This blog had the potential to turn into a fair-sized novel if we went through every
single person who contributes to the successful production of a video. Each one is
important, from the director to the production assistant, boom operator, location
manager and last but very much not least the person who organises the catering –
without food, a production crew can get very disheartened! So we’ve picked four
roles to delve into and explain exactly what they do . . . read on:
Director
The creative leader of a video shoot, the director’s role is to take the script and
develop the concept into a visual narrative.
You have to interpret the script and achieve exactly what your client wants, while at
the same time creating something which will genuinely excite, compel and capture
the viewer’s attention. Marrying the two up isn’t always straightforward – and you
have to pull the whole team together and produce the goods within a set timescale
and budget.
To be a director you need to be a real communicator with effective leadership skills,
creative and technical abilities, and an aptitude for working under pressure. It’s an
incredibly satisfying job, and when everything’s in the can and the client is delighted,
it’s an amazing feeling of achievement.
Director of Photography
This is a pivotal role. The DoP develops and implements the film’s overall visual
aspects, working with the director to establish the unique tone and character of the
video. They oversea the camera and lighting department making key decisions on equipment,
lighting, camera movement and composition.
The DoP has to be a bit of a perfectionist – a jack-of-all-trades and a master of them
as well! They have to work closely with the director and help to translate their vision
into reality, so an artistic eye is vital as well as technical expertise. An expert knowledge of
cameras and lenses is vital and the ability to adapt to and control the light conditions of every
location makes the difference between a standard video and a standout one.
Camera Operator
Reporting to the DoP, camera operators are responsible for the set-up, operation and
maintenance of the cameras during a shoot. They get together all the necessary
equipment and make sure it’s fully tested and ready to go at the first clapperboard.
Filming schedules usually run to tight timescales so an unsteady tripod, a missing
cable or a camera with a technical issue could cause a major hold-up.
Camera operators will plan and rehearse the shots, taking into account focus, framing,
exposure, light, weather conditions, movement during a scene and the physical
surroundings. A scene may take just a few seconds but a shedload of planning and
work goes into each mini work of art.
A camera operator needs patience. A lot of patience. Technical knowhow,
collaborative skills and an ability to react quickly to changing situations are also
essential, as well as plenty of stamina as it’s quite a physical job. It’s incredibly
rewarding though when you see the finished result.
Sound Recordist
The sound recordist or sound engineer is responsible for capturing clean, crisp, top
quality sound by the strategic placement of microphones and sound booms, to
capture the sounds you want and tune out the ones you don’t. They’ll check out the
acoustics of the film set or location and work out how to achieve the best result,
regardless of weather, traffic and machinery noise or whatever other noises present
themselves. They’ll also manage the sound files and present them for post-
production.
Obviously, a sound recordist needs sensitive hearing, and the ability to optimise pitch
and tone as well as an in-depth understanding of acoustics and other audio
technologies. Resourcefulness in tracking down and dealing with unwanted noise
means diagnostic skills come in handy, and attention to detail provides the precision
that this job needs.
It’s all about the teamwork
As we said at the start, producing a video will only work if the team in charge is
highly creative, technically proficient, works comfortably and well with each other, is
genuinely interested in the client, and committed to a result which is not only what
the client wants, but is better than they had ever thought it was possible to achieve.
We think this is a pretty good description of the Flagship Films team! Why not
contact us and see what a winning team can do for your next video production?