My Favorite Roll

You have probably had a brilliant original idea that you were excited to pursue. Perhaps, your brilliant idea has become a reality, or maybe it is still like a clump of snow rolling into a solid base for a handsome snowman. Nonetheless, you are familiar with the excitement of a new idea.

When I think of new camera shots, and new editing ideas, I have a tendency to build upon those exciting ideas. Recently, I have been doing studio production, at first, I was disappointed to realize that my shots could not vary as much as they could in a film, nor is editing as intricate. Then, I discovered a role in studio production that combines the two!

The role as a director in studio production means being able to see shots, and to do live editing!! Although the director is not physically moving the camera, he, or she literally calls the shots. The director speaks to the people behind the cameras, and asks them to shoot the angel they see. The best 'task' about being behind the camera is finding those nice angels, and lining up the shots which is what the director gets to do! Not only does the director call the shots, but he, or she also gets to direct which camera is being used when. An editor might have 10 clips of the same scene, or speech, and they choose which ones are the most appropriate, and how each could be altered to relay a different idea. The director in studio production is doing the same thing as a movie editor would do, except he, or she does it as the camera is recording!

I have learned a tremendous amount about this roll:

• What the duties of this roll entail, as well as how to grow as a director.
• How to communicate with the people working with the cameras, as well the technical director.
• And, how to coordinate shots even if I have to switch cameras twice, or three times.

I think that I have misunderstood this role, communicated poorly with the people I was directing, and made several awkward camera shots; however, I feel like in each of those mistakes, I have been able to find a better way, and improve.
The role as a director was not making be think about handsome snowmen, in fact, I could not even see the heap of snow in front of me, but now, new ideas are rolling really nicely.