On indie features, budget constraints don’t always allow for every role to be filled like large studio movies, so the filmmakers oftentimes must wear multiple hats. Director Chris Lawing can speak on this subject, as he is primarily both the DP and director for a lot of his commercial work.
Also, on his latest crime drama/thriller, Penitentia, he was not only the director and DP, but also the writer, producer and editor.
When discussing the benefits of having multiple roles, Chris says, “When you are working on such a low budget, being both the director and DP means that you have one less person to pay. In some ways it’s great to have a collaborator. In other ways, you are trying to move so quickly that by taking out the extra collaborator, it allowed me to make decisions faster.
