PRODUCTION PEOPLE Pertemuan 11

Matakuliah : O0382 – Dasar-dasar Produksi Siaran TelevisiTahun : 2010

What Production People Do

In a complex television production process, there are personnel who handle the a-z job functions. Those people perform the functions of taking care of backstage, coordinating the talents and auditions, setting the camera and other equipments for the show, writing scripts, to managing budget and coordinating with advertising and station management.

In general, they are divided into 3 (three) big categories:Non-technical production personnelTechnical production personnelNews production personnel

The next slides will discuss more details on what they actually do during production.

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Non-Technical and Technical Production Personnel (1/8)

Non-Technical and Technical Production PersonnelThe production personnel are generally divided into 2 (two) categories: Above-the-line personnel: in charge of translating a script or an

event into effective television images. They are categorized into different budget category from the technical crew

Below-the-line personnel: concerned with operating equipment.

However, the division of above-the-line personnel and below-the-line personnel are not always clear. Generally, the above-the-line personnel include the no technical personnel, and below-the-line personnel include the technical (production crew and engineering personnel).

The next 5 (five) slides will explain the job functions of each production personnel.

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Non-Technical and Technical Production Personnel (2/8)

Non-Technical Production Personnel and their functions (1/3)

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Personnel Function

Executive Producer In charge of one or several large productions or program series; manages budget and coordinates with client, station management, advertising agencies, financial supporters, and talent and writer’s agents.

Producer In charge of individual production; responsible for all personnel working on the production and for coordinating technical and nontechnical production elements; often serves as writer and director.

Associate Producer (AP) Assists producer in all production matters; often does the actual coordinating jobs such as telephoning talent and confirming schedules.

Line producer Supervises daily production activities on the set

Field producer Assits producer by taking charge of remote operations (away from the studio); at small stations may be part of producer’s responsibilities.

Non-Technical and Technical Production Personnel (3/8)

Non-Technical Production Personnel and their functions (2/3)

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Production Manager Schedules equipment and personnel for all studio and field productions

Production Assistant (PA) Assists producer and director during actual production; during rehearsal takes notes of producer’s and/ or director ‘s suggestions for show improvement

Director In charge of directing talent and technical operations; responsible for transforming a script into effective video and audio messages; may often be the producer as well at small stations

Associate Director Assists director during actual production; in studio productions does timing for director; also called assistant director

Talent Performers or actors who appear on television

Actor Actors/ actress

Non-Technical and Technical Production Personnel (4/8)

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Non-Technical Production Personnel and their functions (3/3)

Performer Person who appears on-camera in non-dramatic activities.

Announcer Heads narration but does not appear on-camera; if on camera, the announcer moves into talent category.

Floor Manager In charge of all activities on studio floor; coordinates talent, relays director’s cues to talent and supervisor floor personnel; except for large operations, responsible for setting up scenery and dressing the set. Also called floor director or stage manager.

Floor Person Set up and dress sets; operate cue cards or other prompting devices, easel cards, and on-camera graphics; help setting up and work portable field lighting instruments or microphone booms; assists camera operators in moving camera dollies and pulling camera cables; at small stations also act as wardrobe and makeup people; also called grips, stagehands, or utilities personnel.

Non-Technical and Technical Production Personnel (5/8)

Additional Non-Technical Production Personnel

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Personnel Function

Writer At smaller stations, or in corporate television, the scripts are often written by the director or producer and usually hired on freelance basis.

Art Director In charge of creative design aspects of show (set design, location, and/ or graphics)

Graphic Artist Prepares computer graphics, titles, charts, and electronic background.

Makeup Artist Does the makeup for all talent, usually hired on freelance basis.

Costume Designer Designs and sometimes even constructs various costumes for dramas, dance numbers, and children’s shows; usually hired on freelance basis.

Wardrobe Person Handles all wardrobe matters during production

Property Manager Maintains and manages use of various set and hand properties; in small operations, managed by floor manager.

