I was recently privileged to participate in the table read for the first episode of the new season of a fantastic show that's been kicking butt for several seasons, and is led by a showrunner who has won 22 Emmy Awards. Before the reading began, one of the executive producers made an announcement, reminding everyone of two rules:
- No sides on set
- No cell phones on set
Those rules are unusual and a little inconvenient... And I intend to follow them on every set I work on from here on out. Here's why.
The first rule refers to the little mini sides that most shows hand out to the cast and crew at the start of each day, so everyone knows the schedule and has the script pages handy. More than a few times, I've watched actors use these mini-sides to learn their lines in the hair and makeup trailer or during rehearsal. As the 2nd AD golf-carted me from base camp to set, I asked her about the reasoning for this rule. She said there are two; all that paper is a big waste, but more importantly, if you're booked to work on the show, you should know your lines before you arrive to work. Can't argue with that.
The second rule makes sense for several reasons. Most obviously, cell phones have cameras nowadays, and cameras on set are bad. In fact, most productions now require actors to sign a document detailing the privacy policy, which includes everything from not taking unauthorized photos on set to which information can and can't be shared on social media. Cell phones on set can also be a creative issue; if you're working on something set in the 1800s and someone absent-mindedly leaves a cell phone on a table, the whole shot is ruined. But beyond protecting against leaks and mistakes, cell phones change the ensemble dynamic. If you're buried in your phone between takes, you're not interacting with the rest of the cast and crew, and that interaction helps build camaraderie in ways that translate to the work.
Here's what happened in the absence of sides and cell phones. No one was learning their lines in the hair and makeup trailer, because we already knew them. Once we got to set, the whole cast stood around and ran lines while the crew set up, looking at each other rather than looking down at the page. Once we were done, we were all confident in each other's preparation and ready for the first take. In between takes, we talked to one another. We got to know the crew. We chatted with the background actors. We asked questions and bounced around ideas. We did all of the things you do when you're around interesting people and no one is staring at a digital device, and it made each subsequent take better than the last.
So what's the point of following 'no sides, no cell phones' on productions where other people have both? I can't guarantee the benefits will be the same. But I can guarantee that you'll be sending some highly professional messages - that you're prepared, present, focused, and ready to work. And those are things that get noticed and remembered.