Post 10: Job Roles Research

To make sure we understand each of our roles when carrying out the production of our short film we researched job roles in the film making process.

We researched the following departments:

- Direction

- Camera

- Lighting

- Production Sound

- Art Department

This is what I found out about each of these areas.

Direction:

The main role in the direction department is the director. The director is responsible for the creative vision of the whole feature film. The director is supported by his assistant directors who ensure the directors targets are met. Other roles in the direction department include Script supervisor and the runner.

Camera:

In the camera department the head of the department is the Directors of photography who works closely with the production designer to help fulfil the directors vision for the film. Camera operators make sure the camera is moved carefully and to the DoP's , and are responsible for the rest of the camera crew. These positions are:

- 1st Assistant Camera - The role of the 1st assistant camera is to accurately judge and pull focus on every shot.

- 2nd Assistant Camera - Loads the film and provides general camera assistance and any trainees.

The camera department also work closely with the lighting department.

Lighting:

The lighting department plays a crucial role in most film roles. At the head of the lighting department is the director of photography and there role is to give the film its unique visual identity or look. The gaffer is in charge of all electrical equipment and leads a team of technicians who install the lighting equipment. The best boy deals with all the paper work and co-ordinates the teams of lighting technicians. The lighting technicians help to supply relevant power supply for a film.

Production Sound:

In the sound department the production sound mixers are responsible for the job of recording sound and dialogue and ensuring that dialogue recorded in the film is suitably clear. The Boom operator is responsible for placing the microphone in the right position without interfering with the camera or lighting crew. The sound trainee assistant is responsible for supplying back up to the sound mixers and the boom operator.

Art Department:

The arts department are led by the production designer. The production designer is responsible for the whole arts department. In the arts department team you have Art Director who acts as a project manager and works closely with the production to make sure there visual ambitions for the film are correctly met. The supervising Art Director manages the budget so that the Production Designer can set about there task and fulfilling it.

After we had researched and found out about job roles we had a production meeting. In the production meeting we devised a plan to who would take each role. As Anton had written the script it was a sensible option for him to be the director. I took up the role of the lighting department, Tim is the camera department and Nickie will be in charge of the Art department.