"We had a very energetic floor manager and he was always jumping around all over the place. The director would send down messages like, Can you tell that actor to calm down?"
About this Quote
The quote by Sarah Sutton supplies a glance into a lively and possibly somewhat chaotic working environment on a set, where energy levels varied amongst the personnel and cast. At the center of the quote is the figure of the "energetic floor supervisor", an essential role in any production, entrusted with collaborating the activities on set, ensuring interaction lines are open between the director and the crew, and preserving the circulation of production. This specific flooring manager, characterized as "always jumping around all over the place", most likely exhibits both enthusiasm and enthusiasm for the work at hand, embodying the hustle and bustle normal of a vibrant production environment.
The mention of a floor manager who is highly energetic may evoke both adoration and anxiety. On one hand, such vigor might be advantageous, improving morale and keeping everybody alert. On the other hand, it might result in poor organization or distraction, making it challenging for the cast and crew to maintain focus. The director's messages, conveyed through the floor supervisor, suggest a need for balance between keeping high energy and making sure the stars can carry out at their best, especially if their performance requires calmness or subtlety.
This interplay in between the director and the flooring manager also highlights the hierarchical yet collective nature of production work, where communication is essential however can often be strained or indirect. The director's reliance on messages ("Can you tell that star to cool down?") suggests a level of detachment from the instant action on the flooring, relying on intermediaries to perform their vision. In this context, the quote provides a behind-the-scenes take a look at the balance that should be struck in between maintaining an environment favorable to creative development and the unpredictable, lively energy that frequently accompanies live productions.
Overall, Sutton's anecdote shows the sometimes unforeseeable and complex characteristics of a production set, underscoring how various roles contribute distinctively to the development of a cohesive performance amidst the controlled turmoil of filming.