It was destined for me to have a camera in my hand. In my opinion, operating the studio cameras is one of the best parts of being a news production assistant. Here are some duties you may have to do in the studio and some terminology you'll need to know if you ever operate studio cameras.
Set Studio Camera Shots
Of course, your main responsibility as a camera operator is to operate the cameras. That includes setting the camera shots. To set those shots properly, you must handle the equipment with care. Don't force the camera to move if the essential knobs are locked. You might end up breaking the equipment. Learn how to properly use the cameras, learn which lock does what, and your job will be a lot easier with equipment that works.
Also, when setting shots, stay inside the safe area on the camera monitor. The safe area's purpose is to show the parts of the screen most viewers see when watching television. Times have changed. That includes the size of people's tv screens. Some people still have full screens while others have wide screens. The safe area can help show how much headroom you have to work with without cutting the top of an anchor's head.
There is a tally light on top of each camera, which lets everyone know that the camera is on-air. So, it's best to get your shot set before that tally light turns red.
Keep Camera Shots Clean
Your camera shot will be broadcasted on television for the city, nation, or world to see. It's your responsibility to make sure the shot is as clean as possible. A clean shot means your shot is set properly, it's focused, and there is no junk in it. Let's say you just wiped down an area. When you're done, make sure you put the cleaning supplies away. You don't want a cleaning supply bottle seen on air. Many eyes may see your newcast, and someone will point it out.
Have Appropriate Lighting
Your shots are clean and set properly, but it's hard to see because your lighting isn't great. That's not a scenario you want to be in. As a camera operator, you're already in the studio, so you also have to make sure all studio lights are on. It's your job to make sure the set and anchors are well-lit. As I stated before, your shot is on-air for the public to see. Try not to have your shot overexposed or too dark unless you are trying to convey a particular feeling.
Listen to Director
No matter what you do in tv production, you always want to listen to the director. They've created a rundown for you to go by, but they will still give commands that you need to hear as a camera operator. You'll need a headset to communicate with the director and the crew. You want to make sure your shot is set to their liking and ask if you need to make any changes. You're really helping the director out, knowing they won't have to worry about your shot.
Bump Shots
Creating bump shots is probably one of my favorite things to do in the studio. Now, I'm not a tall person, and those cameras are way bigger than I am, but creating bump shots gives you a chance to get creative in the studio. A bump shot is literally the last shot bumping to break. An example would be maybe a shot panning the studio audience or a nice zoom on the studio. Bump shots bring such a nice touch to the newscast.
The atmosphere in the studio just hits different! You get to move around and bond with the on-air talent. It's just a cool place to be. But you can't just become a camera operator without knowing the essential terms of camera operating. Check out the quick and easy vocabulary I included below!
Terms to Know
zoom - to move video in or out
tilt - to move the camera up or down
pan - to move the camera left to right
truck - to move the entire camera around
pedestal - to move the entire camera up or down
focus - to get a clearer shot (zooming in on the face and focusing is best)
one-shot - like a medium close-up shot with anchor in the middle
two-shot - two anchors at desk
OTS - like one shot except they are to the side
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