Principal Photography of a Cinemakaran- A Team Game

Oru Cinemakkaran literally means a "Movie Guy". In this context it's the name of a movie itself released in Malayalam recently. I am not here to analyse and review the story, screenplay or it's performance at box-office.

It was during February -March 2017 the principal photography or to say simply the shooting of the movie was going on in our apartment in Kochi. The story is all about a an aspiring film-maker casting Vineeth Srinivasan who is a pretty good film-maker by himself. I meet these movie guys everyday and they have really inspired me. I was wondering how smoothly they coordinate the project. There is at least hundred of them in the team and each of them responsible for various tasks of the project.

A movie is a project and the team gets dispersed once the shoot is completed. They all get together as per schedule at one place on time and decamp in no time. Everyday I noticed that their vehicles arrive at the same time from different directions. All of them are at the site with all required resources. No complications, no mis- communications.

A movie is shot in bits and pieces. Only a part of the team knows what is actually going on and what part of the script is being shot. But all others are committed to the task allocated to them. The team is well structured. Communication passes only through channels. They have all functions similar to an organization. HR, Marketing, Finance, Creatives, Production, Purchase, Transportation, Resource Management, F&B etc. All of them in the project is on contract and some of the roles they even outsource. They have people to handle public relations who is responsible to see that good relationship is maintained with the residents of the apartment as well till their project is completed.

There are experienced guys as well as freshers who are given guidance whenever required. There may be politics, misunderstanding etc. within but they ensure nothing is projected out. They work in unity. Each member is aligned to just one goal, complete the movie on schedule and that is their target. Every activity of theirs is focused towards the vision of the Director. The whole team has to contribute in such a way that it adheres to the producer's budget.

The whole team works under the leadership of one person and the departments are headed by experienced guys who manages everything that comes under their control. They also have reporting system on a daily basis. They keep track of the schedule and manages time effectively.

Often I speak to some of the movie guys with excitement to know how do they manage such a diverse team. When this project is over, all of them move out and join other teams which will be entirely different. It was a fascinating experience that I had watching the process of a movie shoot that went on for a month in our apartment.

It was an everyday management affair from start date to end date at different locations and timings. I find them all passionate and does't bother if it is a sunny day or a rainy day. Typically their day start at sharp 7 in the morning and close by 9 at night. Sometimes at night too they work but without disturbing the residents. When these hundred people gather at my adjacent flat everyday morning we don't get to hear their talk or conversations unless I open the door with a purpose. That's how they manage themselves. What I found the best in them is self-discipline.

This happens with every movie production. I wrote about this just because there is not even a single person who is an MBA or a management graduate who is well trained to handle a team or is given exercises in time management, people management, recruitment, purchases, inventory management, finance management, marketing, communication and relationship management. This occurs naturally because each and every individual who join this team starting from the Director, Cinematographer, Script-writer, Costume Designer, Art Director to the technicians, cook, the driver, the painters and housekeepers is with their own own interest.

What they get out of doing this work is self-satisfaction. Major decision-making takes place between the Producer, Director, Cinematographer Actors, Music Director and the Production Controller. Rest lies with the team. They take care of each other like a family. that's why we call them a Production House. The members in the house keep changing no matter what the work is and whether the movie becomes a box office hit or not is not a question here. They separate with the happiness of completing a project with prayers and wishes exchanged between each other.

It can be the result of experience but in organizations also we see people who are experienced and qualified too. The only difference is that here people are not focused on business but their tasks for Movie is the biggest of all businesses we see around.

I really enjoyed the team-work and the spirit the individuals had in contributing to the dream of a Cinemakkaran, an aspiring film-maker.

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