Planning - Production Roles

Production roles

Introduction

Production roles are made up of eleven key roles that are essential to involve in music videos. Production roles consist of a director, producer, editor, cast control, camera operator, lighting operator, print designer, photographer, storyboard organiser, location manager, costume, hair and makeup artist. Each of these roles help to ensure a film is successfully created to the highest possible standard. As a group, we distributed the production roles equally and logically.

 

The different roles and their definitions

•  Director: A director is responsible for having the authority of directing the music video. A director gives directions to the crew and cast ensuring that everybody is following the script and storyboard producing the video successfully. A director must have good leadership skills communicating well with their team members and they must also meet tight deadlines therefore work efficiently making use of their time. The director is supported by the producer and storyboard artist, the producer supervises them director and parts of the production while the storyboard artist shares the information about each shot with the director ensuring that they are following the storyboard. Overall, the director makes the overall decisions associated with the music video.

•  Producer : A producer works closely with the director supervising the making of a music video before preparing and presenting it to a music distributor. One of their key responsibilities is ensuring that they create an environment where the filming crew and cast can flourish and produce their talents effectively. The producer is also often the first person to get involved in a project and come up with the idea for a production, they secure the rights, choose the screenwriter and story editing team. In pre production the producer is responsible for bringing the creative team together including the director, cinematographer, production designer and key cast members. Overall, the producer supervise the development process.

• Lighting operator :The lighting operator is responsible for creating the light and atmosphere in the music video creating the correct connotations associated with each shot. For example, if the shot has connotations of negativity, low lighting will be used by the lighting operator to establish these connotations. A lighting operator keeps in mind issues of visibility, safety and cost ensuring they do not exceed the budget and avoid making mistakes. The lighting operator reads the script and lyrics carefully and make notes on changes in place and time between scenes, which allows him to identify changes often done just with lighting to avoid too many blackouts in one scene. They will also have meetings with the director, designers, stage manager and the production manager to discuss ideas for the music video, and establish budget and scheduling details.
 

• Location manager: A location manager is responsible for finding the appropriate location where the music videos scenes will be set. They must ensure they obtain permission from the police, governmental permits and location owners before they are able to use the location as a set for a scene. A location manager usually works closely with the director and the production designer during pre-production to find and secure their expressed creative vision. The manager is also responsible for public relations at the locations used and the crew's safety during filming.

• Camera operator: The camera operator is responsible for physically operating the camera maintaining the camera angles, movement and size of each shot. The camera operator will work  with the director, director of photography, actors and the film crew to make technical and creative decisions.

• Editor: An editor has the responsibility of working with raw footage, selecting shots and combining them into sequences creating moving images. An editor must creatively work with images, dialogue, pacing, as well as the actors performances to effectively re-imagine and even rewrite the music video to craft a cohesive whole. Editors usually play a dynamic role in the making of a music video.

• Costume, hair and makeup artist: A costume, hair and makeup artist is responsible for creating the cast members appearances. A costume, hair and makeup artist work closely with directors and performers. They assess make-up and hair requirements, set up the department  and prepare the make-up and hair budgets and schedules. They break down the script and storyboard scene by scene to identify the required make-up, costume and hairstyles. Before beginning the creation of the characters appearances they make notes of the characters ensuring they make each characters fit their representation and image before they begin developing their appearances.

• Storyboard organiser:  A storyboard artist is responsible for producing images and notes based on each shot. They visualise the details associated with each shot and put their ideas on paper. Quick pencil sketches are the conventional technique of creating a storyboard. Storyboard artists may use photos to create visuals where photos taken specifically for the project are put together digitally to produce a photographic representation called a photo visual.

• Print designer: Print designers use their technical skills to arrange and style designs as they appear on a page. Their design activities include choosing font types, sizes and colors to create attractive headlines and text-based presentations that will catch the reader's  attention. 

• Photographer: A photographer is someone who takes photographs of something and use the photo in various ways, which may include, album covers, posters, social networking sites, newspapers, magazines etc. A photographer should be skilful when holding and positioning a camera to ensure they take high quality photographs. 

• Cast control: Someone that takes charge of cast control is responsible of the cast members, ensuring all the cast have arrived on to set and are behaving appropriately, doing what they are required to do. 

Who has what role and why?

• Director: Fatma- we have decided that fatma should take on the responsibility of being the director as she was responsible for this role last year and gained certain skills including being capable of managing a group of team members, problem solving and listening to others, explaining herself clearly and giving moral support to each team member. She proved that she was able to complete this role and she is also a focused person therefore we know she will not be easily distracted and will ensure she completes our project to a high standard. 

• Producer: Marlyn- We decided that Marlyn should be the producer as she has effective communication skills therefore she is able to communicate with people efficiently and is patient ensuring that she will be capable of dealing with any problems that the cast/crew may have. She is also a creative individual and will therefore help come up with new ideas for the production as well as visualise how certain things should be presented.

• Lighting Operator: Fatma- We decided that she should take on the responsibility of being the lighting operator as she is able to identify where different lights and colours should used according to the type of image that is being conveyed. She is also creative and will be able to position the light source in the appropriate positions.

• Location Manager: Fatma- We have decided that she should be the location manager as she is a good organiser and will therefore be able to choose the locations efficiently according to the atmosphere we want to create. She is also good at negotiating allowing her to negotiate efficiently with location owners if we need to use a public place to film our shots.

• 
  Camera operator: Marlyn- We decided that Marlyn should be the camera operator as she has good practical skills, therefore will be able to operate and move the camera accordingly. She is also able to interpret instructions to visualise shots.

• 
  Editor: Carlie- We have decided that I should take on the editing role as I have had past experience after editing the thriller film  I created last year in my media coursework, therefore I will be able to edit our video confidently using my expertise to make the video a high quality. Also, due to my patience I will be able to remain calm and confident when under pressure of meeting the deadline. 

• Costume, hair and makeup artist: Marlyn-  We decided that Marlyn should take on the responsibility of being the costume, hair and makeup artist due to her creative skills which will help her to create the perfect image for each character and ensure their image fits their role. This will be particularly effective when she is dressing and doing up the artist as she needs to be portrayed as a star and also a role model. 
  
  
  
  

•  Storyboard Organiser: Fatma- We decided that Fatma should take responsibility of creating the storyboard as she is able to think creatively and will therefore be able to draw each shot and identify the micro elements bringing the visuals to life. She is also aware of the formation of the narrative and the content allowing her to create the storyboard accordingly. 

• Cast control: Marlyn- We have decided that marlyn will be responsible for cast control as she is able to be strict and serious if necessary which is appropriate in this case, as she must encounter these attributes to handle the cast members and ensure they are doing the correct thing. 

• Print designer: Carlie- We have decided that I will be responsible for print design as I am creative and good at creating designs and creating something effective from nothing. This will be necessary when creating the digi pack as I will be required to create an effective poster type pack which include images and colours. 

• Photographer: Carlie- We have decided that I will also take responsibility for the photography, taking pictures of the artist and characters, scenery etc for the digi pack, as I have a steady hand and is able to hold the camera in a unique way that will allow me to capture different shots effectively. 

Conclusion: How has this been beneficial ?

Overall, this planning has been beneficial as it has allowed each member of my group to identify our qualities, strengths and weaknesses, and according to these qualities we have been able to fairly decide who to allocate to each role. We are aware that certain roles hold more significance over others, therefore, we distributed roles equally ensuring that each of us held a major role. It is also beneficial as it has allowed us to prepare and come up with new ideas.