As Live Production - Vision Mixing + Camera workshop

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Today we got split into our A/B groups and had a workshop with Del who was very informative and helpful. I feel very fortunate to have Del teach us everything he knows, today he taught us about being a professional camera operator and it is NOT an easy job! The main thing that was difficult was focusing while an object is moving in an extreme close up, but after a few tries, everyone started to get the hang of it.

He explained to us that when we go in for a camera op job we are meant to understand all of the director's technical terminologies. He also mentioned that it can't take us too long to set up our cameras because this runs into the show's time, and we could possibly not get booked again! There are A LOT of terminologies that directors specifically use to communicate with their camera operators but these are some of the important ones we should always remember.

 Camera Direction/Movement:
READY Next camera to be cut (live) to program out
STANDBY Next camera to be dissolved (live) to program out
TAKE/CUT Ready camera is quickly cut to program out (eg. Cut 1)
DISSOLVE/MIX  Standby camera is slowly dissolved to  program  out (eg. Dissolve 2)


HOLD Stop camera movement (hold current shot)
RESET Return to previous position (starting point)
START Begin prescribed movement (eg. start push)
PAN RIGHT Move camera lens right
PAN LEFT Move camera lens left
TILT UP Move camera lens up
TILT DOWN Move camera lens down
ZOOM IN Tighten camera framing
ZOOM OUT Loosen camera framing
TIGHTEN UP Zoom in slightly to tighten camera framing
LOOSEN UP Zoom out slightly to loosen camera framing
PUSH IN Zoom in slowly on subject
PULL OUT Zoom out slowly from subject



These are also used to also communicate with the vision mixer which had an important job that collides with the camera operator. We also practiced moving the camera while we zoom in and focus at the same time while our model walks side to side, which we also warmed up to after a few tries. I feel a lot more confident in my camera operating skills and also how to set up a camera property, we had Ferg on hand to help us with anything we didn't understand.


He also taught us about the 'Camera Greyscale' that is really important for our 'Camera Operators' it is made out of the purest black and white. This is also important to have on hand to adjust your camera and white balance, especially the IRIS!

The 'Hole' in the middle is empty and made out of felt, this is so that no light reflects on the blackest of black. I find this chart very helpful and Del also mentioned that it is very expensive but every studio must have one.


After we were finished with our camera operating Del took us into the gallery to show us what professional Vision Mixers have to operate while on a live production. This was so fun and exciting to learn since I have never seen this much equipment. Del taught us about the 'T-Bar' and 'Stand By' 'Preview' buttons which is all we needed to know for that session. Del expressed this mixer panel as a live editing software, anything could be done on this desk. He showed us how to use the 'T-bar' for live transmissions such as 'Dissolve' and 'Slide', we all had a go on the buttons and how to "Stand By' a shot before we set it to go live. There is also a specific way to hold your hand on the keys, each finger should be placed on each camera 1 - pinky finger, 2 - ring finger, 3 - middle finger, 4 - index finger. It was VERY difficult to get used to this and to also use the T-bar at the same time.

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