Job Roles of a Multi-Camera Production

Job Roles of a Multi-Camera Production

Duties Vs Skills

Duties- A duty is something that is expected to be completed and is specific tasks that must be performed within a role. Someone’s duty can vary from what position that are for example a student’s duties would be things like making sure they come to school every day, complete work for allocated deadlines, making sure they bring all their own equipment etc. So someone’s duties are more like basic expectations.

Skills- A skill is more a skill you may have and is able to get better and is where you can learn and get better. A skill can also be an element of your personality which helps you perform effectively in a specific job role.

Hierarchies- A hierarchies is the structure of an organization depending on levels for example in Chadwell Heath the Hierarchies would look like this;  

1) Governors

2) Head teacher

3) Deputy Head/Assistant

4) Head of Departments

5) Teachers/Staff

In a multi camera production there are many different roles and each role have specific jobs to do which leads to their specific duties and skills. In a multi camera production there are 10 main job roles these are; Camera Operator, Sound Mixing, Vision Mixing, Directing, Set Designer, Lighting Desk, Floor Manager, Graphics generation, VT Operator and Presenter.

__________________________________________________

Camera Operator

 A Camera Operator has to perform vital roles within the camera department. They have a duty to support the director of photography and the director to accurately carry out their instructions regarding shot composition and development. So the Camera Operators main role is to overlook of the filming and film himself/herself.  Some of the things a camera operator may have to do will include things like looking through and operating the camera. The camera person whether boy or girl is responsible for physically operating the camera and maintaining composition and camera angles throughout a give scene or shot. So applying that to what we are doing the Camera operator will have to make sure when filming the chat show they have to make sure all cameras are operating properly and need to makes sure the cuts go and so on. Whoever the camera operator is for the chat show needs to be able to listen to what the director is saying and needs to be able to follow the instructions. A camera operator does not need a specific degree in filming but it helps if they have a National Occupational Standards for camera work and if they have plenty of experience in the filming industry.

Skills a Camera Operator may need: A camera operator needs to have a high understanding of cameras and they also need to be able to talk with anyone. This is very important because if they were filming a scene of two actresses and the actresses did not feel comfortable acting in front of the camera operator could lead to problems, also anyone on set or off set needs to be able to talk to the camera operator which is why it is essential they have good communication skills. A skill operator also needs to be able to take in instructions and do them to how the director wants them to be. A camera operator needs to have good IT skills with good colour vision which is key for someone filming. They also need to have stamina because they would be working very long hours and will always be on their feet whether they are moving from camera to camera or carrying things in and out of the room (Scene room).  

Duties: A duty a camera operator will need is they will need to be able to take in camera directions, they also need to make sure their own time for work all the time and also make sure that all cameras are set up and prepared for filming so save time. Another duty that is very important for a camera operator is they need to be able to multi task.

Hierarchies-Camera Operator 

Overall the Camera Operator will be at the bottom of the structure because they do not really have an opinion to what they want to do with the filming and cutting most of the time the director would say I want it to cut here etc and they have to listen, they can also get told what to do by the presenter if the presenter is the person who wrote the script. So the Camera Operator does not have much important. Underneath shows where the Camera Operator would be in the structure of hierarchies:

1) Producer
2) Unit Production Manager
3) Director
4) Script Supervisor
5) Graphics Generation                                                                                                              6) Camera Operator
So in the hierarchies of a television crew the camera operator is towards the bottom because they don’t really get an input they get told by the director what to do and sometimes the presenter if they have had input in the script. It is very unlikely for the camera operator to put forward their idea.

________________________________________________

Job Roles of a Multi-Sound Mixer

A sound mixers job is to mix different audio’s together for example dialogue, music etc. sound mixer is responsible for ensuring that dialogue recorded during filming is absolutely clear for viewers to hear what the presenter or actress etc is saying. A sound mixers job can be very tricky because when they are filming they may get over noises in when trying to film the dialogue which can cause unwanted noises which they will have to deal with. Or the required camera shots hinder the placing of microphones.

