A day in the life of a Runner

SO Monday, I worked as a Production Assistant (aka runner) on a small film set. It was pretty cool. These are my top ten things I learnt from my experience.

1. Always have a pen.

The first thing I got asked to do upon arrival was to go round all the extras and get them to sign contracts. After handing me a pile of blank ones, the assistant director then said 'I'll just get you a pen..' to which I, having spent my tube journey cram reading the runners handbook chapter headed 'the importance in being prepared', replied 'oh no its ok, I have a few in my bag'.

Millions of pens must have drowned on the set of Titanic

This wasn't strictly speaking wrong, its just that after 15 minutes of searching and testing, I only found one pen in my bag that was capable of producing a squiggle on the back of my hand. I then discovered that the great relief I experienced in finding this pen was soon to be replaced by the pen becoming The Bane Of My Life. The extras, like me, were unprepared for writing and more than half of them needed a pen to fill their contract out. I ran around everywhere, suddenly a chauffeur of the pen, met by moody impatient faces in one corner and overly friendly 'you-might-be-the-director' faces in the other. And then occasionally I'd pass the Assistant Director and she'd ask me if I'd done the contracts yet, and I would cheerily say something like 'almost!'. It was a nightmare. The first thing I will make sure I have when running again is
PENS. pens pens pens. God save the pen.

2. You are not important

Oh no don't misunderstand me, Production Assistant is a very important job. You, your wants and needs, however, are not. I don't mean this in a harsh or rude way; the crew on set were more than friendly, and by the end of the day I had gotten to know a few of them quite well. What I mean, is that my welcoming to running was not like any other job. I sidled onto the set 20 minutes early, only to be met with blank faces that clearly had no idea who I was. Thinking of my application and the 'enthusiastic, passionate' girl I had described (vom), I addressed the whole set with 'Hi I'm Lucy Middleton and I'm a production assistant today!'. There was a silence. Everyone stared. Then a dark haired man glanced up and said 'yeah go sit in the corner and be quiet'. Oh ok.
I sat there and watched them finish filming the scenes they were doing as the two other runners for the day arrived. I was waiting for someone to come over and tell me what I was doing today, or hand me some tasks but no one came. It wasn't until I saw one of the other runner girls get up and ask the crew if they needed any help that I realised there was no introduction- my job had already begun.

3. You will come home with chalk in your pockets

And quite right too. Unless of course, you are working on a swanky Hollywood set that has digitalised clapper boards. But even then, the chalk was used for numerous jobs from marking equipment to spots on the floor. Never before have I felt such a sense of pride from just being able to answer 'wheres the chalk?!' with 'I've got some!' before running over and presenting it like some kind of precious jewel, 'BEHOLDD, the chalkkk'. Learning how to write on the clapper board with the chalk is also a must- fives that look like threes ruin lives.

4. Schloer makes great fake wine

One schloer, shaken not stirred

Later in the evening it was my task to pour out 'fake' drinks in a variety of glasses for the extras on set. This was weirdly one of my favourite tasks of the day as I got to get a range of glasses from under the bar and essentially make props for the film. I chose the straws (obviously a huge responsibility- black is classy, neon is a no no), the drink colours, and then was on standby for top ups for the main actors. It also meant I mingled with the extras a lot, and they kept me busy with questions ('yes you can have a cigarette break soon'/'No its not real alcohol')

5. Everything always runs late

Ahh this is not an original tip, but comes to you from the sound guy I got chatting too. We made friends when the director was shooting background shots and there was nothing really for us to do. I was told things were a bit behind when I first arrived, but as the day went on it became more and more clear that time was running out. Later on, I found myself trapped between a stressed director and perfectionist assistant director as they shouted at each other across my face (see number 2). I looked over pleadingly to the sound guy who simply shook his head and as soon as they left came over and whispered knowingly 'they ALWAYS run late.'           

6. Everyone else is probably more tired than you

To be honest I don't know how true this is of other film sets. But having left feeling pretty knackered from working seven hours on set, I was appalled to find everyone else was currently running on three hours sleep and wouldn't be leaving for another three hours after me. As well as realising this meant I had to be even more energetic, it also demanded some understanding for the grouchiest and most irritable members of the crew. It also meant that any shining examples of helpfulness I could perform, were met with genuine gratitude, as having more sleep showed its advantages. I couldn't complain.

 

7. Know how to fold

Who knew folding was the key to Harry Potter's success

There is a lot of folding involved in running. It might not seem obvious, but there is a lot to be folded from sheets to equipment, to film gels. I for one use the technique taught to me in brownies, where two people hold each end and repeatedly meet in the middle. Works like a charm.

 

8. Run everywhere

I read in my handy little handbook that a production assistant should never be seen sitting down and should run everywhere with every task given. That's understandable; your job is to be the spare hands for everybody, and so sitting down or walking would seem reckless in a job that's all about doing all things for all people, fast. however what I didn't expect, was how good running everywhere actually makes you feel. You feel great! Your task feels all the more urgent, you feel impressive and that everyone is looking at you thinking you're doing a complicated technical task- in reality you're just getting the director water because you saw him cough. Glamorous.

 

9. Turn your phone off

No one wants to be that guy who ruined the shot. When the director wants silence, any noise becomes a reason for a glare or an angry 'CUT' followed by 'phones OFF please' spat out in disgust. Ok, it wasn't that bad but there were a couple of phones going off whilst I was there and although there was no punishment, the shame is pretty deafening. What's more, turning your phone off means that at the end of the days shooting you are likely to be met with some texts, even if they are only from your mum.

10.  And most importantly... Take Charge

But really, the most important thing I learnt about being a runner is confidence, and the ability to take charge. In my first hour I felt shy and hesitant towards accepting tasks. But I soon learnt, that it was massively hindering me in the job. No matter how much you feel uncomfortable, or like you don't know what you're doing, you have to take charge and have authority to get jobs done properly. For example, when doing the contracts, in order to check I had done everyone, I repeatedly counted the contracts and the people, scurrying around double checking several times. I missed one girl out. If I had been doing my job properly I would have shouted out to everyone on set, as the director later did, whereby she would've, and did, make her presence known.

After the contract fiasco I realised the other two girls were doing a lot better than me and I was determined not to be the weak chain. So the next time the three of us were asked if someone could move the lights, I headed straight over and just did it. Pretty soon it became second nature. By the end of the day I was communicating directly with the director, joining discussions with solutions to problems and turning off lights before I'd even been asked (whether they needed it or not!). In one way it was partially because I knew what I was doing a tiiiiny bit more, but I also got comfortable on set talking to people and being assertive. Besides, anyone that didn't hire you has no idea you have no idea what you're doing! This dawned on me when I got asked if I was the director by no less than seven extras. People give you authority because they don't know any better. Take it. And enjoy it. Bossing people around is not overrated.

Making friends on the Lord of the Rings set, Orcs are people too 

Overall I had a really great day. I loved chatting to everyone on set in the small chances I got, and left with two phone number swaps as well as a good bitch about De Montford Uni mid filming ("I always used to look over at Leicester Uni and think 'now thats a real Uni'"- so do we all mate). There was a wide range of people to get to know from all different backgrounds, all with different projects on the go that they were really passionate about. When I wasn't needed I also tried to position myself behind the camera so that I could see the kind of shot the director was capturing which was always amazingly more impressive than the reality. By the end, the super nervousness I had before working had gone and I really really enjoyed it! I was so lucky to get the opportunity and can't wait to do more. Tomorrow I'm filming as an extra for a music video so it will be interesting to see what its like on the other side of the camera.

Till then! :)