Roles & Responsibilities

Question 1

producer

Answer 1

• generally the primary person of responsibility for the production
• may often be their own brain-child
• coordinates all elements of production at its highest level
• coordination of cast and crew, administrative, legal, financial, budgeting and scheduling issues, driving creative force for the production
• great delegator, passing on responsibility to trusted production team members they have assembled

Question 2

director

Answer 2

• _____ of a multi-camera studio program is responsible for the production and inner workings of the control room.
• hold responsibility for the final product of a program as it goes to air live
• ensure quality product output
• direct in-studio and control room crew members
• knowledgable of studio equipment and broadcast equipment it feeds
• communicates with the crew members’ earpieces via a studio intercom or microphone/communication system.
• follows producer’s overall plan
• directing actors, coordinating the senior technical crew, holding central authority for the execution of the day’s filming on set
• might make a shot list
• keeps a day’s shoot to schedule
• holds strong vision of their final product

Question 3

floor manager

Answer 3

• operation of the studio “floor” where filming takes place
• coordinates the talent, crew, props, and set AND is main line of communication from director within the control room
• ensures the set is safe for all cast, crew, and any visitors

Question 4

camera operator

Answer 4

• generally operates the camera at the instruction of the director
• responsible for the composition (or framing) of shots.
• understands good shot composition and light factors

Question 5

audio operator

Answer 5

• ensuring the best sound possible
• operates the audio board throughout the recording session
• ensures microphone placement and all sound-gathering needs are met
• keeps the various mic outputs to a volume and quality suitable for broadcast is critical

Question 6

video switcher operator

Answer 6

• “technical director” / “TD”
• switching between the different video sources - both from camera shots and videos to be played during an in-studio shoot, by selecting shots or other “show elements” presented on a bank of screens in the control room.
• often oversees the technical aspects of production
• contrast balance and color of the final broadcast output

Question 7

graphics/teleprompter operator

Answer 7

• prepares and displays on-screen graphics to go to air, usually via the use of a graphics-operating software on a computer
• any teleprompter script for the TV prod.

Question 8

Host/ “On-Air” Talent

Answer 8

• essential to every production and act as the face of the production.
• like actors
• frequently have pre-scripted lines to read or read from a teleprompter