When you work with a video production company, as a client, you usually deal with one or two people. Usually it’s the producer that oversees your project. Behind the scenes of your production, however, there is a whole team of people with very specific roles who make sure that everything runs smoothly. In this article, you’ll find out who are the people responsible for making your project a success.
The Client Manager
This is the person who called you and sold the project to you. Depending on how big the production company is, they might be the owner or main company representative, or they might be an employee. Their main task at the company is to bring in new business.
This role asks for:
– Networking and cold calling/emailing
– Sales meetings and sales calls
– Client management and communication
– Collaborating with producers to meet client deadlines and client expectations
The Producer or Production Manager
As we’ve said before, this person takes care of your project from beginning to end. They do the budgeting, assemble the staff, oversee production and post-production and answer all your questions regarding the production process. They also make sure that things stay on schedule and on budget.
A Producer needs:
– Strong organizational and production skills
– Good grasp of budgeting and time planning
– Good people and communication skills
– To work closely with the director to make sure that the scope, schedule and budget of the production are met
The Director
The Director is the creative force behind your project. They have an artistic vision for the production and work towards achieving that vision and giving you the best finished product possible. Directors can be employees of the production company or they can be freelancers. Sometimes, Directors start their own production companies where they also act as producers.
The Director needs to have:
– Great knowledge of the film and video production process across multiple production departments
– A fast, creative and felxible mind, with an ability to adapt quickly
– Excellent communication skills, so they can collaborate with cast and crew and communicate their vision to their team
– A good working relationship with the Producer, Director of Photography and cast and crew members
The Director of Photography / Camera operator
The Director of Photography is in charge of capturing the Director’s vision on camera. This person is the head of the camera department and works closely with the Director to develop shot lists, looks, choose lenses and lights, in order to better tell the story visually. Depending on the size of the production, the DP might work on their own or head a team of camera technicians.
Most times, the DP and camera operator are one and the same, but on larger productions DPs might stick to developing the look, lighting and camera setups and leave the actual operating to dedicated crew.
The role of the DP includes:
– Excellent understanding of all camera and lighting gear
– Great knowledge of image composition, lighting and camera movement
– Strong communication skills to work cloesely with the Director, camera operators, lighting crew etc.
The Gaffer / Lighting Crew
As the old joke goes, films without lighting would be just radio plays :). Lighting is a crucial part of video production, and the Gaffer is in charge of lighting of a shoot. Depending on how big the production is, the Gaffer might work on his own or might lead a crew of electricians and light technicians. On very small productions, the DP might act as his or her own gaffer (in this case, they will be called lighting camerapersons).
The Gaffer needs to have:
– Excellent knowledge of lighting gear
– Strong safety protocols in place for setting up, using and breaking down lights
– Strong safety protocols in place for working with electricity
– Good communication skills for best collaboration with the DP and crew
The Sound Mixer / Sound Technicians
This is the person who records sound on set, whether it’s the lines that the on-screen talent is speaking or other sounds and sound effects. The standard sound team is composed of a sound mixer and a boom operator (the boom is the mcrophone at the end of a long pole). On large production, a third or even fourth member of the team might be added, whilst on small shoots, the mixer will also hold the boom. Sound mixers decide what microphones are used and their placement.
The need to:
– Have excellent knowledge of audio recording and gear
– Have good communication with the rest of the crew
– Work closely with the director and the talent to make sure that all sounds, especially spoken lines, are recorded properly
The Editor
After shooting is over, the footage is handed over to an editor whose job is to assemble the pictures together into a cohesive story, based on the script and the Director’s indications. On small productions, the Editor will also play the part of colorist and graphics artist, whilst on larger productions, these roles are occupied by dedicated professionals.
The editor needs to:
– Have great knowledge of relevant video editing platforms, as well as technical knowledge about camera and video file formats
– Have excellent knowledge of editing thory and story structure
– A creative mind for storytelling and problem-solving any issues with footage
– Great communication skills to work closely with the Director and producer
Apart from these roles, a production might also employ personnel such as hair and makeup artists, wardrobe designers and specialists, production designers and so on.