Duties: A Sound mixers main duty is to make sure two weeks prior to the production day they need to meet up with the producer and director to discuss their creative intentions. So this shows that a sound mixer has input in what they think would make the production better in their work place. The meet ups before the actual filming day are for them to discuss the sound whether it will be naturalistic or stylised. The sound mixer also meets up with the costume department and visual effects supervisors to discuss the placement of the different microphone that will be there to pick up the actors/actresses voices. Another duty a sound mixer has to make sure they go to the set locations to see if there would be any possible sound problems.

Skills: A sound mixer must have certain skills these include things like having good communication skills this is important for a sound mixer because they need to be able to communicate with the producer and director. They also need to be able to give clear directions and receive directions and be able to undertake what is being asked for them to do. The last skill’s they must have is the ability to make good decisions even if under pressure and be able to edit the sound precisely.

For a sound mixer they must have training in what they do before, the main course that sound mixers must have in a specialist training in sound recording and then they will have to go on to a junior levels that is associated within the sound department. A sound mixer needs qualifications at HND, BA and post graduate levels.

Hierarchies-Sound Mixer: A sound mixer in the production crew hierarchy would be in between the middle because the sound mixer has a say in what they think would make the show better they also work closely with the Director which shows as a sound mixer they do not get controlled and get to what to do.

___________________________________________________

Job Roles of a Vision Mixer

The vision mixers main job is to switch from video to video these can include different camera shots to different video inserts. The Vision mixer also has the job role of making the colour contract on the camera’s in the studio are at the right level according to the type of scene/shot. A vision mixer has an important job role to edit live while the show etc is be filmed lived, they use a variety of different methods when editing live such as, cuts, mixes, wipes, frame manipulation etc.  A vision mixer joins images together from various visual sources, including cameras, video tape recorders. Vision mixers work closely with directors to artistically take the script, discussing which transitions are required from shot to shot. They also discuss which visual effects or graphics should be used to make the show better to watch.

Duties: A vision mixers main duty is to always communicate with the directors and also have a responsibility to supervise the studio technical team. For a vision mixer their main duty overall is to overlook all the technical crew to make sure they understand what they are doing and to also make sure the quality of work they do is up to the standards set by the client. By looking closely at what a vision mixers main duties are you can see clearly that a vision mixer will be high at the top of a structure of the crew team because they work closely with the producer and director and they also have the duty to look after and observe the technical team which means if there are any problems that side of the crew team that the people we go straight to a vision mixer, just like if in school an assistant head teacher cannot deal with something then they would go straight to the main head teacher.

Skills: A vision mixer must have many different skills in order for them to do a good job at what they do, these skills can range from different things for example a vision mixer must be good at understand the technical language of the transmission, they also need to be able to multitask and be able to organise everything by themselves. As a vision mixer they would need a lot of different skills mainly because of how high they are when it comes to crew structure of the hierarchies. A vision mixers skill can vary and underneath are just some of the skills a vision mixer will need;

-Be able to fix/sort out any problems that may occur 

-Be very good with communicating but with excellent language whether written or spoken. 

-Advanced IT Skills, which is important for to be able to help others when it comes to IT. 

-A good vision mixer will also need to have a good sense of rhythm in order to produce accurate transitions.                                                                                    

Training and Qualifications of a Vision Mixer

To be a vision mixer there is not no specific qualifications or training routes you would need to become a vision mixer but it would be very useful to have some kind of media degree so it helps boost your background up in the genre of production crew.

The main aspect that is required to be a vision mixer is a wide experience and knowledge of the production process, so they are not too much about your degree’s so on it is more about your practical past experience.

___________________________________________________

Job Roles of a –Director

A director has one of the biggest roles because they not only have to manage themselves they have to manage other people which are why sometimes there are assistant directors. A director is usually responsible for directing the actors/actresses and other aspects through the creative side of things. The Director is responsible for all creative aspects of a movie. The director is most likely to be the assisting in the hiring of the cast and sometimes the crew, so this shows that already that a director as one of the main job roles. The director has an important job to decide were the scenes will be filmed; they also need to create a plan of shooting. 

Duties:   

- To act in good faith towards the company                                                                                        

-To act only within their powers and use their powers only for purposes which benefit the organization. Directors who act outside their powers bind the company to the transaction but may be held personally liable if a loss results

-Not to use for personal gain any information acquired in their capacity as a director

-To act in the best interests of the company and to avoid a conflict between personal and company interests

-To exercise independent judgment in decision-making. A director who is appointed to represent an interest group, for example employees, is nevertheless obliged to act in the best interests of the company as a whole

Skills:

- Directors must have exceptional artistic vision and creative skills to develop an engaging and original film.

