Job Roles Within The Media Industry.

Camera Operator

What is a camera operator?

A camera operator or cameraman is a professional operator of a film or video camera. In filmmaking, the leading cameraman is usually called a cinematographer, while a cameraman in a video production may be known as a television camera operator. The cameraman is responsible for physically operating the camera and maintaining composition and camera angles throughout a given scene or shot. In narrative filmmaking, the camera operator will collaborate with the director. Important camera operator skills include choreographing and framing good shots which are appropriate to the scene. Also a camera operator needs good knowledge about selecting the appropriate camera lenses and other equipment to be able to portray dramatic scenes.

The Duties of a good Camera Operator should include:

Good Co-ordination/Organisation- Being able to work alongside the first Camera Assistant, this is an important duty because a collective they need to be able to agree on specific elements. They need to be able to oversee the preparation needed before shooting a scene for example making sure the camera equipment is good and ready to use. This is an important duty because it allows the director to be able to use the camera equipment straight away and helps the filming run more easily.

Good Contribution- Being a good Camera Operator will involve being able to contribute by giving idea’s and feedback to the other crew members. They should be able support the Director decisions of Photography. A good Camera Operator should also offer creative suggestions and shots to the director.

The Skills of what a good Camera Operator should include:

Good Camera Skills- A good Camera operator should have good skills with the camera being able to carry out accurate instructions and should be able to pay attention to the detail within a shot or scene. This is important so that they can avoid technical problems. A good Camera Operator should understand every technique that can be used within a camera.

Good Physical Stamina- This is needed from a good Camera Operator because a shot could last for a long time so they need to be physical fit to be able to have stamina to do all their work within the time period set without getting tired or distressed. They need good stamina to be able to work long hours and also to be lifting and moving heavy equipment.

The Qualities of what a good Camera Operator should include:

Good Communication Skills- Good communication skills are needed for a Camera Operator for when they need to communicate with the people they work with or even the actors and actresses they are filming. They need good communication skills for the filming to run smoothly.

Creative and Patient- A good camera operator must be patient because sometimes getting the right shot can be hard and tiring but they need to be able to keep calm in order for the flow of filming to be good.

Camera Assistant 

What is a Camera Assistant?

A camera Assistants main job is to support the crew members and the department with decisions and filming. While the other seniors carry out the more harder and complex things such as the operation of how the camera is going to be working and the technical side of media.                      

What duties should a Camera Assistant have:

Preparation/organisation- A good camera assistant should make sure the simplest things are correct for example making sure they work there in the right place ect, collecting camera equipment from a hire company. The main duty is to make sure everything is organised. The list of duties a camera assistant has are as followers: checking the battery is fine on the camera’s, make sure they process all the information/instructions, responsible for equipment. They need to overall have a good presentation of making sure all equipment works so the day can run smoothly.

The skills which a Camera Assistant should have: 

Preparation/organisation- A good camera assistant should make sure the simplest things are correct for example making sure they work there in the right place ect, collecting camera equipment from a hire company. The main duty is to make sure everything is organised. The list of duties a camera assistant has are as followers: checking the battery is fine on the camera’s, make sure they process all the information/instructions, responsible for equipment. They need to overall have a good presentation of making sure all equipment works so the day can run smoothly.

The qualites which a Camera Assistant should have:

Skills Required for a Camera Assistant: The skills required to be a good camera assistant could include the following things like good communication and being able to take directions correctly they could also be harder things like understanding everything about the camera. Here is a list of things that would be required for a camera assistant:
- Excellent communication skills
- Being able to work in a time frame
- Great knowledge of the camera's
- Good IT Skills
- Good mathematical skills

Art Director

What is a Art Director?

The Art director’s job is the more creative side of media. They need to be able to facilitate the Production Designer's creative vision for all the sets. The art director looks at the scence and shots from an imaginative side they are allowed to edit things and make the stuff people watch more colourful and nice to look at ect.

