Quentin Tarantino on set Cell Phone Ban

[Simon Hayes]

Is it only me who wonders how actors standby costume personell always seem to think the camera will catch the bulge of a mini transmitter,but never seem to think the bulge of the actors cell phone will read on camera?

[macruth]

@Martin,

That's sounds like a pretty darn good idea for all the reasons you mention, nice work!

Thanks!

[macruth]

@Simon,

))

[ProSound]

Is it only me who wonders how actors standby costume personell always seem to think the camera will catch the bulge of a mini transmitter,but never seem to think the bulge of the actors cell phone will read on camera?

 

Yes!! on last film I got the "We can see the transmitter in his pocket" I said he isn't wearing one.... 

[Marc Wielage]

Yes!! on last film I got the "We can see the transmitter in his pocket" I said he isn't wearing one.... 

 

That's the best laugh I've had all day, Whitney!

[atheisticmystic]

Yes!! on last film I got the "We can see the transmitter in his pocket" I said he isn't wearing one.... 

 

[John Blankenship]

Classic.

[Blas Kisic]

It's been very difficult for me to get ACs to call out anything but "marker" -  once asked, it seems like a tremendous imposition to the increasingly younger department.  If there is any benefit to the silliness presented here, perhaps it would be the realization that they are supposed to say, at least, something about the scene and take...

 

MF

Same here. More often than not I have to get in a five-minute UN-diplomacy-level discussion with the 2nd AC as to what he/she should call out during the slate, and why it shouldn't be me…

What do they teach in film school any more?

BK

Yes!! on last film I got the "We can see the transmitter in his pocket" I said he isn't wearing one.... 

 

…Is that a transmitter in your pocket, or you're just excited to be in this scene?

;-)

[studiomprd]

" What do they teach in film school any more? "

that the sound mixer has a slate mic, and calls the scene-take, and all the camera assist does is "call marker and clix the stix"

[scottcbell]

Wish more shows would do this.  Often painful asking clients/producers/hangers on to shut off their PDA's, esp those Blackberrys.

[johnpaul215]

I don't disagree with what he says, especially the spirit of the idea.... 

On the other hand, how many sound specific apps do you have on your smart phone? I have a few that I use regularly. I also use a phone/iPad/laptop to to work when I can sneak it in, like emailing somebody back in the office or chasing down expendables. I would rather do that during a relight, then when camera is wrapped for the day. 

I also feel like a lot of ADs are nailing down scheduling issues and putting out fires with quick text messages instead of waiting till lunch or wrap. 

I'm baffled by actors that have their phones with them ON SET. Especially when they have to really get into a character, but then pull out their phone to do something every chance they get. 

[Ripper70]

After reading this thread I've been leaving my iPhone in my honey wagon all week instead of taking it to set. It's absolutely liberating. I can answer all those unimportant emails and text messages later in the day and stay focused on what I'm getting paid to do.

Incidentally, all our call sheets have "NO CELL PHONE USE ON SET" in big block letters where anyone could see it. I may be the only one not carrying my phone in my pocket.

[old school]

Incidentally, all our call sheets have "NO CELL PHONE USE ON SET" in big block letters where anyone could see it. I may be the only one not carrying my phone in my pocket.

 

It takes a strong hand at the helm to make a good show, film, episode, commercial, doc, and I suppose even a porn. If the director or producer don't set the tone, it won't be followed. I'm glad we have a working actor as a member of the group. Makes that POV very interesting to me.

CrewC

[Marc Wielage]

I keep meaning to nail one of these to my cart, but haven't gotten around to it...

 

[mikewest]

Commercial work here is rife with turned on cell phones

 

People do not realise that unless turned off or on airplane mode, a phone talks to it"s cell

 

Then I get burp burp in my system

 

Even actors may carry a live phone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

mike

[jason porter]

An AC on a doc series that I work(ed) on was fired because he was making a personal video of a fighter jet taxi-ing. He was supposed to be keeping safe an F800 on a tripod that he was pseudo-operating (locked off), when the jet wash knocked it over and destroyed it. His reaction did not help the situation, he had a goodtime showing-off the video around the office, his proudest moment I suppose.

The next pre-pro meeting was tense. "Keep your phones off during the shoot, you are on OUR time" Not to mention the fact that posting photos and videos on FB is also a breech of contact between the prod-co and subject X, be it military or private company.

[Freida]

On 3/26/2013 at 2:43 PM, Whit Norris said:

On the last film there was a "no cell phones on set" policy that worked well. You could have your phone on you but could not use it on the set. Producers, actors and crew would have to step off, or around the corner to use their phones. It worked great. Everyone was more focused and interacted with each other. I thought it was a great policy.

 

Whit

I am an actress and I carry my cell phone with me because it cost me about $900 (that is a modest assessment). I turn it off on the set and if I need to check emails or respond to emergencies I do it off set - like in the restroom or during break time or lunchtime.

It is an important work tool that I must bring to the job every day. If people do not have enough common sense not to break out their cell phones in the middle of filming, they are not professionals.

 

i don’t think I need someone to ban me from carrying the most valuable thing I bring to work on my person. It is a work tool and as such necessary for my job. I turn it off and put it in my pocket - like a person would do with their wallet, ID, credit card, etc.

 

Most of the work in the film business is freelance. If you are a day player, you want to make sure you can access emails for upcoming jobs during break time and not have to line up like a refugee to pick up your phone. By the time I get my phone,

break time is over and I haven’t even used the restroom or had a chance to eat my lunch.

 

We are grownups. We can police ourselves.

