Quick Tip: Be Decisive

As an up-and-coming operator, it's hard to sound like you know exactly what you want to do because, let’s face it, you probably don't, or if you do, you're not sure that you do. I see this time and again with younger/newer operators and, largely due to societal reasons, I see this more with women who are coming up as operators than I do with men.

The dolly grip and the AC are looking for information to act on so they can move the ball forward. I have found that new ops will ask rather than tell. “Can we have a 25 mm on the camera and can we put some dolly track from here to here?” Yes, there’s nothing wrong with being kind and respectful when telling your crew what is needed but remember, you are just passing info on down the line. While it seems that you are telling them what you need, in reality you are simply telling them what is needed to execute what the director and DP have charged you with.

So, instead of asking, be definitive. “Ok, let's get the camera over here on a 25mm on the wheels and dolly track from here to here, with the head of the dolly on this side of the track.” This lets your team know exactly what is needed, and while they may continue to ask a question or two, to make sure that they understand what you need or that you aren’t overlooking something (it takes a village), they know definitively that you are certain what is needed to be successful.

Be definitive from the start and you will be telling your crew that you know what you are doing (even if you don't).