The film industry has developed to this day, and the subdivision and specialization of work is one of its important signs of maturity. Generally speaking, a formal film crew will be responsible for different tasks by various teams, such as production team, cinematography team, art team, sound team, and so on. Each team also has further divisions, down to positions like daily catering orders, which are assigned to specific individuals.
In a large-scale production like "Titanic", the film crew can even consist of over four hundred people. However, this only applies to formal film crews. For independent films, there may not be sufficient funds to support such a large crew, and there is no need for as many positions to maintain the daily operations of the crew. The configuration will be relatively simpler. In fact, some independent films are managed by a single director, which is jokingly referred to as a "one-person crew".
"Buried" would be an extremely minimalistic crew. If it weren't for the troublesome nature of the shooting work, Lyman would have wanted to handle everything alone. Just imagining how much filming costs could be saved, but it was just wishful thinking.
After entrusting René with the task of perfecting the script, Lyman did not idle.
Apart from spending some money to publish recruitment advertisements in local newspapers in Cannes, he also specifically went to local universities and nearby art schools to post recruitment posters, hoping to attract aspiring students interested in the film industry.
In addition, there were various behind-the-scenes workers that they needed. Some positions could be filled by interns, but for critical roles like cinematography and makeup, which require extensive experience, Lyman preferred to hire experienced professionals for a sense of reassurance. To that end, Lyman went to various studios and prominently displayed recruitment advertisements outside.
After all the preparations were ready, Lyman sat in a coffee shop called "Amour" and waited. The interview location specified in the job advertisement was this coffee shop.
Soon, the first interviewee appeared.
...
A young man with a large backpack sat in the car, looking curiously at the charming buildings around through the window. Because the interview location was in the town center, with many people and vehicles around, the taxi was moving slowly.
"We've arrived. That'll be €8."
"Here you go." He took out some change from his pocket, paid the fare, and then opened the car door, heading towards the "Amour" coffee shop.
Lyman had been sitting in the coffee shop for more than ten minutes. Due to it being noon, there weren't many customers. There was a cup of coffee in front of him, but he had no intention of drinking it. His gaze was fixed on the entrance.
After a while, a man entered through the door. He exchanged a few words with the waiter, who then led him in this direction. The entrance was slightly spacious from where Lyman was sitting, and he discreetly glanced at the young man.
The young man appeared to be in his early twenties, around 1.8 meters tall. The most memorable thing about him was the large backpack he carried on his back, which seemed quite heavy. Overall, apart from looking very young, there was nothing else noteworthy about him.
"Hello, I'm here for the job interview," the young man said before he even approached, taking the initiative. "I'm applying for the position of cinematographer in the film crew."
Lyman stood up and extended his right hand. "May I ask your name?"
"Thomas Lhote. Just call me Thomas," the young man replied, taking a couple of steps closer and shaking Lyman's hand.
"Thomas, is it? Please have a seat," Lyman gestured to the seat opposite him.
As the man sat down, Lyman returned to his own seat and introduced himself, "I'm Lyman, the director of this film."
Then he continued, "You're here to apply for the position of cinematographer. Here, I have some materials about the film production that you can take a look at."
Saying that, Lyman took out a series of files and placed them on the table in front of Thomas. "Our crew is formal, and because we are making a film, we need to hire professionals."
To gain trust, you need to persuade better. The preparations he made in advance were not in vain.
Watching Thomas carefully flipping through the film documents, when he reached the last one, Lyman spoke again, "You may have some questions about applying for the cinematographer position."
In France, countless film crews are established every day. Only after Thomas finished reviewing all the materials did he confirm that this crew truly existed and intended to form, and his initial guard was just alleviated when he heard Lyman's words.
"What questions do you have?" Thomas asked, puzzled.
"You are too young. Can you tell me about your previous experience as a cinematographer?" Lyman asked directly.
"I'm a student of the Photography Department at the Paris Art Academy. I've just graduated and have worked as a cinematographer for several projects at the academy. I have extensive technical experience..." Thomas said so much, but Lyman was not moved at all. He seized the main point and asked directly, "So, you haven't formally worked on a film crew before, right?"
