Multi-camera Production Job roles

                                                                        
                                                                           

This diagram here shows the order of the production team the highest one being the most in charge and the lowest one being the least in charge. When it comes to any production the main ones that are in charge are the director and producer, the producer being the one with the idea and the director making sure that their idea happens the way they want it to. As it goes down the list there are usually heads in each department of the production team e.g sound supervisor, who are in charge of their department, but in general the director is the one who is charge of the whole production.

Camera operator: http://www.creativeskillset.org/tv/jobs/Camera/article_2786_1.asp

Duties

Camera operator is a senior role in the television department and depending on the type of production it can vary. A camera operator is a multi- tasking job as the operator needs to be able to listen to their directors instructions while at the same time focusing on what they are filming, they also need to make sure that the cameras are set up correctly in the positions that they are required in. Some camera operators are able to work well with the performers as they are able to give them helpful advice so that they are able to reach their full potential as performers.

Skills

. Have to be able to be forward in situation e.g If the performer is out the shot they need to be able to signal them and tell them to move back in to position otherwise, the filming will look messy. A main skill that a camera operators need to be confident and comfortable around others so that they are able to direct performers in the right direction.

. Being able to visually understand what the director is saying as the director is in a different room the operator needs to be able to transcript their instructions into the needed actions which could be positioning of the camera, different angle etc.

. An operator must be able to work long hours and be committed to what they are doing otherwise it could effect the whole production, and also they need to have detailed knowledge about cameras so that they are able to film to their best potential and make it look professional.





Sound mixing http://www.creativeskillset.org/tv/jobs/sound/article_5482_1.asp

Duties

The crew that is a part of the sound mixing team are based in there own studio so that they are able to manage the sound with out any of distractions. The sound supervisors are in charge with a variety of other different positions such as technical assistants, boom operators etc. and they also work very closely with the the other departments directors. Sound supervisors also attend meetings about the production so that they are able to meet the sound requirements and quality of the sound that they will be able to record, which is why sometimes they even take part with the choice of location as if the team wanted to film on a motorway the sound team would have to explain the problems within this being that they wouldn't be able to pick up the sound needed so if they  wasn't considered within this role it would have a big impact on the production. During live performances they are responsible over sound mixing making sure the the correct music is played during the right time and adding in special sounds to make the production more entertaining. When it comes to multi-camera production the sound supervisor is mainly in charge of gram operators and sound technicians making sure that everything is running smoothly through their department and that the two are following the cues of the music and any other sound effects.

Skills

.  Sound supervisors need to have a clear understanding on how the equipment works and if an error occurs during the production stage they know how to fix it straight away so that they are able to continue with there job right after and not cause any delays.


.  They need to have quick decisions and able to work under pressure as sound has quite an importance when it comes to the production.


.  Communication skills come in handy as well as they need to be able to communicate with the producer and director, and be able to put there ideas forward such as suggesting certain sounds to make the show more entertaining.



Vision mixing http://www.creativeskillset.org/tv/jobs/Studio_Broadcast/article_5483_1.asp

Duties

Vision mixers usually follow instruction from the producer which includes information on the the shot types etc and then after discussing with the producer they then go on to talking to the director planning what type of transitions to do and when would be the correct time to use graphics. The vision mixers also get a say in the creative aspect of the production as allowing to give there opinion if anything could be improved on or added.

Skills

.Vision mixers must be able to multi-task as they have to follow instructions from the director while cutting at the right moments during the production.

. They must have a good understanding of the job and also able to be creative when it comes to the shot changes within the production, which allows it to be more aesthetically pleasing.

.  As well as having to listen to the director they must also be able to work well with other people so that they are able to discuss as a whole the appropriate transitions and graphics which then allows the production to meet its best standards.



