Studio Production: My Role as a Camera Operator

Using cameras in the studio has been a very different experience for me, in comparison to using them on location. I feel like I have learnt a lot about using them from this experience. When taking the cameras out to use for an interview or some cutaways of a location, the set up process and demands of the camera are very different. Whilst in the studio, the cameras must all look exactly the same on screen to ensure that the show cuts together seamlessly. We were taught how to do this by lining them up and using a greyscale chart. Before doing this, I would white balance a camera and then check the skin tones to ensure that it reflected the colours as they were. In learning how to line cameras up, I learnt that there are so many other things you can do to change the appearance of the camera. As a camera operator, I also had to adjust the iris on the camera which adjusts how much light is being shown into the lens.
In comparison to my role as a Director, I enjoyed camera operating a lot more. I felt like I learnt more skills, particularly studio based skills which I will hopefully use in future projects. I think that the pressure of operating a camera in a studio environment is really exciting. This was something that I was particularly anxious about as we only had one chance for the recording and any little mistakes would show when it came to the rough cut viewing. However, I think that the sense of team work was the most apparent on the day of the recording as we were all in the same boat and were feeling the pressure. The camera team in particular had some issues with the lighting as this was making the colours on some of the cameras look distorted. I found that we were well practiced in troubleshooting the cameras at this point which meant that we were able to help each other out to fix the problem as soon as possible. Overall, I really enjoyed working in the studio environment and having a high responsibility role was an exciting experience for me. I feel like I have challenged myself in taking on a technical role as I felt like my camera skills weren't at a high standard.

Studio Production: My Role as a Director

The second role I had for this unit was one of the VT Directors. The other VT Director was Saskia who I'd never worked with before. I felt excited to take on this role and work with the other members of the VT team. This process began with the idea exploration for the VTs. I think that this was relatively successful when we were in a big group as the ideas were all noted down. However, when it came to making creative decisions later on, I struggled to have my voice heard.
When it came to the shoot days, I felt prepared, having worked with the scripts and composing a shot list with all of the coverage I wanted to get. I had taken some of my research into account when it came to imagining the scenes and coming up with the sequences I wanted to film. I feel like the shoot days were relatively successful, however, we did have to re-film to get extra material and some tighter shots.
When it came to the editing stage, I would say that the overall process with Laura was successful and we managed to work well as a team. I was pleased with the outcome, however, there were a few sound issues with some of the dialogue. This was edited using audition which was relatively successful in improving the sound quality. There were a few issues with disagreements regarding the edits but Helen said that she liked the final edits and that only minor changes needed to be made. In conclusion, I feel like I didn't enjoy Directing as much as Camera operating but feel like i've learnt a lot in terms of ensuring I assert authority on future projects where I am directing to ensure that I am happy with the outcomes.

Studio Production: 'The Big Movie Quiz' - The Recording

Yesterday was a very big day, we recorded the show 'as live' in front of an audience. All of the weeks of rehearsals were leading up to the record, which meant that it needed to reflect all of our team work and progress. Given the limited time we had to rehearse, I think the final record was incredibly successful. Everyone took to their roles with a professional manner throughout which means that the final result should reflect that and I think it did.
There was a real buzz of energy on both the studio floor and the gallery as we set up for the record. Everyone was feeling very nervous as any little slip ups could pull the production value down and let the show down. However, despite a few very small imperfections, they were all recovered very quickly and professionally which I think showed how much we've learnt throughout this process.

We arrived for the rehearsals with a complete set for the first time, which was really good to see because it looked very impressive. The camera crew all arrived with plenty of set up time which meant that we were able to match them all up perfectly and ensure that all batteries were on charge.
In terms of the rehearsals, I think that each one got better as we all got into the swing of our roles and were gaining confidence. As one of the camera crew, I felt like, despite making camera cards to follow, I was able to remember my shots for each round and was confident setting up for each shot with ease. Cheyenne and I were both on the contestants, so during rehearsals it was affective to be able to see what worked best in terms of who would be shooting what and how our cameras would work together. It was interesting working with the lighting team for the first time as this had a dramatic effect on the cameras, something we hadn't had to work with before. However, this was overcome by setting the cameras to a collective setting and having the lights altered to work well with the cameras.
When it came to the final record, I was certainly feeling the pressure, however I think that the rush of adrenaline is really exciting, especially with a live audience. There was also a huge pressure to make everything perfect as we will be assessed on the final outcome, based on how it went for that take alone. I think this was a good way to assess the show, as it also assesses how well each of us coped under pressure.
After the recording, Del made a speech and took a group photo with us which was nice as it felt like a celebratory end to the show. Overall, I am very pleased with the final recording and think that all of the team work we put in throughout rehearsals and our time with Del has proven to have been a great learning curve for all of us
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