Multi Camera Job Roles

Within a job role their are certain skills and duties that you should have and do. Duties are certain jobs that you do within your role. A skill is a thing that you must be able to learn or already have in your personality, in order to get the best possible result out of that particular job role. Within a media production team that are 10 key job role that i am going to talk about, and each are at different stages of a hierarchy. A hierarchy is a system to show what members of an organization are ranked according to how important they are to the event. I have made a TV production hierarchy and this is what i thing each job role is ranked at.

Camera Operator
In a multi camera productions there are many camera operator, and each one is in charged of an area on the stage to film. The camera operator has many duties to full fill. The first one is to film the event taking place. The camera operator needs to stay in their position and capture everything that is going on, so when the director wants to cut, they can cut to their camera and be happy on what they are showing the public. Other duties that they have are to set up and assemble equipment such as the camera. They will have to do this at fast speeds in order to start filming when the directs whats to film and they will have to assemble it properly, so that it works how it should, in order to get the best possible result. Another duties they have is that they are responsible for fixing any technical equipment, that may have a problem with it. They will have to do this as fast as they can, so that the director does not fall behind schedule.
Some of the key skills the camera operator needs to have are:
      . A good eye for a shot, and knowing what type of shot to use in a situation, in order to capture what the director wants to get across to the audience.
      . They should also be able to look at a shooting script and, be able to understand what it is asking them to do, in order for them to film what the director wants them to film.
      . They should also be able to think quickly on their feet, in order to capture any spontaneous events that may happen when filming live.
         To become a camera operator technical skills and appropriate experience are far more important than formal qualifications. It will be useful to have had a background in either, media studies; performing arts; photography, film or television; journalism or media production.
Also in term of the TV production hierarchy I would put the camera operators 4th as you can see above. I think this because they are the people that actually films what is going on, but most of the time the just have to follow a script that the director has come up with, has  very little control to what is aired.
A specif example I have found is Brain who is a freelance camera operator. Through this case study i have learnt that with a degree, it will help you stand out from the crowd, in order to have a better chance to get a job. Also from reading Brains' case study i now know that you have to keep up with technology, and understand how it works. Also you have to be able to use different types of camera, such as hand held, and smooth with a tri-pod.Also the case study has told me what sometimes you are required to film outside, even if the weather is no great. You have to stand in a spot and film what you have to without the weather stopping you.   

http://targetjobs.co.uk/careers-advice/job-descriptions/278291-camera-operator-job-description
http://www.prospects.ac.uk/television_camera_operator_job_description.htm
http://www.prospects.ac.uk/case_studies_television_camera_operator_case_study_2.htm


Sound Mixer
In a multi camera production, their is normally just one man operating the sound mixer. The sound mixer is works closely with the director. They have many duties. One id their duties is to make sure that all the sound that is going to be played on the show is in a chronological order, so that when they play the sound it corresponds to what is happening on screen. Also other duties that they have is to make sure that the sound that is going to be played is working properly and is to good quality. If the sound does not work when it is needed to the show will not look good. An example of the sound mixer not doing their job right is on The X Factor final, when a mic does not work and you can not hear Nicole's' singing. At 1:08 we see Nicole take the mic of Jahmene. This shows what can go wrong when the sound mixer does not check all the equipment properly. Other duties that the sound mixer has is to be on set on time, with all of the equipment needed for the day. Allowing the day to run smoothly with no deals.
  Some of the skills a sound mixer needs to have are:
      . They should know how to operate all the sound equipment, at a fast speed so that they do not slow down the production and that the sound comes on when it needs to.
      . They should also know all of the safety rules of using sound equipment, and stop anything that may be dangerous to people around
       . They should also have full understanding of all of the jobs they have to do, so that they can teach people who want to become sound mixers.
To become a sound mixer you can work your way up from a boom operator, this can be done id you show passion for the job and you understand what is involved. But it would help if you have a degree, in order to understand how sound waves work and what is involved in dealing with sound. Employees also recommend having a postgraduate diploma or master's degrees specialising in sound recording.
In term of the TV hierarchy i have made I have put a sound mixer 3rd from top. This is because they work very closely with the director and without any sound the show will not be worth watching. A specif example i have choose to talk about is Steve who is a freelance sound mixer. From his case study i have learnt that sound mixer have to travel long distance, and the working hours are very long. Steve worked 16 hours a day and had to do a 160 miles round trip. Also I have learnt that the job is very repetitive. You have to follow the same procedure but just with different sounds, which could get very boring, which is way you have to have a passion in what you are doing.      
       
