Making a film requires the talents and abilities of a production team. To understand the roles of a film production team, you can compare the positions of each crew member to the people needed to prepare a fine meal. The following chart lists the common positions found on a typical film production team and explains their responsibilities.
| Position | Responsibility | Position | Responsibility |
|---|---|---|---|
| Writer | Writes the list of ingredients | Boom operator | Gets the microphone in close to hear all the crunches and lip smacking |
| Executive producer | Pays for the cost of the dinner | Gaffer | Lights the food to look good (sets the mood with a candlelit dinner) |
| Line producer | Finds where to get the best deals | Grips | Help with the utensils for eating the meal |
| Producer | Purchases the groceries, helps choose the brands | Production assistants | Act as waiters and busboys |
| Casting director | Chooses the food that's ripe for the picking | Make-up person | Brushes on healthy colors to prepare the food to look appetizing |
| Location scout | Locates the dinner location | Wardrobe person | Dresses the food to look tasty |
| Transportation | Transports the guests to the table | Production designer | Enhances the setting and decorates it for dinner |
| Director | Takes all the ingredients and cooks them into a great meal | Prop master | Supplies the appropriate tableware, including plates and glasses |
| Assistant director | Assists the chef | Stunt coordinator | Rigs the exploding champagne bottles and smashing of silverware |
| Script supervisor | Makes sure the chef follows the recipe | Editor | Serves the meal in continuity (appetizer first, entrée next, dessert at the end) |
| Director of photography (cinematographer) | Makes the food look really good | Composer | Creates the right music atmosphere for enjoying the meal |
| Sound mixer | Records all the crunches and lip smacking | Post-production supervisor | Cleans up the mess |