How to Hire a Film Crew in Oakland

Learning how to hire a film crew in Oakland can be daunting to take on, but it is a necessary task to undertake to ensure that you create quality videos! There’s a lot to take into account when you are hiring a film staff: budget, reliability, and experience, to start. Team Beverly Boy has outlined important resources that can help you tackle the hiring process with confidence!

We also service the following zip codes: 94031, 94509, 93660, and 94204.

Film Crew Positions

The first step is to learn about the various roles that each play a critical role in the film production process. By hiring crew members in a specific order, your professional Oakland crew can make the hiring process go smoothly for you.

We offer full service Oakland film production services. From location scouting to Oakland film permits, we’ve got the tools for every step, no matter if you need a 3 man film crew on Angel Island or you are shooting an independent film on Shattuck Avenue  we’ve got it all under control. 

Here’s the Oakland film crew hierarchy:

• Director – is the driving force for a production and they can recommend people for other positions, especially ones they work well with.
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• Script Writer – this position is necessary for when you don’t have a script already written. Directors often want to read a script before they take on a project, so it is smart to hire for this position first if you need a script.
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• Line Producer – Ensures that your production stays on time and on budget.
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• Unit Production Manager – is responsible for the logistics of a production. With the line producer, they can offer information on how to find other crew members for your production.
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• Production Coordinator – For large productions, this person helps with contracts, paperwork, and other administrative tasks that need handling.
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• Locations Manager – this person scouts the best locations for film sets outside of a studio.
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• Cinematographer – films the project, making them one of the most important roles on the set!
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• Production Manager – The person in charge of production expenses and contracts. Cinematographers may have recommendations for this role.
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• Production Designer – responsible for the creative side of the project. Someone for this position can be recommended through production managers.
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• Sound Engineer – makes the audio in your video sound the best it can be.
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• Sound Crew – Sound engineers may seem like they can perform magic tricks, but not even they can work with poor audio. This makes a sound crew crucial- they ensure that the engineer has quality audio to make it all come together.

How to Find a Film Crew in Oakland

The easiest way to find a film crew in Oakland is to hire an experienced film production company such as Beverly Boy Productions. You always need to do your research to ensure that you’re working with the best team for your project, but their knowledge can help you make tough decisions!

If you would rather take on the hiring process by yourself, here are some tips for where to find film crew professionals in Oakland:

• Oakland’s Film Commission – the local commission is the best resource for filming in your area. They have a production directory that can help you to connect with professional crew members that can take on your project.
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• Oakland Film crew websites & forums – this is a good way of finding people to fill specific roles in your production.

Hiring a Film Crew in Oakland

If you have a few different potential candidates for your film crew, there are a few things to look for to ensure that film production in Oakland goes as it should. The size of your film crew in Oakland should meet your needs—it doesn’t need to be unnecessarily large!

We also service Santa Clara County, San Joaquin County, Contra Costa County, and San Mateo County.  

Discuss film crew Pay Rates

The subject of film crew Pay can be a headache, but is a must when hiring for anything. The pay rates and expectations of the film crew member need to be talked about upfront- just because someone will work for cheap doesn’t mean that the work they produce will be the type of quality you need! When you are lining out your budget, expect and plan to pay a fair price for top quality film crew members.  

Demos & Resumes

A demo reel is a video that showcases the work a professional video production crew has done. This, combined with a resume, allows you to see whether this person’s style matches your own ideas and needs.

If someone does not have a demo reel, checking their references goes a long way. Resumes are a simple method of gauging someone’s experience, but sometimes it’s best to speak with others who’ve worked with the person you’re thinking of hiring to understand their skills or lack of.

Dos and Don’ts

• DO get a second opinion on any candidate you may be thinking of hiring.
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• DON’T promise anyone a position with your crew because you may find someone you like better later on!
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• DO get recommendations if you’re having a hard time filling any position on your production.
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• DON’T hire someone that may be skilled in what you need, but doesn’t have a personality that meshes well with the rest of the crew. 

Ready to Hire a Film Crew in Oakland?

Now that you have the knowledge to hire a film crew in Oakland, it’s time for you to put it to use! If you have concerns about the process, call Team Beverly Boy. We’re a full-service film production company with award winning film crews in Oakland ready to get to work with you today! 

We can help with your film project from start to finish, whether you need interviews, documentaries, event coverage, or feature films– we can help! When hiring a film crew in Oakland we are the go to guys! We also service Piedmont, Alameda, Berkeley, Albany, and Orinda.