Specialised Courses –
ENG Crews

Learning objectives

• To have an understanding of the production process
• To have an appreciation and requirements of the different roles
• To work together in a collaborative way to enhance the Production Process

Course duration: 5 days

Attendee number: 10

Attendees: ENG producers, ENG cameramen and editors

Note: This course assumes that all participants are proficient in their job role.

The idea of the course is for the producer, ENG cameraman & editor to discuss their specific job roles and requirements and how, working in a collaborative way, they could streamline and enhance the production and post-production process.

They then work as a team to plan and complete a short shoot and edit with a storyboard and proper briefing and discussion of the roles within the team.

After the edit a review takes place to discuss learnings and what could be done even better next time.

Course content

The course is split into theory and practice. It covers:

Part 1: Job titles & responsibilities

• Understanding the production and post-production process
• Each participant discusses their job role and responsibilities
• Understanding the interaction between job roles
• Discussion about collaborative working, how to get the best out of everyone
• Resolving any issues between departments

Part 2: Planning shoot

• Coming up with an idea
• Writing a script or storyboard
• Planning locations
• Discuss what ideas and requirements are needed from the perspective of the different roles

Part 3: Shoot

• Travel to location and set up
• Whilst shooting discuss what limitations there sometimes are and the frustration of unforeseen circumstances, not enough time or the contributor/interviewee not giving enough information
• Editors nearly always need more shots/cutaways, whilst on the shoot he can discuss with the cameraman the variety he needs to create sequences, different shot sizes, angles, positions, framing and perspective, etc.
• Cameramen need to be well briefed about the shots required especially specific ones to illustrate particular points

Part 4: Edit

• The editor and producer discuss how they are going to put the edit together, trying to work in a collaborative way, supporting each other to get the best possible outcome.
• The cameraman also observes the edit process to see and understand how his images are being used, or not used.

Part 5: Final discussion

• Final discussion about the positives and negatives of working together, how to improve the collaboration, understanding and appreciation of stresses and strains of different job roles
• Discuss what if anything they could have done better, more efficiently

By the end of the course, participants will be able to:

• Have an understanding and appreciation of other job roles
• Collaborate in a more meaningful and efficient way
• Look to move forward and try and implement any positive ideas that would enhance the production and post-production process within the station

Learning objectives

• To develop skill sets for intermediate and advanced ENG camera operation
• To understand all tiered menu functions and operational procedures of the sports broadcast cameras
• To review storytelling and editorial concepts in context to the role of camera operator

Course duration: 5 days

Attendee number: 10 (maximum per course)

Attendees: ENG camera operators (intermediate and advanced)

This course assumes that participants have over two years ENG camera operator experience and will have established ENG camera skill sets.

During the course and a series of hands-on practical exercises, participants will learn in-depth operational functions of the sports broadcast cameras and enhanced camera operator skill sets, and develop an aesthetic approach to ENG image acquisition.

Course content

The course is split into theory and practice. It covers:

• The ENG camera operator role and function at advanced level
• The application of advanced functions of the sports broadcast camera

Part 1: The Advanced ENG camera operator

• The role of the advanced (senior) ENG camera operator
• Review of the sports broadcast camera advanced functions
• Interlace and progressive recordings
• Critical exposure evaluation tools
• Menu and detailed settings
• User menu (Factory Default Configuration)
• Operation menu
• Paint menu
• Maintenance menu
• File menu
• Demonstrate practical knowledge of all advanced operating functions of the sports broadcast camera
• Record two minutes material in progressive mode onto SxS media, accessing tiered menu functions and adjusting camera multi-matrix values

Part 2: Advanced ENG camera operating

• Taking control of the image
• Developing image style
• Demonstrate practical knowledge of all advanced operating functions of the sports broadcast cameras
• Record two minutes material in progressive mode onto SxS media, accessing tiered menu functions and adjusting camera multi matrix values.
• Demonstrate image enhancement using lens filtration and image adjustment using camera menu multi-matrix values

Part 3: Advanced ENG camera operating

• Review storytelling and editorial concepts.
• Image gathering for the edit
• Emerging camera acquisition technologies
• Demonstrate practical knowledge of all advanced operating functions of the sports broadcast camera
• Record two minutes material in progressive mode onto SxS media, accessing tiered menu functions and adjusting camera multi-matrix values
• Demonstrate image enhancement using lens filtration and image adjustment using camera menu multi-matrix values
• Demonstrate core competence with a content browser 2.0 clip management
• Software and SxS workflow

By the end of the course, participants will be able to:

• Be confident to use all functions of sports broadcast camera
• Have a more in-depth working knowledge of the camera and accessories
• Control the file-based production workflow