You need the correct ingredients to make dinner. Although you don’t necessarily have to follow a recipe to the letter, you do need to understand the function that each culinary element serves so that any improvisations make sense in the context of the meal.
The actual secret to success is choosing the proper people for the jobs on your video production team. And to achieve that, you must be aware of what each function entails. Otherwise, curds might become stuck in the velvety smooth B2B video creation process.
The size of your production team will depend on the scope of your shoot. However, the same person can wear several hats in the production. For instance, the director of photography can play a variety of roles, such as a camera operator and digital image technician. You can anticipate that each of these roles will be performed by specialists on larger productions.
Regardless of the size of your production, here is the list of key players in a video production team as well as their roles:
1. Producer
The first position that needs to be filled is that of the producer. From pre-production to post-production, the producer oversees the overall video production process. They can see the broad picture and assist the production in finding the ideal balance between the logistical, budgetary, and artistic requirements of the shoot.
The producer is a term that some people may find difficult to define precisely as its roles are pretty wide-range. Basically, the producer is in charge of overseeing recruiting, finances, and deadlines.
2. Director
The director is ultimately in charge of the production’s overarching vision and ensuring that it is correctly carried out. This may include anything, from picking a venue and hiring the performers to adjusting dialogue and making hurried costume decisions. To guarantee that shooting budgets and schedules are adhered to, they will also be required to make revisions as necessary.
Additionally, a director’s connections with the other crew members could be quite helpful when putting together a production team. This familiarity is frequently advantageous because the director needs to collaborate closely with the director of photography to realise their creative vision and frequently acts as the main sounding board for the actors.
3. Director of Photography (DP)
The director of photography (DP), often known as a cinematographer or videographer, is in charge of setting the video’s visual tone. In other words, they’ll spend the pre-production stage investigating sites, acquiring camera gear, and working to hire camera operators, gaffers, and grips.
To ensure that what is caught on camera reflects the director’s and the client’s vision, the DP will block shots while also overseeing the camera and lighting teams. Depending on the video’s budget, they might even play some other parts in the production team.
4. Digital Imaging Technician (DIT)
The actual media holding the video and audio from the shot is handled by a digital image technician (DIT). They are in charge of ensuring that memory cards are empty and ready to shoot, as well as that filled memory cards are backed up for storage. The DIT is frequently the DP or the project’s editor.
5. Audio Technician
Your production’s audio is equally as crucial as its visual elements. A qualified audio technician is therefore required for your production to record sounds on-set, as well as to monitor and modify levels as necessary. The microphones or other audio recording devices may also be set up by an audio technician prior to shooting.
6. Gaffer and Key Grip
A gaffer is a member of the lighting team and acts as the set’s head electrician. They will position and change lighting rigs as instructed by the DP to ensure that the scene is illuminated appropriately.
The key grip, who acts as something of a catch-all for the lighting crew, frequently collaborates with the gaffer. A key grip will position additional lighting equipment, such as flags or diffusers, and ensure that all lights are in the proper locations.
7. Camera Operator
The camera operator is the team member who works on the camera. As they work with the director and DP to shoot the scene, they are responsible for ensuring that the final product reflects the director’s vision. If you’re lucky, a camera operator might even have their own equipment prepared and accessible, saving you the time and effort of finding it elsewhere.
8. Set/Hair/Makeup/Wardrobe Crew
You might not need to pay someone to perform these responsibilities, depending on the type of filming. However, you’ll need someone to make sure that the cast is appropriately attired and that the set dressings are flawless.
- Set Designer: Creates the set, paying close attention to the foreground and background components to ensure that the scene’s backdrop matches the intended mood
- Hair & Makeup Crew: Manages the appearance of the on-screen talent so that they appear their best in videos. On-screen talent in low-budget productions frequently takes on these responsibilities themselves, but you should be aware of the psychological toll that this extra work can have on your actors
- Wardrobe Crew/Stylist: Dresses the on-screen talent in a way that fits the video’s tone. Again, for smaller productions, the actors might handle this themselves or bring a variety of options from home for the director to select from.
9. Production Assistant (PA)
The team’s most versatile player is the PA. By helping everyone who may want assistance, they fill in the gaps in the team. This implies that they might be asked to carry equipment, get lunch, or take notes for the producer.
It can be tempting to recruit a cousin, a friend, or an unqualified person to perform this function because of how low-stakes it is. Nevertheless, a PA is a crucial tool for keeping production on schedule and within budget. Hire someone who genuinely wants to learn the ins and outs of video production rather than someone who just wants to hang out; this person should also have a valid driver’s licence.
Hiring your video production team
You’ll probably have to assemble your own production team from scratch if you’re new to video production. Even if some of your video production team members are currently employed by your company, you’ll probably also need freelancers to round out your entire team.
In an ideal world, staff members could already have contacts that would make it simple to hire a qualified team. However, the need to risk working with someone you or your team have never met will arise from time to time.
To make your work easier, why not hire a video production company that already has a complete team with all the needed experience for the job? Interested in knowing more? Get in touch with us for a consultation session.
