Workshop Films/Photos &Test Shoots

Multi-Camera Workshop 1 Film & Photos & Test Shoots - 

Tuesday 23rd March 2021

What Went Well/ What I Have Learned

To begin with the positive sides of the first workshop and test shoot, for what went well, I had felt for the first time working as a team and in person, we all worked very well together as a team of learning and experiencing multi-camera techniques, vision mixing, and for myself as one of the camera operators, it was useful, interesting and important to listen, recognize and remember the language and communication of making the adjustments and shoots for the specific and targeted shots when the director instructed myself and the other camera operator individuals for our turn from the creative choices, during and throughout the shoot. I felt the overall shoot was a success as a test, as a team, and by feeling confident already we will have a positive and hardworking process. Regarding what I have learned, I had felt I have learned a lot more about using the 4K Panasonic camera (figure 2) and for the first time, during a whole day to film, experiment, and use which I very much appreciated. By learning more about its menu settings, how to focus and frame on objects and individuals, and considering I wasn't given that many instructions to make any adjustments and change for framing, I was advised to always keep my hands tightly on the handle of the tripod and the camera, to keep staying focus and maneuver slightly to keep on track and in the focus of my shot of the individual and to be more specific that individual was a one-shot of Kerry on the sofa and in front of the glass beside the kitchen. 

What Could Have Gone Better/ Even Better If

For the negative sides of the workshop and test shoot, for even better if, it would have been better to have the workshop in one of the huge studio's spaces, and to get straight into using that studio experience and space for the equipment, communication, and even social distancing, for what should be the appropriate location for a studio production show. Although I was fully aware and understood both of the studio spaces were being used for other productions and personally not taking it in a negative perspective, and as well personally having to film the workshop in the base room, the atmosphere was positive and hardworking still together as a team. Finally, for what could have gone better, I would have appreciated it if my studio director gave me some instructions to reposition the camera itself, focus, and shots when we were in the progress of doing the test shoot, and this would have been helpful for myself, to boost my confidence a bit more and getting used to the communication language from a studio director to a camera operator. I am feeling optimistic though that in the coming weeks of the workshops, by being in the studio space and by also being given more instructions from the creative choices from the studio director to myself and getting the preparations ready of the use of communication and language for when we all film Trending in the studio space live. 

Figure 1: camera screen monitor from my camera

Figure 2: 4K Panasonic camera that I picked and experimented with

Multi-Camera Workshop 2 Photos - 

Tuesday 13th April

What Went Well/ What I Have Learned

For what went well, it was appreciative and helpful to be finally and officially back into one of the studio spaces and have that actual and in-person experience to test and shoot footage that is appropriate for an as live studio production show format. Everyone once again worked together really well, having a try and test of shooting from a multi-camera perspective, and for the first time as well in a studio space was getting the opportunity and each turn of going into and experiencing the gallery room, of trying out the vision mixing (figure 1). Another moment that went well, was using headsets and the radio communicator (figure 5) for each of us as camera operators. I had felt I had communicated, used, and achieved that confidence already of trusting and using the radio communicators. It was overall enjoyable and for the first time being back into the studio space. From what I have learned, when we were being shown and taught about specific parts for camera operating and other technical aspects around the studio space, being shown on the row of plugs on the wall (figure 2), that connect from between the camera operators, the hosts, and other specific areas that were helpful and an element I had learned. For other moments I had learned, by using the radio communicator buttons and the difference of them, with one of them communicating between a camera operator and the gallery, and the other between one camera operator to another camera operator. I had learned of keeping the communication going between myself as a camera operator and whenever another peer member was having a try as the vision mixer and studio director. For example, I was known on the day as camera one, and whenever I was being communicated from the gallery, if a technical issue may have occurred from the point of my camera not looking satisfying from the studio director, I understood and was aware whenever my camera wasn't fully correct of keeping it in the loop of the test shoot. I am feeling confident for the next shoots and when the actual studio production shoot happens, I can try and keep up with the language and communication between myself and the studio director in the gallery. I had learned a couple of helpful, useful, and important technical aspects about the communication between a camera operator and the gallery. 

Even Better If/ What Could Have Gone Better

 I had got the chance to experience and play with the vision mixing in the gallery (figure 8 & 9),  I did not feel it was a first successful practice experience, and it was difficult to keep up with holding down five buttons of the five cameras and along with the extra button which was the cut button. It was also difficult to keep an eye on all of the screens and especially the transmission and preview screens, and there were actually moments I forgot to press cut that got transferred on the screen in the studio space for the camera operators' perspective. For what could have gone better, and even better if, I could have asked for another try and keep that practice mode going and by making sure to keep my feelings calm, and I guess with feelings of the experience, I did feel nervous which of course is always understandable, and at the same time I felt a bit tense from the start and I guess that didn't support the first time playing and practicing with vision mixing. For a positive thought, it was an interesting and fresh experience and learning curve of how vision mixing works and what are skills and feelings are required. 

Figure 1: Being shown the gallery & vision mixing.

Figure 2: Communication plugs on the wall, connections for the camera operators, hosts, and other elements. 

Figure 3: Camera with the viewfinder open, ready for the test

 shoot. 

Figure 4: Focusing and framing subject 

Figure 5: Radio communicator on me and testing the services between the gallery and the other camera operator individuals. 

