt is more of a Little Black Blouse. Or Little Black Blazer, for all the dudes out there.
You’ve been assigned to help out with The Talent, and while you might not look like The Talent, you should look a little nicer. Heaven forbid the press should catch you ushering The Talent to their car while you’re sporting a plain black t-shirt.
Of course it should be black in color, but after that, think something a little nicer. If you’re feeling really fancy, go ahead and put on a necklace or watch, because no one else on set will. Who says ruffles and lace are impractical for grip work?
Look #5: Look, Ma, I’m a Professional
Wow! Cool! You got to work on a big movie (one that your Aunt Bertha could recognize) last summer starring Channing Tater Tots, and instead of getting a bigger paycheck, you got a t-shirt instead! Wear your bragging rights on your sleeve (literally) with this look.
Sure, you were *technically* a day player on the show as an assistant to the assistant for Channing Tater Tots, but nobody else has to know that! Impress all your coworkers with stories of how you almost bumped into The Wazowskis with a carrier of hot coffee, but you bravely took the hit for them. Or that one time someone asked you to set up a C stand, and nobody yelled at you for it. Pick something to celebrate and watch your credibility soar.
Look #6: Express Yourself
This is the grab bag, catch all look of the LBS. You got a favorite quote // TV show // comic book // work of art // color // typography // food // pop culture reference? Of course you do, otherwise you’re a robot. (If so, don’t you have some CAPTCHAs to hack?)
Pick something you love, something you can talk about, put it on a black shirt, and BAZINGA, you’ve got an individualistic expression of who you are.
It’s safe to say that 67.98% of all freelancers join The Industry for this very reason. What other profession allows you to sport your love for Sesame Street AND Run DMC as part of its dress code?
And there you have it, the art of the LBS in a nutshell. What’s your favorite look?
Once Upon a Hypothetical Film Shoot, there was a bit of a casting problem.
See, there were not enough men who had answered the call to join The Movie About a High School, so the director had opened the floodgates of the internet to any men who could take part in the shoot; specifically, young, high school aged men.
And then The Middle Aged Man showed up on set. At first, the crew was unsure of where to place him; alas, he could not pass for a student. While there wasn’t a part for him in the script, after much discussion, he was designated as The Teacher.
For a while, this idea worked pleasantly well! He strutted down the hallways among the other schoolchildren, fitting in like a glove.
Until the one scene where the high school children paired off and held hands. Perhaps it was a misunderstanding, a miscommunication, or a misread of the concept, but The Teacher was part of this scene... for no other reason than having the actor available at the moment. As they shot pair after pair of people holding hands, they arrived at the The Teacher... and another young boy.
And sure enough, the young boy and the much older man paired off and held hands for the camera. To pound the nail in further, The Teacher ad libbed some dialogue with the boy about going in together. There may or may not have been a creepy smile delivered.
The brave PA looked to the befuddled AD in horror. Did they understand the new layer of subtext just added to the script? Was there a script? Was the script a lie?
To this day, the brave PA wonders if that moment ever made the final cut...
Join us next Friday for another installment of Once Upon a Hypothetical Film Shoot!
Once Upon a Hypothetical Film Shoot, a brave PA was left to firewatch the Grip Truck in a dangerous neighborhood while the rest of the fearless crew traveled to new locations.
The brave PA watched and waited, taking the time to load in 2Ks and other heavy equipment into the truck. Suddenly, a kindly but eccentric elderly gentlemen came up to her.
“Excuse me, miss? Are you married?”
She looked at him curiously.
“Because you’re f***ing hot!” he exclaimed.
While the brave PA was taken aback by his words, she calmly tried to defuse the situation and respond with generic pre-approved statements about what she was doing and why there was a film crew there.
Needless to say, the kindly but eccentric elderly gentlemen did not heed her subtle rejection, and proceeded to chat with her for another hour, until his bus arrived. He told her tales of his life story, being an exotic dancer, traveling with [redacted] the famous piano playing UK singer, and his displeasure with modern women.
Though his tales were unnerving at times, the brave PA didn’t mind the company, as the kindly but eccentric elderly gentlemen was still kindly, and only intended to have a friendly conversation.
Until he asked for her number and/or email.
When the rest of the fearless crew returned, the truck was put back together, the PA unharmed, and eager to regale her friends with tales of what had just occurred.
Or did it?
Join us next Friday for another Once Upon a Hypothetical Film Shoot!
areudirty
izzy806
ellievsbear
dailybridgerton
prguitarman