: Everything that happens as part of shooting the film is part of the
production stage. The crew in this stage include the
cinematographer,
production manager,
technical director,
boom operator,
gaffer,
dolly grip,
key grip, and
stunt coordinator.
A1 In television and live event production, the A1 is the primary audio engineer responsible for the technical design and operation of associated sound systems (e.g. mixers, microphones, intercom, IFB, RF equipment, PA/monitoring, music/sfx playback, multi-track recording, and more). Generally speaking, the A1 supervises all audio crew members during build, rehearsal, and show phases of any production. Ultimately, the A1 will have routed, recorded, and mixed all sound sources heard during the program broadcast.
A2 The A2 helps get microphones or other audio devices to the right place or to the right person : An
audio assistant (A2) positions and interconnects audio devices, such as
microphones and
intercoms, from the television
production truck to the venue. Typically, larger productions use two or more A2s.
Boom operator : The
boom operator is part of the sound crew, and an assistant to the
sound engineer or
production sound mixer. The boom operator's main responsibility is
microphone placement, sometimes using a "fishpole" with a microphone attached to the end—and sometimes using a "boom" (most often a "fisher boom"). The fisher boom is a piece of equipment that the operator stands on that lets him precisely control the microphone at a greater distance from the actors. They also place
wireless microphones on actors when necessary. The boom operator strives to keep the microphone boom near the action, but away from the camera frame so it never appears onscreen. They work closely with the production sound mixer, or sound recordist, to record all sound while filming including background noises, dialogue, sound effects, and silence.
Camera operator/cinematographer/videographer : As the head member of the camera crew, the
camera operator uses the camera as instructed by the Director. They ensure the required action is correctly filmed in the frame, and must react instinctively as the proceedings take place. If the camera operator is also a
cinematographer, they also help establish the theme and appearance of the show. The cinematographer—or
director of photography (DP)—regulates lighting for every scene, frames some shots, chooses lenses, decides on film stock, and strives to match the project's visual appearance to the director's vision. However, the cinematographer does not usually move the camera on the set, as this is usually the exclusive role of a camera operator.
Character generator operator/Aston/Duet operator : The
character generator (CG) Operator prepares and displays
digital on-screen graphics (DOG or BUG) and
lower third graphics on the
character generator that were created by the
broadcast designer.
Floor manager : The
floor manager represents the director on the studio floor, and gives instructions and direction to crew, cast, and guests. It is closest to the role of an assistant director, as the job frequently entails barking orders to keep a production on schedule. The floor manager is always in direct contact with the director via
talkback in the gallery. The floor manager also checks that the floor is clear and safe for the performance, checks that scenery and set pieces are ready, turns on appropriate lights, makes announcements to staff and audience, helps maintain quietness and order, calls cues, and prompts talents as required. They also provide cues, timing and other information to the presenters and talents. •
Assistant floor manager : An
assistant floor manager (AFM) sets the stage, prompts contributors on the studio floor, and ensures that everyone knows their place in the script. This frees the floor manager for other duties. They often oversee a team of runners. Increasingly, assistant floor managers are asked to help design and prepare props, and help set and reset action on the studio floor.
Graphics coordinator : The
graphics coordinator (
GC) decides what graphic content should be displayed on-air—such as on a fullpage (a full-screen graphic) or a lower third (a bar graphic in the lower third of the screen). The GC should not be confused with the Duet operator, who usually operates the Duet and is part of a television crew, or a
Broadcast designer who physically creates the graphics.
Stage manager : Stage managers organize and coordinate theatrical productions. The job encompasses a variety of activities, including organizing the production and coordinating communications between various personnel (e.g., between director and backstage crew, or actors and
production management). Stage management is a sub-discipline of
stagecraft.
Gaffer : The
gaffer is the head electrician at the production set, and is in charge of lighting the stage under direction of the
Cinematographer. In television, the term
chief lighting director is often used instead of gaffer, and sometimes the
technical director lights the set. The gaffer reports to the
director of photography, lighting director. or lighting designer, and usually has an assistant called a
best boy.
Grip (job) : In the U.S. and Canada, grips are lighting and rigging technicians in the film and video industries. They constitute their own department on a film set and are directed by a key grip. Grips have two main functions. The first is to work closely with the camera department to provide camera support, especially if the camera is mounted to a dolly, crane, or in an unusual position, such as the top of a ladder. Some grips may specialize in operating camera dollies or camera cranes. The second main function of grips is to work closely with the electrical department to create lighting set-ups necessary for a shot under the direction of the director of photography. •
Key grip : The
key grip is the head grip. Grips affect shadow effects with lights, and occasionally maneuver camera cranes, dollies, and platforms under direction from the Cinematographer. The term grip is used in slightly different ways in American and British or Australian film making. In the British and Australian film industries, a grip mounts and supports cameras, which can include anything beyond a basic tripod. Lighting in British and Australian film-making is headed by the gaffer, who is also part of the camera department. Grips can also be the people that do the laborious work on sets. These types of grips push, pull, roll, and lift various pieces of equipment under direction from a television director, television producer, or set designer. •
Dolly grip : In
cinematography, the
dolly grip places and moves the dolly track where required, and then pushes and pulls the dolly along that track during filming. A dolly grip works closely with the camera crew to perfect these complex movements through rehearsals. For moving shots, dolly grips may also push the wheeled platform that holds the microphone and
Boom Operator. The dolly is a cart that the tripod and camera (and occasionally the camera crew) rest on. It transports the camera without bumps and visual interruptions throughout a shot. It is commonly used to follow beside an actor to give the audience the sense of walking with the actor, or as the actor.
