Question 1

What crew is needed for a film?

Anna Keizer · Accepted Answer

Great question! And one that will likely have an entirely different answer from project to project. The truth is that–at least in theory–a single person could fill every film crew role if they wanted to.
Now, to be clear, we’re talking about someone who perhaps writes their own script, shoots it with their own camera (or smartphone!), edits it together, and then sends it out into the world via an online streaming platform. It happens.
But outside of that scenario, you will likely have at least a few people as part of a film crew–but the number of people who are part of it almost always comes down to the film’s budget.
For a project that is truly ultra-low budget, maybe all you have are the Producer, Director, Screenwriter, and Editor whose roles may be split in some fashion between several individuals.
The bigger the budget, the more film crew you can bring on. Not to mention, bigger films typically have to abide by union rules that delineate specific roles. No wearing “lots of hats” in those cases.
For a studio-backed blockbuster with a nine-figure budget, you may potentially have a thousand film crew members when counting them all the way from development to distribution. (This is usually the case with movies with a strong VFX presence, as it often takes hundreds of people to complete them all.)

Question 2

How much do film crews get paid?

Anna Keizer · Accepted Answer

This question can be answered in much the same fashion as the previous one.
First, it all depends on budget. For a super indie movie that is not considered a union project, the Producer can pretty much set any rates they want so long as the film crew members agree to them.
If it is a union production, that changes the rules quite a bit. Every single union has minimum rates that the Producers, production companies, and studios must abide by. Film crew members with more years in the industry and/or the expertise that usually comes with those years will typically earn more.
Second, it’s important to keep in mind that who gets paid what also depends on the nature of the role. For better or for worse, a Production Assistant who is part of a project for the entirety of principal photography, which can last from weeks to months, may earn less than a Foley Artist who is part of a project for only a day or two.

Question 3

What is the highest-paying job in the film industry?

Anna Keizer · Accepted Answer

The truth is that many low-budget films do not make back the money it took to produce them. So outside of what might be paid upfront to the film crew members, little is received by anyone in terms of distribution revenue.
But… If we’re talking about studio-backed films that typically get major theatrical releases–now in combination with streaming releases as well–certain film crew members can come out quite well when all is said and done.
Chief among them is the Executive Producer.1 In part, because they provide the initial funding for the film, this person often has the most control over the financial aspects of it. With that control can come lucrative rewards for their work should they strike a deal that includes payouts in the form of revenue sharing, licensing fees, and so on.
In some cases, other film crew members such as the Director and Screenwriter may also make a considerable amount of money from a project.
Both will receive upfront fees for their respective contributions to the film, but in many cases, they too may strike deals to benefit from the revenue that comes in after a film’s release. To be clear, though, it’s usually only Directors and Screenwriters with established names and reputations in the industry who can garner such deals.
Depending on the success of a film, millions of dollars can be earned by these film crew members.
But as the above information about film crew members indicates, the making of a movie is a highly collaborative process. Many, many people may contribute to a film, and each has a specialized job while part of the filmmaking process.
While perhaps a little overwhelming to consider the numerous people who help to make a movie happen, it likewise demonstrates that many opportunities exist for those whose passion is to one day be part of this industry.

Question 4

Is there a specific title for the person who creates jewelry for the set?

Alison Stolpa · Accepted Answer

Yes! These professionals are known as Special Costume Manufacturers, or more simply, Specialty Jewelers and Costumers.

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