Non-Technical and Technical Production Personnel (6/8)

Technical Production Personnel and CrewTechnical production personnel are divided into 2 (two) functions:1. Engineering staff: who are responsible for the purchase, installation,

proper functioning, and maintenance of all technical equipment. The following are their job title and the functions:

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Personnel Function

Chief Engineer In charge of all technical personnel, budgets, and equipment; design systems, including transmission, and overseas installation and daily operations.

Assistant Chief Engineer Assists chief engineer in all technical matters and operations; also called engineering supervisor.

Studio or Remote Engineer-in-charge Oversees all technical operations; also called EIC

Maintenance Engineer Maintains all technical equipment and troubleshoot during productions.

Non-Technical and Technical Production Personnel (7/8)

2. Non-Engineering Staff: who are skilled in technical aspects but they are not necessarily to be engineers and they usually are technically trained production people. The followings are their job title and the functions:

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Job Title Functions

Technical Director (TD) Does the switching and acts as technical crew chief

Camera Operators Operate the camera and lighting for simple shows; when in field production, sometimes are called videographers or shouters

Director of Photography (DP) In film production, in charge of lighting; in EFP, operates camera

Lighting Director (LD) In charge of lighting; normally in large productions

Video Operator (VO) Adjust camera control for optimal camera pictures; also called shader.

Audio Technician In charge of audio operations, works audio console during the show, also called audio engineer.

Non-Technical and Technical Production Personnel (8/8)

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Job title Function

Videotape Operator Runs the videotape machine and/ or dist-based recording devices

Character Generator (CG) Operator

Types and/or recalls from the computer the names and other graphic material to be integrated with video image.

Videotape Editor Operates postproduction editing equipment; assists in creative editing decisions.

Digital Graphic Artist Renders digital graphics for on-air use.

News Production Personnel (1/2)

People who work in news production division are dedicated exclusively to the process of news production, documentaries, and special events. The job title and their functions are described below:

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Job Title Function

News Director In charge of all news operations and takes care of the responsibility of all newscasts.

Producer Responsible for the selection and placement of stories in newscast.

Assignment Editor Assigns reporters and videographers to specific events to be covered.

Reporter Compiles all stories, reports on-camera from the field.

Videographer in the absence of reporter, decides on what part of the event to cover, also called news photographer r shooter.

Writer Writes on-the-air copy for the anchors. The copy is based on the reporter’s notes and available videotape.

News Production Personnel (2/2)

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Videotape Editor Edits videotape according to reporter’s notes, writer’s script or producer’s instructions.

Anchor Principal presenter or newscast, normally from a studio set.

Weathercaster On-camera talent, reporting local the weather.

Traffic reporter On-camera talent, reporting local traffic conditions.

Sportscaster On-camera talent, giving sports news and commentary.

Techniques/ Terms used During Production (1/2)There are certain television techniques/ terms that are very often used during production process. These techniques/ terms are closely related to a series of production process from using the microphone correctly, picking and deciding the right timing to get the show on and off the air on time, and all ‘body language’ messages used by the floor manager to direct the host and talent during the show.

Among other things are explained below:Television talent

All people regularly appear on television who aim at entertaining, educating, informing, and communicating effectively with the television audience;Performance techniques

Techniques that all television performers must be aware of. These techniques require the performers to know how to speak to the camera, play host to various guests, or communicate with other performers or to the studio audience.

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Techniques/ Terms used During Production (2/2)

Acting techniquesTo become a good television actor, one must have the mastery of acting. Actors and performers must understand their audiences, blocking (the area where the actors/ performers are allowed to move or to do in relation to the set, other actor’s position, and the television equipment), the lines to be memorized, the timing, the relation of actor and postproduction process, and the actor-director relationship.

AuditionsAudition is one of a set of production process where the director decides which person goes to a certain role or not.

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