Directing http://www.creativeskillset.org/tv/jobs/production/article_5473_1.asp

Duties

When it comes to television directors work across a whole range of different genres that are either broadcast live or pre-recorded and they work closely with every single department a part of the production and helps them along the way to create the desired show. Directors are in charge of the sound, the production and the technical aspects as they want to visualise the producers or writers idea to the way that they want it to be, the directors main duties is making sure that the production matches the exact original concept which was pitched to them. During pre-production stage the director works closely with the producer refining there idea over and over until they come up with a final concept for the television show which then leads into the director being able to plan out a suitable shooting schedule and getting the materials and teams that are required. The director should have a good idea of what type of genre they are working in such as drama, comedy etc so that they are able to produce scenes that fit in with that genre and have a clear understanding of the concept. The production takes a lot of planning to do and before a final idea has been made the director must meet with story editors, script editors etc and if any changes could be made they are able to do it. Directors bring the whole departments together which consists of the actors ,lighting, camera,costume,sound,graphics and informs them about the production as a whole and instructs them in to what they should be creating, the good thing about the director is that they are able to visit certain departments and help them with what they are creating and also are able to run by on scenes with the actors.

Skills

. Directors must be able to visualise the producers idea and approach it in the best way as possible by working closing with the rest of the production team.


. Motivation is key when it comes to directing as they need to be able to express themselves and be confident with the whole idea as that way its more likely to get the rest of the production team excited to work and make them do the best they can. If there was no motivation it wouldn't be a fun experience and would likely be boring as you need to be excited on what your doing so it produces the best outcome.


. Directors need to have really good communication skills and able to speaking orally, so that the producers idea is able to become clear in the production teams mind, if the director was blunt with the idea its more likely to cause confusion within the team and disasters would occur.



Set designer

Duties

The set designer is quite a main role when it comes to television production as they are responsible for how everything is set up and they have to work closely with director, production manager and the production design team so that they are able to create a suitable filming environment, while at the same time making it visually pleasing to the team. Set designers must take a lot in to consideration as they need the rest of the production team to be able to fulfil there jobs e.g the mustn't include anything that is likely to ruin the cameras movement and make sure that the lighting and the colour of the set are fully difficult for each other  otherwise when it comes to the live production there would be a lot of movement if its wrong, which is why the set designer must talk to the rest of the different sections in the production team.

Skills

. Set designers must be very creative as this is the main part where everything takes place in the production and if the set doesn't look very eye-catching its likely to not have the effect that it should, while if its bright and matches the chosen genre its more likely have a better effect on the audience and also the production it self.

. Set designers must be the sort of people who are able to work closely with the rest of the team, because they are responsible for putting the whole scene together and if they don't do it how the director and other heads have told them to do it there will be problems when it comes to production.


. They must be committed creative people that are able to work well under stress as a lot of thought and preparation must go in to the set and if they unable to handle the work load, the set wont reach its full potential and would look rushed, while if they are fully focused they are able to put everything into it able to produce the best outcome.


Lighting desk: http://www.creativeskillset.org/tv/jobs/lighting/article_2788_1.asp

Duties

When it comes to lighting there is one main person who is called the lighting director which is a Senior role when it comes to television production, they get given a plan of from the production team and with that plan they are able to plan a suitable set which will go well with each shot. The lighting department works together as whole, combining there own technical skills in to one so that they are able to produce a good lighted set. Even before the actual production day the lighting director prepares the set a couple of times beforehand and also take part in discussions with the rest of the department so be able to create a visual idea of what the set is going to look like. Within these discussions the lighting director closely discuss everything with the other head of the departments and what is going to be involved such as costumes  prop, type of shots,location, the colour of the lights etc. When it comes to the live event, the lighting director is in charge of everyone within his production team instructing them if there is any needed changes when it comes to the live performance and that these changes are made.

Skills

. Lighting operators need to be able to work under pressure well during pre-production and live production as they need to have a clear understanding of the lights there working on so that if anything goes wrong during the production stage they are able understand the instructions given and move the lights as wished.


