Scarlet and Sound?

[Charlie_Grinnell]

With all due respect, this is how you answered my other audio question. "Leave it to the sound guy" is neither an answer or in some cases an option. Many of us handle our own audio. Sometimes you can't or don't need a sound guy for whatever you are doing. We ask these questions because WE need to know the answers. Personally, I find it pretty "old hat" to only limit yourself to a specific role or responsibility. The more you know the better.

AGREED!

 

[Peter Kalentzis]

With all due respect, this is how you answered my other audio question. "Leave it to the sound guy" is neither an answer or in some cases an option. Many of us handle our own audio. Sometimes you can't or don't need a sound guy for whatever you are doing. We ask these questions because WE need to know the answers. Personally, I find it pretty "old hat" to only limit yourself to a specific role or responsibility. The more you know the better.

WELL SAID!!!

 

[Arnold F.]

I totally agree. I want to learn as much about cinematography as I can, if that's what you mean. What I don't agree with is that I should learn about every other department. Nor is it practical for me to try to learn and practice other, full-time crafts, like sound or dentistry or advanced accounting. We have experts who specialize in those things.

With all due respect, this is how you answered my other audio question. "Leave it to the sound guy" is neither an answer or in some cases an option. Many of us handle our own audio. Sometimes you can't or don't need a sound guy for whatever you are doing. We ask these questions because WE need to know the answers. Personally, I find it pretty "old hat" to only limit yourself to a specific role or responsibility. The more you know the better.

 

[Isaac Marchionna]

I wish I could live in that world, where I don't in fact work at a company as a one-man video department. Ah...to dream.

 

[Jarek Zabczynski]

I totally agree. I want to learn as much about cinematography as I can, if that's what you mean. What I don't agree with is that I should learn about every other department. Nor is it practical for me to try to learn and practice other, full-time crafts, like sound or dentistry or advanced accounting. We have experts who specialize in those things.

I will have to inject a little here. There are many who feel you should stick to one craft and master it, that's fine. I'm a director, shooter, editor, and SFX artist. Most of my income is from post and camerawork, that leaves me free to shoot and direct my personal projects in between. As a director or shooter, I feel you should have a well rounded knowhow of all facets of production, if for the only reason so that no one can bullshit you on set. In more than one occasion had I asked a crew member to do something that they said was too difficult, I would tell them to go home and ended up doing it myself after hearing BS reasons for why it can't be done.

I don't speak for everyone, but I've also worked with directors that didn't know how to turn on a camera. Give me a fucking break.

If you want to stick with one craft, that's fine. But there's definitely nothing wrong with learning it all and I commend those that do. There's a reason why I am the "go to guy" for everything production related in my area. If it needs to be done, I can do it. If I don't know how, I figure it out and grow from the experience. There's no need to put a limit on the size of your toolkit.

 

[Marc Wielage]

With all due respect, this is how you answered my other audio question. "Leave it to the sound guy" is neither an answer or in some cases an option. Many of us handle our own audio. Sometimes you can't or don't need a sound guy for whatever you are doing.

That's sad, but it points to the ongoing problem of producers and filmmakers having very unrealistic expectations as to what a single person can do. To me, the job of a cinematographer is very, very difficult, having to juggle schedules, actors' positions, changing sets, location issues, available lighting instruments, power, the G&E crew, plus come up with a way to satisfy the director's creative goals, and also get the camera in the right place at the right time, with proper composition and focus.

Doing that plus worrying about sound is ridiculous. To me, it's like asking a race car driver to pump the gas, change the tires, check the sparkplugs, clean the windshield, and wash the car, on top of steering the car and changing the gears. One way or another, you're going to wind up suffering terrible compromises in one or more areas.

I have trouble mixing, booming, and worrying about multiple wireless microphones... and that's getting nowhere near the camera or lighting.

I fully understand there are situations where a one-man crew is all that's possible, particularly under battle conditions or in dangerous surveillance situations. I don't buy it for anything scripted, either shorts or especially features. The answer for the filmmakers: don't shoot your project until you can raise enough money to hire specialists who know what they're doing -- even at a minimal level. And don't expect a huge amount of gear and expertise for low money. That goes for camera and sound.

 

[Nick Morrison]

I will have to inject a little here. There are many who feel you should stick to one craft and master it, that's fine. I'm a director, shooter, editor, and SFX artist. Most of my income is from post and camerawork, that leaves me free to shoot and direct my personal projects in between. As a director or shooter, I feel you should have a well rounded knowhow of all facets of production, if for the only reason so that no one can bullshit you on set. In more than one occasion had I asked a crew member to do something that they said was too difficult, I would tell them to go home and ended up doing it myself after hearing BS reasons for why it can't be done.

I don't speak for everyone, but I've also worked with directors that didn't know how to turn on a camera. Give me a fucking break.

If you want to stick with one craft, that's fine. But there's definitely nothing wrong with learning it all and I commend those that do. There's a reason why I am the "go to guy" for everything production related in my area. If it needs to be done, I can do it. If I don't know how, I figure it out and grow from the experience. There's no need to put a limit on the size of your toolkit.

Perfectly said. I pretty much agree across the board. Even if you prefer one discipline over another, having an advanced understanding of all departments will only make you a better craftsmen overall. Im a director/producer, but I've also spent 10 years as a post creative supervisor (so I live in edit); I'm a lens junky; and I own tons of cameras and gear. Turns out, knowing all that other stuff is invaluable on set. I can HELP the sound guy if I know how his job works. And yeah...sometimes your in a pinch, and you just NEED to record sound yourself. If you don't know how, then you'll be SCREWED.

 

[Jarek Zabczynski]

Not every situation demands for a dedicated sound guy. For those situations its a good idea to know your shit. Sure, it's nice to work with a team, but sometimes you're on your own. That's the reality of production today.

 

[Patrik Kisucky]

...first, I wasn't going to bite...

@Marc, it seems like you are talking about productions with a larger crew involved, with all sorts of equipment on the set etc. Not all of us are working in that environment, you know. At least not all the time. What exactly is wrong with grabbing my Scarlet, going out shooting and wishing for an audio to be recorded as well? Is it an unwritten rule of successful filmmakers, or filmmakers that only work/use their cameras on the set with a big crews, that recording audio on your camera is shameful, or something?

@Arnold F, same question Arnold. If someone's asking the question as the OP did, it means he would like to hear an answer on his question, or an advice. If you have nothing, to help the OP, why stepping in?