Directing: Dual-Role Directing

Dr. Robert G. Nulph
June 2006

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When is a director not only the director? Well, in today's fast-paced, small crew production world, the answer to that question is; often. The director must be able to pick up the reins for various positions and still maintain the quality and integrity of the production. In this column we will look at two common examples of dual-role directing and note the benefits and challenges of each.

The director as camera operator is a common occurrence, especially in a 2-person crew video production. This dual-role can be detrimental to the production for a number of reasons. When acting as the camera operator, you are concentrating on looking through the viewfinder and keeping the action in focus and well-composed. As the director, it is hard to pay attention to the performance of the talent. It will also be difficult for you to monitor the other aspects of production and possible distractions. Because of these problems, you should only choose to jump into the role of camera operator after careful consideration of the production needs.

Sometimes you will have to step behind the viewfinder because of the requirements of the scene. If the scene requires carefully choreographed movement of the talent and the camera, and you don't have a monitor to watch as the camera operator shoots the scene, it is time to step to the viewfinder. Rehearse the scene a number of times, alternating your close attention between the performance and the choreographed movement. When you shoot the scene, have your partner carefully watch the performance as you concentrate on making sure what is recorded in the camera is framed perfectly and all movement smooth and steady. Play each take back to double check the performance and work with the talent to tweak any performance shortfalls. While this process is slow, it is the easiest and most productive way to get your vision of the scene on tape.

Sometimes you will find as a director, that your talent can more easily direct their attention to the camera if you are behind it. When shooting documentaries, if there is little camera movement needed, you will find it a lot easier if you ask the questions from a position beside the camera while actually doing the shooting. The subjects will be more comfortable talking to you than the camera operator. It also helps avoid the problem of the subjects glancing towards you as they answer their questions instead of looking at camera or an empty space to the side of the camera.

Another situation when you may have to step in to act as both director and shooter is perhaps the most common reason: you are the best shooter between the two of you. If you need an intricate camera move and know what the final shot should look like, go for it. Directors like James Cameron often pick up the camera during the shooting of their films because they know exactly what a move or shot should look like and they know they have the best chance of achieving that shot by shooting it themselves. Be careful that you have your partner monitor the talent's performance because you will have to pay close attention to getting the shot.

Maintaining good audio, while very important, is a lot easier for a director to do if they want to concentrate on the performance of their talent. To enable you to be both director and sound recordist, you must set up your audio so that the microphone(s) run through a mixer and then plug into a camera. It is next to impossible to maintain good audio levels if the microphone is connected directly to the camera. By riding gain with a mixer, you can maintain good levels. Ideally, you would have the output of the mixer go into a DAT machine or flash recorder. Audio equipment inherently has the ability to record a broader range of sound from very loud to very soft. The quality of the dual system will greatly enhance your production. This dual system works well if you also use the microphone on the camera to record a reference audio track. Later when you edit, you can easily match the waveform of the reference audio track to the waveform of the audio that you recorded separately.

Watching the record levels takes much less concentration than running a camera, thus allowing you the luxury of focusing on your talent. By acting as both the director and audio recordist, you can concentrate on the talent's actions, voice, and the subtle nuances of their performance.

To give you peace of mind, you may want to set up a cart with a mixer, video monitor and DAT or flash recorder. This will give you a portable station from which you can monitor the camera and audio yet concentrate on the subtleties of the talent's vocal and physical performance.

If you have to plug your microphone directly into the camera, make sure you set your audio levels so that the loudest part of the performance does not peak and cause the audio to buzz. Then use a fishpole and shotgun microphone in a suspension mount to capture the best audio during the performance. If you are the director/boom operator, you will easily be able to focus on the performance of your talent because you will be right there. Make sure you watch replays of your scenes to catch any camera problems.

Even though you may find yourself playing dual-roles, you must always remember that directing is your main priority. Make sure your talent understands that while you are performing two functions, their performance is the primary focus of your attention. Work with the talent to make sure they are comfortable with you in your dual-role and that they don't feel neglected. Give them constructive feedback so that they can improve their performance and help you create a professional, high-quality production.

Don't forget your partner. If you are the director/camera operator, you have to depend on your partner to record good audio as well as keep an eye on any problems with the performance. Two sets of eyes are always better than one. Discuss each take with your partner before moving on. While it may have been a great shot, there might be some subtle problems with the performance or audio that may require a second take.

In your role as director/sound recordist, make sure you discuss all of the camera moves and expectations with your camera operator. Rehearse the shots and discuss any problems with focus, framing or movement. Show them that you trust their abilities, and make a point to ask for their feedback when discussing each take on your rundown.

Playing a dual-role can be an exercise in mental gymnastics. However, if you build a rapport with your talent and a good relationship with your partner, you will be rewarded with a great experience and a quality production.

Robert G. Nulph, Ph.D. is an independent video/film producer/ director and teaches video production courses at the college level.

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