Real-Life Communication -- Solution
Here's what you can tell the director:
"I'm
afraid I've caught an inconsistency. In this scene, you were pointing
at the lawyer with your left hand. However, in the wide shot we filmed earlier,
you used your right hand. Because the change will be so noticeable, I knew
you'd want to know about it. Unfortunately, because you gestured the
entire time in both scenes, the only solution I can suggest is to reshoot
the wide shot."
Excellent communication skills are essential
for script supervisors. Every part of their job involves communication.
Before
filming of a movie starts, the script supervisor needs to analyze the script
to find discrepancies and explain them to the director, producers and others
on the film crew.
"They have to understand, absolutely, what it is
you're saying about the script," says script supervisor Jean Bereziuk.
"Once you get into production, communication becomes even more important,
because you're dealing on a day-to-day basis, every single day, every
minute of the day with the people that are around you."
On a set, script
supervisors need to communicate with 50 or 60 different people. They need
to explain clearly and tactfully the problems they notice. Even body language
is important when you're trying to be assertive but non-confrontational.
Conflict can easily spring up under the pressures of film production.
Script
supervisors also use writing skills. They are the link between the shooting
set and the editing room. Every day they need to explain, in writing, the
scenes shot.
"You have to be able to explain very specifically
what went on in terms of a particular shot and why it's good and why
the director liked it or didn't like it," says Bereziuk, "so that they're
very clear once they get the film in the editing room."