The skills which a Art Director should have: 

The skills which an Art Director should have: A good art director must be creative and have the ability to grasp the scripts been given. They need to be able to take what they have been given and make it artistic and original. They require knowledge of techniques which will make the set appropriate for the director’s vision

The duties which an Art Director should have:

Preparation/Organisation- A good Art director would have good preparation and organisation for example they would start they work 4 to 5 months because the selected date in more detail they would have the artistic work done before the shooting beings which helps things run smoothly without any complications. They do this so they can oversee the preparation of the first set.

Critical towards one self- A good art director would be critical to themselves to make sure there work is at the best standard it can be at. They oversee the construction on all of the sets to make sure they can produce the best work possible.  They must be able to monitor scripts for any development changes or re-builds in fixed sets.

 

The qualities which an Art Director should have:

Willing to learn/improve- A good art director will be able to explore knew things and be open minded to any idea’s. They need to make the set they have been given as creative as possible.

Enthusiastic- A good art director should be very enthusiastic to the task set and be passionate about what they are doing to have a good ending result.

                                        Hair and MakeUp Stylist

What is a Hair and Make Up Stylist?

A good makeup and hair artists must be capable in both make-up and hair techniques. The standards at which there technique in hair and makeup is important because it will reflect back in the whole production. Make-up and Hair are key elements in the overall design of any film or television production. The hair and makeup is important because it creates a look for each character which makes them unique and helps the audience understand the character more.

The duties which a Hair and Make Stylist should have: A good hair and makeup artist should be able to socialise with the actors and actresses when doing their makeup. They need to make sure they deliver to the deadline and making sure what they deliver is up to a good standard. They need to be responsible for maintaining the continuity of their Artists' "look". They ensure that actors are comfortable with their look, and check for any allergies. They should ask questions to the artists before doing their makeup in case they have any bad reactions to the products used.

The skills which a Hair and Make Stylist should have: 

The skills which a Hair and Make Stylist should have: A good hair and makeup stylist should not only have a good technique in what they do but they also need to be friendly and easy to talk to. They will need to be able to do free hand drawing and have technical drawing skills. Here is a list of technical things a hair and makeup should have: be able to think visually, good ideas, being able to meet the target and be able to work in a team.

The qualities which a Hair and Make Stylist should have:

It is important for a hair and makeup artist to be passionate about what they do and be creative. Good listening skills. Flexibility and being out going is a key quality. The most important quality is having an interest in Hair and make-up.

Lighting Director

What is a lighting director? 

A Lighting Director has the most important role within television lighting departments. Using the script or brief from the Production team they have to design the specific look required for each shot. A good lighting director would have good technical skills and would use them when designing a specific shot type or scene shot. 

The duties which a Lighting Director Stylist should have:

To be a good lighting director they need to make Arrangements to script read and begin to make responsible discussions and relate it to the style required. A good lighting director should be able to plan meetings with the directors, so communication is important for a good lighting director. They may have these meetings to discuss what happening and give in idea’s and evaluate the day ect. The lighting director works closely with the Gaffer, who organises any required extra equipment and power supplies.  

The skills which a Lighting Director should have: 

A good lighting director needs to have the ability to concentrate for a long period of time without having breaks. They need to pay attention, common sense and they need to approach problems in a good manor. They need the ability to take and give direction and to be a team-player and physical and mental stamina for long working hours are key skills.

The qualites which a Lighting Director should have:
A good lighting director needs certain qualities such as Good communication, interest in lighting, good listening skills. All of these qualities help the lighting director .

Gaffer
  

What is a gaffer? 

A gaffer in the motion picture industry and on a television crew is an electrician that can be head of the electrical department, responsible for the performance (and sometimes the design) of the lighting plan for a production.