Gallery/control room team : These crew positions are only used on a
multiple-camera setup production. The
gallery, or
production control room, is a separate darkened area away from the studio floor, where the action can be viewed on multiple monitors and controlled from a single source.
Production manager : The
production manager makes deals concerned with business about the crew, and organizes the technical needs of the production. This would involve many things ranging from gaining the correct equipment with the exact technical requirements; to arranging accommodation for the cast and crew. The production manager reports their expenses and needs to the Line Producer.
Production assistant : The
production assistant (PA) occupies a prompting role in the Gallery or Control Room. They communicate with the broadcasting channel during a live television broadcast, counting down time-to-transmission aloud to the crew via the studio microphone. They also count down time remaining for sections of a programme, such as an interview or an advertising break. Prior to a production, the PA prepares and times the script, noting pre-recorded inserts,
sound effects, etc.—and clears copyright and other administrative issues.
Runner :
Runners are the most junior members of a television crew. They fetch and carry, and do most production odd jobs. They support anyone who needs help until they learn enough to assume more responsibility. In the United States, this position is sometimes called a
gofer.
Stunt coordinator :Where the programme requires a
stunt, and involves the use of
stunt performers, the
stunt coordinator arranges casting and performance for the
stunt, working closely with the television director.
Technical director : In a
production control room (PCR), the
technical director (
TD) has overall responsibility for the operation of the production. The technical director ensures that all equipment in the PCR operates correctly. They also match the quality and the output of all the cameras on the studio floor through the
camera control units (CCU) (vision engineering). The TD supervises the other crew members in the PCR. The technical director also coordinates the working of the whole crew, and handles technical problem before, during, or after the shooting of a project.
Television director – director : Unlike the film counterpart, a director in television usually refers to the gallery (or control room) director, who is responsible for the creative look of a production through selecting which shots to use at any given moment. The director views the action on the studio floor through a bank of screens, each linked to one of the
cameras, while issuing instructions down to the
floor manager. They also control the gallery area, calling for sound rolls,
digital on-screen graphics (
Astons) and video rolls
video tape recorder (''VT's''). Some directors also work more closely with on-camera talent and others also act as both producer and director.
Presentation officer/Video control operator/vision engineering : A
video control operator (typically credited as
video control, and sometimes as a
video engineer or
video operator) controls the video console to regulate transmission of content—everything from test patterns to live and recorded telecasts. Video control operators view the action on set through
video monitors and set switches and observe dials on the video console to control contrast, framing, brilliance, color balance, and the fidelity of the transmitted image. They monitor the program to ensure broadcast technical quality, and review the program to determine that the signal functions properly and is ready for transmission on schedule. Video control operators and video tape operators are used only in television productions recorded on video tape because of the growing use of
broadcast automation with
video servers.
Camera control unit operator : A
Camera control unit operator (typically credited as
CCU operator) controls the camera control unit, which is a series of camera remote controls for exposure, white balance, and contrast, to regulate the picture quality between multiple cameras.
Video tape operator : The
video tape operator (
VT operator or
VTR operator) cues and prepares video inserts into a program. A VT operator sets up and operates
video tape equipment to record and play back the program, reads the program log to ascertain when to record the program, and when it airs. They also select sources, such as satellite or studio, for the program, and select the video recording equipment to use. They are heavily used in sports programming, and in all video taped productions, including
television news programming, and sometimes sitcoms, if they are shot on video tape), they are also responsible for action replays and quickly editing highlights while a show is in progress. As the title suggests, video tape operators only work in video taped production. Although, VTR operator's still work on digital productions. It is a name that has just stuck to the playback operator. They can also be on set editors to give the director and director of photography the ability to see how what they shot cuts together.
Vision mixer : The
vision mixer, or
technical director (
TD) in the United States, switches between video sources—such as camera shots and video inserts. They also maintain colour and contrast balance between the studio cameras. The term
vision mixer is also used to describe the equipment operated by the technical director / vision mixer person, which can be a source of confusion. In the United States, the equipment is called the
video switcher or
production switcher, so the confusion does not arise. ==Post-production==