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Production_sound_mixer 
http://www.shmoop.com/careers/sound-production-mixer/qualifications.html
http://www.jobzoo.co.uk/choosing_a_job/job_path/film/jobs/production_sound_mixer/qualifications/
http://www.prospects.ac.uk/case_studies_sound_technician_broadcasting_film_video_case_study_2.htm

Vision Mixer
In a multi camera production there is just normally one vision mixer. The vision mixer have any duties.
One of there duties is to cut together two different shots, when the director tell them to. They have to do this at fast speeds so the transition from one shot to another looks good for the viewers. Another dutie that they have is to make sure that their equipment they are working with is working properly and if it is not they have to make sure it is fixed for when it is needed. Another dutie is make sure all other technical crew are working properly and do things at the same time as they do, in order to make to things sink. For example when the vision mixer cuts to the opening sequence, the sound operator have to play all the sound that is going to be played at the same time as it cut.
  The sound mixer also has to have any skills:
. To be able to operate the vision mixer to its fullest use, so that if the director what something to happen the vision mixer can make it happen.
. To be able to listen to the director and know what they have to do, while working with the sound technical operators such as sound and graphics, as well as controlling the vision mixer.
. Be able to know how to fix any problems that may happen on set to the vision mixer, so that it will work as soon as possible.
To become a vision mixer you do not need to have a certain qualification but it would help if you have a degree in something relating to the media industry, which will help you to understand what is required of you. But the best root will be to work your way up from the bottom, and learn while on the job.  In term of my TV media production hierarchy i have placed the vision mixer third from the top. My explanation of this is shown above. A specific case study of a vision mixer is Naomi Neufeld who is a vision mixer for strictly come dancing. From this i have learnt that you only get one shot to get your job right because you are working for a live TV show.  Also sometimes you have to choose what shot will be aired on TV so you have to be very decisive and can not sit on the fence about anything. While the show is on you will never get a break, only when their is an advert, which is only for 5 minutes, but in this time you have to talk to the director about anything that you need to say or tell him. Also the job is a very hands on job that has to performed correctly first go.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/academy/production/article/art20130702112135766

Director
The director has one of the biggest roles in a TV production which is why they are first on the TV production hierarchy. They have many duties. The first one is to tell everyone on set what they have to do and when they have to do it. For example telling the vision mixer when to cut from one shot to another. Another dutie is to plan what is going to happen throughout the whole show and have a clear idea on what is going to happen every single seconds of the show. Another dutie is that they have to look out for all members of their team, and treat them all equally and take their interests in mind, while still providing the public and viewers a good TV show.
They also have to have many skills in order to be a director.
      . To be very decisive strong headed when coming up with a idea for the show. They have to do what is right for the show and stick to one idea without having to keep changing ideas.
      . They have to be very loud, in order to communicate well with all team members, and letting them know what is going to happen next. Without the director being loud the team members will not know what is happening next.
      . To be very organised, with pre production paper work and planning and on the day to know how they want to end result to look like. This will then make the production of the show run much smoothly and make the team fell as if they are in good hands.
To become a director
     . They also need to be able to think on the spot, especially for live TV, because things can go wrong live and the director has to quickly think of something to do to prevent their show from looking bad.
To become a director you will certainly need to have qualifications in media and directing, allowing them to have knowledge of what to do. But mainly you just need to have a lot of experience in order to learn from your mistakes and to get better. In term of my TV production hierarchy i have put the director right at the top. The reason from this is explained in detail at the top, but is because they run the show.
A real life case study of a director is Lance Keenshaw, who is the director of Eastenders. From his case study i can learn that the director needs to be clear on what is going to happen in the show, so that they can prepare for this and get it across to the audience as best as possible. Also I can learn that the job is very hard and takes a lot of time to get right, but to succeed in the job to got to have a real passion for what you are doing, in order to stay in it and do well.

http://www.iod.com/guidance/briefings/cgbis-directors-duties-and-responsibilities
http://www.bbc.co.uk/academy/production/article/art20131002135016367


