How to Value and Empower Production Volunteers

Posted on: Feb 15, 2024

Photo Credit: Grusho Anna // Shutterstock

By Jessica Mathis

In the dynamic realms of film and television, there’s a high demand for interns and assistants who are willing to work for minimal pay, experience or exposure. There’s always a large influx of volunteers ready to fill these roles. However, they are not always treated well. Despite being a boon for low-budget projects, independent producers occasionally overlook their responsibility to those generously investing time and effort.

It’s crucial for producers to understand how to respect and effectively engage volunteers on their sets. This guide aims to help producers tap into the potential of enthusiastic volunteers, fostering a collaborative and supportive filmmaking environment.

Recognizing the Value of Volunteers

Enthusiasm and New Insights: Volunteers often bring a unique zeal to the set. Their willingness to learn and help can inject fresh perspectives and ideas into a project. It’s important to see this enthusiasm as a valuable resource that can invigorate your production. Volunteers may provide useful insights about local areas, innovative techniques or untapped resources. To maintain this value, always encourage your supportive staff and treat them well.

Varied Expertise: Volunteers come from a wide range of backgrounds, and many have diverse skills from other fields that can be beneficial to your production. From aspiring filmmakers to tech-savvy individuals or artists, leveraging this variety can boost creativity and operational efficiency on-set. For instance, someone skilled in trades might be an asset to the art or locations department.

Eagerness to Learn: The readiness of volunteers to learn and gain practical experience creates an opportunity for a dynamic learning environment where knowledge and skills are shared and developed together. You might be mentoring your future dream crew.

Respecting Volunteers: A Producer’s Responsibility

Transparent Communication: Many productions struggle to clearly convey to their low-paid staff or volunteers what their roles entail. This lack of clarity can lead to situations where assistants are unfairly tasked with duties that should be reserved for higher-paid professionals. They can sometimes be perceived as idle due to a lack of direction.

Effective, open communication is essential. Clearly outline expectations, responsibilities and the project’s vision so everyone understands their role, fostering a cohesive and drama-free workplace.

Professionalism and Respect: Respect begets respect. Treat volunteers and low-paid crew with the same professionalism and consideration as you would any paid crew member. In the dynamic realms of film and television, there’s a high demand for interns and assistants who are willing to work for minimal pay, experience or exposure. There’s always a large influx of volunteers ready to fill these roles. However, they are not always treated well.

Despite being a boon for low-budget projects, independent producers occasionally overlook their responsibility to those generously investing time and effort. Acknowledge contributions, consider their input and create an environment where everyone feels valued. Leaders should take responsibility for their team’s successes and failures, seeking to improve communication and resource allocation as needed.

Acknowledgment of Contributions: While monetary compensation may not be an option, recognizing volunteers’ efforts is essential. Provide credits, letters of recommendation or IMDb credits to help them build their portfolios. Most importantly, honor your commitments to them. Failing to do so can tarnish your reputation and negate the benefits you gained from their participation.

Maximizing Volunteer Contributions

Strategic Integration: Assess volunteers’ strengths and interests before placing them in departments. This not only maximizes their input, but also enhances their experience in areas they’re passionate about.

Community Building: Promote a sense of community on-set, encouraging interaction among volunteers, paid crew and stakeholders. This can foster long-term industry relationships. Today’s volunteers may become tomorrow’s producers, so maintain those connections.

Access to Resources: Provide volunteers with necessary tools and resources. They should never have to use their own funds or equipment for your production. Facilitating access empowers them to contribute effectively.

The film and TV industries are unique in their willingness to allow individuals to work for free. Rather than exploiting the aspirations of volunteers, these sectors should instead view this as an opportunity to cultivate a robust network. Producers need to appreciate the immense contributions of volunteers, creating a mutually beneficial scenario where both the project and the people involved thrive. By employing this approach, filmmakers not only produce exceptional work, but also contribute to the growth and inclusiveness of the industry.

Jessica Mathis (AKA Divinity Rose) is an award winning screenwriter/performer/producer from Louisville, Kentucky. She is the CEO of She Dreams Content Development and Production, which focuses on female forward projects in comedy, docustyle and genre entertainment.

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