 

As for people texting during filming on the set, it is completely unprofessional etiquette. It is discourteous to the people working and it is a distraction. Also some people are taking photos and videos during filming to post on social networks and that is strictly forbidden. We all sign a nondisclosure agreement on the job. That should be sufficient.  

 

So just because there a few people who have no professional etiquette, why should I be forced to surrender my valuable property?

 

if you have created a work environment where a cell phone is a necessary tool for booking the job, finding the location, getting instructions on call times, storing detailed notes about transportation, wardrobe, etc., how can you ban someone from carrying that valuable work tool on their person?

 

It’s just common sense and common courtesy to turn it off while you are on the film set.  However it is not common sense to leave a valuable piece of property (which you need to communicate with other potential employers as well) out of your reach.

 

And as a side note, I do not wear any jewelry to the set in case I am asked to remove it. I have lost valuable jewelry on the set before, so I never bring it with me anymore as it is not necessary for me to do my job. If the company wants me to wear jewelry, the props or wardrobe department can provide me with that. They cannot, however, replace my cellphone. 

 

[Mirror]

21 hours ago, Freida said:

I am an actress and I carry my cell phone with me because it cost me about $900 (that is a modest assessment). I turn it off on the set and if I need to check emails or respond to emergencies I do it off set - like in the restroom or during break time or lunchtime.

It is an important work tool that I must bring to the job every day. If people do not have enough common sense not to break out their cell phones in the middle of filming, they are not professionals.

 

i don’t think I need someone to ban me from carrying the most valuable thing I bring to work on my person. It is a work tool and as such necessary for my job. I turn it off and put it in my pocket - like a person would do with their wallet, ID, credit card, etc.

 

Most of the work in the film business is freelance. If you are a day player, you want to make sure you can access emails for upcoming jobs during break time and not have to line up like a refugee to pick up your phone. By the time I get my phone,

break time is over and I haven’t even used the restroom or had a chance to eat my lunch.

 

We are grownups. We can police ourselves.

 

As for people texting during filming on the set, it is completely unprofessional etiquette. It is discourteous to the people working and it is a distraction. Also some people are taking photos and videos during filming to post on social networks and that is strictly forbidden. We all sign a nondisclosure agreement on the job. That should be sufficient.  

 

So just because there a few people who have no professional etiquette, why should I be forced to surrender my valuable property?

 

if you have created a work environment where a cell phone is a necessary tool for booking the job, finding the location, getting instructions on call times, storing detailed notes about transportation, wardrobe, etc., how can you ban someone from carrying that valuable work tool on their person?

 

It’s just common sense and common courtesy to turn it off while you are on the film set.  However it is not common sense to leave a valuable piece of property (which you need to communicate with other potential employers as well) out of your reach.

 

And as a side note, I do not wear any jewelry to the set in case I am asked to remove it. I have lost valuable jewelry on the set before, so I never bring it with me anymore as it is not necessary for me to do my job. If the company wants me to wear jewelry, the props or wardrobe department can provide me with that. They cannot, however, replace my cellphone. 

 

 

I guess you won't be working on any Tarantino movies.  

[Philip Perkins]

22 hours ago, Freida said:

I am an actress and I carry my cell phone with me because it cost me about $900 (that is a modest assessment). I turn it off on the set and if I need to check emails or respond to emergencies I do it off set - like in the restroom or during break time or lunchtime.

It is an important work tool that I must bring to the job every day. If people do not have enough common sense not to break out their cell phones in the middle of filming, they are not professionals.

 

i don’t think I need someone to ban me from carrying the most valuable thing I bring to work on my person. It is a work tool and as such necessary for my job. I turn it off and put it in my pocket - like a person would do with their wallet, ID, credit card, etc.

 

Most of the work in the film business is freelance. If you are a day player, you want to make sure you can access emails for upcoming jobs during break time and not have to line up like a refugee to pick up your phone. By the time I get my phone,

break time is over and I haven’t even used the restroom or had a chance to eat my lunch.

 

We are grownups. We can police ourselves.

 

As for people texting during filming on the set, it is completely unprofessional etiquette. It is discourteous to the people working and it is a distraction. Also some people are taking photos and videos during filming to post on social networks and that is strictly forbidden. We all sign a nondisclosure agreement on the job. That should be sufficient.  

 

So just because there a few people who have no professional etiquette, why should I be forced to surrender my valuable property?

 

if you have created a work environment where a cell phone is a necessary tool for booking the job, finding the location, getting instructions on call times, storing detailed notes about transportation, wardrobe, etc., how can you ban someone from carrying that valuable work tool on their person?

 

It’s just common sense and common courtesy to turn it off while you are on the film set.  However it is not common sense to leave a valuable piece of property (which you need to communicate with other potential employers as well) out of your reach.

 

And as a side note, I do not wear any jewelry to the set in case I am asked to remove it. I have lost valuable jewelry on the set before, so I never bring it with me anymore as it is not necessary for me to do my job. If the company wants me to wear jewelry, the props or wardrobe department can provide me with that. They cannot, however, replace my cellphone. 

 

No one on a movie set of any kind these days is going to leave their phone anywhere but close by.  People just have to understand the noise and potential interference issues.  It's 6 years later than this thread's OP and the situation has calmed down some, if only because everyone working much has had an embarrassing moment around this issue by now.   As an actor, there are several responsible people you can have hold your (silenced) phone for you if it makes an issue in your wardrobe: any of the vanities folks, the scripty or an AD.  How much a phone can be used on a set is a director-producer prerogative, but I don't hear much about this anymore since people are in general better behaved about it lately.