Duties include: For a gaffer the duties include things like good communication skills with the lighting directors and directors. The gaffer needs to suggest things to the crew to better the video. The gaffer needs good communication skills because when he talks to the lighting director and director he needs to be able to say the good and bad points of the video to make the video the best it can be. The gaffer can offer advice towards the lighting to make the setting look more effective and effective equipment as well. The gaffer needs to make sure the crew know everything about set and the equipment using for their health and safety requirements.

Skills required include: The gaffer needs many practical skills with working with the lighting and equipment. Being able to work alone and co-operate with the team aswell.

The gaffer needs to be comfortable working with electrical equipment. The gaffer also needs to be able to take bad feedback from the director and improve it for the deadline set.

Qualities a Gaffer needs: A good gaffer will need basic qualities such as good communication skills for good co-operation within the filming crew and being able to understand and follow directions. For the gaffer to be good, they need to have some passion/interest in their role because if someone loves what they do they tend to do it better than what others do. 

Director

What is a director? 

Directors are responsible for overseeing creative aspects of a film under the film producer. They often develop the vision for a film and carry the vision out, deciding how the film should look, in other words they make their vision come to life. They are responsible for turning the script into a sequence of shots. They also direct what tone it should have. Film directors are responsible for deciding camera angles, lens effects and lighting with the help of the cinematographer, and set design with the production designer. They will often take part in hiring key crew members. They coordinate the actors' moves, or blocking, and also may be involved in the writing, financing, and editing of a film.
The director works closely with the cast and crew to shape the film. Some like to conduct rigorous rehearsals in preproduction while others do so before each scene
The director also plays a key role in post-production. He or she works with the editor to ensure that the emotions of the scene and the close ups, mid shots and wide or long shots appropriately reflect which character is driving the narrative.

Skills include; to be able to give in good ideas and make other peoples idea’s work well. They need to be able to think visually and decide on the most appropriate graphics to.

Location Manager

What is a location manager?

The Location Managers' primary role is to identify and find ideal locations for a film shoot, reporting to the Producer, Director and Production Designer. The role also involves transferring with each location's owners about a number of issues, such as the cost and terms of the hire, crew and vehicle access, parking, noise reduction, and what official permissions may be required. Once filming has begun, Location Managers are in charge of managing all aspects of shooting in each location, and also ensuring that every location is handed back to its owners in a satisfactory condition after the shoot.

Duties include; the location manager has to make sure that everything they use is appropriate for the shot type and the scene. The location managers main duty is to look at different aspects whilst shooting and identify useful information for different locations and arrange visits to go see them if accessible. They gave to make sure that the locations and property that was used for filming a scene is not damaged during production or post production.

Skills required include; Good communication skills when contacting different people for location bookings. Be polite and kind when meeting new people and should be easy to talk. A good skill for a location manager would be a bubbly personality and being able to work with other so good team work.

Qualities required: A good location; be manager needs to be committed as they have to be willing to work long hours. A passion for travelling is useful during this field as they often travel a lot.

 

Executive Producer

What is a executive producer?

Executive Producers are responsible for the overall quality control of productions, and for ensuring that final products conform to officials. They are part of the team who are responsible for selecting marketable projects and ensuring that every step is taken to guarantee success in the market.The Executive Producer role may be combined with that of Line Producer, so that as well as procuring the funding, they are also responsible for monitoring its use during production.

Duties include; A good executive producer has specific duties like developing the scripts and finding suitable markets. Executive producers will sometimes attend different TV & Film marketing festivals to get ideas and to better themselves. They promote their project nationally and internationally. Executive Producers have overall responsibility for the success of the projects.

Skills include; A good executive producer needs certain skills such as being a good leader, being able to take responsibilities and working as a team, so telling members of the crew what they job would be for that day etc. They would also need good mathematical skills.

Qualities include: They need to be confident when addressing people with issues or talking to the crew members. They need to be able to find it easy to communicate with other team members within the crew. A passion for what they do, so when they meet new people they are install bubbly.