Though Commodore Productions does a lot of video production work on Gulf Coast State College’s campus, they also handle live productions for many of the athletic games and Visual and Performing Arts shows. With so many productions, there are many roles within the organization. So, what are some of the needed roles and positions when producing a live show in Commodore Productions?
Director
In its simplest form, the Director calls the shots. They are in charge of making sure each person is correctly doing their job and monitoring what is broadcasted. The Director keeps an eye on what is “live and what is “on standby” by watching multiple monitors that they control with a device called a TriCaster. The TriCaster displays all of the cameras in operation as well as any graphics in use.
Camera
If there was no camera, there would not be a production. The camera operator is the heartbeat of any production as if no one could see anything, it wouldn’t be very interesting to watch. There are multiple camera setups that are used within Commodore Productions. Most people understand what a video camera is, but there are other types of camera’s used like handhelds, and robotics that are used in the production studio.
Audio
While cameras may arguably be the most important aspect of live video production, audio and sound is a very close second. Audio can often be the most ‘finicky’ of all the positions as audio often has a mind of its own. It can cut out, make popping sounds, and fluctuate depending on how the microphone is picking up the sound. When those things occur, it is up to the audio operator to correct any issues and get the audio to sound nice and normal again. After all, no one wants to watch something if the audio isn’t clear or not a consistent sound volume.
Graphics
Graphics are a key but often looked over element of video production. When watching things such as the news, sports games, or any type of show that has a host, you will have graphics displayed on the screen. The person in charge of graphics is often very busy. They must be in tune with everything happening on camera so they can display the proper graphics. Graphics often must be made up on the spot if something unique needs to be shown. If breaking news occurs, or something unexpected happens during a sports game, the graphics person must create one very quickly.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sophie Theiss
Student Author - Fall 2020
Sophie is a Digital Media B.A.S. student at Gulf Coast State College. She is the Student Government Internal Affairs Liaison and 21-22 President-Elect. Sophie is an active supporter of getting students involved with campus and student life.
