Why a Lean Film Crew is Your Secret Weapon To Make Better Movies

Forget big crews—discover how a small, efficient team can streamline your film, boost creativity, and save money without sacrificing quality.

Mike Rekola

Nov 04, 2024

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From the first frost on the Farm.

Monday, November 4th

Hey Filmmaker,

Here’s the deal: bigger isn’t always better.

In fact, when it comes to your film crew, bigger usually means slower, costlier, and a whole lot more complicated.

Sure, it’s tempting to think that more hands mean more power, more talent, more “official” looking sets.

But in reality?

A small, talented crew is often your best asset.

More people can mean more idle hands, more egos to juggle, and more distractions pulling you away from the heart of your project.

The truth?

A tight, efficient crew can bring out the best in your film without weighing it down.

Before we dig into the why, let me tell you a story that hit this lesson home for me.

THE MODERN FILMMAKER

This Issue: Why a Lean Film Crew is Your Secret Weapon To Make Better Movies.

Last Issue: Don’t Sign Away Your Dream: Why Owning Your Film Is Non-Negotiable.

On Sale Now: The Modern Filmmaker’s On Set Filmmaking Dictionary.

The Elements of Filmmaking by the Modern Filmmaker

So There My Friend Was…

Years ago, my friend was working on a low-budget indie film, eager to build his reputation.

He’d somehow managed to get a decent amount of funding, and with it, decided to hire a full team.

He figured, “Hey, if Hollywood films have crews of hundreds, then a crew of 20 is a modest start, right?”

Wrong.

That set was a circus.

More people than he knew what to do with, everyone was stepping on each other’s toes.

He had assistants for the assistants, grips without enough to grip, and people standing around waiting for direction that never came.

The more he tried to wrangle everyone, the more the shoot dragged.

Every additional hand felt like another obstacle, and his budget evaporated before we’d even wrapped.

After hearing about that film, I made a decision: less is more, more is lazy.

It’ll be lean and mean, or nothing at all.

And you know what?

My first project, with half the crew, turned out to be a smoother, more focused experience.

The end product looked better, too.

Here’s why keeping your crew small can make a massive difference.

Lean Film Crew’s Matter

The Big Reasons to Keep Your Crew Small

Let’s break it down.

A smaller crew isn’t just a budgeting strategy—it’s a way to maintain control, minimize stress, and protect the creative vision you’re bringing to life.

Faster, Cleaner Decisions

When you have fewer people on set, you spend less time explaining what’s happening and more time actually doing it.

A small crew means you can communicate directly with each person—no layers of assistants, no endless chain of commands.

It’s you, your core team, and a shared understanding of what needs to happen. Decisions flow faster, and you keep the production moving.

Cost Control

Every single person on set is an expense.

They need to be paid, fed, managed, and equipped.

Every extra body means another hit to the budget—and that’s money you could be putting toward better equipment, more time on location, or an actor that could elevate the entire project.

Keeping it small keeps your budget focused on what actually makes it to the screen, rather than sinking money into extras who don’t need to be there.

Strong Morale and Team Spirit

A small crew builds camaraderie.

Each person knows they’re a crucial part of the production; everyone feels like they’re directly contributing to the final product.

When people are fully engaged, there’s a sense of ownership and pride that you simply don’t get with a sprawling crew where half the people are standing around.

When it’s just you, your DP, your sound person, and your actors, every moment matters, and everyone shows up ready to give it their all.

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The Core Crew: Who You Really Need

Let’s talk about the essentials.

If you’re keeping your crew small, you need to get strategic.

Here’s the backbone of any lean, focused set:

The Director (That’s You!)

You’re the vision.

You know the story, the scenes, the feeling you’re trying to convey.

It’s your job to guide the team, make quick decisions, and keep everyone aligned with your vision.

By staying close to your core crew, you’re the one ensuring that the heart of the project stays intact.

The Cinematographer/Camera Operator

This person is your eyes.

A great cinematographer knows how to make magic with a limited setup, and if you hire right, they won’t need a full crew of their own to work efficiently.

A skilled DP will help you make quick adjustments, frame each shot beautifully, and roll with the flow of an indie production.

They’re the partner who makes sure your vision translates to the screen.

Sound Mixer

The thing about sound?

It’s make-or-break.

Bad sound is something audiences pick up on immediately, and there’s no way around it.

But good sound doesn’t take a team of five—it takes one person who knows what they’re doing and has the right equipment.

This person should capture clean dialogue, handle ambient noise, and keep you from dealing with sound nightmares in post.

Your Actors

Ultimately, your actors are there to bring your script to life.

The fewer distractions they have, the better their performances will be.

A small crew provides a calmer, more focused environment, so your actors can stay in character, connect with the story, and give the kind of performance that drives the film.

Letting them focus with fewer people around? That’s a gift.

One Grip and One Production Assistant

Okay, four extra hands can make a big difference.

These two people can assist the DP, set up lights, move gear, and take care of those little things that pop up on set. But that’s it—only two.

This way, you have people who are reliable without creating a chain of command that slows things down.

Why a Massive Crew Can Actually Hurt Your Film

If you’re still on the fence, let’s go over a few ways an oversized crew can actually work against your film:

Idle Hands, Wasted Time

When people don’t have enough to do, they start checking out.

They get distracted, they start chatting, and suddenly your set feels like a social club instead of a production.

And when morale drops, it’s hard to get it back up.

Logistical Nightmares

Every extra person on set is one more moving part, one more schedule to coordinate, one more person to keep happy.

Big crews mean big logistics, which mean more things that can go wrong.

The more people you add, the harder it is to manage time, workflow, and the schedule you’re working so hard to stick to.

Less Creative Freedom

On a set with a huge crew, decisions get watered down.

You might find yourself debating things with multiple people, or worse, handing off creative decisions because you’re busy managing the logistics.

With a small crew, the creativity stays where it belongs: between you and your core team.

When a Small Crew Shines the Brightest

A small crew isn’t just about saving time or money.

It’s about protecting the creative integrity of your film.

On a small set, every person is there for a reason, every voice has purpose, and every choice directly impacts the final product.

When it’s just you, a handful of skilled professionals, and your cast, you create a space where the work takes center stage.

So the next time you’re tempted to bulk up your crew “just in case” or to look like a “real Hollywood production,” remember this: the best films often come from tight-knit teams who work with purpose and precision.

Focus on quality over quantity, on connection over control.

In the end, it’s your film, and it should feel like it.

Keep your crew small, lean, and filled with people who genuinely want to be there. You’ll see the difference in every frame.

Until next time, filmmaker—stay lean, stay focused, and keep telling your story

Cheers,