The “Skeleton Crew”: How a small team can make a big impact

Working with a small crew, or “skeleton crew”, can offer many benefits to a film production.

A skeleton crew refers to the minimum number of people needed to carry out responsibilities for a task, most notably in filmmaking. While blockbusters often have significant budgets and the crew to match, independent films created by smaller teams have an important impact on the industry, with one of the main benefits being a sense of intimacy and collaboration. 

Sparks May Fly, an independent film in which most scenes were shot by only four people (two crew, two actors), is a great example of how a small team can make a powerful impact. Hunter Boydell, who was both the lead actor and writer/director of the film, emphasised the importance of the film remaining “intimate”, as it felt more like real life. As they were filming with a small team, the process felt more personal and less pressured, helping to create the outcome they wanted.

It is very clear from watching the behind-the-scenes footage of Sparks May Fly that the team is close, as they communicate openly and genuinely seem to be enjoying the process. As Hunter mentioned, he wanted to keep the team small as it felt more personal, which is great for filming scenes that require a level of intimacy and closeness, as it fosters a collaborative working environment that can be seen both offscreen and onscreen. As a result of this, the team will feel a greater sense of ownership and passion for the project, creating a story that they can feel proud of.

The behind-the-scenes footage of Sparks May Fly also emphasised the workload that is heightened while working as a smaller team. However, if you have good communication and collaboration, everyone should benefit from being in a smaller group, as Hunter highlighted how the team were able to build trust and create a safe space which would have been more difficult to reach with a larger team.

There is a moment in the footage where Hunter is both playing his character - splayed face-down on a sandy beach - and directing the team at the same time. While this is clearly an example of great multitasking that is needed when creating a scene with just two crew members and two actors, this footage is also a great reminder of how much you can achieve while creating a film with a skeleton crew. As the team is small, the communication is intimate and there is likely to be more understanding, as a result of the trust built and the opportunity to prep together.

A skeleton crew is an ideal environment for student or aspiring filmmakers who don’t have a budget or a large team. Not only is it a practical solution, it also provides aspiring filmmakers the opportunity to use their creativity, to work around any limitations they face in not having a larger team to take on responsibilities. While a skeleton crew requires careful planning and adaptability, it is a valuable approach to filmmaking, especially if you are wanting to create a safe environment between you and your fellow team.

Sparks May Fly is a film that benefited greatly from having a small crew, as it provided the opportunity to achieve the exact shared goal that was agreed upon between the team members. So while having a smaller team in a project can often be deemed more difficult, as there is less opportunity to share responsibility and spread the load, it is also very beneficial in providing full creative control. 

The main argument to be made for working with a skeleton crew versus a larger team is essentially a question of “too many cooks”. This phrase is often used when describing a situation where there are too many people involved in making decisions or contributing to a task. In regards to filmmaking, too many cooks could mean that the quality of the production is less detail oriented, as the shared vision is compromised with the more people that are involved. The Sparks May Fly team was very small and therefore they built a real connection, which was evident during the process of creating the film, while a film that has a significantly large crew will not be able to connect in the same way as a smaller crew could.

Ultimately, a smaller team can make a bigger impact. The size of the team does not reflect the quality of the production, but rather the skeleton crew allows for creative input to be more personal between a smaller group of people, who are able to communicate more freely and develop their shared goals together.

Chloe McGill

Watch 'Sparks May Fly', out now: breakingjar.com/sparks