The TV crew

The creation of highest-quality, audiovisual movie sequences may require the services of a TV crew. A TV crew will usually comprise a director, cameraman, sound recordist, continuity person, clapper boy, and film editor.

The director plans the action of a shot and directs the actors, if any. If there is an assistant director, he/she is concerned with communicating technical instructions to the other crew members, leaving the director free to deal with action in front of the camera. The director instructs the cameraman on lighting, camera angles, camera movement and shot action and is usually invited by the cameraman when the shot set up to view it through the camera viewfinder or video monitor. (A monitor check may also reveal problems with saturated colours or moire effects caused by narrow stripes and checks.)

The cameraman is responsible for lighting and may have an assistant as lighting expert. The continuity person is consulted about level and direction of lighting between adjacent shots. The cameraman is responsible also for ensuring that there is adequate unexposed film stock.

The sound recordist or engineer is responsible for placing the microphones and for the mixing and recording equipment. Usually an assistant is necessary to handle boom mikes and to ensure that mikes -- other than the hand-held, stand or lapel sorts -- and their shadows are kept out of the camera's field of view. The sound recordist is also responsible for off-line sound editing, voice-over dubbing, and incidental sound effects and music to be added. It may be that the TV sound recordist is also the development team sound engineer.

The continuity person records details about the scene (the action, furnishings, and lighting) and the actors (movements and expressions) which are necessary to ensure continuity between shots. He/she must advise the director or assistant director before each shot can proceed.

The clapper boy holds a clapper board with film title, shot number and take number in front of the camera for approximately one second at the start of each shot after the camera starts running.. If sound is being recorded, the clapper is brought down sharply at the same time to aid the synchronisation of sound and film in off-line editing. The role of the clapper boy is often taken by the continuity person or assistant editor.

The film-editor takes the unedited film material (or rushes) when it has been shot. Working to the director's notes or alonside the director, the film editor does his/her job on an off-line editing suite. More and more, digital off-line editing suites are being used.

Personal Skills and Qualities of the TV crew

It may be that the development team has to contract-in TV or film services from outside. Facility to work to broadcast-quality standards is attractive. (Further notes here...)

Bibliography

Wallace, C., (1965), Making Movies, Evans Brothers Ltd., London.