FilmclusiveEngineering
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Chapters

Production

Roles

Explore the people, information and boundaries that matter to different production roles.

Production Coordinator

Broad coordination still requires explicit authority over particular records.

Selected connections: Production Coordinator communicates with Production; Production Coordinator communicates with 1st AD; Production Coordinator communicates with Department headsProductionCoordinatorProduction1st ADDepartment heads
  • Production Coordinator↔Production
  • Production Coordinator↔1st AD
  • Production Coordinator↔Department heads
A few connections to start. Open the full diagram to follow every relationship.
Full diagram · 7 people and departments
People and departments this role may need to communicate with.
Connections in words
  • Production Coordinator ↔ Production: operational communication.
  • Production Coordinator ↔ 1st AD: operational communication.
  • Production Coordinator ↔ Department heads: operational communication.
  • Production Coordinator ↔ Locations: operational communication.
  • Production Coordinator ↔ Transportation: operational communication.
  • Production Coordinator ↔ Cast coordination: operational communication.
Information they need
  • Crew availability
  • Contact permissions
  • Schedule changes
  • Document status
Information they may manage
  • Invitations
  • Operational distribution
  • Crew information
  • Document follow-up
Outside their normal scope
  • Unrelated personal contacts
  • Client-only material without access

1st AD

The AD needs broad operational visibility because the day crosses department boundaries.

Selected connections: 1st AD communicates with Director; 1st AD communicates with Production; 1st AD communicates with Camera1st ADDirectorProductionCamera
  • 1st AD↔Director
  • 1st AD↔Production
  • 1st AD↔Camera
A few connections to start. Open the full diagram to follow every relationship.
Full diagram · 13 people and departments
People and departments this role may need to communicate with.
Connections in words
  • 1st AD ↔ Director: operational communication.
  • 1st AD ↔ Production: operational communication.
  • 1st AD ↔ Camera: operational communication.
  • 1st AD ↔ Art: operational communication.
  • 1st AD ↔ Costume: operational communication.
  • 1st AD ↔ Hair: operational communication.
  • 1st AD ↔ Makeup: operational communication.
  • 1st AD ↔ Sound: operational communication.
  • 1st AD ↔ Locations: operational communication.
  • 1st AD ↔ Transportation: operational communication.
  • 1st AD ↔ VFX: operational communication.
  • 1st AD ↔ Cast coordination: operational communication.
Information they need
  • Schedule
  • Production Day
  • Call sheet
  • Presence
  • Changes
Information they may manage
  • Day coordination
  • Operational timing
  • Relevant department updates
Outside their normal scope
  • Private contracts
  • Unrelated payroll records

Department Head

Leadership describes work. Delegated software authority is an independent decision.

Selected connections: Department Head communicates with Production; Department Head communicates with 1st AD; Department Head communicates with Department crewDepartment HeadProduction1st ADDepartment crew
  • Department Head↔Production
  • Department Head↔1st AD
  • Department Head↔Department crew
A few connections to start. Open the full diagram to follow every relationship.
Full diagram · 5 people and departments
People and departments this role may need to communicate with.
Connections in words
  • Department Head ↔ Production: operational communication.
  • Department Head ↔ 1st AD: operational communication.
  • Department Head ↔ Department crew: operational communication.
  • Department Head ↔ Neighboring departments: operational communication.
Information they need
  • Department schedule
  • Assignments
  • Relevant approvals
  • Resource versions
Information they may manage
  • Department planning
  • Crew coordination
  • Delegated reviews
Outside their normal scope
  • Other departments’ private approvals
  • Unrelated financial records

Camera Assistant

A specialist needs precise operational context without receiving every production record.

Selected connections: Camera Assistant communicates with DP; Camera Assistant communicates with Camera Operators; Camera Assistant communicates with Camera crewCamera AssistantDPCamera OperatorsCamera crew
  • Camera Assistant↔DP
  • Camera Assistant↔Camera Operators
  • Camera Assistant↔Camera crew
A few connections to start. Open the full diagram to follow every relationship.
Full diagram · 7 people and departments
People and departments this role may need to communicate with.
Connections in words
  • Camera Assistant ↔ DP: operational communication.
  • Camera Assistant ↔ Camera Operators: operational communication.
  • Camera Assistant ↔ Camera crew: operational communication.
  • Camera Assistant ↔ DIT / Data: operational communication.
  • Camera Assistant ↔ 1st AD: operational communication.
  • Camera Assistant ↔ Production: operational communication.
Information they need
  • Call time
  • Camera prep
  • Lens and media plans
  • Schedule
  • Relevant resources
Information they may manage
  • Assigned camera preparation
  • Equipment readiness
Outside their normal scope
  • Payroll for unrelated crew
  • Client-only material

Production Assistant

Production membership makes work discoverable; it does not make every field visible.