- Directors must constantly make decisions, but must also be able to delegate, and to collaborate with others.

- An Excellent communication and interpersonal skills are vital to get the best from the film-making team

Hierarchies-

The director has a lot of authority within the production crew, however even though the director holds much power, they are in second command after the producer, who evidently hired the director.

       Training and Qualifications

A director needs certain qualifications to get to where he/she is. It is important for them to have studied the art and craft of directing, however the role of a director can only really be mastered through in-depth practical experience. It is also important for any director to have had extensive industry experience which will include things likes knowledge of film-making, understanding all equipment and also needs to be able to work with actors/actresses to create a performance.

_________________________________________________ 

 Job Roles of a Set Designer

A set designer has a main job role which is to be responsible for collaborating with the theatre director and other members of the production design team. This is an important job role to the set designer because they need to be able to create an environment for the production and then communicating the details of this environment to the technical director, production manager, charge artist and property master.  A set designers main responsibility is to create a scale model, make paint elevations, construct drawing and also communicate with a the production staff.

Duties:  

-Responsible for creating the ‘look’ for a project. They also have visually interpretation when it comes to the script, developing characters and environments.                                                                                                                    

- A set designer has to consider the script and the brief before producing original idea designs because they may not go with the brief set. While being aware of the likely method of animation, in the early stages of a project they will use whatever technique is appropriate to demonstrate the proposed designs.

Skills:

-        Outstanding designing talent

-       Good leadership skills, be able to manage others.

-       Be able to manage the schedule set and be able to prioritise certain aspects.

-       Ability to receive and address comments

-       They need to be able to take directions from others and give directions; working as a team.

  Training and Qualifications

      Set designers are most likely to have an established track record and be selected on the basis of the suitability of their style of work, and their sympathy for a practical project. This shows that for a set designer they do not need a specific degree to become a set designer but it is likely that a set designer has an art0related degree but may not have any experience of animation. So when it comes to set designer its more about your practical knowledge and style.    

Hierarchies

In the hierarchies I would expect that the set designer is quite high because they not only take orders from the director they also give out directions. They also have a lot of say in what happens and works closely with the whole of the production team, they also have the authority to overlook a script and give their thoughts. A set designer does not really have anyone that controls them which is why I would say they are not at the bottom of the hierarchy for production team.

__________________________________________________

 Job Roles of a Floor Manager

 

A floor manager is the Directors representative on the studio floor this is because a floor manager is solely responsible for the entire floor; they have a responsibility to give instructions and direction to the rest of the crew and also to the cast and guests. The floor manager is always in direct contact with the director which is why the floor manager has the closet role of an Assistant Director.  A floor manager as a frequent job role this is the entail barking orders to keep the production moving to the set schedule. A floor manager also has the duty to make sure that the floor is clear and safe for the performance requirements; check that any scenery or set piece is ready to be used as required. The floor manager also has the responsibility of turning on the appropriate lights, giving announcements to staff and audience and also helps to maintain the set quiet and in order.

 Duties:  

 -A main duty for a floor manager is to make sure the floor has been cleaned and is safe for the requirements for example making sure it’s not bumpy for a singer who may be wearing heels etc.

 -A floor managers duty is also to call the cues; this is to make sure everything happens when it is supposed to happen and that the show stays to the set schedule. 

Skills:

-A good floor manager needs good communication skills because they need to be able to talk to lots of different people from the crew members to the cast and guests.

-A floor manager also needs good leadership skills because they need to be able to give instructions and be able to tell the crew members what to do but in the right manor.

- Another skill that a floor manager needs to have is they need to be able to work under pressure and sometimes be able to work on more than one thing at once.

-Another skill that is useful for a floor manager is that they need to be confident, they need to be sure of what decisions they make and also be confident at talking to all different types of people from different ethnicities. 

Training and Qualifications 

 To become a floor manager there are no set educational requirements but entries are very competitive, so it’s very hard to become a floor manager so it would be very useful to a some GCSE’s (A*-C), including English and other languages because sometimes as a floor manager you get jobs overseas so it would help you to be able to have an understanding of other languages

There is a range of relevant qualifications available and these range from all of these:

-       BTEC First Diploma in media.

