Director and Vision Mixer for my groups second Live Show - 'CCI Live' - 14th November 2014.
Role: Director and Vision Mixer
As my group got the faculty based show ‘CCI Live’ for our next show we decided to have a meeting to discuss ideas. We wanted to do an Architecture special and so got in contact with an Architecture lecturer who was willing to be interviewed on our show that went Live at 12pm on Friday 14th November 2014. We decided that we wanted to feature first years to interview them about how they are finding their University experience so far, and my group wanted to feature our live audience and thought a Q&A would be good to ask the two first year students any questions they would like an answer to. With regards to Architecture, we found a few third years that were willing to talk about what they have learnt and what they have seen because they came to Portsmouth University to study Architecture.
After our meeting, we booked out filming equipment we needed, and interviewed one of the three third year Architecture students on the 28th October 2014. For this interview I decided my role would be Lighting Operator as I wanted to improve my skills and to see if I had learnt from the previous shoot. As I was responsible for using the three Dedo Lights we booked out, I decided to use the 3 point lighting technique I had learnt previously to produce a high quality shot. There were problems at first as the room was quite dark, but this was overcome by making sure that the lights in the room we were using were on, whilst also adding more light to help with the Dedo Lights. The interview went successful after facing the lighting problems and we stayed organised by arranging with the other two Architecture students when we can film them before our deadlines for the VTs.
On the 4th November both of the Architecture students we asked were free for an interview. We decided to take a smaller crew this time and so I had the role of Lighting Operator and Camera Operator. This was a bit more pressure as I had to keep going back to the Sony EX1 Camera to check that the lighting technique I used was good enough and that the lighting was not too strong on the interviewee’s face. It also meant that I got to learn the pressure of taking on multiple roles, which I felt would be a good skill to gain, as it shows I can handle huge pressure. I decided to set the Sony EX1 Camera up first so that then me and the Director could decide on what to do with the lights. The lights used were the three Dedo Lights, and once again I used the technique of the three point lighting to create a high quality video. Overall, even though I have previously done both of these roles, I feel that it still is a lesson as with every shoot as you are in different locations, with different weather types and people, so even though I know about the equipment, I also get to learn every single time what is best to do for any situation I am in.
Above: Image of the Lighting and Camera set up at the Architecture interview shoot.
The next day I was asked by the Director to go and film cutaways with another member of my group, in order to get enough to fit in with the interviews that were conducted. I decided to use a variety of shots from Close Ups (CU), Wide Shots (WS), whilst also using techniques such as Pull Focuses and Zooms to give a range of cutaways that suited the interview I recorded and lit previously.
My group arranged a practice on the 13/11/14, which was the day before the Live show. This was to make sure that all the VT’s and straps were done before having a run through with the presenter and the team. Having a run through made me and my team feel more relaxed and confident for tomorrows live show. In the evening we got told by our lecturer that we were not allowed to interview one of our lecturers anymore and so had to think of who we could interview to replace them. We asked one of the CCI Managers to come in for 10am tomorrow as she was willing to be interviewed about her role. My group also made sure that the paperwork was ready and so was the final script. I felt that my group worked well, as instead of panicking we addressed the situation by finding a replacement interview that fitted in with the order of our show.
Above: Images of the final script with some highlighted writing on for, so I knew which buttons I needed to press at which point to make myself organized and relaxed.
The 14/11/14 was my groups live show day. It was so hectic as I was asked to set up the studio upstairs by myself, meaning that I had to put the final script onto the Autocue and read through it to make sure that it made sense and there were no mistakes. I turned on the Studio Lights, set up the two Canon XLH1 Cameras in the CCI Studio before then turning on and setting up the TriCaster and Vision Mixer and finally filling out all the credits. Once the upstairs and downstairs studios were set up, we decided to have a run through with both studios to see how the show will go. The run through was successful but the Eldon Broadcast Hub Studio downstairs wanted to sort some camera angles out and so was practising on their own. Therefore, I said that we should have another run through with just upstairs in the CCI Studio to calm everyone and make us all relaxed about the upcoming live show. Just before we went live our lecturer added one more CCI Manager to be interviewed as well, so I took on the task of changing the Autocue, telling the presenter upstairs and made the straps on the TriCaster and put the name on the credits in time just before going live. I also made sure that I had the correct buttons on; on the Vision Mixing Desk to make sure it was ready to go live. Less than a minute before we went live, the credits crashed and the system malfunctioned, which unfortunately meant that they could not be shown at the end of the show, but would be edited in after if anyone wanted to re-watch the show.