Set designer

The set designer create the overall look of the studio and stage, in order to make it looks more applying to the viewers. They have many duties. First they have to make sure that they stage is all designed and made up for the filming day, otherwise it will not allow the director to stick to their production plan. They also have to buy all of the props they need within the budget that they are given, which sometimes is not a lot. They also have to pay attention during rehearsals and watch it on TV as a viewers and then quickly change anything that they are not keen on, This could be any background props that do not look good, or the colour of a back drop.
A set designer also have to have many natural skills. these include,
        . A eye for colour and fashion, in order to make the set look the best it can, so that they can connote to the audience a clearer message.
        . Good communication skills with team members, so everyone know what is going on and what they are in charge of, so that non does the job twice, which will waste time and money.
        . To be good at drawing, because before the make the set they have to draw the set on paper to see what it will look like and to show the director and know what he/she thinks before they buy everything. 
To become a set designer you do not need any certain qualifications, but it would not hurt to have a degree in design, allowing you to stand out from others. You will also need to have had experience in set design before, for TV shows to hire you. In term of the TV hierarchy I have made I have out the set designer 2nd from bottom, because the show can still run without them, but it will just not look nice on screen, but the show can still run and be aired without them. A case study I have watched, had told me that the set designer is responsible for conveying the meaning of the show to the viewers. A getting a meaning across to the viewers, depending on what the director wants to get across. Also you have to work closely with the lighting teaming in order to get the lights a certain colour and brightness, and you got to work well with the director, to make sure you are doing stuff that they are happy with.

https://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk/advice/planning/jobprofiles/Pages/setdesigner.aspx
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzHVHk-eFj4   (case study)



Light desk
The light desk control all of the lights that are used for the show. Some of their duties is to make sure that all of the light are working correctly and have not fault with them. They also have to set up all of the lights and work with the stage designer to know where to put the lights, and make sure they are put in the right place. They also have to make sure that all of the light are safe to be used and are safely put up during the show, so that they do not cause harm to anyone. They also have to have many natural or learnt skills when doing the job such as:
  . To have the knowledge of how to fix any problems that may happen to a light or lighting system and, to be able to fix it as soon as possible.
  . They also should have a clear eye for lighting and know what colour and shad of lighting works on different back drops, so that it can look the best it can be
  . They also need to be organised, with what they have to bring on set, and have all the right equipment.

To become a team member on the light desk you will not really need a certain degree. But it will help if you have on in engineering, which shows the company that you have the knowledge to go the basic job. But the most important thing that the company will look for is if you have experience in working with lights. In my TV production hierarchy I have put the light desk 3rf from the top. This is because they play a important part in making the show look good, and are very important in live competition shows, such as XFactor when a spot light is needed.

At 0:23 we can see what happens when the light desk does not do their job correctly. And how it effects the show.

http://www.prospects.ac.uk/lighting_technician_broadcasting_film_video_job_description.htm
https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=tv+light+operator&hl=en&qscrl=1&rlz=1T4ADFA_enGB481GB482&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=ZDNpU-XGOsay7Aapm4H4Cw&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAQ&biw=1440&bih=727#hl=en&q=xfactor+spot+lights&qscrl=1&tbm=isch&facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=9vu_lO-dNzaQxM%253A%3BqTlWTKTFdtUsZM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fsofabet.com%252Fwp-content%252Fuploads%252F2013%252F12%252Fimage11.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fsofabet.com%252F2013%252F12%252F03%252Fx-factor-2013-week-8-staging-and-lighting-review%252F%3B1024%3B768

