Brian Eno has said, “I am extremely uncomfortable as the focal point, in the spotlight. I really like the behind-the-scenes role because all my freedom is there.” I can’t find any fault in his statement. I have worked as a behind-the-scenes photographer on feature and independent film sets in North Texas for several years. Simply put I love this work, and there is little else I’d instead do. In this role, I am not in any spotlight. Indeed, I have the ability as a BTS photographer to shine that spotlight on other people, and in the film industry, there are plenty of other people who relish that spotlight.
Those “other people” are often the film’s crew. I photograph the crew setting up lighting and cameras, moving equipment, conferring over camera settings, discussing the coordination of budgets, and applying prosthetics and makeup to the talent. To be clear, the crew that moves equipment isn’t usually the crew that applies makeup to the cast or determines budgets for the film. There can be a handful of crew members on a film set who do a little of everything or hundreds of people who have highly specialized jobs. Along with the crew and their jobs, I also photograph the talent doing their jobs during rehearsals and when they are blocking their upcoming scenes. I photograph the camaraderie between the cast and crew during lunches and breaks. I have photographed people sleeping, laughing, crying, studying, eating, “acting,” and just being themselves.
While I take candid photos of anyone involved in the production of a film, I can also take the “art” shots, those images used on posters and in marketing materials. In short, though, every photo I take can be used in marketing materials, as I have documented the making of a film. My work serves as a record of the production. Yes, of course, the film itself serves as a record of production. However (and this is a huge however), so much goes into the making of a film, so much more than a film itself can depict. That is where I come in. I photograph everyone, everything, every time. Not all images have an audience, but I take them, nonetheless. I have the record.
Recently, I read Tom Hanks’ novel, The Making of Another Major Picture Masterpiece: A Novel. While the story of the novel is fiction, he goes into some minute details about the making of a film, the people involved, and what they do; that part is not fiction. He writes of his experience, and it shows in his writing. As a BTS photographer, I photograph all these people and all this work. BTS photography is not just a job for me, though. I love what I do. (I highly recommend Hanks’ book, too. It was a funny and interesting read.)
So. What does it take to be a BTS photographer? It takes a camera– a good one– and cell phones don’t count (more on this in another post). It takes diligence. It takes knowing how the filming process works (anticipating actions and responses). It takes an eye for photography (composition, settings, exposure, angles, depths of field). It takes knowing when to use specific photographic styles and when not to.
Below are a few random behind-the-scenes photos I’ve taken over the past two years or so. There are others. Many others. Thousands of others.
