Human cooperation is a wonderful thing, and it’s my belief that cooperation is the singular reason why humanity has thrived. Although a single performer can put on a one-man show, theatre is most often a group effort. Filmmaking is nearly always done in teams.
How do you fit into a team? What makes a good team player?
Leaders and Followers
Within the framework of a play or film there is a hierarchy and departments. That’s why they call it a theatre company. Generally, the producer hires and oversees the director who takes care of all the artistic departments. The producers at the top are also responsible for the business side of the production and the budget. The director not only works with the actors, but also lends a consistent vision to the art departments, which are each headed by a designer. Costume designers, set designers, sound designers, and the other design specialists necessary for a show are supported by their teams, or sometimes work solo as departments unto themselves.
Where does the fight director or stunt coordinator fit in? Stunts is a department in a film, headed by a stunt coordinator, and supported by stunt performers and riggers and many other technicians. It is unfortunate that the job title is not “designer”. In theatre, the fight director is part of the design team, although she may not have any subordinates.
If you don’t like the idea of power structures and companies, you might prefer to participate in an acting troupe that operates as a cooperative.
Cooperation and Collaboration
I have some pretty strong feelings about subjugating people. I believe that any reporting structure or system of leadership should only exist to maximize the smooth cooperation of a group to find the best solutions to the problems before them. With that in mind, I always insist on using the language of collaboration and mutual respect and support.
Realizing that some people have more experience and expertise, the best way of working is to have an open-door policy for anyone to make suggestions, and defer to the designer’s judgment call on which ideas are incorporated, and designers follow the lead of the director to give the production a consistent look and focus.
Responsibility
Whether in a company or a cooperative, being a good team member is not about taking orders, but taking responsibility for your commitments. If you say you will deliver certain work, you should be ready by your deadline, or else speak up early enough that the other people on your team can arrange for someone else to take your place.
Do good work. Cooperate with teammates. What could be simpler?
Smart Simplicity
In his talk, Yves Morieux explains that cooperation is key to effective teams, therefore the following rules apply:
1. Understand what others do
2. Reinforce integrators (If people want to work together, encourage them)
3. Increase total quantity of power (give people authority)
4. Extend the shadow of the future (make people think about outcomes over long term)
5. Increase reciprocity (make returning favours easy)
6. Reward those who cooperate (Blame is not for failure. Blame is for failing to help or ask for help)
Head of Stage Combat at Academie Duello and certified Instructor with Fight Directors Canada. Head of Bartitsu at Academie Duello, the longest continuously running Bartitsu program in the world. Read more from David McCormick.