What is the role of the second unit director?
The role of the second unit director should be to never let the audience know what the second unit shot. To direct a second unit I always felt one must have a complete understanding with the first unit director and the producer of what their vision is for the film and their expectations. This can only be accomplished by having meetings prior to the start of the film and going over the script. Numerous surveys to check out locations that both units will be shooting must be made. Discussions with the director of photography of the first unit as to the overall look he and the director are trying to put on the screen must be made. As second unit director, I also always work very closely with the production designer. The primary purpose of the second unit should be to shoot sequences using photo doubles or stunt doubles that will enable the first unit director more time to shoot using the principal actors. The second unit director will shoot any action sequences where the principal actors m
