Chapter 12 - Field Production
After reading this chapter, you should know . . .
- The reasons for a greater need for discipline in the field.
- The different cast and crew members needed in the field as well as varying tasks that are undertaken on location.
- The organizational duties a producer must perform to ensure a smooth production.
- How to direct on location.
- How cameras are used in the field.
- About lighting for both indoor and outdoor locations.
- How to handle audio problems in the field.
- The lesser role that graphics and sets play in many field shoots.
- The functions of the recording part of the camcorder.
- The greater role editing plays in single-camera shooting.
- How remote truck production is similar to and different from both studio and field production.
1. List all the equipment available for remote shooting at your school’s facility. Note the characteristics of each piece of equipment, such as directionality for microphones, formats for video recorders, power requirements for lighting kits, types of connectors for cables, and so forth.
2. Using the Location Survey Checklist, scout a location on campus, such as the bookstore, the main lobby of the student center, or the football stadium. Answer the survey questions and decide what you would need to do to ensure a successful shoot.
1. What are the main differences between lighting in a studio and lighting on location, both for a field shoot and a remote truck shoot?
2. Describe the advantages and disadvantages of a large crew versus a small crew on a location shoot.
3. How is a director’s job different in the field, on a truck, and in the studio?
4. How do the challenges audio operators face in the field compare to those in the studio?
5. Imagine you are scouting a hallway for a shoot. You find the one in Figure 12.22. How many problems can you spot if you plan on using this hallway? How will the mixture of indoor and outdoor light affect color temperature? What can be done about the potential glare? How will the automatic iris function as the talent walks along the corridor, moving in and out of extremely bright spots? What will be the safest angle to use?
Here we provide links to excellent topic-related web sites.
- Equipment rental house.
- Portable lights and lighting equipment.