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Light_board_operator

Floor Manager
A floor manager looks are everything that happens on studio floor. Some of their duties is to tell the presenter or people on camera what camera they should be looking at, so that they are looking the right way. They also have to inform the whole studio floor team how  long they have until the show goes on air and of air, so that no one steps in the way of a camera while it is on air. They also have to check all equipment is working before the show starts such as ear pieces and micro-phones. They also have to have certain skills in order to do well on the job.
   .To be able to get across message to the people on air without making a sound. So hand singles have to be clear.
   . To be organised and be a good team leader. They are in charge of a huge team and so they have to know what everyone is doing, have to inform everyone to any changes that are taking place.
   . They also have to have a cool head and not stress under pressure. Problems will happen, so they have to think very quickly in what to do, while staying clam and assertive.
To become a floor manager it will help if you had a degree in media or drama or television. This will show that you have understanding of what the job intakes. But you do not always need a degree many work there way up to become one. With lots of experience and practice you can become a great floor manager. In my TV production hierarchy I have put the floor manager 2nd from top. because they are in charge of the floor studio, but takes orders from the director. A real life study I have looked at is of the floor manager from strictly come dancing. From this I can learn that the job involves a lot of talking and communication before the show goes live to inform everyone of what is happening. They also have to do a lot of running about to give message to people, such where they should be standing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JqaPRcsjv4 (case study)
http://www.prospects.ac.uk/television_floor_manager_entry_requirements.htm

Graphics Generation




The graphics generator has the main job role of deciding what graphic content should be displayed on air. They have many 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 or the show. They also need to make sure that the equipment that controls the graphics are all working properly with no faults. They also have to talk to the director making sure that the graphics that are going to go on air are up to their stranded, and if not they have to change it very quickly. They also have do have many natural skills:
  . To know how to work the graphic generator with no problems, so when the direct wants something to appear on screen they can do so.
  . To be very artist and creative, so that the graphics can look the best they can.
  . Have the understanding in how to make different types of graphics, for different shows, to connote different meanings.

To become a graphics generator it is important that you have a background in live gallery experience. 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, which shows that you have understanding of what the job involves. In my TV production hierarchy I have put the graphics generator third from the top. My explanation of this is shown above, at the top of the page.

VT Operator
The VT operator has many duties. They have to insert clips or small videos into camera operator so that it is aired, on the show. Some of their duties is to make sure that the VT comes on and off air at the right time, with not delays. other wise it may not look that good on the show. They also have to  make sure that the VT that they are going to show is suitable for the target audience, and if no they have to quickly edit it, in order to make it suitable for the audience. They also have to  creatively put together visual and audio materials shot or created during the production process, and combining them with either, graphics, effects, subtitles, to create the final VT. Some of the skills they need for the job are:
.Good working knowledge of video recording systems to be able to use it to its fullest.
.Be able to use a variety of record/playback systems.
.Understand the program requirements related to their position, so that you know what the job requires of you, in order for you to for fill the role correctly, and pleasing the management, in order to keep your job.
. They also need to be able to work well under pressure, because the director will be calling out camera he/she wants to cut to and you got to do this as soon as they say so.
.Be able to think and act quickly to the directors orders, so that the show runs how the director wants it to run.
To become a VT operator you don't really need a certain degree to get the job, but it may help with your understanding of how the equipment works and it will make you stand out from others, but normally most VT operators can just work there way up to becoming one and learn on the job. In term of my TV production hierarchy I have put the VT operator  third from top. The reason for this I have explained at the start.

http://www.mediacollege.com/employment/television/vt-operator.html
http://www.media-match.com/usa/jobtypes/video-tape-operator-jobs-405696.php


Presenter


The presenter is the face of the show, and is what people see and related the show with. They have many duties that they have to full fill. One of them is to make sure that they deliver all of the information they have to, to the viewers, very clearly and making it sound good, or how ever the director want it to come across. They also have to meeting with the production team to go through the running order or what they have to do, so that the show can run smoothly. Another dutie they have is to make sure that they out 100% effort into their job, so that they deliver and well presented show, so that the viewers will come back and watch it. They also have to make sure that they know their lines, so that the show can run smoothly and it makes the show look well planed and looked at. Some skills that they have to have are,
. To capture the viewers attention with the tone of voice they use. This depends on the target audience.
. To be able to confidently talk without any stammers or stoppages, so that the show looks and sounds  better. Other wise viewers may switch over and not watch anymore.
. To think fast on there feet, in case of any unplanned for events.
To become a presenter you will generally need to of gone to drama school or have had a background in acting and drama, or past presenting experience, in order for you to stand out from others. You don't really need a degree, but it will bit hurt if you have one, it will just boost you chances of getting the job.  In terms of the TV production hierarchy I have put the Presenter right at the bottom. My reason for this is explained at the top.

https://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk/advice/planning/jobprofiles/Pages/tvpresenter.aspx