Learn the essential rules for surviving as a set technician on a film production. This presentation features photos from the Duke City Shootout

1. Film Etiquette andFilm Etiquette and
Set Safety ProtocolSet Safety Protocol
Lecture prepared 11/16/08
by John M. Grace,
I.A.T.S.E. member and film instructor
D.A.T.A. Charter High School
Albuquerque, New Mexico
© 2008, Digital Filmmaking Institute All
Rights Reserved
Photos courtesy of The Duke City Shootout
for use availability email Newestprod@aol.com

2. Film Etiquette andFilm Etiquette and
Set Safety ProtocolSet Safety Protocol
Etiquette: “the conduct or
procedure required by good
breeding or prescribed by
authority to be observed in
social or official life”
Courtesy of Webster’s Online

3. Film Etiquette andFilm Etiquette and
Set Safety ProtocolSet Safety Protocol
Etiquette is a matter of common
sense if you apply the “Golden
Rule”
Most of what we know about
etiquette we learned at home
Many of the rules of business
etiquette you never learn until you
make a mistake
Film etiquette is even stricter

4. Film Etiquette andFilm Etiquette and
Set Safety ProtocolSet Safety Protocol
In some cultures,
etiquette is practiced
from birth
Ours is not one of
those

5. Film Etiquette andFilm Etiquette and
Set Safety ProtocolSet Safety Protocol
Find 7 errors
of social
etiquette in
the photo on
the left

6. Film Etiquette andFilm Etiquette and
Set Safety ProtocolSet Safety Protocol
As a film tech, it is your duty to
learn and practice some simple
rules of etiquette and protocol
More people are fired on films
for breaches of etiquette and
protocol than any other reason
What follows are some of the
most important skills you can
learn in order to work in film

7. Film Etiquette andFilm Etiquette and
Set Safety ProtocolSet Safety Protocol
1. Arrive On Time
(generally, 15 minutes
early is considered to
be on time)
2. Do Your Job
and don’t tell
anyone else how to
do theirs unless they
ask for help or are in
danger

8. Film Etiquette andFilm Etiquette and
Set Safety ProtocolSet Safety Protocol
3. Be Polite
Always say please,
thank you and you’re
welcome (not “yeah”)
and refer to superiors
as “sir”
4. Be Humble
When someone
compliments you on a
job well done, thank
them

9. Film Etiquette andFilm Etiquette and
Set Safety ProtocolSet Safety Protocol
5. Respect the
Actor’s Space
Stay out of their eye-
line whenever possible
and work quietly
around them
6. No Autographs
When working with a
famous actor, never
ask for pictures or their
autographs

10. Film Etiquette andFilm Etiquette and
Set Safety ProtocolSet Safety Protocol
7. Listen and Ask
Questions if you
have any doubt about
what has been
requested of you
8. Be Alert - Watch
for every opportunity
to assist your fellow
crew members

11. Film Etiquette andFilm Etiquette and
Set Safety ProtocolSet Safety Protocol
9. Make Your
Superior Look
Good by doing your
job efficiently and you
will become invaluable
to him/her
10. Follow the Chain
of Command - All
suggestions/complaint
s should be made to
your direct supervisor

12. Film Etiquette andFilm Etiquette and
Set Safety ProtocolSet Safety Protocol
11. Learn People’s
Names & Positions
as a matter of
respect and to show
you care
12. No Whining!
Moods are contagious
and people prefer to
work with people who
have a good attitude

13. Film Etiquette andFilm Etiquette and
Set Safety ProtocolSet Safety Protocol
13. When You
Arrive, Check In
with your superior -
things often come up
that need immediate
attention
14. Avoid cursing
and telling
distasteful jokes as
a matter of respect for
co-workers and young

14. Film Etiquette andFilm Etiquette and
Set Safety ProtocolSet Safety Protocol
15. Turn Off Phones
or leave them in your
car until lunch or wrap
16. Never Touch
Props - It is often a
“hot set” and moving
something might ruin
continuity

15. Film Etiquette andFilm Etiquette and
Set Safety ProtocolSet Safety Protocol
17. No Loud Talking
at any time on set -
The production team
needs to concentrate
18. Hold All
Sensitive
Conversations out
of ear range of others
as a courtesy to those
involved

16. Film Etiquette andFilm Etiquette and
Set Safety ProtocolSet Safety Protocol
19. Have the Correct
Tools for the Job
it is your responsibility
to own the right tools
and to know their use
20. Learn the
Correct
Terminology for all
equipment and use it
whenever possible

17. Film Etiquette andFilm Etiquette and
Set Safety ProtocolSet Safety Protocol
21. Friends & Family
Not Allowed on Set
unless you clear it in
advance with the AD,
UPM or Producer
22. Photos and
Video Usually
Prohibited unless
you clear it in advance
with the AD, UPM or
Producer

