Behind the scenes jobs vital on tv productions

Vision switchers, grips, best boys - what do those jobs listed at the ends of television shows involve? ANGELA McCARTHY reports.

Telly crew line-ups vary according to whether the show is shot in the studio - such as Breakfast and The Weakest Link - or in the field, like Ground Force and Maggie's Garden Show.

But these are the titles you'll see most frequently:-

Executive producer

These are the head honchos responsible for the existence of most local TV. EPs discover ideas, scripts, books or plays, then set up the process to transform them into TV shows.

Producer

The person who makes it happen on a day-to-day basis. They choose key creative staff such as directors, arrange finances and budgets, then oversee the production.

The main difference between producer and executive producer is the EP is in charge of a number of projects at once, while the producer works on one show.

Director

Directs the crew and talent - actors/presenters/reporters - through a shoot. They decide how scenes should be shot to best tell the story. They may choose settings and music and write scripts.

Depending on the programmes, directors may also supervise the editing and post-production.

Studio directors are in the control room directing the programme as it goes to air by calling for and choosing images from a number of cameras as they roll.

Floor manager

Recall those moments when a news presenter waits for a link from elsewhere but everything is deathly quiet? Those times are nightmarish for the floor manager who has responsibility to ensure presenters know live links are ready, bring other talent into the show and generally keep things flowing.

Camera operator

In drama, this role is dubbed DOP, or director of photography. Strong arms are a prerequisite, as cameras could be on their shoulders or dollies, tracks or tripods. They then pan, tilt or zoom the camera to best effect.

Field camera operators are on the move continually - hanging out a car window with a camera is all part of the game.

Studio-based operators push large cameras around the studio floor, gathering a range of shots.

Vision switcher

Nimble fingers are required for this studio role, which involves sitting behind an enormous desk and editing on-line, following the director's calls to switch from one camera to the next to ensure a smooth flow of images.

Sound operator/recordist

Capturing clear, clean and consistent sound is the main task of the sound operator, who uses microphones either attached to the talent, hidden in the field or suspended from ceilings.

By connecting each mike to an audio mixer, the operator adjusts the sound levels and feeds the mixed sound to the camera.

Wind noise causes trouble because it can sound like heavy thunder - must be difficult in Wellington - as do noises like rumbling traffic or cicadas. In fact, cicadas are so piercing that sound operators sometimes resort to water pistols to silence them.

Continuity

Did that person pick their nose with their right or left hand in the last shot? The continuity person makes sure that all elements within the set or scene remain consistent from shot to shot.

They have to notate everything, including camera lenses and filters, so that the technical side of a shot can be reproduced perfectly if it needs to be redone.

Editor

At the end of a field shoot, there is a pile of raw footage (rushes or field tapes), but still no show. Along comes the editor, in collaboration with the director, to find the best footage to tell the story.

A good editor can make quite a difference to a news item through choice of quotes and images. The work takes place in an editing suite using sophisticated computer equipment.

Production manager

They take care of all the arrangements for a shoot: hiring and managing crew (with the producer and director), finding accommodation, renting equipment, buying props, organising travel.

The job often includes sussing out locations and persuading ordinary citizens to open their homes to the crew (think Location, Location).

Sound engineer/mixer

Mixing all sounds together - field sounds, music, sound effects and voice-overs - is the role of the sound engineer. This includes adding atmosphere tracks, such as waves breaking, birds singing or street sounds.