SKSCTV12 Communicate and coordinate on a multi camera shoot

Overview 

This Standard is about communicating and coordinating within a multi camera shoot.  It involves both communication within the camera crew, and communication between the camera crew and others involved in the production. This could apply to any type of production including feature films, TV dramas, commercials, documentaries, sports coverage, outside broadcast and live or stage events. 

It includes communicating by radio, feeds, monitors, cue lights, written information, signals and gestures. It also includes coordinating with other camera operators to enhance the quality of shots, timing of camera moves and transitions between shots.

This standard is for camera operators working in a multi camera environment.

 

Performance Criteria

You must be able to:

  1. obtain and use equipment for communication and coordination which is appropriate for shoots
  2. check that radios, cue lights, feeds and monitor are working without interference
  3. prevent any leakage of communications onto programme sound or working environment
  4. identify and interpret communication that is specifically directed to your operating role
  5. identify and interpret information which is directed to other personnel, but which may affect your operating role
  6. make clear operational notes which can be interpreted by other operators when required
  7. use appropriate signals or gestures when oral communication is impracticable
  8. communicate with members of the crew at appropriate times
  9. route communication via an appropriate third party when necessary
  10. observe appropriate protocols when communicating with production teams or other departments
  11. use camera cue lights, feeds, monitors and radios to co-ordinate camera shots, movements and repositions at appropriate times
  12. use camera cue lights, feeds, monitors and radios to enhance the quality of shots, timing of camera moves and transitions between shots
  13. use feeds or monitors to co-ordinate own shots with those of other operators
  14. use feeds or monitors to enhance the appearance and timing of transitions between shots, cuts, mixes, dissolves and wipes
  15. use feeds or monitors to modify shot composition when accommodating super-impositions, split-screens or other electronic effects 

 

Knowledge and Understanding

You need to know and understand: 

  1. the communication chains and protocols which apply
  2. how to communicate with crew members and when it is appropriate to do so
  3. methods of non-verbal communication which may be used when there is a need for silent working
  4. terminology and abbreviations used
  5. how to obtain, connect and operate different types of radio
  6. the health and safety aspects of radio use in areas of high ambient sound level
  7. how to identify and correctly interpret the relevance of information received
  8. how to use camera cue lights, feeds, monitors and radios to enhance the quality of shots
  9. how and when it is appropriate to communicate with production team, ‘racks’, or other facility areas
  10. sources of feed including external viewfinder feeds and mixed feeds
  11. how to use external viewfinder feeds, mixed feeds and monitors to co-ordinate and complement your camera output with the overall, on-going programme content
  12. types of information which can be used to enhance the quality of shots including programme sound, commentary, shot and camera numbers, countdowns, or bar-counts
  13. how to use feeds and monitors to enhance transitions between shots, and to monitor any super-impositions or electronic effects which may affect the composition of the image
  14. different types of camera cue lights, and how to interpret them
  15. limitations in the operation of camera cue lights
  16. routing of your camera output and who may make use of it, even when you are not ‘on shot’