Figure 6: Myself behind the camera with headsets on 

Figure 7: Enjoying the experience with a peer member

Figure 8: Trying vision mixing & studio directing

Figure 9: Trying vision mixing & studio directing photo two

Multi-Camera Workshop 3 Photos - 

Thursday 15th April 2021

What Went Well/ What I Have Learned

For what went well, going up a step of testing multi-cameras, I felt the whole process went well of framing and testing in front of our fellow two main producers (peers), and in the context of a discussion between the producers and our executive producer. It was helpful to experience seeing the masking tape on the floor between the parts of how our production stage is going to be put up and the limited spaces it requires for the hosts and social distancing. From what I have learned, for the first time getting to experience and learn from how my fellow peers and from their job roles as the studio director and producers want and where the camera operators to be positioned and around the studio space and from all the figures below, this has given myself for the first time a rough idea of what the studio director and producers require of placing the camera operators and production set. 

What Could Have Gone Better/ Even Better If

For what could have gone better, and even better if, the whole experience from the workshop could have gone better of being at studio one, and which is due to the actual shooting live date of Trending will be located at studio one. I wished that another location could have been possible to support and guide a bit more detail and vision of placing and positing the cameras for the set, instead of being in studio two. I understand though, the other studio space was being used at the time. From a positive opinion though, for the first time actually starting to experience and see the producers and studio director vision of the set and camera operators being positioned, this was still a fresh and helpful experience as a camera operator for the studio production show of Trending. 

Figure 1: Colour masking tape on the floor, testing the space limit for a part of the stage.

Figure 2: Other masking tapes on the other side of the studio space, testing the space limit for the other part of the stage. 

Figure 3: Camera framed and in the focus of a chosen subject for a mid, one shot.  

Figure 4: Different perspective of the frame shot. 

Figure 5: Having to move cameras, changing to a wide, two-shot. 

Figure 6: Testing a run-through. 

Multi-Camera Workshop Photos: 4 - 

Monday 19th April 2021

What Went Well/ What I Have Learned

For what went well, I had felt we're officially in our actual studio space for when we shoot Trending live on Wednesday 28th April, and for the reason being in studio one will start to benefit ourselves as a group of how the set will be positioned, the studio director and the producer's vision of the presentation of the show and for myself as a camera operator how I  will be directed for shots, blocking and for each camera operator individual to be positioned. Regarding what I have learned,  I have started to learn the basic shots I am required to shoot for the next workshops and essentially the actual live show. To be more specific, my focus will be on close-ups, (figure 5), of our contestants, long shots (figure 4) of the hosts, and other creative freedom shots (figure 6) that the studio director may communicate to me that I may need to improvise for the workshops and the studio production live show most importantly.

Even Better If/ What Could Have Gone Better

There weren't that many issues or any improvements I want to include. in, as this was the very first workshop and rough run-through. Maybe we could have a full run-through of the studio production show, however, as a positive, I had appreciated being inside the actual studio space and starting to learn, understand and recognise my objective and focus shots and who will be in the specific shots.   

Figure 1: Black curtain up in the background for our show

Figure 2: All the cameras set up. 

Figure 3: In the gallery room by the studio space. 

Figure 4:  Testing the two, long shots of my fellow peer producers being stand-ins.

Figure 5: Testing a close-up, the fellow peer producer as one of the contestants.

Figure 6: From the viewfinder's perspective of the close-up shot.

Figure 7: Improvising a shot of one of my fellow producer peers holding a copy of the script.  

Multi-Camera Workshop Photos: 5 

Tuesday 20th April 2021

What Went Well/ What I Have Learned

For what went well, I started to recognise more of the shots I am required to shoot and I had appreciated we tried to go through the entire run-through and presentation of the show. Regarding what I have learned, having a television on the set, was helpful to see what shots the gallery would see and for us as well, and I had learned from two-screen perspectives how the shots look and how they are framed right, centered, and correctly.  

Even Better If/ What Could Have Gone Better

Not really that any issues and improvements from a camera operator perspective.  

Figure 1: Seeing a camera on a track as one of the main cameras for the show

Figure 2: More testing of a close-up. 

Figure 3: The Trending logo on the TV screen

Figure 4: Testing some graphics. 

Multi-Camera Workshop Photos: 6 

Wednesday 21st April 2021

What Went Well/ What I Have Learned 

For what went well, it was very helpful and useful to have individuals from first years as stand inns and participating in other roles for the show. I felt as well that went well, as a team we really went through the whole show from start to finish. Going through as a team the specific parts and moments of the show and how they're going to work for shot wise, timing, and other useful information we're informed of. From what I have learned, I had started to learn more about the specific shots I am aiming at and focus on for the show, and when they're meant to happen and who for. For example, looking below at figure 2.

Even Better If/ What Could Have Gone Better

From my professional experience of the day, there were moments where one of the individuals from our year, was asking a lot of questions during and through out the rehearsal and it was slowing down the process, and along with a constant communication going on with our studio director and the individual not being aware from the presentation of the script. As a positive, that was only a slow process in the morning, and during the afternoon of the process, the individual started to recognise and remember how the layout of the concept from the script works.  

Figure 1: Individuals from the first year, supporting and participating in our rehearsal. 

Figure 2: Starting to recognise the shot types I am required to do and when they're meant to be used for the show. A two, long shot of our two stand inns going through a moment of the show.