18. Film Etiquette andFilm Etiquette and
Set Safety ProtocolSet Safety Protocol
23. Admit it When
You Make a
Mistake It is much
easier to undo a
mistake if it is
revealed immediately
24. Never Take “Set
Heat” Personally
Harsh words are
common on set in the
heat of production

19. Film Etiquette andFilm Etiquette and
Set Safety ProtocolSet Safety Protocol
25. Never Party Too
Hard Before a Call
Don’t let the night
before affect your work
performance
26. Never Leave Set
unless there’s a real
emergency and only
after checking with the
AD, UPM or Producer

20. Film Etiquette andFilm Etiquette and
Set Safety ProtocolSet Safety Protocol
27. Never Let Your
Personality
Conflicts Get Out of
Hand There will be
people who you will
find difficult to get along
with, but you will only
be working together for
a short period of time

21. Film Etiquette andFilm Etiquette and
Set Safety ProtocolSet Safety Protocol
28. Withhold Critical
Opinions of Other
People’s Work
Unless you are the
Director, DP or Exec.
Producer
29. Be Honest - If you
are asked for your
opinion or feedback
then speak kindly, and
from the heart

22. Film Etiquette andFilm Etiquette and
Set Safety ProtocolSet Safety Protocol
30. People Notice
Your Best Efforts
and reward you with
future work and
advances
31. Everyone Started
Somewhere - If you
ask for advice or help,
most set technicians
are eager to mentor

23. Film Etiquette andFilm Etiquette and
Set Safety ProtocolSet Safety Protocol
32. Be Patient - All
departments have the
right to finish their work
without hostility from
other workers
33. Be Efficient -
The worst thing you
can do is to hold up the
set - TIME IS MONEY

24. Film Etiquette andFilm Etiquette and
Set Safety ProtocolSet Safety Protocol
34. Respect Civilians
Maintaining
positive public
relations is the
responsibility of all set
technicians
35. Respect
Locations We are
dependant on using
locations and can’t
afford to lose any

25. Film Etiquette andFilm Etiquette and
Set Safety ProtocolSet Safety Protocol
36. Respect the
Gear Film
equipment is valuable
and needs to be
handled carefully
37. Respect your
Co-workers - No
one deserves to and
never should work in
a hostile environment

26. Film Etiquette andFilm Etiquette and
Set Safety ProtocolSet Safety Protocol
Protocol: “a code prescribing
strict adherence to correct
procedure (as in diplomatic
exchange and in the military
services)”
Courtesy of Webster’s Online

27. Film Etiquette andFilm Etiquette and
Set Safety ProtocolSet Safety Protocol
Protocol is not simply a matter of
doing things according to a
proscribed procedure, following
protocol can save your life
A motion picture set can be a very
dangerous place
Before you walk onto a set, you
need to learn a few simple rules
and attend the Set Safety training
offered by IATSE 480

28. Film Etiquette andFilm Etiquette and
Set Safety ProtocolSet Safety Protocol
38. Don’t be a Hero
do your job safely
and deliberately
(there’s no running on
set for safety reasons)
39. Act
Professionally
Never horse around
on set - it is a serious
workplace and can be
dangerous

29. Film Etiquette andFilm Etiquette and
Set Safety ProtocolSet Safety Protocol
40. No Music
Devices They
remove you from the
moment and impair
your ability to hear
instructions
41. Avoid Loose
Clothing or Jewelry
It can get tangled
in equipment and
cause an accident or

30. Film Etiquette andFilm Etiquette and
Set Safety ProtocolSet Safety Protocol
42. Drink Plenty of
Water & Use
Sunscreen - It is easy
to dehydrate in our arid
climate
43. Take Vitamins &
Use Hand Sanitizer
It is easy to catch colds
on set due to long
hours and germs

31. Film Etiquette andFilm Etiquette and
Set Safety ProtocolSet Safety Protocol
44. Listen Carefully
to Safety Briefings -
The First AD or Stunt
Coordinator will give a
safety briefing before
all stunts
45. Only re-enter the
set after the Stunt
Coordinator or First AD
gives the “All Clear”

32. Film Etiquette andFilm Etiquette and
Set Safety ProtocolSet Safety Protocol
46. The Armorer is in
Charge of all prop
Guns and Weapons
- never handle them
unless supervised
47. Report Dangerous
Conditions (including
drug or alcohol use by
co-workers) to the AD
or UPM immediately

33. Film Etiquette andFilm Etiquette and
Set Safety ProtocolSet Safety Protocol
48. No Open-toed
Shoes – It is easy to
have something
dropped on your feet
49. Work carefully
around power tools
– And only work when
others are present in
case of an accident

34. Film Etiquette andFilm Etiquette and
Set Safety ProtocolSet Safety Protocol
50. During Dangerous
Stunts and Setups
If you ever feel that
your safety is being
compromised by the
actions of a co-worker
or by the production
company, you have the
right to speak out with-
out fear of retribution