ENDA Episode 115→ The time when ENDA shares his Production’s Diary (Part 6)

Trust is everything on a film set, so learning how to honor it, even when things go wrong, can define your reputation.

A director friend scored a great deal on a Blackmagic camera from a fellow filmmaker for his graduation shortfilm. The shoot was humming along, until an assistant mounted the camera on a rig that looked a little too “creative.” The director voiced his concern, but the assistant swore the setup was rock-solid. Convinced, the director stepped away for a few minutes…

Then came a sickening crash. The camera had hit the deck, gouging a nasty scratch along its bottom plate. Heart sank. Functionally it still worked, but that dent spoke volumes.

He faced a choice: hide the damage or fess up. He chose the latter, owning the mistake, covering the repair costs, and promising to make it right.

That moment of accountability paid dividends. Rather than burning a bridge, he proved his integrity. By the time additional scenes rolled around, that same friend trusted him with the camera again, at a friendly rate.

Takeaway: Gear failures happen. What matters is how you handle them. Own the mishap, cover the costs, and protect your relationships, because in VFX and production alike, trust is your most valuable asset.

The journey continues…