Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Behind the scenes




We watch movies of our favourite stars and stage plays hosted by popular names in the field and applaud (or giggle at) them for their work. But how many a times do we really appreciate the people behind the scenes who toil a lot to make the project a success? I had been to a movie shooting spot a few months ago and found a lot of men working for the sets. These workers arrange the equipment preparatory to sessions and performances, rig and dismantle stage or set equipment such as frames, scaffolding, platforms, or backdrops, using carpenter’s hand tools, read work orders and follow oral instructions to determine material to be moved and its relocation and so on. They do not get the advantage of an organized work place as most of us do. Their skills have to span from installation, operation, control and maintenance of machines and equipments and handling situations at the eleventh hour. They are faced with some tight deadlines in the sets. In fact, these people are also good managers. Now I feel it is always appropriate to think of such projects as a team work, rather than a movie by some producer or some good actor.