-       City & Guilds qualifications, such as the Level 3 Diploma in media techniques.

-       AS/A level in media studies.

-       BTEC National Certificate/Diploma in media production.

-       HNC's/HND's, foundation degrees, first degrees and postgraduate qualifications in film and TV production.

 Hierarchies

The floor manager is very high in the production crew hierarchy because evidently they are in control of the whole set and have to give directions to the crew members. The floor manager is just under the Director because no one has the authority to tell the floor manager what to do apart from the director it is the floor manager that tells everyone what to do.

_______________________________________________

 Job Roles of a Graphics Generator

The graphics generator has the main job role of deciding what graphic content should be displayed on air for example the full-page. So the graphic generators main job is to be in charge of all the graphics and the set design so they may have to decide how the design of the background of the studio will look like they also are in charge of props. The GC should not be confused with the Character Generator (CG) Operator, who usually operates a CG and is part of a television crew, or a Broadcast designer who physically creates the graphics.

 Duties: The main duty of a graphic generator is that they need to make sure they always arrive on time to set and the graphics they design to reflect on the show and compliment the theme. A Graphic Generator also has the duty of making sure that all the equipment is set up prior to the show and make sure they have run the health and safety checks before cast members turn this is to insure that everyone is safe.

 Skills:

-A good graphics generator needs to be really good with editing and have great knowledge of different editing software.

- They also need string knowledge of technical operations, including fundamentals of audio and video.

-A good graphics generator should have excellent communication skills, this is so that they can interact with other crew members.

-The ability to troubleshoot audio/video problems, comprehension of equipment and techniques in the area of broadcast hardware and automation systems, as well as satellite / fiber transmission are desired.

Training and Qualifications 

To become a graphics generator it is important that you have previous live gallery experience and good level of PC Literacy. By having some kind of qualification in graphics can also help with the path way but it is very important to be or to apply as a Graphics Generator that you have prior experience as a technical operator in a broadcast environment.

_____________________________________________________

 Job Roles of a VT Operator

A video tape operator is also known at the VT Operator for short and their main job is to cue and prepare video inserts into a program or show for example when you see chat shows and they may show video’s those are called VT and that is what the VT Operators job is, to make sure that they get played at the right time and so on. A VT operator sets up and operates the video tape equipment to record and play back the program. They also select sources such as satellite or studio from which the program will be recorded and they also select the videotaping equipment on which it will be recorded. As the title suggests, video tape operators only are used in videotaped productions.

 Duties:

-       - A VT Operator’s main duty is to make sure they communicate with the director and presenter to find out when they want the VT’s to be shown and so on.

-        - Another duty of the VT Operator is to edit the footage given for example in our show ‘Trapstar’ we have given specific music video’s to our VT Operator to use but it is his duty to make sure he puts them together in a creative way.

-       - A VT Operator also needs to be able to cue the VT’s on time.

  Skills:

     - It is important for a VT Operator to have excellent communication skills and a high level of organisational skills.

-        -A VT operator also needs the following skills to be good at their job role these skills include: precise attention to detail, advanced IT Skills, advanced analytical skills and most importantly be able to work as a team with others.

-        -A VT operator also needs to be able to cope with stress because if the whole studio is rushing and tense it is important that the VT operator remains calm so that the VT’s are cued on time.

Training and Qualifications 

Although to be a VT Operator you do not need any specific educational or training qualifications but there are certain degrees that may be useful these include an engineering degree and IT degree. Personality and communication skills are key at entry levels.
__________________________________________________

Job Roles of a Presenter

A presenter of magazine show/music show job role is to present to the audience the latest news and music. It is also the presenter’s job to keep the audience highly entertained this is through the way they may talk whether it very serious or funny depending who the target audience is. A presenter needs to adapt their mode of address to the circumstances, this is important because if the presenter was to talk very youthful and the show it supposed to be aimed at the order generation they will lose viewers interest so it is very important that the presenters are good with adapting. The presenter of a show is required to read from an allocated script this is to make sure they do not run over time and get the main questions in interviews answered. A presenter’s main job is to make sure they present all information that audience want to know for example if someone like Justin Bieber was to go on the show and broke up with his girlfriend the audience would expect the presenter to ask about it in the interview. It is important for the presenter to keep conversations following as much as possible when being filmed live and also to stick to the allocated to for each segment this leaves a lot of responsibility on them because if they run over time on a interview it would mean something would have to get cut in the process so the show do not run over their time period. A presenter may have the job of writing their own script to follow through with for example on the chat show ‘Piers Morgan Life Stories’ he uses his own script because there are certain questions he wants to ask.