"That's right," Thomas nodded, agreeing with Lyman's statement.
"Why should I hire you as the cinematographer for this film then? You're still a newcomer, and you haven't proven yourself," Lyman calmly counter-questioned.
"No, I have proven myself." Thomas took off his large backpack and pulled out a stack of documents and numerous photos. "These are the materials of the projects I worked on as a cinematographer at the academy, some group photos, as well as my personal photography work. You can take a look."
Lyman didn't take these things. He just glanced roughly and said, "These are not enough for me to choose you as the cinematographer for this film since you've just graduated and haven't formally worked on a film crew."
Thomas admitted, "That's true, but I believe I can handle the job of a cinematographer in the film."
"I have to be responsible for my work. It's too risky to choose a novice without proper experience," Lyman continued, "However, I can still hire you."
Upon hearing this, Thomas visibly breathed a sigh of relief.
"But it will be a position as a cinematography assistant. I can only consider you as an intern, given your qualifications."
This means that there is no salary. Thomas understood the saying in the film industry and shook his head, saying, "I'm sorry, I can't do it. I can't accept this condition."
"But have you considered that being an intern is also a good opportunity? It allows you to understand the entire process of filmmaking. Moreover, I will observe your performance and provide you with appropriate compensation later on." Giving some visible hope is the most terrifying.
Sure enough, after Lyman finished speaking, Thomas seemed hesitant. Perhaps he was struggling inside.
At such a critical moment, it was important to strike while the iron was hot and break through his defenses. Lyman continued, "My studio will start filming this movie soon. If you miss this opportunity, you'll have to look elsewhere."
It seemed feasible? When Thomas heard that the movie would start filming soon, he felt a slight temptation. He bit his lip, swallowed his refusal, and thought for a moment before whispering, "I agree."
He looked at Lyman and asked, "When can I start working?"
"Today is Sunday, so let's say in two or three weeks. Leave me your phone number, and I'll contact you then." Lyman seemed to have thought of something and added, "Of course, if you want to see how the film crew is set up, you can also follow me during this period."
If he could delegate some errands to him, that would be even better. It was a test on Lyman's part. If it worked out, great. If not, it didn't matter. After all, he didn't plan to pay a salary. He would at least cover the meals. They couldn't exploit labor too much. Meals for errands should be provided. They couldn't expect him to pay for his own meals.
But Thomas didn't see it that way. On the contrary, he believed that Lyman was promoting him and allowing him to learn about setting up a film crew. He couldn't hide his joy on his face. "Thank you, thank you for giving me this opportunity. I can start working now."
Lyman restrained his internal excitement and said confidently, "You won't regret this decision," returning a polite smile.
In this way, not only did they find a cinematography assistant, but the workload of the crew's preparations was also shared. But Thomas was genuinely satisfied with the decision he made. His family background was decent, and he had enough money to support himself. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to afford photography education. There's an old saying, "Photography impoverishes three generations, a DSLR ruins a lifetime". Photography equipment was indeed expensive. He was able to choose this path because his family had some assets.
The reason he still wanted to strive for that salary was undoubtedly to prove his professionalism, not just for the so-called internship position. Money was not Thomas's primary concern. He wanted his abilities to be valued with that salary. After all, if he couldn't even achieve basic independence, how could he make a name for himself in the photography industry?
But it had been a while since he graduated, and he had never truly joined a film crew. This world was never short of dreamers and talented people. The competition in the photography industry far exceeded Thomas's expectations. So after hearing Lyman's words today, he no longer insisted on the issue of salary. He wanted to solidify his professional experience, witness the preparation work of the entire crew, satisfy his curiosity, and it wasn't such a big deal. Moreover, didn't Lyman promise him that if his work performance was good, he would be appropriately compensated? Thomas pondered to himself.
All of this led to the decision he made today.
Alas, poor child, who hadn't yet experienced the harsh realities of the real world, was naïvely trusting and believing in Lyman's polite words. In reality, regardless of Thomas's photography skills, Lyman had no intention of paying him a salary. If the film could be released and the results were satisfactory, perhaps he might consider giving him something. But for now, it was a time for saving every penny and spending it where necessary. Promises were just jokes.