. They need to be able to put there creative ideas forward and be confident with them as when it comes to the set-up of the main area and also that way they are also able to help out the set-designers. collaborating together allows more ideas to pop up and that way it also makes a more creative production.


. They also need to be creative with the lights themselves, as if there is problem that occurred on set being open-minded allows the problem to be solved quicker as you would approach it in different ways to solve the problem, which also helps for future experience.


Floor manager

Duties

The floor manager is the directors right hand man and they are fully responsible for the floor and have to give instructions to the crew,guests and camera operators and helps maintain a calm atmosphere as production is happening. When it comes to production the floor manager is always in close contact with the director and must be able to give precise instructions to the rest of the team so that the production schedule runs as planned. The floor manager is also a big deal when it comes to health and safety as they need to make sure everything is safe and secure within the area, such as there being no loose cables and that everything is in the correct place including making sure extra scenery isn't obstructing anyone or can be a risk.

Skills

.  A skill that a floor manger needs is leadership qualities, as they need to be able to give clear and understanding instructions to the rest of the team. If they were not able to do this its likely the rest of the team would become frustrated with them and the production wouldn't run according to plan.


. They also need to be very confident in what there doing and not panic if something goes wrong. The must be able to listen clearly to what the director is telling them and not to change the choices of them, and must be confident with talking with people in general.


.A floor manager needs to have good communication skills as they need to be able to inform the cast and camera operators what is happening and if there is any changes there job is too make sure these changes happen in a calm order so that the team doesn't panic.


Graphics generation

Duties

The main duties of a graphic creator is to be able to create graphics that reflect upon the genre and be able to work with the software at hand. Before the live production they need to have run through of there graphics to make sure the timing is correct and everything is in the right place, if not this could make the show slightly confusing and not well organised.

Skills

. A graphic generator needs to be able to have good use of editing and  be able to understand the software that they are working on and have an idea of other editing software.

.  Graphic operators also need to have good communication skills and be able to help with the production as informing the director to tell the  presenter or guests where they should be standing in case a certain graphic appears.

. They need to be able to have a clear idea on how to fix certain bugs in that software, so if it occurs during production they are easily able to handle it and continue with there graphics.


VT operator

Duties

The VT operator is in charge of making sure that certain video tapes get played at the right time and that they are able to communicate with the director to know when to play them. They need to be able to cue them at the right time, if not it would look slightly confusing and out of place and have a creative approach towards them so it looks more entertaining.

Skills

. A VT operator needs to have good communication skills and also be quite organised when it comes to the changing between video tapes, it needs to look smooth and not rushed and happen at the correct time.

.  VT operators also need to be able to handle the work load, and make sure that they keep calm and focused on there role while also helping out the other production teams if they are becoming to stressed etc.

.  As with the other jobs VT operators also need to be able to work in a team so that the production is what everyone wants it too be like.


Presenter

Duties

Presenters are able to work on a wide range of television production and TV shows in general, they are usually comfortable in there working environment and have a calm collective manner. The presenters are involved with the planning stages such as a lot of rehearsals of the planned production and working close with the other members of the production team. The presenter must be able to perform the suitable role for that genre and make sure they stay in character for the right target audience e.g If they are presenting on a children's show there must be any explicit swearing or inappropriate references, it must be calm and relaxed having the correct body language and voice ,while acting like a children themselves. Sometimes presenters might be asked to write there own material and with that they need to be able to memorise it and also run it through with the director seeing if what they have written is appropriate for the show or not.

Skills

. They need to have a focused and confident approach during the live production, as being they shouldn't over react if there is a sudden change a freeze up completely. They have to be able to closely follow the change at hand and pretend as this is how they rehearsed it.

.  Presenters need to be confident and able to speak to people quite clearly, as in the production they are the ones that are interviewing the guests, so they must ask the correct questions still appropriate to the genre of the show.

. They must be able to handle stress and come up with things on the spot, but keep it topic related and have a clear understanding of how they are supposed to act, while at the same time communicating with the rest of the production team and engaging with the target audience.