In this article, we’ll talk about the differences between key crew roles on a media production set. Words like videography, cinematographer, or camera operator have been used interchangeably in some circles. However, I believe it’s helpful to clarify and identify these key roles so you can better communicate on set. We’ll also try and distinguish what terms are used in Film and TV Production vs Live Event Production.

Media Professional Crew Roles

Below is our list of media professional crew roles.

Producer

Production Type: Film Production & Live Production

A producer is the person who sees the project from start to finish. They are the shepherd of a production, coordinating and collaborating with everyone hired for the shoot. They typically have the big picture in mind, though there are specializations within the producing industry. There are also honorary producers, or people who have the title without the day-to-day tasks or responsibilities. For larger film productions, positions are broken out into Executive Producers, Line Producers, Supervising Producers, Assistant Producers, Co Producers, and Associate producers.

Director

Production Type: Film Production & Live Production

In film production, a director’s primarily focused on getting the performance right from the actors. They communicate extensively with the Assistant Directing Team (Who runs/coordinates the crew), Producers (who hired the director and see the project from start to finish), and the Cinematographer (who’s focused on the image/visuals of the film). In live production, the directing position is broken up into a few jobs listed in this article.

Assistant Director

Production Type: Film Production

An Assistant Director (or AD) manages a film set. They keep the team on schedule, prep the crew for the next shot, and are the centerpiece for communication on set. They are ultimately responsible for safety on set, and are often bulldogs (even though the industry is changing to more friendly AD’s which is great in my opinion).

Multi-cam Director

Production Type: Live Production

This director is calling the shots to the Technical Director (aka TD) during a production. The Multicam Director has to look at several cameras, graphics, and videos at once and mixes those elements to makeup a live broadcast. The multicam director on a smaller show will not utilize a TD and switch a show themselves, and some directors even prefer to operate the switchboard themself. The multicam director will sometimes give notes to the talent, but usually those are coming from a producer.

Technical Director

Production Type: Live Production

A Technical Director’s primary focus in a live production is on the switch board. They push the buttons to change cameras, preview cameras, or route sources. Technical directors have other responsibilities in other event settings; the TD is the overseer of all technical aspects of theatre and church production.

Camera Utility

Production Type: Film Production & Live Production

This person is primarily focused on moving gear, running cable, and maintaining video village. Live event shoots generally don’t have a Camera Assistant, so the Utility helps setup cameras with the operator. They are also the person on stage wrangling cables for handheld cameras.

Camera Assistant

Production Type: Film Production

This person builds, sets up, and manages the camera. They are also “assisting” or helping the operator during the recording. The camera assistant position can be broken up into a 1st assistant camera (1st AC) and 2nd assistant camera (2nd AC). The 1st AC is usually the focus puller; they control the lens to make sure the subject stays in focus. The 2nd AC usually operates the slate. The Slate (aka clap board, records information like show, scene, take, and shooting date for the editor.

Camera Operator

Production Type: Film Production & Live Production

This person physically moves (aka operates) the camera when recording. Ideally, you’ll have one operator per camera that needs adjusting or movement during a production (see Pan, Tilt, and Zoom to read more about camera movement at the bottom of this article).

For Live events, the camera operator will often pull their own focus with rear controls. For film shoots, the operator takes direction from a Cinematographer, and gives direction to a camera Assistant.

Cinematographer

Production Type: Film Production

This person creates the tone, look, and feel of visual images in a film. They ultimately decide what gear setup will accomplish the creative vision of both themselves and the director. Generally, larger format cameras are used in filmmaking, and cinematographers don’t often help with live event production (even though some event’s will credit someone as one).

Videographer

Production Type: Freelance Video Producer

This person has to combine all of the previous positions. A Videographer often is a one man band who runs their own cables, operate the camera, and also have a creative vision. A videographer is more of a generalist position, and because one person is doing many jobs, the style of the production is drastically different than films.

This is why a videographer and a cinematographer are different. A cinematographer has a team helping them execute, when a videographer just has themselves. There is a crossover between the two, but often when a videographer or cinematographer switch roles, there is a bit of a learning curve. Videographers solo mindset is reliant on them being able to have control of each element, when the cinematographer is reliant on their team to execute a high quality production. Videographers typically move faster than cinematographers, even though cinematographers generally are praised for their higher quality images.

Photographer

Production Type: Film Production & Live Production

A photographer differs from a videographer because they are focused on photographs. Even though today many cameras can shoot both video and still photos, the aesthetic of a photo differs from video. Photographers typically have lighter smaller cameras, and capture specific moments or frames to tell a story, while videographers have to think about audio and video. Both consider lighting, though photography lights flash for an instant when video lights remain on consistently.

Broadcast Engineer / Engineer

Production Type: Live Production

This technical master knows the ins-and-outs of gear, broadcast trucks, and has the technical skill to facilitate a live event production. There are also Audio Engineers and RF engineers who have their own specialization.

Webcast Engineer

Production Type: Live Production

This technical person facilitates the platform a webcast is hosted on, and make sure all settings are setup properly. They don’t work with as much hardware as a typical broadcast engineer, but need to know basic IT skills.

Floor Director / Studio Floor Manager

Production Type: Live Production

The Floor Director manages the talent on a stage. They make sure to communicate countdowns, let the talent know what camera is going live next, and is a relay for comments and questions between the directors/producers and the talent. They have some crossover roles that make them similar to a Stage Manager in theatre, though a stage manager is closer to an Assistant Director.

Camera Moves

Below are a few camera moves that are very important for media professionals to understand.

Pan

Quick Definition: Left to Right

A pan is when a stationary camera pivots from left to right or right to left. This is similar to when you turn your neck/head from left to right without moving your body. A pan can be done when walking (also known as dollying in camera terms), but is generally, a pan is used for stationary cameras.

Tilt

Quick Definition: Up and Down

A tilt is when a camera pivots up or down. This is like lifting your chin up or down, where your body remains stationary but your perspective changes.

Zoom

Quick Definition: In and Out

A camera zoom makes a subject in a photograph or video closer or further than its actual distance from the camera. You can zoom in on a camera to make an object larger in the frame or image, or zoom out to show more of that object or more perspective.

Best of Luck on Your Productions!

So there’s several responsibilities that make up a live event team. Many of these roles crossover with other types of production. Not every show has the exact same responsibilities for their team and it can be quite easy to get the roles confused. Ultimately, live events and film production are collaborative mediums, and it takes a small village to put on a high quality production.

If you ever need help with your own live video production, please don’t hesitate to reach out to the team here at Corporate Streams.

Navigating the Set: Understanding Media Production Terminology