Selected connections: Production Assistant communicates with Immediate supervisors; Production Assistant communicates with Production; Production Assistant communicates with 1st ADProduction AssistantImmediatesupervisorsProduction1st AD
  • Production Assistant↔Immediate supervisors
  • Production Assistant↔Production
  • Production Assistant↔1st AD
A few connections to start. Open the full diagram to follow every relationship.
Full diagram · 6 people and departments
People and departments this role may need to communicate with.
Connections in words
  • Production Assistant ↔ Immediate supervisors: operational communication.
  • Production Assistant ↔ Production: operational communication.
  • Production Assistant ↔ 1st AD: operational communication.
  • Production Assistant ↔ Assigned people: operational communication.
  • Production Assistant ↔ Relevant department contacts: operational communication.
Information they need
  • Call time
  • Location
  • Parking
  • Schedule
  • Call sheet
  • Urgent Production changes
  • Assigned people or tasks
Information they may manage
  • Assigned tasks
  • Operational check-ins where delegated
Outside their normal scope
  • Payroll information for unrelated crew
  • Private contracts
  • Client-only material
  • Unrelated department approvals
  • Private personal contact fields

Actor

Personal calls and permitted resources can be distributed without exposing other people’s private records.

Selected connections: Actor communicates with Cast coordination; Actor communicates with Director; Actor communicates with Assistant DirectorsActorCast coordinationDirectorAssistant Directors
  • Actor↔Cast coordination
  • Actor↔Director
  • Actor↔Assistant Directors
A few connections to start. Open the full diagram to follow every relationship.
Full diagram · 7 people and departments
People and departments this role may need to communicate with.
Connections in words
  • Actor ↔ Cast coordination: operational communication.
  • Actor ↔ Director: operational communication.
  • Actor ↔ Assistant Directors: operational communication.
  • Actor ↔ Costume: operational communication.
  • Actor ↔ Hair / Makeup: operational communication.
  • Actor ↔ Transportation: operational communication.
Information they need
  • Personal call time
  • Location
  • Scenes
  • Wardrobe
  • Schedule changes
Information they may manage
  • Own availability
  • Own acknowledgement
Outside their normal scope
  • Other performers’ contracts
  • Crew payroll
  • Unrelated reviews

BTS Photographer

Mas can work across BTS, Marketing and A Unit while retaining one production membership.

Selected connections: BTS Photographer communicates with Production; BTS Photographer communicates with 1st AD; BTS Photographer communicates with CameraBTS PhotographerProduction1st ADCamera
  • BTS Photographer↔Production
  • BTS Photographer↔1st AD
  • BTS Photographer↔Camera
A few connections to start. Open the full diagram to follow every relationship.
Full diagram · 7 people and departments
People and departments this role may need to communicate with.
Connections in words
  • BTS Photographer ↔ Production: operational communication.
  • BTS Photographer ↔ 1st AD: operational communication.
  • BTS Photographer ↔ Camera: operational communication.
  • BTS Photographer ↔ Marketing: operational communication.
  • BTS Photographer ↔ Client: operational communication.
  • BTS Photographer ↔ Cast coordination: operational communication.
Information they need
  • Set access
  • Allowed coverage
  • Schedule
  • Release restrictions
Information they may manage
  • Assigned stills
  • Selected resource submissions
Outside their normal scope
  • Unreleased client material
  • Private personal details
  • Unrelated contracts

Client

A client audience identifies recipients; access still depends on the specific resource and current permission.

Selected connections: Client communicates with Producer; Client communicates with Production; Client communicates with DirectorClientProducerProductionDirector
  • Client↔Producer
  • Client↔Production
  • Client↔Director
A few connections to start. Open the full diagram to follow every relationship.
Full diagram · 6 people and departments
People and departments this role may need to communicate with.
Connections in words
  • Client ↔ Producer: operational communication.
  • Client ↔ Production: operational communication.
  • Client ↔ Director: operational communication.
  • Client ↔ Marketing: operational communication.
  • Client ↔ Assigned reviewers: operational communication.
Information they need
  • Approved review material
  • Relevant milestones
  • Visit instructions
Information they may manage
  • Delegated client feedback
  • Eligible approvals
Outside their normal scope
  • Crew payroll
  • Private crew contact fields
  • Internal department conversations

Director of Photography

Department hierarchy does not capture all necessary working relationships.

Selected connections: Director of Photography communicates with Director; Director of Photography communicates with Camera; Director of Photography communicates with GripDirector ofPhotographyDirectorCameraGrip
  • Director of Photography↔Director
  • Director of Photography↔Camera
  • Director of Photography↔Grip
A few connections to start. Open the full diagram to follow every relationship.
Full diagram · 10 people and departments
People and departments this role may need to communicate with.
Connections in words
  • Director of Photography ↔ Director: operational communication.
  • Director of Photography ↔ Camera: operational communication.
  • Director of Photography ↔ Grip: operational communication.
  • Director of Photography ↔ Electric: operational communication.
  • Director of Photography ↔ Art: operational communication.
  • Director of Photography ↔ Sound: operational communication.
  • Director of Photography ↔ Production: operational communication.
  • Director of Photography ↔ Script Supervisor: operational communication.
  • Director of Photography ↔ Editorial / Post: operational communication.
Information they need
  • Coverage
  • Lighting plans
  • Schedule
  • Creative references
  • Post requirements
Information they may manage
  • Camera coordination
  • Creative camera decisions
  • Delegated reviews
Outside their normal scope
  • Unrelated payroll
  • Private contracts without authority

These are educational perspectives, not automatic permission policies. Actual access follows consent, current authority and the particular Production.