 Duties:

-It is important for a presenter to prepare themselves for an interview so for example if they were to interview a racer is important they find out information about him prior to the interview.

- Another duty for a presenter is to make sure they adapt themselves to the specific target audience so in our case e4 have asked for the show to be aimed at 14-20 year olds therefore the tone of voice and language used would be different to how you would present to older people.

- It is also important for the presenter to work closely with the director when it comes to the script because some presenters like to write their own script and have to do so with the director so the director can complete the full script with camera directions and so on.

  Skills:

-A good presenter needs to be very confident because if you are watching a show and the presenter does not look confident presenting the show you would get bored easily.

-A presenter also needs to be able to communicate with everyone especially because they have to interview so many guests and meet loads of new people.

- A presenter also needs to be able to project their voice in order for the audience to understand them and be more entertaining to watch.

Training and Qualifications  

To become a presenter there are not no specific qualifications you need however it would help if you have a qualification in Drama and Media, this is to help I both the way you speak and knowing how everything works backstage as well. To support these qualifications it is very important for a presenter to be very confident, well-spoken and very enthusiastic.

Hierarchies

The presenter in the hierarchy would most likely be near the top this depending on if it Is their show for example Piers Morgan show was he’s own idea which is why he writes his own script and has a lot of say in what happens. The presenter works under the producer and also the floor manager as these two jobs give them the necessary directions needed to complete their duty.

 _____________________________________________________

Job Roles of a Lighting Desk

Lighting Desk is essentially were one person is in charge of all the lighting aspects, they are responsible for the lighting in the studio and how it comes across when being filmed.  Overall the lighting is one of the most important parts of a production whether it is a chat show or music show because the lights are what give the production the visual style making it either looking very eccentric or very calm. Lighting on a production can really change the atheistic purposes from different emotions and so on so it is a great deal that the lighting matches the show. The lighting desk works closely with the director and also the floor manager. They also may sometimes collaborate with the set designer to make sure they tie in the theme to make the overall set better.

The lighting desk person is also responsible for the little lighting aspects for example making sure that all guests and presenters are visible and the lighting is not to dark or light, they also have to make sure the lighting they use to make the presenters and guests visible also goes with the theme of the show. The lighting manager has to make sure they manage all the lighting equipment
Duties:

-As a lighting person they have a duty of making sure they carry out a health and safety check on all equipment they will be using prior to event, this is to avoid any risks or hazards.

- A lighting manager also needs to make sure they bring all their own equipment for the set and bring it earlier than the set time so they have time to set up all equipment.

- A Lighting person’s duty could also be making sure that all equipment is set up properly. 

Skills:

-The first skill a lighting desk person needs is they need to be able to work under pressure this is very important especially if they are filming live and the lights go wrong and at one point you do not see one of the guests etc, so it is important that a lighting person can work under pressure even if something else is going wrong.

-It is important as a lighting desk that they visually have a creative mind so when they are doing the lighting that the lighting is very creative and comes across very interesting because something so small like the lighting can engage someone. So it is important as a lighting desk person that they have get skill at all different lights so they can apply it to when they are doing it for real.

-A lighting desk person needs to have certain skills and qualities for example they need to be very confident when they are collaborating with the set design, making sure they are confident with their idea. They also need to be able to communicate with other crew members for example the director and floor manager.

Training and Qualifications  

To become a lighting desk there are no specific qualifications needed but it would be helpful to have a degree in media and have a lot of training in lighting. To become a lighting desk person it is more important to have had a wide range of experience in the lighting industry.

Hierarchies

The lighting desk person would be more in the middle of the hierarchy mainly because they do not have much authority as in they do not tell people what to do but they do have an opinion and work closely to the director and floor manager which are both really important people in the hierarchy for crew production job roles.