This post is not about one person in particular, but about those who work as members on a production be it theatre, television, movies, online content or any other creative endeavour. As having recent experience being a production assistant on a small tv shoot, I came to appreciate the people I met and worked with who showed me what it means to work really hard in your role and all the extra things you give to the project no matter what your part in it is. So without further ado…

Dear crew members,

You are not always in the highest of positions in the production food chain but you are nonetheless essential. You are sent on errands when the script changes and you suddenly need to find a bowler hat suitable for the character of an older woman from the 1940’s to wear as well as four bachelorette sashes because the wedding sketch is straight after it. You have to think on your feet, to know the nearest costume shops, takeaway joints, florists, the list goes on. And you have to be quick about it because rehearsal is in thirty minutes.

You help bump in and out the set, each week making sure everything is in place, making sure the lights are perfect and consistent for taping. So that the talent can walk onto set and be ready to get to work as, magically, everything has arranged itself into place. You are the set fairies. As such you manage this set and everyone on it. You wait for instruction and must communicate it to a lot of people and personalities. You ensure that production is safe, that those on the floor are happy and comfortable and up to date with what is required of them during the day. You help everything run smoothly, you keep things on time and people in line. Not everyone can do what you do.  

You are usually there the earliest and stay the latest. You push through long hours, handle stress with grace and patiently wait for other crew members to do their jobs. When there are breaks in shooting to adjust shots you help keep morale up and do what you can to keep the shoot moving. You watch for mistakes and think of ways to improve how certain things are done. You stand up for those you work with if there is tension or unfairness and you make your fellow crew members feel welcome. You have attention to detail and most of all you have a passion for creating something. So much so that you are happy to give up your Friday or Saturday (or whatever day of the week) nights so that you can be on that set to help make what many above you are trying to make.

You often are a volunteer and don’t always receive much credit but without you, a project would not be able to find its wings. You have a heart of gold. You are crew members.

Thank you for all your hard work and I am so proud to have worked alongside you.

xxx