The Art of Video Capture
Our job as TV / Broadcast Producers is to tell a story, optimally with as much visual content as possible. To capture that content, a Producer must rely on the talents and experience of his Camera Operators and Director of Photography (DP). However, all the talent in the world will not help
if the operator is not positioned correctly (Camera Blocking). Imagine you’re a seasoned veteran camera operator and your assignment is to capture the President of the United States as he walks from the Oval Office to the podium. What happens if the Producer positions your camera all the way on the right side of the pressroom? That’s an easy one … IT WILL SUCK! No matter how talented that operator is, his or her shot will, in fact, SUCK.
Now let’s amp up the stakes. A production company is hired to follow a group of disabled vets as they attempt to climb Mt. Everest. As a Producer your visuals must include the drama and personal struggle as these brave men risk their lives as they battle the elements while documenting their will to carry on. WOW GREAT STORY… I’d watch that (key WORD “watch” that). In order to “WATCH THAT” a camera operator has to shoot THAT. And before you can shoot THAT, someone has to figure out what shots are needed, what shots will best convey the drama and struggle of these men. Once the shots are “Story Boarded” then someone has to figure out where the cameras need to be positioned. Then and only then will the operators have a 70/30 chance of capturing the MONEY shot, the shot of the lead climber’s determined face as his frost covered fingers cling to the side of the frozen mountain as he pulls himself up to the summit. Which, by the way, a Camera Operator with all his equipment has already made that climb, battled the elements and taken a position at the summit to capture that MONEY shot.
That someone who is responsible for lives of the dedicated shooters and safely positioning them is the Producer. Producers are tasked with difficult responsibility of balancing their allegiance between story, and crew safety. Every time you are sitting home watching a boxing match and feel like your so close to the action that the punches seem to be coming right through your TV, well, there is a Camera Operator positioned less then a foot away from those punches, well within the hazard zone. Or when you are watching a football game and you feel like you’re standing on the field with a 280 lb line backer coming straight at you like a freight train. Once again, always remember there IS a Camera Operator holding his ground to give you that shot and there IS a Producer hoping he made the right call and didn’t put his guy in harms way.