Overall, I feel that the show went successfully and that I improved on my Vision Mixing role as it was only my second time using that type of Vision Mixing desk, and I did not mess up at any points. I also feel I did well in making sure everything was organised as I helped with a load of other jobs beforehand, which helped make people calm as they didn’t have to worry about setting up their piece of equipment, it was just ready as soon as they came into the CCI Studio. Vision Mixing is a role I feel I am becoming very good at now because of the experience I have undertaken. Even though I have enjoyed this role, I know that I would like to experience other roles to improve my studio skills, as I know how to set up the equipment, but I haven’t entailed the role as a whole.
Above: A photo of me practicing Vision Mixing before the live show.
Here is my groups show :)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2t_41o89mgo
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Freelancing for Red Teams 'CCI Live' Show - 26th September 2014.
Role: Second Unit Vision Mixer (Eldon Broadcast Hub).
On the 25/09/14 and 26/09/14, I was the support group for the Red Team. The Director told our groups what roles needed to be filled and to choose which ones we wanted. I decided to do the Second Unit Vision Mixer role in the Eldon Broadcast Hub, which is situated downstairs within our University building. I wanted to be a Vision Mixer, as it is an important role within the industry and so I wanted to learn skills on how to use the piece of equipment (In the Eldon Broadcast Hub the Vision Mixer is the NewTek Live Control LC-11) as I was in charge of the camera shots being broadcasted, and in this show, it was for the interviews taking place in the downstairs studio. Naomi Neufeld, a Vision Mixer from the BBC states that a Vision Mixer works 'closely with the Director, to the Director, and a Vision Mixer will cut the camera shots that the Director wants onto the screen'. I also wanted to improve my skills from previous times when I have entailed the Vision Mixer role because I have enjoyed doing the role as you get an adrenaline rush with the pressure of making sure you broadcast the correct camera shot. The Show was 'CCI Live' which is a faculty based show (I explained in the beginning introduction section of my blog) and went live at 12pm on Friday 26th September 2014.
Above: Images of the NewTek Live Control LC-11 Vision Mixer I operated during the Live Show.
During the show, the Director seemed to be busy at points helping other roles out, so I took the initiative to change cameras when I thought the time was right. I made sure that whilst I was concentrating on the Broadcast screen, I was mainly keeping an eye on the Preview screen to make sure that I have the correct camera shot to change to next. As Naomi Neufeld states 'A Vision Mixer is always, always, always watching the preview monitors. You are aware of what is on the main programme screen but our job is to scan the previews'.
I felt that overall I had successfully done the Vision Mixing role well because I took the initiative upon myself to change camera shots whilst the Director was helping other roles that needed attending too. The Director did tell me when to change camera shot the majority of the time although, it was only for a little while that I had to choose the camera shots when I felt that they needed to be changed. The Director had trusted me to do this because I have previously undertaken the Vision Mixer role before, but I was not overly confident with the role. After the show, it has improved my skills, as I learnt the buttons and how to setup and use the equipment as well as always making sure I am looking at the Preview screen whilst also checking that the Broadcast screen is on the right camera shot. I feel that if I had the chance again, I would take on the Vision Mixing role, as I could improve on the skills I have and I have always enjoyed the adrenaline you get throughout the live show.
Here is the Red Groups ‘CCI Live’ show :)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTxQD9nfaXY&list=UUbUcTkAVUNdPZ7kSZbu_wlg
